Recent Warranty Work

[TommyG]

2012 with 64,XXX on the odometer

Noticed a slow fluid leak on the right side. Was sure I would find an axle seal leaking but it turned out to be a transmission cooling line running past the right side of the motor. Had to be replaced. Glad I noticed before it failed completely and left me sitting.

Driver's side seat belt has been sluggish and/or would not retract. They are replacing the entire assembly. It will be here this week.

Surprise, surprise - left side wheel bearing. Also replaced.

The left front started to growl when I threw it into 4 high to drive in the snow about a week ago. I figured U joint or wheel bearing and made an appointment. Then I thought better have them look at this stupid seat belt while it is there. Luckily found the leak the day before I dropped it off. It was dripping onto the top of the right side frame rail and finally accumulated enough there to drip onto the ground. The girl at the desk looked at me like I was crazy when I started rattling all that stuff off in one visit. No drama about taking care of any of it from them.

[FordyceCreekTrail]

That is a lot of work for a super low mileage truck. Its the kind of thing that worries me about my long term satisfaction with Ram. My drivers seat belt retract er is operating like my Japanese counterparts did at around 150K. That is really annoying. I may need to get mine looked at as well. Stupid to be slamming a the door on a seat belt in a brand new vehicle. Only at 4K miles right now.

[TommyG]

I know. I love this truck and don't mind it right now because I have the extended warranty but I wonder how I will feel when two or three things go at once when I have to foot the bill. I am hoping that most of the gremlins work their way out before I am out of warranty.

It happens though. I was a Toyota guy forever until I went through the frame rust recall on my Tundra. It was paid for and that was going to be a long term keeper until the frame issue.

Have them look at your belt. Mine was doing exactly the same thing. I am guessing that they are having issues with a lot of them. They had to order one from their national warehouse and it was a week wait to get it.

[FordyceCreekTrail]

Leaky hose I get, it happens. But you do have to wonder why after all these years they struggle with something like unit bearings. Time will tell, so far pretty impressed with how the truck feels. Not as smooth as the Titan in some ways, like engine idle, but that's probably MDS. Had some hard clunks starting out a few times, but that may have been the transmission breaking in. Seems better now. I got some extra warranty as well.

Got my owners manual yesterday that they forgot to give me. I just assumed it was all on the U-connect.

[TommyG]

I don't think they want to fix the unit bearing thing. They are too busy selling them.

Don't get too worried. They are great trucks. I have appreciated knowing what issues others have had so I try to post if I have an issue. It has only been in once before this one for the exhaust stud issue that the 5.7s have. I had many more recalls and TSBs sideline my Tundra than this truck.

[FordyceCreekTrail]

That is the good news, we tend to know the problems. Front suspension, Unit bearings, smart bar.....Hopefully no more transmission non-sense.

[coder]

Hello TommyG,

A 3/4 ton 4x4 that is six years old, those don't seem like unreasonable repairs especially if you 'go off road. If it was me I would replace the other hub they usually fail pairs Rockauto has good prices, SKF makes the Mopar hubs.

[FordyceCreekTrail]

Maybe heavy duty trucks require more repairs? That seems counter intuitive. But you have to recognize where Japanese truck buyers come from. I would not expect repairs at all under say 125K. I beat the snot out of my 05 Titan( took it off-roading some, live off-road, got stuck fourhweeling towing an excavator in mud, recovered many heavy duty trucks while building house....Ripped off nerf bar in the Devils Punch Bowl) and only replaced shocks, pinon seals and brakes on the lower half of the truck, even in 250K miles. ( also things like AC, Radiator, exhaust manifolds, and couple of oil lines) Hell I did not even check the oil. I was talking with a neighbor that traded an old Dodge he bought used in on a Tundra during the game last night, he is 51 and I am 48. We both grew up when American trucks were so bad it was insanity to buy one. He is still scared to buy one, even though that Old Dodge beater did pretty good for a few years. I told him with the quality improvements and the fact Japanese truck makers are no longer innovating with trucks( they want us to just buy because they are reliable) I had to give FCA a chance. I think it would behoove US truck makers to understand just how large of a market there is of buyers in my age range that feel the same. No doubt they do. But one reason I struggled with my purchase was knowing Unit bearings and ball joints wont last...yet on my Titan nothing like that ever had to be replaced......And I wanted to make sure the decades of legendary transmissions issues were over. However the 60K oil change intervals don't inspire confidence....If its just Unit bearings and ball joints in 150-200K then it will equal or exceed my Titans reliability. And lots of people I work with are extremely happy with new Rams so....Thing is, if my truck is Reliable, and if FCA keeps innovating I am known to be brand loyal.

