My Ram is a POS!
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,686
Likes: 21
From: South Georgia/East Florida
Not really. As stated, the Rams got a sh*t reputation with some of the early automatic transmissions and deservedly so. As recent as the early 3rd Gens with the venerable old 5.9 gasser suffer from a very so-so transmission left over from the 2nd Generation.
I've not seen where the 545re has been problematic at all. Of course, you'll see threads from guys with tranny trouble, but you'll see just as many on the Ford, GM and even Toyota truck sites.
I don't think the 545re is the end-all, but IMO Dodge finally has one that is for the most part on par with the other full size half ton makers on a reliability stand point. I wish they were more on par with Toyota and Nissan with the torque converter and power-train loss through the transmission, but that's more of a performance issue than a reliability one.
As far as this thread going back and forth with a bunch of crap posts: Everybody needs to knock it off. If you don't have anything pertinent to add to this thread - DON'T POST!
IMO you kinda asked for it with the title of the thread. Common sense should tell you if you title a thread "MY ***** is a POS" on a forum full of people who own *****, you are going to rub guys the wrong way and get very defensive responses.
I should have re-titled it to something like "Having nothing but trouble with my truck", but I tend to leave the individual threads to the section moderators as I have an entire forum to look after. My bad...
It's unfortunate you are having so many issues with your truck. It happens with EVERY brand. I have a good hunting buddy who had a cam literally grenade in his Tundra in the first 6k miles, then when he finally got it back from the dealer TWO MONTHS LATER he barely got another 5k on it when the rear differential seized up. Sh*t happens, and I know you are not a happy camper about your truck, but in the future you may want to give a little more thought to your thread titles and possibly the wording in your posts.
Last edited by HammerZ71; Feb 26, 2011 at 07:57 PM.
Professional
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
I dunno I think all trucks got qwerks.
I got a 2010 f150 that doesnt blow hot air anymore, has factory recall for diefective door latches (doors can open during an accident) Only has 57,000kms.
had a 06 f250 by 130,000kms went through 3 fuel pumps, 1 throttlebody, 2 altenators, 1 power steering pump, replaced two steering dampers, but truck still had a death wobble.
My buddy had a 07 chev qc. ECU **** out on it at 60,000 kms.
The way I look at it, sooner or later everybody that owns a 4x4s got to pay the piper or put in wrench time themselves and fix their own issues. Thats why this forum exists so guys can solve their problems and not be a little girl and cry over the internet about it. Man up.
I got a 2010 f150 that doesnt blow hot air anymore, has factory recall for diefective door latches (doors can open during an accident) Only has 57,000kms.
had a 06 f250 by 130,000kms went through 3 fuel pumps, 1 throttlebody, 2 altenators, 1 power steering pump, replaced two steering dampers, but truck still had a death wobble.
My buddy had a 07 chev qc. ECU **** out on it at 60,000 kms.
The way I look at it, sooner or later everybody that owns a 4x4s got to pay the piper or put in wrench time themselves and fix their own issues. Thats why this forum exists so guys can solve their problems and not be a little girl and cry over the internet about it. Man up.
Record Breaker
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,165
Likes: 2
From: Alberta
Gm loves to mess plastic handels with metal rods, tail gate handels, door handels, so they too have design faults, in fect every car or truck built has design flaws. You take a big gamble when buying new, thats with any brand, but used, is a far bigger gamble.
I have had issues with fords and the only way to solve it was to get out of owning a ford, if your dodge is killing ya, move on to anothier brand, or trade on a new 11 Ram 1500.
Any time you go to a dealership with any brand, they bend you over and tell you to smile and take perverse pride in removing your money, you bought a used truck with issues, thats not really a dodge issue, could happen to a chevy Ford, toyota nissan.
I like Gm trucks, and if your loyality is to GM, buy a new one, but all Trucks &^%* now and than.
THiers a lot of smart dodge Ram owners here that can help you out.
