Second thoughts on 2019 Ram

[davel]

I just retired and was all excited to buy a new truck. I looked at and drove Ford, GMC and Ram. I currently own a 2003 GMC that was at the dealer a lot for the first 3-4 years. I really fell in love with Ram and some of my co-workers have 2016- 2017 and have had very little issues with them. I started reading this forum a couple months ago and registered yesterday. I can't believe all the problems guys are having with the 2019's. Even one of the sales guys at a local dealer told me to wait till the 20's are out because of all the new model issues. I really want a new truck now but really scared to pull the trigger on a Ram right now. Do you think the 2020's will have all the bugs worked out? When will the 2020's come out? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

[392DCGC]

All the bugs? Maybe, maybe not. Problems with 1st model year vehicles are pretty common. I wouldn't say any of the problems I've experienced are truly horrendous... it's a great truck, the best of all trucks right now if you ask me. But if you have issues, it will be annoying considering the cost. 2020 models will not get produced until a year from now. If you can wait that long, I'd recommend it, or at the very least, buy the newest built 2019 you can find.

 

[Jordan2929]

I don't think anybody on here has had catastrophic failures with anything, the clunk could be annoying and that's really the only thing there isn't a definite fix for. Almost everything else on the forums is an easy fix if you have a competent service department (which is a huge factor in buying a vehicle IMO). But it you'd feel more comfortable waiting for the next model year there's nothing wrong with that.

 

[SpeedyV]

I just retired and was all excited to buy a new truck. I looked at and drove Ford, GMC and Ram. I currently own a 2003 GMC that was at the dealer a lot for the first 3-4 years. I really fell in love with Ram and some of my co-workers have 2016- 2017 and have had very little issues with them. I started reading this forum a couple months ago and registered yesterday. I can't believe all the problems guys are having with the 2019's. Even one of the sales guys at a local dealer told me to wait till the 20's are out because of all the new model issues. I really want a new truck now but really scared to pull the trigger on a Ram right now. Do you think the 2020's will have all the bugs worked out? When will the 2020's come out? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

I’m loving mine, despite a few minor issues observed at delivery. We ordered our Longhorn in May after test-driving the F-150 Limited and GMC Sierra Denali, despite substantial discounts on those trucks, and we took delivery in September.

If you’re sensitive to potential issues and don’t need a new vehicle yet, you might wait (or lease). Reliability is important to me, too, and I’m very curious to see how my first 11 months of ownership goes. If it’s a good truck for us, I’ll buy a lifetime warranty and keep it indefinitely.

 

[alacombe]

My advice is go buy the 2019 just dont get the 12in screen. Appears most of the issues are coming from this screen.

 

[356]

Do what I did (and SpeedyV recommended) and get the Mopar Lifetime Warranty (after purchase). Peace of mind for the long haul. I’m really enjoying this truck.

 

[troutspinner]

2020 isn’t going to bring some magical “new” problem free Ram. 2020 will simply mark that FCA, it’s dealers, techs and supporting industries will have a little more experience than they have today. Go get your Ram, it has a warranty and start reading the problem free thread here. There are many of us here who do not have any issues. Also realize that many issues posted on the internet are things people don’t understand, rather than actual problems.

 

[syddog 2000]

As others have said, New models are going to come with glitches. It is the dealer network which has to come thru for us. I did choose to lease for the first time in my life, I felt more comfortable with that option being a new and very expensive truck. I can drive the best for now, buy it at lease end if I choose or if the bugs don't get fixed see what comes in three years.

 

[alwi228]

This truck WITH the minor bugs I’ve had is still light years better than the next best truck out there. Absolutely no regrets here, go get yourself a Ram my friend.

 

[blownout1500]

In love with mine. Zero issues so far. You’re in the same new model year boat with Chevy/GMC, so it’s really just new model Ram vs. the ‘mature’ F150 or Tundra. I was dead set on an F150 but forced myself to drive them all and was blown away by the Ram. Best truck available right now, IMHO.

