$70k Truck Falling Apart at 38k Miles

[mikeru]

I got 40K on my Duellers.....just replace them with new Michelins.

Yours lasted about 25% longer than most people report getting. Count yourself fortunate.

 

[mikeru]

I was not aware of a dash peeling issue on the Limited trim. My sister had a Lincoln MKZ (?) that the upper dash cover did the same thing. Ford would not fix it.
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 112373 miles.

Yeah it's been going on for a while now. Lots of threads have been made about it. Stellantis covered it no problem as long as the factory warranty was still in effect. But after that expires it's pretty hit or miss. Ramcares wants to hear about it if it happens so they're definitely keeping an eye on it. But this sort of thing usually moves pretty slowly and will probably only help those who keep their trucks for a long time. Count yourself lucky that Laramies don't have a leather covered dash.

 

[shedkept]

A sunroof is a terrible idea no matter what it’s in.

 

[2Tallguy]

Starting with a 2008 Honda Odyssey I have not owned a vehicle passed its warranty period. ^^^this is why.

270K on our 2005 pilot. best vehicle I've ever owned. I wish they made a true half ton. That being said I doubt I'll ever own another past the inclusive warranty period.

 

[2Tallguy]

A sunroof is a terrible idea no matter what it’s in.

I agree. The manufacturer's force them on us.

 

[2Tallguy]

I get a new fleet vehicle every 3-4 yrs, not one has made it to 20k on the tires, most were shot at 15k mile.
My wife gets about 15k miles out of her tires.
Has a lot to do with where you live, your driving conditions, roads and driving style. My truck tires have lasted to the point that they are too old - but it is only driven on the highway for the most part.

Currently have Wildpeaks on my 2022 traverse - by far the worst performing tire (from new) in rain or slush that I have ever had the displeasure of driving on. They are quiet and handle well, but just hydroplane and float in almost any pooled water at all.

Our Bridgestone tires lasted 27K on our 2005 Pilot. I've replaced them with Michelins and this last time Coopers.

 

[mikeru]

A sunroof is a terrible idea no matter what it’s in.

While I would agree with you, mama would kill me if I bought something without a sunroof. So, yeah...there's that.

 

[Tulecreeper]

270K on our 2005 pilot. best vehicle I've ever owned. I wish they made a true half ton. That being said I doubt I'll ever own another past the inclusive warranty period.

I agree. The manufacturer's force them on us.

While I would agree with you, mama would kill me if I bought something without a sunroof. So, yeah...there's that.

Sunroof
Def: a device installed by the vehicle manufacturer to ensure future maintenance costs to the owner due to guaranteed leakage beginning immediately following the expiration of the warranty period; Synonyms: cash drain, snow hole, hat sucker-outer

 

[CanuckRam1313]

I look at it like rent, unless of course one can purchase outright with cash and not owe a penny. But, buying outright in cash, one still loses!
"In the end, the house always wins" (quote from Casino).

So, finance or lease, one is renting a vehicle; paying bi-weekly/monthly payments for it.

The deprecation on a finance sets in immediately. Unless it's a unicorn that will retain and/or appreciate in its value, and you don't drive it. However, they all hemorrhage valuation loss the second we drive them off the lot, new or used (but especially new IMHO).

Leasing allows someone to really just drive it stock for a certain amount of KM's/Miles per year for a set term and send it back & pick the next one. Still renting it though

For guys like me, I'd rather finance and be able to make my truck my castle for the time I own it, and then trade it in on the next one when it's time.

Heck, I just did that not even 4-months ago, and even at almost 170,000Km's on the 19' I bought new, I got the dealership to fully pay out my remaining finance balance on this 19' Express blackout edition and put me into a new Warlock SLT for the same bi-weekly payments because my 19' was in mint condition and looked after so well, plus a lower interest charge, too.

Whilst in warranty one has certain protections and/or rights/claims; caveat though, one must also properly maintain the vehicle to ensure there are no counter claims by an OEM to deny said warranty/claims, especially if financing.

I'm personally of the opinion that at this point in my life and career, I will run my truck out until my full warranty is done, and then at that point I will trade it in and migrate to the next one.

I realize that not everyone can do this, and I really get it. Heck, I can still barely do it as a single Dad with bills and payments to others out my backside, but, I know that I also don't want to deal with major repair costs because I drive so much per year for pleasure and my career (4-months in and over 11,000Km's on my brand new Warlock that had only 46Km's on it when I took it off the lot).

