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The Ram warranty provides bumper-to-bumper coverage for 3 years/36,000 miles and powertrain coverage for 5 years/60,000 miles, plus other perks. Auto Cover
Brogan is a Motor1.com Senior Writer based in Central Oregon. He produces in-depth auto product guides on topics spanning from auto warranties and insurance to tips on how to sell a car.
Although Ram has a reputation for making rugged work vehicles, reliability is not one of its strong points. And considering what Ram owner s likely put their truck through, it’s important to make sure you can cover the cost of the potentially plentiful repairs you’re going to need throughout its lifetime.
If you bought your truck new, you’re covered by the Ram warranty, which covers you for 3 years/36,000 miles, whichever comes first. However, once that runs out, you’re on your own, and that can come a lot sooner than you might realize.
Here, we’re going to go over everything that’s covered in the Ram warranty and give you some insight on a few options for extended warranties – both from Ram and some third-party providers.
*Based on data from our users.
At Motor1.com, we're dedicated to supplying car owners with the well-researched information they need to make sound decisions about auto warranties. Our editorial team consists of experienced automotive researchers, writers, and editors that follow strict guidelines to ensure that our articles are unbiased and fact checked.
To compile our product reviews and rankings, our team continuously evaluates dozens of warranty companies to compare plans, coverage, costs, customer service, and transparency. We verify each provider’s quality through our hands-on research process. More than 1,500 hours of research has gone into analyzing past customer reviews and mystery shopping top providers to gather pricing quotes for various plans. We’ve also surveyed 2,000 extended warranty customers to learn what matters most to consumers when purchasing a warranty. Lastly, to obtain first-hand product knowledge our team bought five warranty plans from separate providers to test the coverage levels and claims process of each company.
Read our full warranty review methodology and our editorial guidelines.
As far as automakers go, Ram is a fairly new company – and currently a subsidiary of Stellantis (formerly known as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles). Ram was originally a line of pickup trucks called the Dodge Ram, which later became the independent Ram company that we know today.
Ram makes hardy vehicles, but it doesn’t have a reputation for great reliability. Like all vehicles, you’re going to need to deal with repairs – you may just have a bit more with a Ram.
The Ram factory warranty is made of several separate warranties, each with varying term lengths:
Overall, the Ram warranty is comprehensive, but it doesn’t last very long. Both the bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties are average, if not slightly below, when compared to other manufacturer warranties.
*OEM = Original equipment manufacturer parts
If your Ram truck suffers a mechanical breakdown on the side of the road, the Ram factory warranty’s roadside assistance lasts for 5 years/60,000 miles and covers:
*Ram, Fiat, Dodge, Jeep, and Chrysler dealerships
The Ram warranty doesn’t cover regular maintenance or issues with tires or modifications. It also won’t cover damages that come from:
You may need extended warranty coverage if your Ram truck is more likely to break down over time. This largely depends on how much you drive the Ram truck and how reliable the brand’s parts are known for.
Unfortunately, if Ram is known for one thing, it’s not its reliability. The J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study℠ records problems drivers experience with three-year-old vehicles. It rates Ram just below average for the industry.
Similarly, RepairPal rates Ram 3.0 out of 5.0 for reliability while considering things like average repair cost and breakdown frequency. It ranks the brand 23rd out of 32 auto manufacturers overall. According to these sources, your Ram truck is more likely to suffer mechanical breakdown after a few years.
One thing you’ll need to consider as a Ram owner is that you own a work truck, not an easy-going commuter vehicle. While some owners may use their Ram vehicles solely to get from point A to point B, many will be using them for their intended purposes: towing and hauling heavy materials.
Some may even use their trucks for plowing snow, which puts a tremendous amount of stress on the vehicles. Because of this, you may find you need more regular repairs and maintenance given the added stress placed on the vehicle.
To get an idea of how much typical repairs cost, let’s take a look at some Ram repair cost estimates from RepairPal* :
*RepairPal is a trusted site that analyzes average repair prices, part replacement costs, maintenance costs, recalls, and mechanical problems across many auto manufacturer brands and models.
