Ram Disrupts with a 10-Year Warranty for a Limited Time

Ram shakes up the truck segment with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty but it’s only available until January 2. Whether it stays depends on customer demand.

Why does this truck warranty matter right now?

Because Ram just flipped the warranty script and gave you a deadline.

For 2026 model-year trucks and vans, Ram is offering a 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, covering everything from the Ram 1500 to the burly Power Wagon and commercial ProMaster vans. It’s easily the longest warranty in the full-size truck segment but it vanishes after January 2 unless buyers demand more.

“It’s very expensive. It’s no different than any other incentive. And that’s why I put a time limit on it,” said Tim Kuniskis, CEO of the Ram brand. “If you look at any of the documentation, it says that this warranty runs until January 2nd of next year.”

You heard him. This is a use-it-or-lose-it deal. Ram wants to see if it changes how people shop. If customers jump, the warranty might become permanent. “We’re going to watch the data,” Kuniskis explained. “And if it moves the customer intentions and they see the perceived value in it, then we’ll continue it past January. If they don’t, we will kill it in January.”

That’s not marketing fluff. It’s a direct challenge to a truck market that’s been slow to innovate where it counts: durability, commitment, and long-term value.

How does it compare to rivals?

It doesn’t just beat them. It embarrasses them.

GM, for instance, offers a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty on a few turbo four-cylinder models. Ram is doubling that and offering it across nearly its entire non-EV lineup. “I’m doing light duty, heavy duty, Promaster. I’m doing all Rams,” Kuniskis said.

This isn’t a niche incentive buried in fine print. It’s a top-to-bottom promise that covers the parts that matter: engine, transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles, and differentials.

But Kuniskis knows it’s a temporary edge. “The warranty is not unique. Anybody can do it,” he said. “I think they’ll do the same exact research that I’m doing, and if they see that it has a perceived value above what the cost is… they’ll follow.”

That’s classic Ram: set the bar, then dare others to try.

Who is this for—and who should skip it?

This warranty is for the real-deal truck buyer. Contractors, adventurers, farmers, and anyone clocking big miles with serious payloads. It’s not for casual urban cowboys looking to lease something shiny for 24 months.

The offer includes individual retail sales and business leases, but not fleet purchases. So if you’re buying one truck for real work, it’s a win. If you’re buying 200 for your rental business, sorry, you’re out.

“Our customers are making a long-term investment in Ram,” Kuniskis said. “Ram is making a stronger and longer commitment to our customers.”

The timing is deliberate. With truck prices climbing and loan terms now stretching to seven years, Ram wants to reassure buyers that they’re protected for the long haul.

What’s the long-term significance?

This isn’t a gimmick. It’s part of a broader plan to shake up the segment.

Kuniskis hinted at more to come. “This is a big decision,” he said. “And, you know, it’s uncharacteristic for me to say we’re going to look at the data… but we’re going to look at it.”

Translation? If customers speak with their wallets, the warranty might become a permanent fixture.

And no, Ram isn’t bracing for a flood of repairs. “No, we don’t think there’s anything huge like that,” Kuniskis said. “There’s people way smarter than me that have all the historical data… they can look at that and say exactly what it’s going to cost and put a price tag on it.”

Still, he’s honest about the risks. “You never know. I mean, look at GM. They got some engine problems right now. It can happen to anybody.”

Ram’s pitch is simple: if you’re committing to a truck for a decade, they should too. Whether the rest of the market follows depends on how loud customers shout between now and January 2.

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