I have had issues with fords and the only way to solve it was to get out of owning a ford, if your dodge is killing ya, move on to anothier brand, or trade on a new 11 Ram 1500.
Any time you go to a dealership with any brand, they bend you over and tell you to smile and take perverse pride in removing your money, you bought a used truck with issues, thats not really a dodge issue, could happen to a chevy Ford, toyota nissan.
I like Gm trucks, and if your loyality is to GM, buy a new one, but all Trucks &^%* now and than.
THiers a lot of smart dodge Ram owners here that can help you out.
Banned
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Bought it about 10 months ago to replace my '90 Chevy Silverado w/249k on the clock.
Its my second vehicle...Ive only put 2k on it since I bought it, it now shows 81k on the odometer.
The first month I had it, the air bag light came on. I took it to the dealer, and they said the air bag system is separate from the regular CPU, and a tech would simply have to spend time troubleshooting it @ $72 per hour. Nice engineering Dodge. He said it could be 1 hour + parts, or many hours plus parts. He told me if it was the bag itself, I should have $1200 ready just for that part.
Two months later, the water pump gives out. This one cost me $420. My Chevy had its original water pump on it when I got rid of it.
Next, that tail gate wont stay up...the latch/pins are not in alignment, and the genius' at Dodge made no provisions to adjust either. I ended up trimming the rubber stops. Now the gate shuts, but is obviously out of alignment.
I then take it in for regular service, and the tech informs me I have to replace the 16 spark plugs every 30k. 30k...are you kidding me!? My 2003 Acura has 100k interval on plugs. Now get this...they want $350 to do it! Are you F***ing kidding me!! Dodge wants me to spend $350 to change spark plugs every 30k!? Not to mention that the second set does NOTHING. Its obvious this was a gimmick to make money.
And last week the heater dies. I take it in this time, and he say the heater core is clogged (he also says this is a common, know problem with Dodge trucks). He says he will try to flush, but even if he is successful, the problem will most likely return. How much to replace the heater core you ask? Well, it appears the bumble-F*** engineers at Dodge, built the dash around everything under/inside the dash. The price to remove the dash ONLY...$1200!!
And lastly (speaking to the same tech), he informs me that I should prepare to have about $2500 saved up for when the transmission pukes out at about 100k. Again, a known issue with the tranny I have.
WTF, if these are "known issues" why doest Dodge pick up the tab??
Ive had it with this POS. Its obvious the engineers at Dodge dont have a clue, and are stuck in the '80 for innovation. It is also obvious that rather than build a good truck, they choose to build sub-engineered truck, for the sole purpose to make money.
I wish I had never wandered from the GM trucks I have been driving for over 35 years. Im going to sell this bucket of trash, and buy a real truck. Yes Im going to take a big hit, but Ill consider it a hard-learned lesson in trusting in a Dodge product.
How much is a truck worth that needs the spark plugs,transmission, and heater core replaced, with the air bag light on, and a misaligned tail gate?
Any offers?
Its my second vehicle...Ive only put 2k on it since I bought it, it now shows 81k on the odometer.
The first month I had it, the air bag light came on. I took it to the dealer, and they said the air bag system is separate from the regular CPU, and a tech would simply have to spend time troubleshooting it @ $72 per hour. Nice engineering Dodge. He said it could be 1 hour + parts, or many hours plus parts. He told me if it was the bag itself, I should have $1200 ready just for that part.
Two months later, the water pump gives out. This one cost me $420. My Chevy had its original water pump on it when I got rid of it.
Next, that tail gate wont stay up...the latch/pins are not in alignment, and the genius' at Dodge made no provisions to adjust either. I ended up trimming the rubber stops. Now the gate shuts, but is obviously out of alignment.
I then take it in for regular service, and the tech informs me I have to replace the 16 spark plugs every 30k. 30k...are you kidding me!? My 2003 Acura has 100k interval on plugs. Now get this...they want $350 to do it! Are you F***ing kidding me!! Dodge wants me to spend $350 to change spark plugs every 30k!? Not to mention that the second set does NOTHING. Its obvious this was a gimmick to make money.
