The last 5.7L V8 Tundra and the smallest complaint file in the range — the send-off year, worth buying for the engine everyone misses.
A settled, low-recall 5.7L V8 year — the worries are a sunroof that can shatter, a highway shimmy, and the free fuel-pump fix.
One of the quietest 5.7L V8 years — a durable truck whose only homework is a cam-tower leak, a seat-bracket recall, and the frame up north.
Engine flag: this is 5.7L V8 (3UR-FE) trouble — the 3.4L twin-turbo V6 (V35A) and i-FORCE MAX hybrid (V35A + electric) don’t share it. Which engine is in yours? →
The newest and by far the quietest Ram year we cover — the same engine to listen to, but a fraction of the complaints.
A good buy — with proof the driveline recalls are done.
A durable late-V8 year whose long recall list is nearly all free software, labels, and the fuel-pump fix — buy it with the campaigns closed.
The year to buy this body style — verify the recalls, check the engine.
A durable 5.7L V8 year carrying more recalls than most — mostly software and the free fuel-pump fix — so buy it with the campaigns closed out.
The lowest-complaint year we cover — newest and quietest, but GM's own programs admit the lifter and 8-speed still travel with it.
Engine flag: this is 5.3L V8 and 6.2L V8 trouble — the 3.0L Duramax diesel doesn’t share it. Which engine is in yours? →
A late-generation sweet spot — if the engine checks out.
The year the redesigned Ram settles down — less than half the complaints of 2019, with no single runaway problem, just the leaks and engine risks to check.
The best third-generation year to buy — the kinks were mostly worked out, but the lifter question still applies.
Engine flag: this is 5.3L V8 trouble — the 6.2L V8 and 3.0L Duramax diesel don’t share it. Which engine is in yours? →
The final, most-sorted fourth-generation Ram — the lowest complaint count of its generation, with a longer recall list to simply confirm as closed.
Calmer than 2019, and the costliest transmission risk is covered — but the DFM lifter still needs a listen.
Often called the sweet-spot 4th-gen Ram — the same good bones as 2016 with noticeably fewer complaints, if you clear the steering and ABS checks.
One of the calmer recent years — most of the big risks are either covered or checkable.
Engine flag: this is 6.2L V8 trouble — the 5.3L V8 and 3.0L Duramax diesel don’t share it. Which engine is in yours? →
The best third-generation Sierra to buy — kinks mostly worked out, but the lifter question still applies.
Engine flag: this is 5.3L V8 trouble — the 6.2L V8 and 3.0L Duramax diesel don’t share it. Which engine is in yours? →
Newest and only three recalls — but GM's own programs admit the lifter and 8-speed still travel with it.
Engine flag: this is 5.3L V8 and 6.2L V8 trouble — the 3.0L Duramax diesel doesn’t share it. Which engine is in yours? →
Calmer than the launch year, and the costliest transmission risk is covered — but the DFM lifter still needs a listen.
One of the calmer recent years — most big risks are covered or checkable, plus one Sierra-only grille recall.
Engine flag: this is 6.2L V8 trouble — the 5.3L V8 and 3.0L Duramax diesel don’t share it. Which engine is in yours? →
A last-of-the-old-guard 5.7L V8 truck whose only real questions are a cam-tower oil leak and, if it lived up north, the frame.
Engine flag: this is 5.7L V8 (3UR-FE) trouble — the 3.4L twin-turbo V6 (V35A) and i-FORCE MAX hybrid (V35A + electric) don’t share it. Which engine is in yours? →
The Silverado's twin in a nicer suit — same two expensive habits, so buy one that's been checked, not promised.
Engine flag: this is 5.3L V8 trouble — the 6.2L V8 and 3.0L Duramax diesel don’t share it. Which engine is in yours? →
Solid — if, and only if, the recall paperwork is complete.
Engine flag: this is 2.7L & 3.0L EcoBoost trouble — the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 and 5.0L V8 don’t share it. Which engine is in yours? →
A mature, well-sorted truck on paper — but 2021 is where the engine becomes the story: Hemi manifold bolts, lifter tick, and eTorque failures.
Engine flag: this is 5.7L Hemi V8 trouble — the eTorque (48-volt) and 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 don’t share it. Which engine is in yours? →
A good truck exists here — behind a complete, verified recall history.
A refined, well-equipped truck whose recent complaints — and Chrysler's own engine programs — still point under the hood.
