Dodge Ram show is seen on the New York Worldwide Auto Present on April 16, 2025.
Danielle DeVries | CNBC
DETROIT — Ram Vans plans to introduce an industry-leading guarantee throughout its 2026 automobile lineup this 12 months as a part of an 18-month turnaround plan for the Stellantis-owned model.
The guarantee covers the engine, transmission, switch case, driveshafts, differentials and axles for 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. It replaces Ram’s present five-year or 60,000-mile guarantee, which is comparatively customary for full-size pickup vehicles throughout the automotive {industry}.
The brand new guarantee comes as autos — particularly pickup vehicles — have grown dearer lately, which regularly ends in longer financing that extends far past the warranties of the autos themselves.
“Eighty-five p.c of truck consumers finance for seven years or extra. They hold it for 12 years as a result of every little thing’s gotten dearer,” Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis mentioned throughout a media occasion. “However you recognize what hasn’t modified? Nobody has modified the guarantee. They’re investing increasingly and more cash in your model, however you are not investing more cash to guard them.”
Edmunds.com analysts report that 84-month loans for new-car consumers hit an all-time excessive of 19.8% in the course of the first quarter, whereas one other 67.4% of new-vehicle financing loans had been between 60 months and 75 months.
Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis throughout a media occasion to reintroduce the Hemi V-8 engine at Stellantis’ North American headquarters in June 2025.
Michael Wayland / CNBC
Kuniskis, who’s main the model’s turnaround plan after unretiring in December, mentioned he believes the brand new supply will assist with retaining present clients, attracting new ones and doubtlessly regaining former homeowners who could have left the model lately.
“We expect that is going to be a big transfer in the fitting path,” mentioned Kuniskis, whose model has skilled a roughly 38% gross sales decline since document ends in 2019. “It will be the very best truck guarantee within the enterprise.”
Ford Motor and Basic Motors’ GMC and Chevrolet manufacturers — the main sellers of full-size pickup vehicles forward of Stellantis — in addition to Toyota Motor presently supply 5 years or 60,000 mile restricted powertrain warranties on their gas-powered full-size pickup vehicles. Some diesel fashions supply larger warranties.
Kuniskis mentioned the 100,000-mile/10-year guarantee supply may be prolonged previous this 12 months, pending acceptance and recognition amongst clients.
“If the reception is nice, our full intention is to maintain it going after the top of the 12 months,” Kuniskis informed CNBC throughout a latest interview.
Providing longer-term warranties can price automakers billions of {dollars} if mass-produced autos find yourself having high quality issues, however Kuniskis mentioned the rewards outweighed the dangers.
“Warranties at all times have inherent danger in them,” he mentioned. “What we decided, although, was that the perceived worth from the client outweighs what our elevated price goes to be.”
Longer warranties can also imply clients hold their autos for longer, that means fewer potential gross sales within the years forward.
The restricted powertrain guarantee is relevant to the unique proprietor of 2026 model-year Ram vehicles and vans, together with its chassis cab lineup. It consists of retail purchases and leases to people and companies, and excludes fleet purchases in addition to its Ram Promaster electrical van.
A ten-year/100,000 restricted powertrain guarantee is not unprecedented for the auto {industry}. For instance, South Korean automaker Kia affords it throughout its lineup of recent autos.
