Dodge Ram 1500 Good Truck Bad Truck

Looking at getting a Dodge 2001 with a 5.9 Liter. What kind of gas mileage can I expect with that?? Any major issues experienced with a 2000 dodge?? Any help would be appreciated as I would like to get a good quality truck. Thanks

Just from my experience i would say bad truck. I bought a brand new 2000 1500 and had nothing but tranny trouble shortly after the warranty was up . I have heard of many others around that year with the same issue.

I think it is a good truck. Yes they have been notorious for transmissions but every truck has its flaws my tranny went out at 175000 I dont think that is too bad. Have had no problems pulling my boats Fuel milage is about the same as any other truck depending on how you drive it 12 to 17 mpg is what i have seen. If its what you want buy it all the major truck manufaturers have there flaws

Bad Truck! I have a friend with one and he has replaced a tranny to go along with a littany of other issues including, but not limited to: several oil leaks, broken gas gauge, cruise control broken , 4WD doesn’t work and power windows work when they want to. I would not be a good truck salesmen. Buy a Ford around the same year, I had an ’02 with 85,000 with no issues I traded in for an ’06 a year ago and I have a friend with an ’01 with 135,000 on it with no issues at all. Ford will be the only one to survive all of this garbage that’s going on now so that’s just another reason to go with them. Good luck what ever you decide.

I have a 2003 with the 5.9L that I bought new. I love it! does everything I want and bought it for. Mileage is a little low but it is a truck….

I have a buddy who has one. It keeps on plugging away. However he’s had all kinds of 4WD, tranny, and front end bearing problems. I’ve got a 2001 Chevy HD and I really haven’t put any dollars in repairs. Just maintenance. So comparing our two trucks, I’ve had much better luck/quality.

See I heard the tranny issues were with anything older then a 97?? I have a chevy and have a issue with the tranny just had a rebuilt one put in 15000 miles ago and the dealer say’s the rough shift isn’t right but the only way they can diagnose is to tear it down on my dime. I had the computer redone as the shift points were an issue I guess. I just have had enough with Chevy and there service. I know it is just one dealer also any body have a good dealer in southern minnesota norhtern iowa?

Ditto on Chevy’s service and parts, I was fed up with them as well. I was a Chevy guy for a long time but after owning a few I learned my lesson. I was constantly having fuel pump issues with mine and my wifes vehicles, and though it was under warranty it was a little rediculous. Switched to Ford about 4 years ago and haven’t looked back.

Please send all these Ram 1500’s with the tranny issues to me. I manage a Dodge service dept…. we could sure use the work…. haven’t seen a Ram trans issue as of late, except the one in the HD Diesel 2 weeks ago…. had 345,000 + miles, all pulling campers from Mid-USA to Canada non-stop… If I could suggest something, get a 5.7 litre Hemi, the gas mileage will be better than the 5.9, pulling or not, and the horsepower is increased. BTW, if you would buy a newer truck, get the LIFETIME warranty on it, that way you never have to worry about the tranny going out shortly after warranty runs out….

big G

I’m driving my 4th Dodge 1500 in the last 12 years. I have had no problems with any of my trucks, but then again I never keep them much past 50K miles either. I pull a large heavy boat and get about 12-13mpg towing, but straight highway…18-22mpg using cruise set at 64 mph.

Now that Chrysler has done away with their truck leasing programs, I’ll probably buy this one I have now at the end of the lease. My lease matures in July 2010, its a 2008 truck, it’ll have less than 30K miles, and the buy out is $17,800. Thats a 4 door, long bed, w/topper, and all the miles except the first 53 were put on by me.

I have a 2002 that is just clicking over the 50,000 mile mark and have had no issues whatsoever. Were these tranny issues more prevalent pre-2002? I researched before buying and Dodge Rams ranked just behind Toyota Tundras.

The Dodge tranny issues were for the most part, in the Late 80’s and early 90’s. For almost a decade now, they have been using the 45RFE and versions of it and have had very few issues. Most of the comments of “bad tranny” are people who have never owned one, or the famous “friend” who had one, or they recall the issues of past. Every truck has had their issues, from burning down sitting in the garage (not Dodge) to internal engine parts failing (again not Dodge) I could go into detail, but won’t. If there was a “bad” truck out there, they wouldn’t be building them in mass quantity.

big G

I had a ’94 Ram 1500 up until last summer. It had just a hair under 200,000 miles on it and I never had to touch the tranny. Actually, other than replacing the CV joints I had no problems with it. I still see it running around the area to this day. The only reason I got rid of it was the “road salt” issue. She was looking pretty rough

There are good and bad. They did have their fair share of tranny problems.

The newer ones are much improved.

had a 03 head gasket blew out took out the cam gear and chain busted valves. pretty much toasted the motor.88,000 ive had dodges from 89 to now. they make a good truck just dump it after the magic 100,000 mark. the 09″s are sharp i dont like the coil spring rear suspention. cant tow with that. well not too much anyway.