Talk to me about quality

[bigoldthor]

I've always perceived the Dodge/Ram was inferior quality to my Fords. No offense... was just my perception. It's early but so far I'm very happy with mine.

Consumer Reports says the '15 is very good to excellent in every category. And yet, they rate it as below average reliability...I assume based on issues with earlier years in Gen 4? I'm a subscriber but confess their ratings model confuses me at times.

For my '16 (and based perhaps on 14s and 15s), what are the trouble spots if any to watch for? Not necessarily talking about performance or features but legitimate quality or reliability issues...if any.

TIA

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge using Tapatalk

 

[MANual_puller]

The most common engine issue is MDS lifters failing and swiping a cam lobe off ruining the engine. You can tune out the MDS from activating but the lifters can still fail when MDS is off. Easy to fix by swapping to non-MDS lifters and tuning it out. I say easy because to me it's easy but your average joe will need a mechanic to perform the surgery. Other than that get a catch can on it ASAP to keep the throttle body in good health and the intake clean and you're golden.

 

[kevperro]

I agree.... Chrysler products have always had a poor quality reputation. It was well deserved back in the 70s & 80s. I've owned various versions of the Caravan since 1999 and the bugaboo with them was the transmission. You just knew that it was going to give you about 100K and that was it. Of course since the vehicle is $10K less than a Honda or a Toyota it was acceptable to me.

I'm not so convinced that the current generation of Chrysler products suffer to the same degree. Even Consumer Reports will say that the absolute differences in quality between auto makers has shrunken. You just don't have huge quality differences.

Of course no matter the manufacture it is wise to not buy the first couple years of a new model or a refresh. Buy them late in their lifecycle and you are more likely to get something that has had some of the demons exercised. Also in my motto is to steer clear of unneeded complexity. Don't buy options that you don't need and don't go for design features that are sold in low volume that are expensive to fix.

 

[AzRamLover]

I've always perceived the Dodge/Ram was inferior quality to my Fords. No offense... was just my perception. It's early but so far I'm very happy with mine.

Consumer Reports says the '15 is very good to excellent in every category. And yet, they rate it as below average reliability...I assume based on issues with earlier years in Gen 4? I'm a subscriber but confess their ratings model confuses me at times.

For my '16 (and based perhaps on 14s and 15s), what are the trouble spots if any to watch for? Not necessarily talking about performance or features but legitimate quality or reliability issues...if any.

TIA

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge using Tapatalk

I have some thoughts on this. Keep in mind: I have 99th percentile hearing and am in the 99.99th percentile for being ****.

And again, I made the best decision I could with the information I had at the time.

But specific to quality ****:

1) Dashboard rattles intermittently, esp. temps < 60 deg
2) Headliner rattles intermittently above driver's head, near front left corner of sunroof
3) Rear glass cable rattles against glass (easy fix w/ felt tape but still)
4) Center console rattled horribly on stock rubber pads (easy fix using Home Depot EPDM but still)
5) Driver's seat cushion attachment bar (front of seat, all the way at the bottom) repeatedly separates
6) Passenger map light low/flickering (requires removal of entire center roof unit to fix)
7) Driver front, passenger front, and passenger rear door/window seals rattle during high cross winds
8) Shuddering heard when rear doors (driver or passenger) slammed - source still not isolated
9) Metallic exhaust rattling heard under heavy acceleration ~4.5K RPMs - source not isolated
10) Clicking from driver's wheel well over speed bumps when temps < 60 deg
11) Leaky CHMSL (fixed by dealer but still)
12) Exhaust tips slightly misaligned from factory (driver's side ~1cm lower than passenger)
13) Passenger rear roof speaker separating from headliner

It's **** as hell and a lot of people tell me to quit being such a *****.

 

[kevperro]

Exhaust tips slightly misaligned from factory (driver's side ~1cm lower than passenger)

It's **** as hell and a lot of people tell me to quit being such a *****.

Stop being such a *****. Get a 2x4.... leverage it under that exhaust pipe and straighten er' out!

 

[Hemipower392]

Mine gives me no fits! Love it

 

[Mossybloak]

I have #'s 1, 2, and 4. Dealership is fixing #2 under a TSB. What is #3? I may have this as well but haven't been able to track it down yet.

 

[flipkc]

Just bought my 16' Sport in January.

Here are a few things I've done:

- Get bed realigned (slightly tilted to one side)
- Get rear passenger door realigned flush to cab
- Get dent on rear driver side cab fixed (came like this from factory)

After getting those sorted out, the truck's been great to me! I was a Ford guy forever, but the Ram's came in nicer sorted package for much more value. I also required a QC with the 6' bed.

 

[MANual_puller]

I have #'s 1, 2, and 4. Dealership is fixing #2 under a TSB. What is #3? I may have this as well but haven't been able to track it down yet.

Has to be something to do with the power slider rear window that I don't have No such problems here!

Now the Chevys at work are major rattle boxes! Ugh! And the 2 newest ones will be going in for the seatbelt recall as soon as we receive the notifications. Dealers aren't ready or equipped to fix it yet.

