Your Ram 1500 Classic Might Last Forever
I have my detective hat on today. According to some sources, you should avoid the used Ram 1500 Classic. So, I set out to figure out what the problem is, and it’s not reliability. The Ram 1500 Classic could be the perfect work truck for years!
How reliable is the Ram 1500 Classic?
According to J.D.Power, the 2023 Ram 1500 Classic has a reliability ranking of 88 out of 100, which is great. This is actually one of the highest reliability scores I’ve ever seen.
Anything between 81 and 90 is above average while scores between 91 and 100 are best. It’s so close to moving up into the top category.
For comparison’s sake, the 2023 Toyota Tundra earned a 78, which is average, the 2023 Toyota Tacoma got an 83, and the regular Ram 1500 earned a score of 80.
But not every Ram 1500 Classic model is up to pair. Ram trucks from 2003, 2010 – 2013 with the 5.7-liter V8 engine, and models from 2014 – 2016 are seen as the most unreliable options.
Ram truck reliability really started to change for the better in 2019, when the current Ram 1500 generation was launched. The Ram Classic has maintained a solid build quality for years, and it’s still popular. That’s why it still exists.
The average Ram Classic truck could last between 250,000 to 300,000 miles. However, some examples with regular care and proper maintenance have surpassed 350,000 miles. It could provide about 20 years of service if you drive about 15,000 miles annually.
One reason to avoid the Classic could be because used truck prices are dropping. So, this workhorse might not maintain its value as well as other options.
Ram 1500 Classic models between one to five years old had an average year-over-year price decrease of $3,204, which is a 10.4% decrease.
Used Nissan Frontier models actually received a year-over-year price increase of $890 or increased by 3.1%.
So, if you want a truck to maintain its value after five years of ownership, the Classic is a riskier choice. But on the other hand, it’s well-equipped to provide years of service. Also, you might find an excellent deal on a used model.