And last week the heater dies. I take it in this time, and he say the heater core is clogged (he also says this is a common, know problem with Dodge trucks). He says he will try to flush, but even if he is successful, the problem will most likely return. How much to replace the heater core you ask? Well, it appears the bumble-F*** engineers at Dodge, built the dash around everything under/inside the dash. The price to remove the dash ONLY...$1200!!
And lastly (speaking to the same tech), he informs me that I should prepare to have about $2500 saved up for when the transmission pukes out at about 100k. Again, a known issue with the tranny I have.
WTF, if these are "known issues" why doest Dodge pick up the tab??
Ive had it with this POS. Its obvious the engineers at Dodge dont have a clue, and are stuck in the '80 for innovation. It is also obvious that rather than build a good truck, they choose to build sub-engineered truck, for the sole purpose to make money.
I wish I had never wandered from the GM trucks I have been driving for over 35 years. Im going to sell this bucket of trash, and buy a real truck. Yes Im going to take a big hit, but Ill consider it a hard-learned lesson in trusting in a Dodge product.
How much is a truck worth that needs the spark plugs,transmission, and heater core replaced, with the air bag light on, and a misaligned tail gate?
Any offers?
I honestly told him, that I would never purchase another Dodge Ram ever again.
Most people if asked that question, would probably have told the guy anything but the truth. Not me, I will never purchase another Dodge truck/car/ or anything manufactured by Dodge period...
Banned
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Oh one more thing Gasturbine, and i found this out from talking to people who routinely post on here, and who told me about this forum. Because you made this stink about the issues you are facing with your Dodge, sure enough you will have a whole lot of people who are administrators coming to the defense of the Dodge emblem...
I guess that's why they were given the position of Administrator.....Believe me, I don't want the position, they can keep it, the job as well as Dodge product STINKS.
I guess that's why they were given the position of Administrator.....Believe me, I don't want the position, they can keep it, the job as well as Dodge product STINKS.
Banned
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Gasturbine, look I have been reading some of the posts on here, and basically what i see is that everyone on here is going to start bashing you, because you decided to post your issues on here. Eventually, they will try to have you banished because of your rants.
some friends as well as my cousin tells me this customary...They will banish you for criticizing Dodge......So my friend, what i would suggest you do, is tell everyone you come in contact with, "NOT TO PURCHASE DODGE RAMS".
some friends as well as my cousin tells me this customary...They will banish you for criticizing Dodge......So my friend, what i would suggest you do, is tell everyone you come in contact with, "NOT TO PURCHASE DODGE RAMS".
Record Breaker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,262
Likes: 1
From: Ontario Canada
Gasturbine, look I have been reading some of the posts on here, and basically what i see is that everyone on here is going to start bashing you, because you decided to post your issues on here. Eventually, they will try to have you banished because of your rants.
some friends as well as my cousin tells me this customary...They will banish you for criticizing Dodge......So my friend, what i would suggest you do, is tell everyone you come in contact with, "NOT TO PURCHASE DODGE RAMS".
some friends as well as my cousin tells me this customary...They will banish you for criticizing Dodge......So my friend, what i would suggest you do, is tell everyone you come in contact with, "NOT TO PURCHASE DODGE RAMS".
Amateur
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Really a shame about OP's truck. Mine has been great so far. Dodge's resale is low around here (and the truck was filthy and needed a windshield) so I got it cheap! I was a little worried but I have put 5k miles on it in a few months, started with 45K when I got it and it's a keeper! Zero problems!
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: Eastern shore MD
Well, to come on a Dodge forum and bad mouth Dodge is a bit goofy, what kind of response did you think you would get? It's kind of like going into a biker bar and and yelling, "F**K Harley Davidson", you'll pretty much get what you ask for.
Find a Ford forum and post that kind of chatter, you will make a lot of friends, but not so much here.
Find a Ford forum and post that kind of chatter, you will make a lot of friends, but not so much here.