 

[Jus Cruisin]

I just retired and was all excited to buy a new truck. I looked at and drove Ford, GMC and Ram. I currently own a 2003 GMC that was at the dealer a lot for the first 3-4 years. I really fell in love with Ram and some of my co-workers have 2016- 2017 and have had very little issues with them. I started reading this forum a couple months ago and registered yesterday. I can't believe all the problems guys are having with the 2019's. Even one of the sales guys at a local dealer told me to wait till the 20's are out because of all the new model issues. I really want a new truck now but really scared to pull the trigger on a Ram right now. Do you think the 2020's will have all the bugs worked out? When will the 2020's come out? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

I've written this in other threads........ If you go to ANY enthusiast forum, truck or car, and base a buying decision based on complaint threads you'd never buy anything. GM trucks, Ford trucks forums are littered with problem threads. No different here. It's the nature of forums.

There are literally thousands of the new Rams on the road now. My dealer has sold plenty and the service department isn't full of them. In fact they aren't experiencing any more issues than any of the the Dodge, Jeep Chrysler lines they carry.

If you're a worry-wart, don't buy anything. Me? I buy stuff with no intention of keeping it "forever". If I get something I don't like, I get something else. No big deal. I don't lose sleep worrying about it. I've been fortunate with my trucks lately. Dodge, Ram and F150 have all been good. Perfect? No, but all excellent trucks.

 

[steveved]

I also read the forums before getting my 2019. Most of the issues seemed to center around the clunk, the leaking sunroof and the 12inch screen.

So, my Laramie has the sport appearance package, the 8.4 inch screen, eTorque Hemi and NO sunroof.

I have had it nearly 3 weeks now and besides occasionally hearing (you feel it in the floor more than hear it) the clunk when turning, I have had ZERO issues with this truck.

So, IMHO, if you get one without sunroof and forego the 12 inch screen, you really won't be disappointed.

 

[MTRHEAD]

What Jus Crusin said. Go to any vehicle forum and you will see plenty of problem threads. Minimal compared to how many are on the road. My Ford Platinum just had 3 recall's done before i traded it but it was still a great truck.

 

[Jus Cruisin]

I also read the forums before getting my 2019. Most of the issues seemed to center around the clunk, the leaking sunroof and the 12inch screen.

So, my Laramie has the sport appearance package, the 8.4 inch screen, eTorque Hemi and NO sunroof.

I have had it nearly 3 weeks now and besides occasionally hearing (you feel it in the floor more than hear it) the clunk when turning, I have had ZERO issues with this truck.

So, IMHO, if you get one without sunroof and forego the 12 inch screen, you really won't be disappointed.

I've got the pano-roof, 12" screen and have zero issues with either. Now that it's in the high 80's I'm opening and closing the roof a lot. Works great. It sat outside when the outer bands of Michael came through. Rain was going sideways with 60 mph gusts. No leaks......

 

[jkratze1]

I've had very few problems with my May build 2019 Laramie. I don't have the sunroof or 12 inch screen though and problems have been reported with both. I have no front end clunk and no brake squeal and I have 3800 miles on the truck. I really am enjoying my truck.

 

[Flot]

Reading the threads on here I can see reasons to wait. Increases in quality were obvious over the first few months of production. I am VERY happy with my truck and it has been relatively trouble-free (I even have a 12" screen that works just fine) however they are definitely shipping with issues. I'm pretty patient and understand the challenges of a new release, however this is not rocket science and many of the issues are things that they simply should have worked out before release.

I have bought 3 brand new model Hondas that didn't go back to the dealer with a problem before 20k miles. As consumers, we shouldn't give Ram a pass like it's okay to release a buggy product. If I had known then what I know now - I would have waited until about this time to order my Ram. I assume quality will continue to improve over the next few months. It is a great truck and a great design, but something was definitely lacking in the release process.

