Should I Wait for a 2026 Truck?

[Rob2gen]

No regrets on purchase decision of 25 Warlock. Rides nice does everything it's supposed to... Coming from almost retired (me) and the Mrs. (Retired). No problems at all regarding engine or electric. Ours was built in April 2025. I am considering extended warranty coverage through Granger before we hit 3yr/36k miles for added piece of mind.

 

[OldSchoolRam]

I want to be confident that the electrical system in my truck will be consistently reliable.
At the very least, I might be OK with a few electrical surprises if I could correct them myself, quickly.

As much as the Hurricane power plant sounds awesome, the new electrical architecture on the 2025 RAMs will keep me far away for years.

YMMV

.

I want to be confident that the electrical system in my truck will be consistently reliable.
At the very least, I might be OK with a few electrical surprises if I could correct them myself, quickly.

As much as the Hurricane power plant sounds awesome, the new electrical architecture on the 2025 RAMs will keep me far away for years.

YMMV

.

I’ve got a 2025 Laramie with only 6K on it, bought it end Oct 24. It’s been in shop off and on for a total of 2 months, at least 8 times electrical sensors, batteries and modules. But the main issue right now is drivability. Dealership has tried to fix valve body, that didn’t fix it so they replaced transmission. Well it got better but not fixed, it has a clunk in lower gears. Dealership has talked with engineers and they say no fix and it’s normal as of right now. Also if Ram doesn’t tell them the fix they can’t replace sensors, on current issue is the parking/proximity sensors going off randomly at parking lots or drive throughs. I do have an open ticket with Stalantis.

Sad thing is I have 2011 with no major issues 278K. I’ve always been a Dodge / Chrysler family with this one making the 7th new one. This could be the one that breaks me from Ram, when talking to Stalantis they seem to not care. Of course they are outsourced and hard to understand, but it always takes 3 days to get back to you. I hope no one has to go through this. So I would to wait on buying a 25.

 

[Sherman Bird]

The techs that I've spoken to say they seen very few issues with the SO Hurricane engine itself. However, that being said they are reintroducing the 5.7 Hemi in 2026 models. I'd rather have the Hemi without turbo charging and direct injection, so I'm inclined to wait.

Regards,
Dusty
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 137788 miles.

As Direct injection becomes standard, so do the resolution of problems.
My wife's 2014 KIA Sorento, 3.3L GDI engine had to undergo major surgery ala new (reman) injectors just over a year ago. In doing my research about how KIA has responded to the GDI platforms being sludge and carbon churning factories, I came across a very well buried bulletin from KIA that stated their (KIA's) awareness of the problem, with a treatment that has worked well over 16,000 miles since I did the repairs.

In it, they (KIA) says to put a bottle of PEA (Techron) in the gas tank every oil change. Thus far, the car runs flawlessly, gets 27 MPG hwy, and 21 city.

I have since adopted this as a part of every oil and filter service that I perform on ALL of my customers' GDI engines. So far, all is well!

 

[mikeru]

As Direct injection becomes standard, so do the resolution of problems.
My wife's 2014 KIA Sorento, 3.3L GDI engine had to undergo major surgery ala new (reman) injectors just over a year ago. In doing my research about how KIA has responded to the GDI platforms being sludge and carbon churning factories, I came across a very well buried bulletin from KIA that stated their (KIA's) awareness of the problem, with a treatment that has worked well over 16,000 miles since I did the repairs.

In it, they (KIA) says to put a bottle of PEA (Techron) in the gas tank every oil change. Thus far, the car runs flawlessly, gets 27 MPG hwy, and 21 city.

I have since adopted this as a part of every oil and filter service that I perform on ALL of my customers' GDI engines. So far, all is well!

Sorry, I'm a little confused by this post. Is the purpose of the PEA to extend the life of the injectors, or for the carbon build-up on the intake valves that happens with GDI engines?

 

[Rustywallace]

The Hurricane hasn't been problematic yet, though who knows what that will look like in 5-7 years as they get higher miles and heavier use. The 8A transmission is a proven good transmission, better than the 10A in the competition by a solid margin in terms of both feel and durability.

The electrical architecture has been problematic. Failure rates are higher than I'd be comfortable with.

If you're dead set on new and a 1/2 ton, I would look at a 5.0 Ford, Ecoboost Ford, or 5.3 GMC in that order. However if long term reliability is your goal, I'd steer you toward a pre-COVID built truck with low miles and maintenance records.

