First and Last Dodge truck
#1
#2
don't forget about the rear diff explosions, tipm problems, cab leaking issue's, death wobble....on-on-on-on-on but it's still the Hottest looking truck out there! The cheby's aren't much better and well, I'd never own a Ferd although they seem the most dependable, but they are $4k more up front. I bet you haven't put $4k into parts/labor yet? So, your still ahead in my book. Just out a little inconvenience is all.
#4
Sounds lik you got a lemon. My dad has had an 01 2500 cummins he passed down to me and we both never had any issues with it at all. Then he got an 04 2500 cummins 4-dr 4x4 and they had a big recall so he just bought a new 05 and still has it and about 180k on it with not many problems at all. Only a few minor things had to be replaced but never around those mileage markers that your talking about. Most (and id say 99%) of dodge truck owners love them. My opinion of the best all around truck would be a cummins in an f-250 body. Cummins is way more reliable than any other diesels out there, why do you think a ton of company vehicles have em in their vehicles? I still like the dodge bodies alot and I like how they keep changin them to look different but that would be a great all around truck in my opinion.
#6
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: South Georgia/East Florida
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It's hit and miss with any of them. I had a Ford diesel ATE ball joints, how about to the tune of a new set every 12-15k miles! My next Ford ('97 F150 bought new off the lot) dropped a piston at 14k miles!
Conversely, my '98 Ram 1500 also bought new (traded the Furd in on it when I got it back from the dealership after the engine rebuild - I didn't trust the thing) no issues at all, not even the plenum issue up until the time I traded it with 68k on it.
Last Chevy Z71, an '02, had the driveshaft go and a bunch of little nuisance problems.
My '04 Hemi has been rock solid, only issue was a stock shock that blew the first year I had it. Over 7 trouble free years and counting.
Buying a vehicle is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get...
Conversely, my '98 Ram 1500 also bought new (traded the Furd in on it when I got it back from the dealership after the engine rebuild - I didn't trust the thing) no issues at all, not even the plenum issue up until the time I traded it with 68k on it.
Last Chevy Z71, an '02, had the driveshaft go and a bunch of little nuisance problems.
My '04 Hemi has been rock solid, only issue was a stock shock that blew the first year I had it. Over 7 trouble free years and counting.
Buying a vehicle is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get...
#7
Wow my old 99 2500 deisel had 289,000 when I traded it off and I put one set of balljoints in it. The best I can remember I only put brakes on it about 3 times. And never replaced the front u-joints. My current 04 1500 is about ready for balljoints at 107,000 though. Good luck with a ford, maybe you will never have to change the spark plugs. It cost my neighbor a small fortune after one blew through his hood and four more broke off during the swap. Happened to him about 1500 miles after the warranty went out and ford told him it was an unusual thing and someone must have swapped the plugs before and stripped them. Unusual "right" just search the web and you will find it is a very common issue with the triton engines.
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#8
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Wow my old 99 2500 deisel had 289,000 when I traded it off and I put one set of balljoints in it. The best I can remember I only put brakes on it about 3 times. And never replaced the front u-joints. My current 04 1500 is about ready for balljoints at 107,000 though. Good luck with a ford, maybe you will never have to change the spark plugs. It cost my neighbor a small fortune after one blew through his hood and four more broke off during the swap. Happened to him about 1500 miles after the warranty went out and ford told him it was an unusual thing and someone must have swapped the plugs before and stripped them. Unusual "right" just search the web and you will find it is a very common issue with the triton engines.
#9
They all have issues. Cheapest suppliers get the bid on parts so they can make the most profit on each vehicle. I know that late model Fords have ball joint issues as well.
Yes the 5.4L had plug blowing issues. 97-03.5 only had 4 threads in the aluminum heads to hold the plugs in. So, if you over tighten or they come loose, the threads get pulled out of the heads. The 04/05 had a new 3v head that had a new plug design that had many threads, but they hung down into the combustion chamber, so that they built up carbon on them and broke off when trying to remove them. They also had poorly built cam phasers that failed and sounded like a diesel.
They all have issues, and like mentioned above, sometimes you just get unlucky and get a bad one.
The 01 F150 that I traded in on my Ram had piston slap at 79K when I traded it in, but hadn't blown a plug yet
Yes the 5.4L had plug blowing issues. 97-03.5 only had 4 threads in the aluminum heads to hold the plugs in. So, if you over tighten or they come loose, the threads get pulled out of the heads. The 04/05 had a new 3v head that had a new plug design that had many threads, but they hung down into the combustion chamber, so that they built up carbon on them and broke off when trying to remove them. They also had poorly built cam phasers that failed and sounded like a diesel.
They all have issues, and like mentioned above, sometimes you just get unlucky and get a bad one.
The 01 F150 that I traded in on my Ram had piston slap at 79K when I traded it in, but hadn't blown a plug yet
#10
2001 & 2006 Dodge ram owner
I've had 3 Rams and never have owned anything else. These guys are all right. They all have issues. I've heard Fords are just cheaper to fix. I've had issues with every dodge that I've owned. Some major and some little. It's just part of being a truck owner. My grandpa has a chevy and my mom has a ford. Both are in the shop more often than any of the doge's that I've owned. Good luck with your next rig.