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Ram · 4th gen (DS) (DS) · 2013–2018

Ram 1500 (2013–2018): Problems, Reliability & Repair Costs

The DS-generation Ram 1500 is a comfortable, good-driving half-ton that's better to live with than most of its rivals — but the option boxes decide how much it costs you. The 5.7L Hemi snaps exhaust manifold bolts, the optional air suspension and the optional 3.0L EcoDiesel are both expensive headaches, and 2013–2017 trucks carry the troubled TIPM electrical module. A coil-spring 5.7L or 3.6L in a clean year is the smart buy; a loaded air-ride EcoDiesel is the one that bankrupts you.

5/10 CarCaseFile
reliability score

Engines

  • ESF (Pentastar) — 3.6L gasoline, 305 hp
  • EZH / Hemi — 5.7L gasoline, 395 hp
  • EXF (EcoDiesel) — 3.0L diesel, 240 hp

Transmissions

  • ZF 8HP — automatic, 8-speed

Drivetrain

RWD / 4WD

Body

Regular Cab, Quad Cab, Crew Cab

Should you buy a 2013–2018 Ram 1500?

Buy the right configuration and skip the wrong one. A 5.7L Hemi or 3.6L V6 on conventional coil springs, in a 2015-or-later year, is a genuinely pleasant, capable half-ton that holds up fine with maintenance — budget only for the near-inevitable Hemi exhaust manifold bolt job. The traps are the options: the 4-corner air suspension gets very expensive as it ages, and the 3.0L EcoDiesel stacks an EGR-cooler fire recall, oil-cooler failures, and the emissions-settlement baggage on top of normal diesel running costs. 2013–2014 trucks are first-year/early-cycle and carry the worst TIPM and powertrain complaint rates. Verify the manifold-bolt history, test the air ride, and on a diesel demand documented EGR and oil-cooler work.

Best years

2016, 2017, 2018

Years to avoid

2013–2014 (first/early-cycle; highest TIPM + powertrain complaints), EcoDiesel 2014–2016 (EGR-cooler recall + emissions settlement), Any truck with the optional air suspension unless recently serviced

Pre-purchase inspection checklist

  • ☐Cold-start the engine and listen for a sharp tick that fades as it warms — the classic 5.7L Hemi broken exhaust manifold bolt symptom. Ask whether the bolts/studs have already been redone.
  • ☐If it has air suspension, cycle the ride-height settings and let it sit overnight — a truck that's sagged to the bumpstops by morning has a leak or dead compressor.
  • ☐On a 2013–2017 truck, exercise the power windows, locks, horn, and confirm the fuel pump shuts off — erratic electrical behavior points to a failing TIPM.
  • ☐On the EcoDiesel: confirm the EGR-cooler recall was completed (by VIN at a dealer) and ask for proof of any oil-cooler replacement; check coolant and oil for cross-contamination.
  • ☐Shift Park-Drive-Reverse a few times and drive it — harsh or delayed engagement in the ZF 8-speed warrants a fluid service or a closer look at the valve body.
  • ☐Inspect the 8.4-inch Uconnect screen for delamination bubbles or 'ghost touch' inputs on 2017–2018 trucks.
  • ☐On the 3.6L Pentastar, look for oil weeping at the front of the engine valley — the plastic oil-filter housing cracks.
  • ☐Check frame, brake lines, and underbody for rust on trucks from salt states.

Common Ram 1500 problems & repair costs

Hemi exhaust manifold bolts snap (5.7L)

$600–$1,700
engine moderate 2013–2018 (5.7L Hemi) ~60k–120k mi

Symptoms: A sharp ticking on cold start that quiets as the engine warms up, eventually a steady exhaust leak and a sulfur/exhaust smell. Caused by the original manifold bolts shearing off from repeated heat cycling.

Fix: Remove the manifold, drill out and extract the broken bolts, re-tap or heli-coil the holes, new bolts/studs and gaskets. Cost climbs fast if a manifold is warped/cracked and needs machining or replacement, and if both sides are done.

Sources: BD Diesel — Ram 5.7 Hemi exhaust manifold leak & broken bolts (2009–2022), RepairPal — Dodge Ram 1500 exhaust manifold replacement cost

EcoDiesel EGR cooler cracks (fire-risk recall)

$1,500–$3,500
engine safety 2014–2018 (3.0L EcoDiesel) ~varies

Symptoms: Coolant loss with no obvious leak, overheating, white exhaust smoke or unusual exhaust noise. The EGR cooler develops micro-cracks that let coolant into the hot exhaust path — linked to a small number of underhood fires.