[TommyG]

Hello TommyG,

A 3/4 ton 4x4 that is six years old, those don't seem like unreasonable repairs especially if you 'go off road. If it was me I would replace the other hub they usually fail pairs Rockauto has good prices, SKF makes the Mopar hubs.

I will probably do the other side once it warms up here.

I sort of expected to need thing like this when I bought the truck. I did my homework first, hence the extended warranty. Wasn't really upset about it just wanted to put up an FYI in case anyone else runs into the trans line or seat belt issue. I knew the bearings were going to come up and am going to look hard at a free spin kit once the warranty is up. Somehow it makes me feel better to read here and find out something that is going on with mine is a known issue or has at least cropped with someone else in the group.

[olyelr]

Speaking of ball joints, any of you new truck owners have wobbly uppers yet? When i rotated my tires for the first time with under 3000 miles there was already a little play in them. I figured they came that way from the assembly line.

[DamageWagon]

It is a little funny to me how the new truck owners find so many little faults with their trucks. Ten years ago guys had real problems with their trucks. Now, it’s down to almost nothing. These trucks are already at the point of reliability of the old import vehicles, and hugely more capable. Sure we have unit bearings that go out, ball joints that wear. There are already excellent aftermarket solutions for those problems. Any gripes with the new Rams seem to be caused because the owner doesn’t actually have something real to complain about haha.

My truck has its own tales of reliability. There is no platform that I know of, especially including a Toyota, that could work law enforcement on a reservation for 100,000 miles, crash off the road and wrap a fence around the driveshaft, then get Kings added to it and pound whoops in the desert, and still with 180,000 miles have only minor repairs including one wheel bearing and some exhaust bolts. The only major repair on my truck was after the front driveshaft blew up and took the transfer case with it, but that’s a lack of maintenance problem. The newer trucks refined things way more than my 2011 and are even more reliable.

[olyelr]

Yea my guess is the more problematic areas on the new trucks are gonna be electrical related issues more than anything. That alone made me swing for the lifetime warranty. Sure a lift and tires may void any drivetrain related issues but i will be damned if they claim it made a zillion dollar radio nav setup quite working.

[FordyceCreekTrail]

I really don't think so. Electrical Gremlin seem pretty rare on Rams. And things like Sat Nav are really solid. That being said my Garage door has un-programed 2 times and I am going to try to figure that out now. Anyone else have that issue?

[olyelr]

No, not yet.

[TommyG]

It is a little funny to me how the new truck owners find so many little faults with their trucks. Ten years ago guys had real problems with their trucks. Now, it’s down to almost nothing. These trucks are already at the point of reliability of the old import vehicles, and hugely more capable. Sure we have unit bearings that go out, ball joints that wear. There are already excellent aftermarket solutions for those problems. Any gripes with the new Rams seem to be caused because the owner doesn’t actually have something real to complain about haha.

My truck has its own tales of reliability. There is no platform that I know of, especially including a Toyota, that could work law enforcement on a reservation for 100,000 miles, crash off the road and wrap a fence around the driveshaft, then get Kings added to it and pound whoops in the desert, and still with 180,000 miles have only minor repairs including one wheel bearing and some exhaust bolts. The only major repair on my truck was after the front driveshaft blew up and took the transfer case with it, but that’s a lack of maintenance problem. The newer trucks refined things way more than my 2011 and are even more reliable.

You hit it. I thought at different times that my Tacoma and then my Tundra would be "the keeper". When I drive my Wagon I can't believe that I thought either of them was enough truck. I still get a huge grin when I walk out and see the Wagon the driveway. It would have to seriously be a basket case over and over again to make me want to part with it. I love that I can wheel the stuffing out of it then latch on to our 30 foot camper and cruise home at the end of the weekend in comfort.

[DocPaulo]

Speaking of ball joints, any of you new truck owners have wobbly uppers yet? When i rotated my tires for the first time with under 3000 miles there was already a little play in them. I figured they came that way from the assembly line.

My uppers were tight but replaced it anyway. 42kmiles on them. Went emf

[TommyG]

In this episode of I Love My Extended Warranty we replaced upper and lower ball joints on both sides, complete tie rod assembly, front pinion seal and a starter or ignition computer module (turn the key and get 12 to everything but it would not turn the starter over).

[adeluca73]

Hello TommyG,

A 3/4 ton 4x4 that is six years old, those don't seem like unreasonable repairs especially if you 'go off road. If it was me I would replace the other hub they usually fail pairs Rockauto has good prices, SKF makes the Mopar hubs.

Coder--an infinite well of knowledge about cost effective replacement parts, impressive.

[DamageWagon]

SKF hubs are the ticket!! Timkens suck on these trucks. SKF is also the Napa house brand for our trucks and comes with a lifetime warranty...