So, I rent and deal with it as best I can.... but dang it, don't I have a great accountant that works for me come tax time every single year!

 

[CanuckRam1313]

While I would agree with you, mama would kill me if I bought something without a sunroof. So, yeah...there's that.

Funny you say this... my 19' had no sunroof and no back slider...
FFWD to my new Warlock and I now have a rear slider...

My Daughter: "Dad, we have a back sliding window now, but where's my sunroof.... Mommy has a sunroof in her Subaru!"...

Me: "Angel" - Daddy got us a brand new truck and made sure it had more options for us. So, next new one I will make sure we have a sunroof!

My Daughter: "Okay Dad, but it better have a sunroof on the next one so I can blow bubbles out of it and have more air flow!"... the sass on this girl!!! and she's only 6.5yo right now...lol

 

[Russ01]

The leather dashboard has completely peeled and looks terrible even from the outside, sun visor just dropped out of the holder and I cant use it, girlfriend tried to close the tailgate once and the whole thing came off, sun roof and bed light leaks water, alignment from the factory was so off after 10k easy miles that it took them a whole day to fix and the steering wheel has been tilted right ever since, parking sensors go off randomly sometimes throwing the brakes and making loud noises when theres nothing around, in 2wd sharp turns/reverse the truck stops and I have to give it gas and it feels like its doing the 4w hop, at stop lights it randomly seems the break is applied and wont roll forward, I have to give it gas to BUMP it out of whatever is holding it back then its always TOO much gas... All this and I am not even going into the issues with the 12 inch stereo system.

I have been a long time owner/member of the forums. I have owned Dodge/Ram trucks and cars since the 90's and always had good things to say about them. I purchased a 2020 1500 Limited with every option except the ones I didnt want and its been the worst quality vehicle I have ever owned. The base models I used to have had very little problems.

The worst part is that all of this started happening as soon as the warranty ended. I just had someone hit my wheel while I was parked and decided to take it in to look at all the issues. $6,000 to fix it all.. Most of the issues I could have looked passed and just chalked it up to "things happen". The dashboard problem however, is absolutely inexcusable. Looking on the forums I see its a common issue. These are some of the highest trim levels available and the leather peeling off of the dashboard at such low miles/time is laughable. They want me to spend $3,000 to install the same poor quality dashboard only for it to go out in another 30k miles.

This will make me never buy another product from this company. It quickly went from being the best truck I have ever had, friends loving it, to explaining how a $70k truck is completely falling apart.

My 2019 Laramie Longhorn's dash is bubbling also.... Ram customer don't care said well... it's out of warranty... really??? 4 to 5 years is all the dash is good for? And yeah, my 12" infotainment has issues as well....

 

[Tulecreeper]

I look at it like rent, unless of course one can purchase outright with cash and not owe a penny. But, buying outright in cash, one still loses!
"In the end, the house always wins" (quote from Casino).

So, finance or lease, one is renting a vehicle; paying bi-weekly/monthly payments for it.

The deprecation on a finance sets in immediately. Unless it's a unicorn that will retain and/or appreciate in its value, and you don't drive it. However, they all hemorrhage valuation loss the second we drive them off the lot, new or used (but especially new IMHO).

Leasing allows someone to really just drive it stock for a certain amount of KM's/Miles per year for a set term and send it back & pick the next one. Still renting it though

For guys like me, I'd rather finance and be able to make my truck my castle for the time I own it, and then trade it in on the next one when it's time.

I buy a new truck, put ~50% down, make a few payments for the credit report, then pay it off and drive it until the doors fall off. At that point I shove it in a ditch (figuratively) and go buy another one. My last two I owned for 23+ years/190,000 miles, and 13 years/180,000 mile respectively. I keep them until it's right at the point where they start nickle and diming me, at which point I figure I got my money's worth, then sell them for whatever I can get.

 

[Tired Trucker 211]

I have had 2 RAM 1500 trucks. First one was a 2014 and the one that I now drive is a 2019 RAM Classic 1500. I used both trucks to drive to Georgia several times during the year. Each trip was 1200 miles and I was either loaded full with stuff or I was pulling a trailer. Both trucks performed flawlessly. I am a certified mechanic and I know if something is wrong with the operation of a vehicle and I know how to take care of it. All vehicles need maintenance. The only reason I don't have the 2014 is that a lady on drugs hit me and totaled the truck. RAM trucks are good trucks but they need care just like the other brands of trucks.