Engine flag: this is 5.7L Hemi V8 trouble — the eTorque (48-volt) and 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 don’t share it. Which engine is in yours? →
Buyable — only with the full 27-recall history in hand.
Engine flag: this is 2.7L & 3.0L EcoBoost trouble — the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 and 5.0L V8 don’t share it. Which engine is in yours? →
A solid mid-generation truck with two expensive habits — buy one that's had the transmission and lifters checked, not promised.
Engine flag: this is 5.3L V8 trouble — the 6.2L V8 and 3.0L Duramax diesel don’t share it. Which engine is in yours? →
The transmission year — the one third-gen Silverado where the 8-speed is the reason to walk unless it's been sorted.
The transmission year for GMC's half-ton too — the 8-speed is the reason to walk unless it's been sorted.
Watch the engine — this is the first year of the big 6.2L failure recall, on top of the ongoing lifter issue.
Engine flag: this is 6.2L V8 trouble — the 5.3L V8 and 3.0L Duramax diesel don’t share it. Which engine is in yours? →
Buyable — if you check three things before money changes hands.
Buyable — on condition and recall history, not on the badge.
The redesigned truck is a big leap in comfort — but 2019 is the first-year model, and its recall list and steering complaints are the longest here.
Launch year of the new truck — same DFM lifter risk as the Silverado, plus a couple of Sierra-only quirks to check.
Engine flag: this is 5.3L V8 and 6.2L V8 trouble — the 3.0L Duramax diesel doesn’t share it. Which engine is in yours? →
Launch year of the new truck, and it shows — the most-complained-about Silverado in our data, with a lifter design that got worse.
Engine flag: this is 5.3L V8 and 6.2L V8 trouble — the 3.0L Duramax diesel doesn’t share it. Which engine is in yours? →
Watch the engine — first year of the big 6.2L failure recall, which hits Denali trims hardest.
Engine flag: this is 6.2L V8 trouble — the 5.3L V8 and 3.0L Duramax diesel don’t share it. Which engine is in yours? →
A cheap, capable 4th-gen Hemi truck whose real risks — a failing ABS module and power-steering loss — are out-of-warranty and worth checking hard.
The second twin-turbo year, still inside the debris-failure engine recall — a buy only with recall 24V-381 documented and warranty confirmed.
Engine flag: this is 3.4L twin-turbo V6 (V35A) trouble — the 5.7L V8 (3UR-FE) and i-FORCE MAX hybrid (V35A + electric) don’t share it. Which engine is in yours? →
The all-new twin-turbo truck that swapped a bulletproof V8 for an engine under a debris-failure recall — buyable only with that recall (24V-381) documented.
Engine flag: this is 3.4L twin-turbo V6 (V35A) trouble — the 5.7L V8 (3UR-FE) and i-FORCE MAX hybrid (V35A + electric) don’t share it. Which engine is in yours? →
- 1 Stellantis publishes only a “Ram pickup” total that bundles the 1500 with the 2500/3500 Heavy Duty; no 1500-only figure exists. The denominator is larger than 1500-only sales, so the rate reads slightly low.
- 2 Ford publishes only an “F-Series” total that bundles the F-150 with the Super Duty (F-250/F-350/F-450); no F-150-only figure exists. The denominator is larger than F-150-only sales, so the F-150 rate reads slightly low.
- 3 For 2016–2017 GM reported only a combined light-duty-plus-Heavy-Duty total for this truck; no 1500-only split was published. The denominator includes the HD trucks, so the rate reads slightly low. (GM breaks out the 1500-only “LD” line from 2018 on, which those rows use.)
Rates use published U.S. sales as the denominator — a rate, not a raw count, so best-sellers aren’t punished for selling. It’s imperfect on purpose and we say exactly where (the methodology page): sales aren’t surviving fleet, some makers publish entangled figures, and complaint filing is self-reported.
“The average full-size pickup is fine. You’re not buying the average — you’re buying one specific year of one specific badge.”
Shortlisting from this board? We’ll watch your years.
New recalls, federal investigations, and quiet warranty programs land months after you buy. Tell the canary which years you’re considering — it sings when something changes.
Watch my years — freeThe other boards
Same method, different segment:
Heavy-duty pickups, Luxury SUVs, and Subcompact SUVs aren’t ranked yet — each has only one model in our data so far, nothing fair to compare against. They join the Index when their segment-mates ship.