Little angry with Ram at the moment

[gspot01]

2012 Ram 1500 Express with ca. 72000 miles. Last year, April 2016, i had an exhaust manifold bolt break. $400 repair. Now, May 2017, another has broken and it's back in the shop, presumably for another $400 minimum, depending on the extent of the issue.

When i dropped it off last night, i asked the lovely lady at the service desk why I'm having this issue a mere one year later, she said I've got more than one bolt and it IS a 2012. So i asked why the bolts keep breaking in general. After a lengthy technical explanation about tensile strength, i said it seems as if Ram engineering needs to revisit their design. They agreed and admitted that all the Ram trucks are having this problem after the 60000 mile warranty expires. An internet search seems to confirm this is a known problem about which Ram is doing nothing except passing the cost on to the consumer.

So im a little aggravated. This has been a great truck up until now and carried us to the Grand Canyon, Maine, and Yellowstone from Arkansas, in addition to countless smaller trips of 100-400 miles. Maybe im being too harsh-- parts do wear out-- and $800 of repair up until now really isn't that much in the big picture (i do all my own regular maintenance). Still... I'm not looking forward to paying $400 each year to fix broken bolts. Do all trucks have these kinds of issues?

[SeventyGTX]

Yep, been a problem for quite a while. I had a 2010 Laramie 5.7 I sold with 52k on the odometer. It had the dreaded "tick" in the right side exhaust manifold when I sold it. I let the owner know about it and and he didn't seem to care.

There are aftermarket headers and ARP bolts some guys replace them with. Depends what lengths you want to go to correct the problem. Not cheap, but would eliminate any future problems.

https://www.summitracing.com/search/...t-type/headers

[Jim34RL]

My Dodge/Ram truck has 125K on the OD and is a 2008, 2500 Mega Cab. I have never failed any exhaust manifold bolts from the time I purchased the truck in Nov 2007. Nor have I read of any other Ram or Dodge trucks that have failed the exhaust manifold bolts for their Cummins engines.

So, it is not all Ram trucks as you have stated it might be only the 5.7L Hemi that is the problem and for that year only!

[gspot01]

It wasn't me who stated that-- it was the service tech. And if you look it up on the Interwebs, you'll see it affects all Hemi's (both 5.7 and 6.4) of this generation. I know nothing of the Cummins.

[5picker]

Not only Dodge... Ford has had this issue too.

[billybigrigger]

Tell the dealer you want them to engage the FCA Area Manager! Usually when one fails the dealer will typically do more than the failure while they already have everything accessible. Be nice to the Area Manager and ask for help! Not saying they will help or not but it is worth a try. If you have most or all of your service done at the dealership, use that as leverage.

[jeff64]

How do you think all those F150 owners with 5.4L feel? Exhaust bolts, broken off spark plugs, cam phazers etc.? I got rid of mine with 57,000 because I knew what was coming once the manifolds broke and I started to look into the track record. How many millions of engines were sold. Nothing is perfect, unfortunately. BTW isn't this a FR-RV forum?

[IsleDog]

Ford never figured this out with the 5.4L trucks either. $400 to fix that is pretty cheap, i was quoted $1000 to $1200 to have that fixed on my previous expedition.

[gspot01]

Originally Posted by jeff64

BTW isn't this a FR-RV forum?

Tow vehicle subforum

[SeventyGTX]

Originally Posted by jeff64

How do you think all those F150 owners with 5.4L feel? Exhaust bolts, broken off spark plugs, cam phazers etc.? I got rid of mine with 57,000 because I knew what was coming once the manifolds broke and I started to look into the track record. How many millions of engines were sold. Nothing is perfect, unfortunately. BTW isn't this a FR-RV forum?

Yep, I had an 06 F150 that ran me $400 to change plugs because three of them broke when my mechanic was changing them.

[gspot01]

Well that sort of makes me feel better knowing that it's not just Ram with the issue, though im sorry for the Ford owners. Was thinking of trying a different brand after this truck, but maybe not. One thing's for sure: I'll do more research next time.

[upflying]

Replace all the exh manifold bolts with ARP bolts.
Problem solved.

[007matman]

I've got a 2010 Escalade w/ the 6.2 with the same problems. Definitely not unique to one manufacturer.

I'm in the process of installing KAP brackets. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear they are available for Ford or Dodge/RAM.


Edit: they are available for the rear upper bolt on the Ford 4.6-5.4 engines and select '93-2003 vehicles.

www.kralautoparts.com

[gspot01]

Just got off the phone with the dealer. The good news is the repair done to drivers side manifold last year still looks great. The bad news is this year it's the passenger side that needs the full repair for another $400.

The other good news is that the repair involves replacing the factory bolts with ones of the correct specifications so the problem shouldn't be any more. We'll see.

[RFSims]

Originally Posted by upflying

Replace all the exh manifold bolts with ARP bolts.
Problem solved.

Super advise. Never take an out-of-warranty vehicle back to the dealer to fix. Repair costs to high and the dealer is only going to use the OEM parts that where subpar to begin with.

[007matman]

Originally Posted by gspot01

Just got off the phone with the dealer. The good news is the repair done to drivers side manifold last year still looks great. The bad news is this year it's the passenger side that needs the full repair for another $400.

The other good news is that the repair involves replacing the factory bolts with ones of the correct specifications so the problem shouldn't be any more. We'll see.

You're lucky it's only$400.. the Stealership quoted $1400 minimum (likely higher) for my two broken ones (on an Escalade). They said if they need to remove the heads it would be closer to $2400.

Hope that makes you feel slightly better about it. :-)

[mpouls1]

Same issue with my old 2003 sillvy with 5.3

Thought it was lifters at first

[BandJCarm]

I hate all truck brands.


But boy, they're indispensable.

[jeff64]

Originally Posted by gspot01

Tow vehicle subforum

My baad! Didn't look at the string!

It really helps if you have had the experience to know when to hold 'em and when to fold on vehicles. I used to wrench on my stuff all the time, but once you're pressing the 70 mile marker, it just isn't that much fun any more. But, I do know when to cut and run!

[aceinspp]

Originally Posted by 007matman

You're lucky it's only$400.. the Stealership quoted $1400 minimum (likely higher) for my two broken ones (on an Escalade). They said if they need to remove the heads it would be closer to $2400.

Hope that makes you feel slightly better about it. :-)

Maybe take to Chevy dealer cheaper just paying for a name. I'd check the parts dept at both see price difference. Later RJD