 

[KeithP]

270K on our 2005 pilot. best vehicle I've ever owned. I wish they made a true half ton. That being said I doubt I'll ever own another past the inclusive warranty period.

Glad you had good luck with your Honda. Our Odyssey was nothing but problems and why we started getting rid of vehicles before the warranty ran out. Torque converter, 3 alternators all four brake rotors TWICE! the TCS never worked correctly (probably related to the brake rotor issues) and an annoying rattle they never could find.

 

[Docwagon1776]

Only "lemon" I've ever had was a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee that was to be for my wife. Electrical issues that the dealership could never resolve after 3 rips resulted in us swapping it out on a loaded 2008 Ford Taurus that lasted her until 2015 with the only repair being a wheel bearing.

Never even had a sunroof leak. Worst leak I ever had was in a Corvette's T-tops that let a few drops in until I re-siliconed the gaskets.

Charmed life, I guess.

 

[Jerrybob]

Yours lasted about 25% longer than most people report getting. Count yourself fortunate.

Well...maybe I'm lucky. I expect at least 60k from the Michelins. On my last truck...2500 Chevy....I got 60k from my replacement Duellers...they were E rated...ride was OK but not great. My Ram with the new tires is the best riding truck I've ever owned.

 

[edjski]

Starting with a 2008 Honda Odyssey I have not owned a vehicle passed its warranty period. ^^^this is why.

Interesting concept... I wonder if purchasing an extended warranty as the factory warranty ends would make sense. Seems it is would be less expensive and the vehicle's history and problems/quirks are known.
Of course a new vehicle has attractive new, shiny features...

 

[edjski]

The leather dashboard has completely peeled and looks terrible even from the outside, sun visor just dropped out of the holder and I cant use it, girlfriend tried to close the tailgate once and the whole thing came off, sun roof and bed light leaks water, alignment from the factory was so off after 10k easy miles that it took them a whole day to fix and the steering wheel has been tilted right ever since, parking sensors go off randomly sometimes throwing the brakes and making loud noises when theres nothing around, in 2wd sharp turns/reverse the truck stops and I have to give it gas and it feels like its doing the 4w hop, at stop lights it randomly seems the break is applied and wont roll forward, I have to give it gas to BUMP it out of whatever is holding it back then its always TOO much gas... All this and I am not even going into the issues with the 12 inch stereo system.

I have been a long time owner/member of the forums. I have owned Dodge/Ram trucks and cars since the 90's and always had good things to say about them. I purchased a 2020 1500 Limited with every option except the ones I didnt want and its been the worst quality vehicle I have ever owned. The base models I used to have had very little problems.

The worst part is that all of this started happening as soon as the warranty ended. I just had someone hit my wheel while I was parked and decided to take it in to look at all the issues. $6,000 to fix it all.. Most of the issues I could have looked passed and just chalked it up to "things happen". The dashboard problem however, is absolutely inexcusable. Looking on the forums I see its a common issue. These are some of the highest trim levels available and the leather peeling off of the dashboard at such low miles/time is laughable. They want me to spend $3,000 to install the same poor quality dashboard only for it to go out in another 30k miles.

This will make me never buy another product from this company. It quickly went from being the best truck I have ever had, friends loving it, to explaining how a $70k truck is completely falling apart.

Perhaps a bit dramatic ("...never going to buy another product from this company") when it seems maybe the issue is the trim level? You've had good (better?) experiences with the base models you'd had previously, yes?

 

[mikeru]

Well...maybe I'm lucky. I expect at least 60k from the Michelins. On my last truck...2500 Chevy....I got 60k from my replacement Duellers...they were E rated...ride was OK but not great. My Ram with the new tires is the best riding truck I've ever owned.

No disagreement there. Ride quality on 5th gen 1500’s is usually very good no matter which tires the truck has.

 

[KeithP]

Interesting concept... I wonder if purchasing an extended warranty as the factory warranty ends would make sense. Seems it is would be less expensive and the vehicle's history and problems/quirks are known.
Of course a new vehicle has attractive new, shiny features...

Possibly. But, I’d rather just buy another new one.