Fix: Covered by FCA's 2019 EGR-cooler recall on ~160,000 EcoDiesel trucks — get it done free at a dealer if not already completed. Out of recall coverage, EGR cooler replacement is a labor-heavy job, and failures have recurred even after the recall part on some trucks.

Sources: CarComplaints — Ram 1500 EcoDiesel coolant leak recall for EGR coolers, Hagens Berman — Ram 1500 EcoDiesel EGR cooler fire hazard

EcoDiesel oil cooler failure

$1,500–$4,000
engine severe 2014–2016 (3.0L EcoDiesel) ~as low as 50k mi on early trucks

Symptoms: Oil and coolant cross-contamination, oil leaks, milky coolant or oily residue. Left unaddressed it can starve the engine of oil and kill it. Unlike the EGR cooler, the oil cooler was never recalled despite high failure volume.

Fix: Oil cooler / cooler-housing replacement, deep in the valley of the engine and labor-intensive. If contamination already damaged the engine the bill is far higher. A documented oil-cooler replacement on a used EcoDiesel is a plus, not a red flag.

Sources: DieselIQ — Dodge 3.0 EcoDiesel engine problems, ABCO Diesel — 3.0L EcoDiesel problems 2014–2018 Ram 1500

Air suspension leaks and compressor failure

$1,000–$3,000
suspension moderate 2013–2018 (trucks optioned with air suspension) ~80k+ mi

Symptoms: Truck sits low or unevenly after sitting, a service-suspension warning, the compressor running constantly or not at all. Rubber air springs crack and lines go brittle with age; the compressor then overworks and burns out.

Fix: Replace failed air spring(s), the compressor, or the valve block — often more than one as the system ages. Some owners convert to a conventional coil-spring kit to be done with it. Cumulative air-system spend can climb well past these numbers.

Sources: CarComplaints — 2018 Ram 1500 suspension problems, TruckGuider — 2013–2023 Ram 1500 problems

TIPM electrical module failure

$500–$1,200
electrical moderate 2013–2017

Symptoms: Erratic electrical gremlins: fuel pump running after shutdown, no-start, windows or wipers acting on their own, random horn, dead accessories. The TIPM is the truck's central power/fuse module, so failures present in many ways.

Fix: Diagnose to confirm it's the TIPM and not a simpler fault, then replace and reprogram the module (or repair the failed circuit). Genuine TIPM failure is a known weak point on FCA vehicles of this era.

Sources: TruckGuider — 2013–2023 Ram 1500 problems

ZF 8-speed harsh/delayed shifting

$300–$4,000
transmission moderate 2013–2018 ~varies

Symptoms: Hard or jerky shifts, a pause when moving from Park to Drive/Reverse, occasional slipping. Often fluid-related but can indicate valve-body wear or the A-clutch pressure plate.

Fix: Start with a proper fluid and filter service (the cheap end). Persistent issues may need a valve body or internal clutch repair, and a full rebuild/replacement is the worst case. Servicing the 'lifetime' fluid on schedule heads off most of this.

Sources: National Transmission — Dodge Ram 8-speed transmission common failures, TruckGuider — 2018 Ram 1500 problems

Configuration is everything on this truck. A coil-spring 5.7L or 3.6L gas Ram is reasonable to own — the main planned expense is the Hemi exhaust manifold bolt job, plus normal half-ton wear (brakes, tires, suspension bushings). Add the air suspension and you're signing up for a recurring repair as the trucks pass 100k. Add the EcoDiesel and you stack diesel-grade running costs onto the EGR-cooler and oil-cooler risk, with the emissions-settlement software in the mix on 2014–2016 trucks. Gas parts and labor are everywhere and cheap; diesel and air-suspension parts are neither.

DIY repairs & parts

Replace the Pentastar oil-filter housing (3.6L)

moderate 2–3 hrs saves ~$200–$400

Tools: Socket set + torque wrench, Ratcheting wrenches, Drain pan, New O-rings / cooler gaskets

  1. Let the engine cool, then drain the coolant (the housing carries an oil cooler).
  2. Remove the intake/air components and anything blocking access to the housing in the valley.
  3. Unbolt the cracked plastic housing and clean the mating surface thoroughly.
  4. Install the upgraded aluminum housing with new gaskets/O-rings, torquing bolts to spec.
  5. Refill coolant, run the engine, and check for oil and coolant leaks.

Parts

Engine air filter + cabin filter change

easy 20 min saves ~$60–$120

Tools: Flat screwdriver (airbox clips)

  1. Unclip the engine airbox lid, lift it, and pull the old panel filter.
  2. Wipe out the airbox and drop in the new filter seated flat in its frame.
  3. For the cabin filter, open the glovebox and release the stops to drop it down.
  4. Slide out the old cabin filter and insert the new one with the airflow arrow correct, then reseat the glovebox.

