Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age, so 100% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Seat Belts, with 15 complaints.
Dodge RAM 50 years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 4 | 4 | yes | |
| 1989 | 4 | 3 | yes | |
| 1988 | 7 | 7 | yes | |
| 1987 | 7 | 6 | yes |
Among the 4 Dodge RAM 50 years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 1989, 1987, 1988; the three worth hunting are 1990, 1988, 1987.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 0% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 100% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 4% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
Systems by number of complaints, with the age at which each typically goes. The age column is the useful one — it tells you what to expect next on a car you already own, and what to inspect on one you are about to buy.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts | — | 1 | — | |
| Service Brakes | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | — | — | — | |
| Unknown Or Other | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System | — | — | — |
What else in this class
2 models share the RAM 50's vehicle class. Per production run, the GMC Sonoma draws 1.51, against 1.09 for the RAM 50. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the RAM 50 | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| GMC Sonoma | 50 | 1991–2004 | |
| Chevrolet S-10 Pickup | 12 | 1982–2005 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
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- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Dodge RAM 50 reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.09 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 1 class rivals we compared.
Which RAM 50 years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 1989, 1987, 1988. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 1990, 1988, 1987. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do RAM 50 problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age. The most reported system is Seat Belts, followed by Service Brakes.
Will the warranty cover RAM 50 problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 0% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 4% of the complaints here.
Is the RAM 50 more reliable than the GMC Sonoma?
Yes: 1.09 complaints per production run for the RAM 50 against 1.51 for the GMC Sonoma.
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