Extended warranties can help with some of these costs, though wearable components like spark plugs and brake pads aren’t usually covered. It’s important to decide whether you’re comfortable paying warranty bills for a mechanical breakdown that may never happen, or paying astronomically more out of pocket if your truck does suffer mechanical failure. Extended warranties can be very helpful when needed, but they’re also a gamble.
As your Ram ages, you can expect to encounter repairs more frequently. Our team asked the Director of Marketing at Endurance, Jessica Campbell, what the most common repairs are for high-mileage vehicles. Here’s what she had to say:
“Transmissions are the most common repair claim, followed by water pumps. Repair costs can vary widely depending on several factors, including vehicle type, model, age, and the complexity of the individual repair.”
Ram’s extended warranty is fulfilled by Mopar ® , a parts, services, and customer care division of Stellantis. Unlike Ram’s factory warranty, the Ram extended warranty is not actually a warranty – it’s an extended service contract. Functionally, a service contract is pretty much the same, but it’s technically a separately purchased contract that says Ram will pay for certain repairs if something goes wrong within a specified timeframe or mileage limit.
For your Ram truck, you can choose between two Mopar ® Vehicle Protection Plans. Maximum CareSM covers nearly everything from the factory warranty for up to 8 years/125,000 miles. Added Care Plus is a cheaper option that covers most major systems for up to 8 years/150,000 miles, plus the engine and transmission.
For further context of Ram extended warranty options, the graphic below shows the major differences between the two most popular coverage choices in the extended warranty industry: the bumper-to-bumper contract and the powertrain plan.
Extended warranties can be purchased whether you have a new or pre-owned Ram, but there are stipulations for each:
Ram extended warranties also offer:
Ram’s certified pre-owned warranty extends the original Ram powertrain warranty up to 7 years/100,000 miles, which is a sizable 2-year increase.
However, when it comes to the bumper-to-bumper warranty, Ram hardly extends the warranty at all. If you buy a certified pre-owned Ram, you’ll only get a 3-month/3,000-mile extension on the original warranty.
Ram does offer full transferability to the next owner, however, which is a nice perk.
If you want to keep your vehicle protected, an extended warranty from Ram can offer peace of mind: You know your vehicle will be serviced by Ram technicians, and you’ll always get original manufacturer parts.
However, there’s not much flexibility in terms of plan options and eligibility, and you’re severely limited as to where you can get your vehicle serviced since you can only go to Ram service centers.
When you purchase a third-party car warranty, you get one major benefit: flexibility. Most third-party providers offer many more coverage options, and you don’t need to go to the dealer to order a plan. Your plan is rolled up into your vehicle’s financing, which means you won’t pay interest on your service plan.
It’s always a good idea to get quotes from more than one company, so you can compare pricing and determine what is right for you. Plus, you have fewer restrictions as to where you can service your vehicle. Use the tool below to get free quotes from the three providers we recommend most:
*Based on data from our users.
Some third-party extended warranty providers, like Endurance , have over 30,000 authorized service centers in the U.S., which means you have a greater chance of being able to bring your vehicle to your favorite auto shop.
Based on a warranty survey our team conducted in 2023, 59 percent of the 1,000 respondents chose to buy their extended coverage from their manufacturer. Twenty-one percent chose a third-party warranty provider. For independent warranty company consumers, 60 percent chose CarShield .
The Ram warranty has you covered for 3 years/36,000 miles with bumper-to-bumper protection and 5 years/60,000 miles with powertrain protection. But after the factory warranty is over, Ram repair costs tend to be higher than average. Compare Mopar’s extended plans with third-party options to find the best deal.
Here are a few frequently asked questions about Ram warranties:
No, Ram does not offer a lifetime warranty. The Ram warranty is broken into several different parts, and the bumper-to-bumper warranty only lasts 3 years/36,000 miles.
Dodge and Ram are not the same brand anymore. Before 2010, Ram trucks were called the Dodge Ram. However, in 2012, Ram became its own standalone brand, separate from Dodge.
In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of extended auto warranty companies to formulate rankings of the best providers. Companies receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
Brogan is a Motor1.com Senior Writer based in Central Oregon. He produces in-depth auto product guides on topics spanning from auto warranties and insurance to tips on how to sell a car.
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