Comfortable and capable, but the Hemi tick, broken manifold bolts, and air suspension are the recurring bills. The ZF 8-speed is a bright spot.
The Ram 1500 rides better than its rivals and the ZF eight-speed is genuinely good, but the 5.7 Hemi has a couple of well-known noises and the optional air suspension adds expensive failure points. We inspect the engine top end and, if equipped, the air ride before anything else.
A persistent Hemi tick can mean a failing lifter and a worn cam lobe.
CHECK Listen at idle and just off idle for a tick and scan for a cylinder misfire.
Manifold bolts shear off and cause a cold-start exhaust tick.
CHECK Listen for a tick on cold start that quiets as the engine warms.
Air springs and the compressor fail and leave the truck sitting low.
CHECK Check ride height at all corners and listen for the compressor over-cycling.
Worn steering and track-bar components can trigger a wobble.
CHECK Inspect the track bar and steering and road test over rough pavement.
The integrated power module causes intermittent electrical faults.
CHECK Test all electrical functions and check fuel-pump priming.
Bidirectional OBD-II scan tool · Paint depth gauge · Tire tread depth gauge & DOT date decoder · Brake pad & rotor calipers / measurement tools · Battery & charging system tester · Compression and cylinder leak-down testers · Digital borescope · Floor jack and jack stands …
See the full Pre-Purchase Vehicle Inspection tool kit →
Pre-tagged for the Ram 1500 (5.7 Hemi) (2009–2018).