Studies Say Ram Trucks Are the Most Expensive Vehicles to Maintain
Ram is a popular option for people in the market for the best pickup trucks. It produces options like the Ram 1500, which is perfect for general use, as well as heavy-duty trucks. However, despite being popular, people have always regarded Ram as unreliable. Unfortunately, this seems to be deeper than a few negative experiences, as Ram has the most expensive vehicles to keep on the road.
Here’s a look at some of the costs associated with owning a Ram truck.
Ram Trucks aren’t cheap to own
Ram makes some of the best pickup trucks on the market. However, this isn’t the case when it comes to maintenance costs. According to Caredge, Ram has the most expensive costs of any automaker to keep its vehicles on the road and running smoothly. On average, it costs about $16,802 over ten years to keep Ram trucks properly maintained. This is about $9,988 more than other popular automakers.
Additionally, the source reports that these trucks have a 40 percent chance of needing major repairs in the first ten years of ownership. This makes these vehicles 19.5 percent more likely than other popular car brands to need an expensive fix. There is also a 19.43 percent chance owners will need a significant repair in the first five years. Buyers should note that Stellantis vehicles are generally less reliable than other options.
Heavy duty trucks are the main culprit
Regarding maintenance costs for Ram trucks, the automaker’s heavy-duty options really drag down the ranking. The Ram 3500 is the worst of the bunch. It has an average ten-year cost of $25,844. Unfortunately, this is the price of many new SUVs. This is about $11,511 more than other heavy-duty trucks on the market. Owners have a 79.19 percent chance of needing an expensive repair during this time.
Unfortunately, Ram vehicles make up the seven worst models for ten-year maintenance costs.
| Make/Model | 10 year cost of maintenance |
| Ram 3500 | $25,844 |
| Ram 2500 | $25,464 |
| Ram 5500 | $25,202 |
| Ram 4500 | $25,134 |
| Ram ProMaster Cargo Van | $20,061 |
| Ram ProMaster City | $19,870 |
| Ram 1500 | $17,677 |
It has also been reported that people who own Ram trucks will likely need to take their vehicles in for unscheduled repairs an average of 0.3 times per year. Additionally, about 15 percent of repairs for Ram vehicles are severe, which is why the cost of ownership is so expensive.
Still, Ram vehicles bring quite a bit to the table. The heavy-duty trucks make great work vehicles, and the Ram 1500 is a solid option for general truck drivers. However, it would be nice if the automaker could pinpoint the issues that cause them to be less reliable.