Parts

Service the ZF 8-speed fluid and filter

moderate 2–3 hrs saves ~$150–$300

Tools: Floor jack + jack stands, Torx/socket set, Fluid pump (fill from below), Drain pan + scale or measuring setup

  1. With the truck level and the fluid at the correct temperature, remove the fill plug.
  2. Drop the pan or remove the drain plug and let the old fluid out; replace the filter integrated in the pan.
  3. Reinstall the pan/filter with a new gasket, torqued to spec.
  4. Pump in the correct ZF-spec fluid through the fill port until it streams out at the right temperature.
  5. Cycle through the gears, recheck level, and confirm no leaks.

Parts

Some parts links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no cost to you. We only list parts that fit this generation.

The short version

The 2013–2018 Ram 1500 (the DS generation) is one of the nicer half-tons of its era to drive and live in — coil-spring rear (or optional air), a quiet cabin, and the big 8.4-inch Uconnect that aged well. But this is a truck where the option sheet decides your repair bills, so “is the Ram reliable” has no single answer.

Start with the engine. The 5.7L Hemi is strong and long-lived, with one near-guaranteed job: the exhaust manifold bolts snap from heat cycling, giving you the cold-start “Hemi tick” and an exhaust leak. It’s a known fix, usually $600–$1,700. The 3.6L Pentastar V6 is the cheapest to own, watching only the plastic oil-filter housing that cracks. The 3.0L EcoDiesel is the problem child: a fire-risk EGR-cooler recall, oil-cooler failures that have killed engines, and the 2014–2016 emissions settlement.

What that means when you’re shopping

The smart buy is a 2016–2018 truck with the 5.7L Hemi or 3.6L V6 on conventional coil springs. Clear the manifold-bolt history, service the ZF 8-speed fluid, and you’ve got a capable, comfortable truck that holds up.

Two option boxes are where people get hurt. The 4-corner air suspension rides great but becomes a recurring repair past 100k — cracked air springs, dead compressors, valve-block faults. Cycle it and let the truck sit overnight before you buy. The EcoDiesel demands paperwork: confirm the EGR-cooler recall is done (free at a dealer) and look for a documented oil-cooler replacement.

The 2013–2014 trucks are first/early-cycle and carry the worst TIPM electrical and powertrain complaint rates, so lean later in the run if you can.

How this file is built: failure modes and cost ranges are compiled from NHTSA complaint and recall data, FCA’s own recall and emissions-settlement actions, CarComplaints, diesel-shop and transmission-shop write-ups, and owner forums, then sanity-checked against shop-floor experience. Cost figures are independent-shop estimates and vary by region. Spot something off? Tell us.

Viral car myths, checked

Frequently asked questions

What's the most reliable engine in the 2013–2018 Ram 1500?

The 5.7L Hemi and the 3.6L Pentastar gas V6 are the dependable choices, especially the Hemi for capability. Both are well understood and cheap to keep running. The 3.0L EcoDiesel is the one to be cautious with — strong torque and economy, but EGR-cooler, oil-cooler, and emissions-settlement issues make it the riskiest and most expensive used buy.

Is the EcoDiesel Ram 1500 worth buying used?

Only with documentation. Confirm the EGR-cooler recall was completed, look for proof of an oil-cooler replacement, and understand the 2014–2016 emissions settlement (software update plus owner compensation, no buyback). A well-sorted EcoDiesel can be great; an undocumented one can hand you a four-figure repair or an underhood fire risk.

What is the Hemi tick on a Ram 1500?

A cold-start ticking that fades as the engine warms is almost always broken exhaust manifold bolts on the 5.7L Hemi, not a worn-out engine. The original bolts snap from heat cycling and the manifold leaks. It's a known, fixable job — figure $600 to $1,700 depending on damage and whether one or both sides are done.

Should I buy a Ram 1500 with air suspension?

It rides beautifully when it works, but the air system is a recurring expense as the truck ages — cracked air springs, a tired compressor, valve-block faults. If you're shopping a high-mile truck, a conventional coil-spring model is cheaper to live with, or budget for air-system repairs (or a coil conversion) up front.

Which Ram 1500 years should I avoid?

The 2013–2014 trucks are first/early-cycle and carry the highest TIPM and powertrain complaint rates. EcoDiesel 2014–2016 trucks carry the EGR-cooler recall and emissions settlement. And on any year, an air-suspension truck without recent service is a money risk. The sweet spot is a 2016–2018 coil-spring gas truck.