Exhaust manifold leak or tick. Why no recall from Chrysler?

So as many of you have had, read about and seen there is a huge problem with the exhaust manifold bolts breaking off and causing a leak which makes a ticking sound. Mine has this issue and so has many others. How come Chrysler isn't admitting this is a well known issue and doing something about it. It is going to cost me $350 a side to get it redone at a local exhaust shop. I am hoping its only on the passenger side. I went by my local Dodge store and they told me since I am over 100K miles they will not fix the issue. My complaint is that you know, I know and all Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi owners know this is a problem and you should fix this manufacturer problem on all of our vehicles. Mine is only 2 years old and has an exhaust manifold leak? Come on! I love my Ram though. What are you guys thoughts? Is there something we can all do? Thanks

basslowend said:

So as many of you have had, read about and seen there is a huge problem with the exhaust manifold bolts breaking off and causing a leak

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What you see as a huge problem because of several postings on a RAM forum doesn't equate to a huge issue. How many RAM Hemis are out there and how many have the issue? This would provide the info needed to realize how common the failure is.

I think RAM sells somewhere north of 300,000 RAM's per year, how many are Hemis I don't know and how many have the issue is also unknown.

Recalls are typically related to safety issues. An issue like this is typically managed by a technical bulletin sent to the dealers and repaired as needed.

How long has your truck had the issue? Are these failures happening before the powertrain warranty expires? Have you tried to get RAM's customer care involve?

Every vehicle has its own quirks and problems. If you read the forums it may seem like it's more of a problem than what it actually is. Forums are good to see what's being reported and what to watch for on you're own vehicle but it doesn't necessarily mean it's going to happen to you. My old f150 had several issues reported that everyone has their panties in a *** over but 200000 miles later I never experienced one of the issues with mine.

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Well I got the tick too, have until March next year u til warranty expires. I'm sure this will get fixed then after warranty it will happen again. Only 54k mileage. That's bs

basslowend said:

So as many of you have had, read about and seen there is a huge problem with the exhaust manifold bolts breaking off and causing a leak which makes a ticking sound. Mine has this issue and so has many others. How come Chrysler isn't admitting this is a well known issue and doing something about it. It is going to cost me $350 a side to get it redone at a local exhaust shop. I am hoping its only on the passenger side. I went by my local Dodge store and they told me since I am over 100K miles they will not fix the issue. My complaint is that you know, I know and all Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi owners know this is a problem and you should fix this manufacturer problem on all of our vehicles. Mine is only 2 years old and has an exhaust manifold leak? Come on! I love my Ram though. What are you guys thoughts? Is there something we can all do? Thanks

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Hi basslowend,

Sorry to hear about your concerns with your vehicle. If you end up deciding to visit a RAM dealership for further diagnosis I'd be happy to offer assistance if needed. Just send us a PM with your VIN and let me know.

Andrea
Ram Social Care Specialist

Wouldn’t the manifold bolt fall under epa warranty?


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Thanks for all the ideas and responses. I do feel that its a very well known issue that a lot of 5.7 Hemi owners are having. If you look online there is a ton of info about it on here and on youtube. I will be sending my VIN # to you in a PM.

THanks

This is why mine will get shorty headers next year, warrenty or not they are going to break and sooner or later its on your dime.

basslowend said:

So as many of you have had, read about and seen there is a huge problem with the exhaust manifold bolts breaking off and causing a leak which makes a ticking sound. Mine has this issue and so has many others. How come Chrysler isn't admitting this is a well known issue and doing something about it. It is going to cost me $350 a side to get it redone at a local exhaust shop. I am hoping its only on the passenger side. I went by my local Dodge store and they told me since I am over 100K miles they will not fix the issue. My complaint is that you know, I know and all Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi owners know this is a problem and you should fix this manufacturer problem on all of our vehicles. Mine is only 2 years old and has an exhaust manifold leak? Come on! I love my Ram though. What are you guys thoughts? Is there something we can all do? Thanks

