GM truck rival Ram now holds the bragging rights of America’s best truck warranty. The Stellantis brand announced on Wednesday that it’s increasing its limited powertrain warranty to 10 years/100,000 miles, whichever comes first. This is an increase from the industry standard of a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Recently reinstated Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis gave the current economic climate as a reason for the change, acknowledging that trucks are getting more expensive and people are financing them longer. In the mind of Kuniskis, it only makes sense for powertrain warranty coverage to be at least as long as the term for an average loan on the vehicle.
“Everything is more expensive, and trucks are certainly no exception. Truck buyers are financing purchases for longer periods of time, with nearly 80% of new truck loans exceeding five years,” said Kuniskis. “Our customers are making a long-term investment in Ram, and with America’s best full-size truck limited powertrain warranty, Ram is making a stronger and longer commitment to our customers.”
By contrast, the powertrain warranty coverage from competing trucks in the Chevy and GMC brands is 5 years/60,000 miles. However, Silverado/Sierra units equipped with the TurboMax 2.7L engine, and all models with the 3.0L and 6.6L Duramax engines, get a 5-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Naturally, Ram’s newly extended warranty applies to Cummins-powered Ram HD models.
The new Ram warranty actually matches the old GM truck powertrain warranty from a decade ago. In 2015, GM reduced its limited powertrain warranty from 100,000 to 60,000 miles.
This is one of many changes happening in the Ram brand, especially since Kuniskis’s return to the helm. Other recent announcements from Ram include the no-brainer reintroduction of the Hemi V8 to the Ram 1500, a commitment to build a midsize pickup in Illinois, and the launch of the budget-minded Ram 1500 Express. Ram also recently returned to motorsports in the NASCAR Truck Series.
Comments
Good on RAM. Tim is a real car/truck guy, too. Great for the industry and buyers.
Agreed. We should all be applauding moves that are pro-consumer like this one.
Honestly, every brand should be doing this and should have already been doing it. There is no excuse for a modern drivetrain not lasting at least 100,000 miles. They should be extending the bumper to bumper to at least 5 years / 100,000 to go with it.
3.6L staying with us until 2036?
Why not? Its a good engine and has been fairly reliable. The problems with newer ChryCo vehicles or more in the transmissions.
Chrysler (and its sub-brands) has long messed around with longer warranties at different times. I remember at one point they did the 7 year, 70k mile powertrain warranty and then after that the liftime (non-transferable) powertrain warranty. The latter of these two I remember was during the financial crisis.
The problem is, unlike Hyundai/KIA, they can’t seem to make that powertrain reliable enough where they can actually last the warranty period. So instead of learning to make them last they bleed money because of warranty repairs.
With the junk motors and transmission GM is producing they would go bankrupt if they did this.
GM used to offer 100k drivetrain warranties before they started building questionable engines and transmissions. It’s funny but I remember the CEO at the time saying that most customers don’t need them anyway. LOL, then why would you cancel a huge selling point like that if it really was costing you very much?
Considering that a loaded truck can cost upwards of 100K or more these days, it’s a welcome development. In “some” parts of the country, a house can be bought for that amount.
I believe that Ford will follow suit but not GM.
GM will too when they lose market share.
Great idea! At the cost of vehicles today, it’s nice to know that you won’t be hit up with a major expense before it’s paid off. Can anyone spell lifter failures, bearing failures, rod knocks, rods through the side of the block……………
Gm did the 100k warranty after bankruptcy’s , then the quietly got rid of it saying customers did not want it .REALLY THE CUSTOMER DID NOT WANT PIECE OF MIND….. GM AND FORD WILL BE BANKRUPT IN A WEEK IF THEY DO THI S.LOL