 

[Ramjack]

Of the problems with the 2019s, the sub-par air conditioning concerns me the most. I think it is the issue that FCA is least likely to acknowledge and address. Living in the southeast makes this tough to swallow. It is such a nice truck that I'm not giving up just yet, but I suspect it is a problem on every 2019 out there. Some people just aren't as sensitive to it as others. Those that say the AC is fine but just not as cold as their 2016 Ram, that sounds like a problem to me.

 

[steveved]

Of the problems with the 2019s, the sub-par air conditioning concerns me the most. I think it is the issue that FCA is least likely to acknowledge and address. Living in the southeast makes this tough to swallow. It is such a nice truck that I'm not giving up just yet, but I suspect it is a problem on every 2019 out there. Some people just aren't as sensitive to it as others. Those that say the AC is fine but just not as cold as their 2016 Ram, that sounds like a problem to me.

All I can say is that mine was built in August. I have found that if I put the AC in auto mode, it is never as cold as if I just hit the AC button and NOT auto. I see this as a software bug, not a problem with the AC.

I live in NC. The first week I had this we were seeing 96 -98 degrees F and 82% humidity. Felt like walking in a sauna. Yet, if I hit the AC button and ignored Auto, the AC was good and cold.

So, I am fine with the AC in this truck. I hope they fix the auto settings when I take her in for her first service.

 

[VaderRebel]

Build date is in my sig, zero mechanical issues. My Rebel is my dream truck. Dealership was scared/surprised to see me last week when I came in for an alignment... a collective sigh of relief was heard around the building when they all realized it wasn't for something wrong/warranty related. The reason they were happy was they were all involved in my 4th Gen nightmare with my 16' Rebel and thought I had been dealt another dud.

Point of my little story is that the 4th Gen was a well established truck, built by the amazing Warren plant and still had massive issues. I never read a single forum post before buying it, because I just wanted it. So I bought it.

It's too bad you spoiled your fun by reading a truck forum before buying. It never happened in the past, there were no forums to read, your test drive and the salesperson were your tools to decide. Now everyone has an outlet to vent their frustrations and anger when something goes wrong... usually emotions take over and exaggerate the issue.

But if you just retired, pardon my grim thought... but life is too short to deny yourself the pleasure of driving the nicest truck on the market, just because a handful of people are having issues on one or two forums.

Each to their own... now I'm going to take my kids to swimming lessons in the coolest truck I've ever owned. Cheers.

 

[Dusty1948]

I just retired and was all excited to buy a new truck. I looked at and drove Ford, GMC and Ram. I currently own a 2003 GMC that was at the dealer a lot for the first 3-4 years. I really fell in love with Ram and some of my co-workers have 2016- 2017 and have had very little issues with them. I started reading this forum a couple months ago and registered yesterday. I can't believe all the problems guys are having with the 2019's. Even one of the sales guys at a local dealer told me to wait till the 20's are out because of all the new model issues. I really want a new truck now but really scared to pull the trigger on a Ram right now. Do you think the 2020's will have all the bugs worked out? When will the 2020's come out? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

As some other posters have suggested, if you are 'problem' sensitive waiting for the most recent build 5th gen Ram 1500 the better. The 5th gens are being built in a new factory with completely new assembly machinery and by a staff that had not built Rams before. In retrospect I find it amazing that the problems we read about in here appear to affect a low percentage of the vehicles made so far by the factory. The factory is monitoring warrantee claims daily and addressing issues as the line rolls.

The problem I see is it may take awhile for the 2019s currently on dealers' lots to be refreshed with new inventory because there are still a lot of '18s in stock and the incentives are too good for many to pass up. My first two Rams were delivered totally problem free. My 2019 had three issues, all non-debilitating cosmetic, which makes sense since the power train has been in existence throughout the entire 4th gen series, and everything else is brand new.

The truth be told, look at the F150 or Silverado sites and you'll find a fair amount of the same type of complaints (which is especially noticeable since the current F150 is NOT a new build).

Best regards,
Dusty

2019 Ram 1500 Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Now at: 004418 miles.