The Dodge Ram is a pickup truck built from 1994 to 2012 over 10 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 60.3% of those on record. Between 1985 and 2010 it grew 17 cm longer and gained 839 kg. Engines offered: V6, V8. Worth buying? It depends heavily on which year you buy at 3.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Ram is
The Dodge Ram is a pickup truck that Dodge built from 1994 to 2012 — 19 model years. Our measurements put it at 10 generations, the current one starting in 2003. It has been offered with V6, V8 power. Its closest siblings in the Dodge range: Charger, Challenger, Durango.
Where the Ram is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 8,219 Rams on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1B7, 1D7, 1D3, 1B6 | 1994-2004 | |
| Mexico | 3B7, 3D7, 387, 3B6 | 1994-2004 | |
| Canada | 2B6, 2B7, 2B4, 2B5 | 1994-2003 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Dodge VIN decide which of these 10 lines your Ram belongs to. What every character in a Ram VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Dodge Ram adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Ram generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Ram's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Ram that gives 10 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 556 cm | 313 cm | 1536 kg | - | - |
| 1986 | 533 cm | 313 cm | 1569 kg | -23 cm | +33 kg |
| 1987 | 533 cm | 333 cm | 1781 kg | +0 cm | +212 kg |
| 1988 | 535 cm | 324 cm | 1888 kg | +2 cm | +107 kg |
| 1989-1990 | 518 cm | 324 cm | 1891 kg | -17 cm | +3 kg |
| 1991-1994 | 535 cm | 324 cm | 1898 kg | +17 cm | +7 kg |
| 1995 | 559 cm | 333 cm | 2069 kg | +24 cm | +171 kg |
| 1996-2001 | 559 cm | 342 cm | 2067 kg | +0 cm | -2 kg |
| 2002 | 565 cm | 333 cm | 2218 kg | +6 cm | +151 kg |
| 2003-2010 | 573 cm | 357 cm | 2375 kg | +8 cm | +157 kg |
Between 1985 and 2010 the Ram gained 17 cm in length (+3.1%) and 839 kg in weight (+54.6%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Ram that is 839 kg against 17 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Dodge Ram tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Ram owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Dodge Ram have? Power & range
The Dodge Ram is offered with 2 powertrains — 3.7L 6-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Dodge Ram, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.7L · 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Regular |
| V8 | 5.7L · 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | RWD | Midgrade |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Can a Dodge Ram tow? Towing & payload
As a pickup, the Dodge Ram is built to tow and haul. The exact maximum towing capacity and payload depend on the engine, drivetrain and whether it has the factory tow package.
What sets your Ram's tow & payload rating:
- Engine — a larger or turbocharged engine tows more than the base unit.
- Drivetrain & axle — 4WD/AWD and the axle ratio shift the rating.
- Tow package — the factory towing package (hitch, wiring, transmission cooler) raises the max.
- Payload & GVWR — GVWR caps the combined load; more passengers and cargo lower how much you can tow.
Exact towing capacity, payload and GVWR are added per engine, drivetrain and trim — decode your VIN above, or check the driver's door-jamb and hitch labels. Curb weight from vehicle specifications.
The Ram by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Dodge Ram. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Ram | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 188 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 10,629 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,517/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 26 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Dodge Ram?
The Ram is a pickup truck, built from 1994 to 2012 across 10 generations. Engines offered: V6, V8.
Where is the Dodge Ram made?
Across 8,219 cars in our records the split is: the United States (60.3%), Mexico (36.6%), Canada (3.2%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Ram have?
10 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2003. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Ram grew 17 cm longer and gained 839 kg.
What is the Dodge Ram warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Ram reliable?
It scores 3.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Ram?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Dodge
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Charger | 1983–2026 | 133 | 98 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Dodge Challenger | 1981–2026 | 77 | 23 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Dodge Durango | 1995–2026 | 160 | 21 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Dodge Viper | 1992–2017 | 45 | 16 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Dodge Caravan | 1984–2008 | 208 | 35 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Dodge Journey | 2009–2023 | 53 | 22 mpg | 4.0/5 |
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