Advice for potential used truck buyer

[george55378]

I am looking to buy a 2017 RAM 1500 Rebel with around ~73,000 miles on it.

I am coming from the Toyota world and for a Toyota 73,000 is almost considered low miles. If you were to buy a Toyota at 73,000 you could expect at least another good 150,000 miles from it.

How does that apply to Ram's? Would you buy a 2017 Ram with 73,000 miles on it? Users with similar trucks/similar mileage, how is your truck holding up?

Thanks!

My 2015 has been pretty darn good. Just turned 93000 miles. No problems. I check for rust every spring and fall. Remove fender wells and such. Respray any corrosion spots after total cleaning. No rust! I live in northern minnesota so,salt on roads. I guess im kinda **** and ocd. But that truck is still like new. I love ol' Big Blue!

 

[turkeybird56]

2016 2500 w/5.7. 136k and no issues at all. It’s really a gamble.

YUP a gamble, but I want the Chevelle U got pictured in yer Avatar, lol.

 

[gfh77665]

I've also known of quite a few Ram owners, (mine has 197k or so),that has never had a lifter or exhaust manifold issue.

As I read these forums tho,even I get paranoid over it.lol. Every bad thing is posted and almost no good things are.

A while back I asked "what percent" of the hemis experience this. If there was some rough idea out there of "what percent" are affected, it could dispel a lot of the paranoia. I still don't know.

 

[Octane]

Someone on here once said 5% .I think if that were true, based on production numbers, my truck would be bad too. And most everyone I've met that had hemis. But as I said before, everyone I know, have not had problems with theirs.

 

[Dean2]

Someone on here once said 5% .I think if that were true, based on production numbers, my truck would be bad too. And most everyone I've met that had hemis. But as I said before, everyone I know, have not had problems with theirs.

5% means that if you know 10 people with hemis there is a very good chance NONE of them have had the problem. If you know 100 people with hemis, 5 would have had the issue, on average. When you consider how many 100s of thousands of hemis that are produced, 5% failure rate is HUGE, even if it never affected anyone you know. These are not minor or insignificant failures.

 

[Octane]

5% means that if you know 10 people with hemis there is a very good chance NONE of them have had the problem. If you know 100 people with hemis, 5 would have had the issue, on average. When you consider how many 100s of thousands of hemis that are produced, 5% failure rate is HUGE, even if it never affected anyone you know. These are not minor or insignificant failures.

Exactly

 

[Octane]

Odds would be that I would have "heard" of more failures actually. As I've "been around" lol. But about the only place you hear of failure is on forums. Even some mechanics I've spoken to say the only one or two they've repaired at their dealer, were engines that were neglected.

 

[gfh77665]

5% is a "huge" failure rate, if that is accurate. Its still a guessing game at this point. With that as an example though if it is 5% that's still a 95% chance of being unaffected. Probably even better than that because I would surmise some or even much of that 5% could be traced back to abuse, neglect or very high mileage (200K+). Maybe the real number is around 2% or so, after accounting for neglect or high mileage?

 

[Docwagon1776]

5% is a "huge" failure rate, if that is accurate. Its still a guessing game at this point. With that as an example though if it is 5% that's still a 95% chance of being unaffected. Probably even better than that because I would surmise some or even much of that 5% could be traced back to abuse, neglect or very high mileage (200K+). Maybe the real number is around 2% or so, after accounting for neglect or high mileage?

I strongly strongly doubt it's 5%. Think of how many of these are in police service and have been for how many years now, if 1:20 grenaded fleets would have noticed...

 

[A_mod_too_far]

I am looking to buy a 2017 RAM 1500 Rebel with around ~73,000 miles on it.

I am coming from the Toyota world and for a Toyota 73,000 is almost considered low miles. If you were to buy a Toyota at 73,000 you could expect at least another good 150,000 miles from it.

How does that apply to Ram's? Would you buy a 2017 Ram with 73,000 miles on it? Users with similar trucks/similar mileage, how is your truck holding up?

Thanks!

Just curious why switching and why that specific model

 

[gfh77665]

I strongly strongly doubt it's 5%. Think of how many of these are in police service and have been for how many years now, if 1:20 grenaded fleets would have noticed...

I fully agree. I think its 1%-2%, and some of that is likely due to neglect or abuse. Still if are the one that takes good care of your truck and it still happens...dang.

I am willing to bet the Ford cam phasers on their 5.4 has been a MUCH greater widespread problem than this.

 

[indept]

I fully agree. I think its 1%-2%, and some of that is likely due to neglect or abuse. Still if are the one that takes good care of your truck and it still happens...dang.

I am willing to bet the Ford cam phasers on their 5.4 has been a MUCH greater widespread problem than this.

A friend of mine had an F150 5.4l. Timing chain broke @150000 miles. Needed new engine. He sold it for parts. Hope no Ford fan boys read this, they hate when you talk bad about their fords.