I would say objectively the Hurricane should be far superior to the Ecoboost in terms of reliability. Closed deck, I6 vs V6, no way would I touch an Ecoboost over a Hurricane. And GMs 5.3 are having issues as of late, I would say the Hurricane and the 5.0 Coyote (2.7 GM as well), are the best options in a half ton, til the Hemis widely available

 

[Docwagon1776]

I would say objectively the Hurricane should be far superior to the Ecoboost in terms of reliability. Closed deck, I6 vs V6, no way would I touch an Ecoboost over a Hurricane. And GMs 5.3 are having issues as of late, I would say the Hurricane and the 5.0 Coyote (2.7 GM as well), are the best options in a half ton, til the Hemis widely available

The motor isn't the only concern for long term reliability, though, and until Ram sorts out the new electrical architecture (Atlantis) and the hardware issues it's going to continue to have higher than acceptable failure rates.

What issues are the 5.3 motors having now? I know the 6.2 has went to hell in a handbasket leading to massive recalls and stop sales orders.

 

[Sherman Bird]

I would say objectively the Hurricane should be far superior to the Ecoboost in terms of reliability. Closed deck, I6 vs V6, no way would I touch an Ecoboost over a Hurricane. And GMs 5.3 are having issues as of late, I would say the Hurricane and the 5.0 Coyote (2.7 GM as well), are the best options in a half ton, til the Hemis widely available

Perhaps you might do some research as to the extensive, brutal testing Ford put the ecoboost v-6's though before they ever hit the market... From Baja, to LeMans, to Death Valley testing and so forth... they put the FIRST engine through grueling beta tests for 200,000 miles and tore it down. The results were astoundingly good.

I've no idea what paces the "Hurricane" motor was put through. ALL engines have Achilles heels.

 

[Docwagon1776]

Perhaps you might do some research as to the extensive, brutal testing Ford put the ecoboost v-6's though before they ever hit the market... From Baja, to LeMans, to Death Valley testing and so forth... they put the FIRST engine through grueling beta tests for 200,000 miles and tore it down. The results were astoundingly good.

I've no idea what paces the "Hurricane" motor was put through. ALL engines have Achilles heels.

Yet they still had to recall and warranty cam phasers.

Nothing against Ford, but that's just marketing. Early adoption is always more risky.

 

[Rustywallace]

Perhaps you might do some research as to the extensive, brutal testing Ford put the ecoboost v-6's though before they ever hit the market... From Baja, to LeMans, to Death Valley testing and so forth... they put the FIRST engine through grueling beta tests for 200,000 miles and tore it down. The results were astoundingly good.

I've no idea what paces the "Hurricane" motor was put through. ALL engines have Achilles heels.

Like I said, the metrics behind the Hurricane back up my opinion that it’s a superior engine over the Ecoboost. Apparently Stellantis tuned the Hurricane to 1,000 hp and put it through 200,000 miles of reliability testing. Definitely at least an equal boast if not greater than whatever Ford was claiming

 

[Rustywallace]

The motor isn't the only concern for long term reliability, though, and until Ram sorts out the new electrical architecture (Atlantis) and the hardware issues it's going to continue to have higher than acceptable failure rates.

What issues are the 5.3 motors having now? I know the 6.2 has went to hell in a handbasket leading to massive recalls and stop sales orders.

Yep, you’re spot on with the Atlantis gremlins. But I’d still hazard a guess and say numerically customers are reporting less issues than the other brands.

5.3 has prettty bad lifter issues as well. Their cylinder deactivation is quite a bit more complicated than 5.7 or 6.4 Hemis. At least the claims I’ve heard are around the AFM.

 

[Cmz2800]

Apparently, the 2026 model is going to be available with the 5.7 HEMI once again, not to mention the warranty is being expanded to 10 years, 100.000 miles only for original buyers from a dealer ... It might be worth the wait ...

Power train warranty is as good as a comdon with pin holes in it. Trash

 

[Mpgrimm2]

No regrets on purchase decision of 25 Warlock. Rides nice does everything it's supposed to... Coming from almost retired (me) and the Mrs. (Retired). No problems at all regarding engine or electric. Ours was built in April 2025. I am considering extended warranty coverage through Granger before we hit 3yr/36k miles for added piece of mind.

FYI... I believe the Mopar extended warranty price jumps initially between 11k-18k miles or somewhere in there.

 

[bluethunder2017]

I traded in 21 Ram Hemi for a 26 1500 Crew cab with the I6. Love the ride. and you cant gripe about the power. so far so good with no issues. Hwy gets about 24MPG. I dont think I will have a problem pulling My Challenger to a show on a trailer. lol