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it cost me 800$ (driver side only) that I was quoted at 400$ at truhitte auto in morro bay California so you 10s of thousands paying 350$ are not getting hit as hard as us in California. NOW MY PASSENGER SIDE IS TICKING!! I NEVER REPORTED IT AS I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST HAPPENSTANCE JUST AS 10'S OF THOUSANDS ARE NOT REPORTING IT. OUR MECHANICS TELL US IT IS VERY COMMON. REQUESTING THEIR HELP TO PROVE IT IS A RECALL IS NOT AN OPTION.
EVERY DODGE HEMI OWNER KNOWS ABOUT "THE TICK" of hemi's epic exhaust fail, DODGE WONT ACKNOWLEDGE IT. TRY AND GET THEM TO CONFIRM HOW MANY UNSATISFIED CUSTOMERS OF THIS PROBLEM ALONE NOT TO MENTION THE COLE DODGE DEALERSHIP IN SAN LUIS OBISPO CALIFORNIA JUST LIKE MOST (BUT NOT ALL) DEALERSHIPS ARE SO DAMN DISHONEST. COLE DODGE SOLD ME AN AMAZING DODGE LONGHORN BEAUTIFUL TRUCK ABSOLUTELY THE BEST TRUCK IVE OWNED UNTIL COLE DODGE WOULDN'T FIX THE BENT RIM I TOLD THEM WAS THE PROBLEM INSTEAD THEY ONLY ROTATED TIRES (2X'S) MANIFOLD WAS COVERED TO FIX BUT COLE REFUSE TO FIX ANOTHER 400$ AND SOMEHOW THEY MANAGED TO DELETE ALL CONVERSATIONS IN MY EMAIL THAT WOULD PROVE THEIR LIES TO MAKE THE SALE. HAS ANYONE ELSE BEEN HACKED OF EVIDENCE IN THEIR EMAILS? I SUGGEST PRINTOUT EVERY EMAIL OR IT WONT BE THERE TO USE LATER. DODGE HEMI'S EPIC FAIL IS A GOOD REASON FOR "DODGE TO GO TO HEADERS" NOT US BUYERS TO FIT THE BILL FOR THEIR EPIC FAIL

My 5.7 only has 15K on it and I already have cold start manifold leaking so headers are on my todo list. My old man's 5.7 Ram has about 100K and his leaks really bad, also has headers on his todo list. The stock manifolds are crap and most people I've known with a 5.7 have either already had them "fixed" at-least once or swapped to shorties so they didn't have to fuss with it again. Makes me glad the 6.4 in my Challenger has the SRT shorties cause doing headers on that thing would be a major ***** or a major expense like my friends with 5.7 Challengers.

This is the one thing that makes me slightly regret buying MaxCare Lifetime.

I know they will "fix" it, but if they dont do it the right way (I.e. replace the manifolds or at least mill the existing ones flat), ill just be going back and back and back. Not even counting the cost of the deductible each time, but what about the potential wasted time headache?

chrisbh17 said:

This is the one thing that makes me slightly regret buying MaxCare Lifetime.

I know they will "fix" it, but if they dont do it the right way (I.e. replace the manifolds or at least mill the existing ones flat), ill just be going back and back and back. Not even counting the cost of the deductible each time, but what about the potential wasted time headache?

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You're assuming you'll get the exhaust issue in the first...you may not! I wouldn't worry about it until then; lots of other things to spend time thinking about!

TXCOMT

chrisbh17 said:

This is the one thing that makes me slightly regret buying MaxCare Lifetime.

I know they will "fix" it, but if they dont do it the right way (I.e. replace the manifolds or at least mill the existing ones flat), ill just be going back and back and back. Not even counting the cost of the deductible each time, but what about the potential wasted time headache?