 

[BlownGP]

The most common engine issue is MDS lifters failing and swiping a cam lobe off ruining the engine. You can tune out the MDS from activating but the lifters can still fail when MDS is off. Easy to fix by swapping to non-MDS lifters and tuning it out. I say easy because to me it's easy but your average joe will need a mechanic to perform the surgery. Other than that get a catch can on it ASAP to keep the throttle body in good health and the intake clean and you're golden.

You sure you aint talking about the GM DOD? They have the lifter problems. Hemi's don't seem to have that issue..

 

[BlownGP]

I have some thoughts on this. Keep in mind: I have 99th percentile hearing and am in the 99.99th percentile for being ****.

And again, I made the best decision I could with the information I had at the time.

But specific to quality ****:

8) Shuddering heard when rear doors (driver or passenger) slammed - source still not isolated
9) Metallic exhaust rattling heard under heavy acceleration ~4.5K RPMs - source not isolated

That's crazy about number 8. I always hear some whacky noise when I close my rear doors in my garage. It sounds like something is rattling off the wall
But how can my rear doors cause something like that?
Just sounds like somethings lose and closing the door makes hit rattle.


I had #9 when I first bought my truck used, but I don't hear it anymore.

 

[schul788]

I had a rattle that was driving me crazy by the back of the sunroof but after some farting around found that it was the headliner around the sunroom came loose and was sagging a little. I just had to push is back up and snap it back into place, problem solved. If it happens again though I'll be bringing it in for a fix. Not really any other rattles as of this time.

 

[xrsman]

My truck has been decent. I had one MAP light replaced under warranty, and I think a couple other warranty things but I can't remember what they were, nothing major.

 

[RodRam]

Gm and Ford cost roughly 12-15k more for comprably equipped trucks thats why i switched from chevy, the mds issues i never heard of mine is fine the other makers have similar systems and every brand have a few bad units its unavoidable, ram has some minor problems but so do the others. So **** amd mpsn about the ram with 10k in my pocket is better imo. As for issues third brake light leaks 2.00 fix i dont have rattles add a catch can it helps enjoy it. Biggest problem i see is guys modding **** and crying because it dodnt turn out like they expected most being exhaust changes.

 

[arod412]

With the 4th gets, even though they haven't redesigned the exterior much (maybe headlights and led taillights), new tranny in 2014, they have redone the interior (2013+) and added air suspension in around 2014 and the diesel in 2015 so they have made modifications to the 4th Gen ram over the course of 7 years (4th Gen ram started in 2009).

I have my ram since 2012, and I have had zero issues with it. Just remember, you will here people ***** and complain alot more than those who are happy....because they are busy enjoying their trucks.

As far as overall troubles pots in my 4 years of ownership...I have heard of ball joints/upper control arm issues (Only when you plan on lifting it....there is no issues with it stock), 3rd break light water leak when raining, I have heard some tyranny issues here an there...but I'm not sure if it was the 6 speed or 8 speed tranny, people complain about hemi tick, but that usually goes away with better quality motor oil, but the big issues is dealer service ...and their overall quality and time of service.

Hope that helps.

Truck name: Rampage

 

[Jerry1984]

About 28k miles on mine. Initial paint quality left a little to be desired. Chunk of **** under paint on passenger door. Fixed under warranty. Had one random strange check engine light that ended up being nothing. Besides that it has been great!! Very minor issues. I bought lifetime max care extended warranty so I will know eventually!!

 

[mohemipar]

Idk if this might offend someone but IMO consumer reports is a pile of *********. In 2014 they picked the Tesla S as a top pick in which reliability is a big factor... dont put much stock into CR at least for car buying.

As I got older I came to accept that all manufacturers have pros and cons and they all put out cheap cars from time to time. Not only that, but when two guys have the same model, one might be perfect with zero issues and the other might be a lemon. My parents had a 2004 Jeep that they did nothing but very routine maintenance to and it never had a single mechanical or electronic issue by the time they sold it last year. Ive owned more than 6 GMs and experiences varied. Had 2 Northstar Cadillacs that were dead reliable in every way, one over 115,000 miles, and then a Tahoe that I had to dump because it had so many issues at only 50,000. Generally, i think German cars are more reliable than people give them credit for. My cousin has a BMW 3 series that he has put 100,000 miles on in 3 years and he's had a couple of minor issues but it runs very strong. I had no problems with 2 MB vehicles. RAM has been great and i have zero regrets buying it. No issues, no complaints. I am planning on keeping this truck for a long while and will most likely be trading for another RAM when the time finally comes! FCA is putting out some of the best vehicles on the road right now with Jeep/RAM/Dodge.

 

[Pull Ya]

Paint quality seems to be a topic that is often discussed. I've had no major problem with any of my 4rd Gen Rams(3). I also have a great dealer service dept so I guess I'm realllllly lucky, or at least I treat them with the same respect they show me, and it seems to work out pretty well.
Jay

 

[BigA]

I'm not really a brand loyal type person but I tend to sway towards Ram's/Dodges for there better looks and attitude though. My Ram is holding up well and it still drives tight and solid after two years. Only quality issue was the bed was crooked which was fixed before I bought the truck and the weather stripping around the rear doors was falling down which has been taken care of.

 

[chris3209]

I just want to emphasize the third brake light leak. I ended up with several inches of water under my driver side, rear seat multiple times before I finally got the problem fixed under warranty.