4th gen Ram 1500 parts: DS, 2009 to 2018
The fourth-generation Ram 1500, platform code DS, was built for model years 2009 to 2018 and is the truck most of our inventory comes from. We pull 5.7 HEMI and 3.6 Pentastar engines, 65RFE six-speed and 8HP70 eight-speed transmissions, quad and projector headlights, chrome and Sport grilles, doors, fenders, hoods, beds and tailgates, 20-inch wheel sets and interiors from Tradesman cloth to Laramie leather. The 2013 refresh is the line that matters most for fit.
What changed in 2013, and why it decides which parts fit?
Ram announced the 2013 Ram 1500 on 23 August 2012 with a new 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 at 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft, an eight-speed TorqueFlite automatic that was "standard equipment with 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine" and "available with the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8", and a front end whose grille was "approximately one inch taller" with "improved quad projection headlamps and LED front turn signals and taillamps". The 5.7 HEMI was rated at 395 horsepower and 407 lb-ft that year.
Source: Stellantis Media, 2013 Ram 1500 press kit, 23 August 2012. Checked 9 September 2026.For a parts buyer this splits the DS into two families. A 2009 to 2012 truck has the 3.7 V6 or 4.7 V8 as its smaller engines, the earlier grille and lamps, and no eight-speed. A 2013 to 2018 truck has the Pentastar, the taller grille, the projector lamps and, on most V8s from 2014, the 8HP70. Front-end parts (grille, headlights, hood, bumper) do not cross the 2012 to 2013 line. Doors, beds and tailgates largely do, because the cab and box did not change shape.
Which 4th gen parts do we carry?
| Part | 2009 to 2012 | 2013 to 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Engines | 5.7 HEMI (4.7 and 3.7 not stocked) | 5.7 HEMI, 3.6 Pentastar |
| Transmissions | 545RFE / 65RFE six-speed | 65RFE, 8HP70 (V8), 8HP45 (V6) |
| Headlights | Not stocked | Quad halogen, halogen projector, Sport black bezel |
| Grilles | Not stocked | Chrome, Sport body-colour, Rebel (2015 on) |
| Doors, fenders, hoods | Doors and fenders, some hoods | All, including the Sport dual-scoop hood |
| Beds and tailgates | 5'7", 6'4" | 5'7", 6'4", with and without RamBox, camera tailgates from 2013 |
| Uconnect | Not stocked | 8.4 RA3 / RA4; Uconnect 4 for 2018 |
| Wheels | 20-inch, 5 lug | 20-inch chrome clad, Sport alloys, 5 lug |
Does a 4th gen part fit a Ram 1500 Classic?
Usually, yes, because the Classic is the same DS truck built alongside the new one from 2019 until production ended in 2024. A 2016 door, bed, tailgate, headlight or grille is the same part on a 2021 Classic. Where the Classic differs is trim mix and a few electronics, which the Classic page sets out. What a 4th gen part never fits is a 2019 or later DT, the new body; the interchange guide lists the exceptions.
What is worth knowing about a used DS?
- The eight-speed arrived in stages. In 2013 it was standard on the V6 and optional on the HEMI, with the six-speed 65RFE still fitted to many V8 trucks. Check which one you have before ordering a transmission; the transmission guide shows how.
- Coil springs at the back. The DS used a five-link coil-spring rear suspension rather than leaf springs, with optional four-corner air suspension from 2013. Suspension parts are on the brakes and suspension page.
- Ontario rust. Rear wheel arches, rocker panels and the bottom of the tailgate are where salt finds a DS. A used box or door from a truck that spent less time on salted roads is often the better buy, and we say where a panel is from.
Sources
- Stellantis Media, 2013 Ram 1500 Offers Best-in-class Fuel Efficiency, New Technology and New Features Without Sacrificing Capability, 23 August 2012. media.stellantisnorthamerica.com. Checked 9 September 2026.
- Stellantis Media, Statement in Response to End of Production of Ram 1500 Classic at Warren Truck Assembly Plant, 9 August 2024. media.stellantisnorthamerica.com. Checked 9 September 2026.