The Ram Warranty Basics You Should Know | Autance

What IS Included

Ram, like its sister brands, offers its main warranty coverage through the customer care arm of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, known as Mopar. Through this support, the automaker has several warranties included in the factory coverage.

Bumper-to-Bumper

The bulk of the warranty coverage comes in the form of the three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. Also known as a comprehensive warranty, this coverage is designed to address issues on almost any part you may find on a new Ram. As a result, this has an exclusionary style of coverage where listed parts are not included in the coverage.

Most of the internal and external components/systems are covered by the standard three years and 36,000 miles of the warranty. There are a few components, however, that have different time and distance limitations. These include the batteries, gaskets and seals, HEMI engine components, and performance parts. 

Powertrain

Beyond the comprehensive warranty, Ram offers a standard powertrain warranty that lasts for five years or 60,000 miles for gas engines. Diesel engines have the same time limit but enjoy a longer distance limit of 100,000 miles. Unlike the comprehensive coverage, however, this warranty is inclusionary, meaning it directly lists the parts it covers. Basically, anything not on the list isn’t covered by the warranty.

This coverage is, therefore, focused solely on the drivetrain components that keep the vehicle running on a daily basis. These internal components include the engine, transmission, drive system, and some related electrical systems needed for control and monitoring other components. 

Extras

The Mopar Vehicle Protection plan includes a basic 24-hour roadside assistance program that offers basic emergency services if you experience a factory defect while away from home. The coverage period of the program lasts five years or 60,000 miles (gas vehicles) and five years or 100,000 miles (diesel vehicles).

This program includes basic services like free towing to the closest FCA dealership with the option of going to another automaker dealership for a fee. Other services include jumpstarting a battery and getting a spare tire onto the vehicle after it’s experienced a flat tire. 

What’s NOT Included

The Ram basic limited warranty has a few things it leaves out that could affect how much value it offers you and your new Ram vehicle.

Non-Defect Repairs

The standard warranty coverage Ram offers is focused solely on factory defects. Basically, if a new vehicle experiences an issue that is due to a manufacturing or material issue, it will cover the cost of repairs and the services needed to fix the issue. This applies to any repair or replacement done on external and internal parts covered by one of the two primary warranties. 

Under this setup, other issues aren’t covered by the warranty. For example, major damage caused by accidents, bad weather, or vandalism won’t be repaired (for free) under the coverage. Instead, you will have to pay out-of-pocket to get the repairs done yourself, even if it’s at the nearest Chrysler, Jeep, Fiat, Dodge, or Ram dealership.

Routine Maintenance

Most vehicle costs don’t come from factory defects or accidental damage. Instead, most drivers spend more money on maintenance services that keep the vehicle running. Unfortunately, the warranty from Ram is limited in its ability to cover or reduce these costs for its customers. Beyond a few alignment services, it won’t cover the costs of services like oil changes and tire rotations.

The Good

Ram offers a good, but standard, warranty that gets the job done in terms of addressing basic factory defects. More than the standard coverage, we appreciate the unique warranties and terms for the truck-specific components like the automaker’s line of diesel engine trims. 

Beyond the warranty coverage, the few extra perks also add some additional value into the mix. The main attraction here is the roadside assistance program. While it is limited to issues related to factory defects, the services included can get you out of a pinch if the unexpected comes up while you are out on the road. 

The Bad

If you want the extra peace of mind of having a longer-than-average warranty, the Ram factory coverage isn’t going to be for you. Unfortunately, this warranty sits with the competition in terms of the length and services it offers. Simply put, this warranty doesn’t offer anything more than other truck manufacturers like Chevy, Ford, and Toyota. 

Being “average” isn’t a major knock itself; it just simply means you will need to find additional coverage sooner than some manufacturer warranties. So, plan on searching for a good third-party warranty or auto repair insurance sooner than you may like if you really want to keep your vehicle covered.

Takeaway Value

The Ram warranty is a good middle-of-the-road type of coverage that gets the job done without offering too much extra. In many ways, this is good news for truck owners since the Ram warranty matches what other truck manufacturers offer. So, you can buy a Ram truck without worrying about the coverage itself.