200,000 mile report

[Reverse]

My 2020 Limited recently crossed the 200,000 mile mark, so I thought I'd report on how it's held up over those miles.

Generally speaking, I love this truck. Even though there have been quite a few repairs, it has never left us stranded on the road, and only once at our house (dead battery). The Air Suspension is awesome, and has spoiled me for life. We regularly do road trips between GA and MI, and always arrive rested. It's a great long-distance tourer. The exterior and interior have so far held up very well, except for a small area on the leather dash that has started to lift slightly (and which I intend to get fixed under the extended warranty), and a clunk that occasionally is heard (I suspect it's the cab mounts). Currently, everything on the truck works, there are no lights on the dash, no defective components, etc.

I purchased an extended warranty for 7 years/unlimited miles (for $2400), so all of the repairs below have been fixed under warranty, except for:
- the brakes
- the fluids
- spark plugs
- E-Torque belt
- bushings

Because I have the OEM extended warranty, I followed Ram's suggestions for maintenance:
- replaced oil based on dash counter (usually between 9000 and 10,000 miles), always 5W20 full synthetic
- no transmission service
- spark plugs at 100,000 miles
- E-torque belt at 150,000 miles.

Most maintenance (including oil changes) was done at dealer.

Maintenance in the first 200,000 miles (excluding oil and tires):

12/14/2019 Purchased 2020 Limited 4x4
12/23/2019 Replaced Driver Assistance Module (Forward Facing Camera)
02/17/2020 Replaced Headlight (DRL LED broken)
06/25/2021 Replaced Exhaust Manifold (both sides)
01/19/2023 Serviced all Fluids (except transmission), replaced Spark Plugs
05/17/2023 Replaced sway bar bushings
05/23/2023 Replaced Inner Tie Rod (Rt side)
08/02/2023 Replaced Active Air Dam
04/17/2024 Replaced Exhaust Manifold (both sides)
09/09/2024 Replace #6 Coil Pack
11/19/2024 Replaced Rear Brakes
01/02/2025 Replaced Transmission
01/02/2025 Replaced E-Torque Belt
05/08/2025 Replaced Leaking Radiator

The extended warranty more than paid for itself. The transmission alone cost multiples of the extended warranty. Add the radiator, exhaust manifolds, and Active Air Dam, and the repairs well exceed $10,000.

At the last oil change around 199,000, I sent a sample into Blackstone. See results (and previous analyses) in the report below (also attached).

My plan was to replace it next year with a 2026 RHO, but the many problems that are being reported give me pause. Hopefully Ram gets its act together and fixes the software problems.

 

[Skater]

Brakes? Replace pads, turn rotors, or was there a factory defect? I did not think any warranty covered brake pad replacement due to normal wear and tear from operation.

 

[Reverse]

Brakes? Replace pads, turn rotors, or was there a factory defect? I did not think any warranty covered brake pad replacement due to normal wear and tear from operation.

Right, that's why I listed the brakes in the exclusion list. They replaced rotors.

 

[dajogejr]

Now you’ve gone and done it. You’re gonna tweak the must change the oil every 3 to 5K crowd and backed it up with results.
On my 4th RAM with a Hemi. I’ve always changed oil at factory recommended intervals via the dash, and it’s usually in the 8 to 10K mile range, depending on my schedule/availability to do so at the dealer.
I never go over miles, usually change it when it’s at or around 10% life left and I have time to bring it in.
I picked up the 8yr, 125K Max Care. It more than paid for itself on my 2015 Limited.
I agree….once you go air ride, it’s hard to go back. Even though on my 2015 it was in the shop 4 times for air ride issue.

Nearly 29K on my 23 Limited, zero air ride issues this time around.
On my 23 it’s been to the dealer to replace the turn signal stalk and the rear end due to a slight clunk noise.
They also replaced the USB hub because they said it was bad..but I never knew.. I always charge my phone wirelessly and never use the USB.

Just got back from a nice weekend in Chicago from Detroit, just ate up the miles and such a pleasure to drive.
I miss the acceleration of my old 3.92 gears on my 15, but… I really enjoy the fuel savings of the 3.21s.

As I near 8 year/125K miles.. I’ll be looking to trade in and hopping on a plane to Mark Dodge to drive my next Ram home, but I got plenty of time

Great report Reverse. Thanks!

 

[2021QCBH]

I’m right at 100k. Mines been great other than a few small things. Minor creak in the LH front suspension at low speed breaking (need to figure that out). Rusted exhaust bolt broken at cat to muffler flange. The air dam just failed so I wired it up and dis connected until I get it pulled out. The big one is it’s had an ever so slight diff howl at light deceleration around 62 mph. Been about the same until last week it got a bit louder. Dumped the 75-90 for 75-140 and it’s way quieter but still there. I tow a ton but not too heavy. Will handle it at some point but it turns smoothly and doesn’t get hot.

One would wonder if your transmission would have lasted a long time if it was serviced as it should be vs the “lifetime” recommendation.

Non issue for you since it had warranty but for other guys who don’t have warranty it’s a concern. How many miles when the transmission failed ?

I got busy and didn’t service mine until 78k. PPE pan added and the fluid coming out was barely darker than the new stuff. No trace of anything in the pan whatsoever and nothing on the magnets.

 

[Reverse]

Now you’ve gone and done it. You’re gonna tweak the must change the oil every 3 to 5K crowd and backed it up with results.
On my 4th RAM with a Hemi. I’ve always changed oil at factory recommended intervals via the dash, and it’s usually in the 8 to 10K mile range, depending on my schedule/availability to do so at the dealer.

It's always called 'cheap insurance' or something like that. I consider it expoensive insanity to change oil every 3000 miles.

We have owned 4 Hemis so far, all of which have gone at least 100,000 miles while we owned them, all on this same maintenance schedule. We still own two of them , both over 200,000 miles now, and never an oil-related problem.

 

[Reverse]

One would wonder if your transmission would have lasted a long time if it was serviced as it should be vs the “lifetime” recommendation.

Probably. If I didn't have an extended warranty, I would probably change transmission oil very 60,000 miles or so. That said, we have a 2014 with 235,000 miles which is still going strong on the original transmission oil... (knock on wood)

 

[2021QCBH]

So what mileage did the trans fail at ?

 

[1791]

my heads about to explode

 

[Reverse]

So what mileage did the trans fail at ?

at around 167,000 miles

 

[boogielander]

how can that be! I was told Rams are not reliable! Ram doesn't go over 100k miles before blowing up!
All those are words from members of Cult of Toyota

anyways, good job!
side note: heard TRX is coming back. might want to get that instead lol