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"yes it will happen over and over again" quoted by very good mechanics I know. Mechanics know it is a recall but can't help us. The low nickel content junk manifolds are dodges brown nosing bean counters fiscal fix that is on us $$$ to fix $$ over and $$ over again in the end. Maybe they fired or retired the educated experienced metallurgist and replaced him/her with someone who truly doesn't know anything about metal or how big a mistake he/she made. Ford had the same junk manifolds back in the day I wonder if dodge hired their guy or foundry. There has got to be someone to contact to make dodge install headers instead of making us kick the can down the road and waste our time at the mechanics garage
Anyone saying different is full of it/commissioned.

TXCOMT said:

You're assuming you'll get the exhaust issue in the first...you may not! I wouldn't worry about it until then; lots of other things to spend time thinking about!

TXCOMT

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clearly you don't own a hemi, it will happen over and over again and you know it if you did any research before replying to this person. The low nickel content of these junk manifolds are a joke, they don't take heat well and the bolts are WAY undersized. There has been no upgrades done to manifolds or vendors, great for dealerships explains why no recall notice.

russ rod said:

clearly you don't own a hemi, it will happen over and over again and you know it if you did any research before replying to this person. The low nickel content of these junk manifolds are a joke, they don't take heat well and the bolts are WAY undersized. There has been no upgrades done to manifolds or vendors, great for dealerships explains why no recall notice.

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Recalls are only issued for safety items. A leaky exhaust manifold is not a safety item. There will never be a recall for it and they’re definitely not going to do headers from the factory. Very best situation would be a warranty extension but I doubt it. This isn’t just an FCA issue, both GM and ford have the same issue.

The bolt materials have been upgraded a few times. I believe the manifolds had a upgrade in the last year. The issues are getting less and less with each upgrade. I’ve never had the issue however on my old 2014 or my current 2017.

The main issue is dissimilar metals. Aluminum head and a cast iron manifold. Both expand/contract at different rates which puts a lot of stress on the bolts. Then the manifold usually warps. The spec is 0.008”/foot. Most manifolds I see are warped in the 0.050” range. A lot of shops just throw the old manifold on which is only asking for a repeat failure. We replace the manifolds and I honestly don’t think I’ve seen a truck come back with the same issue.


It’s a very common issue but it’s not necessarily the pandemic you believe it is. As an example, There’s 5 guys in my shop that all have Hemi trucks, from 2009 to 2018. None of them have had the issue happen yet.

I wish someone would make a cnc billet exhaust manifold like they do for the high horse diesels. Cast just crack and headers put out too much heat in the engine bay. They do make better studs, but the manifolds are still a problem. I've done both sides and they're good now, but it was past warranty so it did cost a bit and based on other guys I know with hemis it will likely happen again. That said all the big 3 seem to have this problem to a certain extent. My ford years ago needed manifolds replaced as well on the 5.4. Thicker or better materials would put less stress on the bolts and reduce failures. Most seem to make it past warranty though so its not really an issue as far as manufacturer bottom line or safety.

Tach_tech said:

Recalls are only issued for safety items. A leaky exhaust manifold is not a safety item. There will never be a recall for it and they’re definitely not going to do headers from the factory. Very best situation would be a warranty extension but I doubt it. This isn’t just an FCA issue, both GM and ford have the same issue.

The bolt materials have been upgraded a few times. I believe the manifolds had a upgrade in the last year. The issues are getting less and less with each upgrade. I’ve never had the issue however on my old 2014 or my current 2017.

The main issue is dissimilar metals. Aluminum head and a cast iron manifold. Both expand/contract at different rates which puts a lot of stress on the bolts. Then the manifold usually warps. The spec is 0.008”/foot. Most manifolds I see are warped in the 0.050” range. A lot of shops just throw the old manifold on which is only asking for a repeat failure. We replace the manifolds and I honestly don’t think I’ve seen a truck come back with the same issue.


It’s a very common issue but it’s not necessarily the pandemic you believe it is. As an example, There’s 5 guys in my shop that all have Hemi trucks, from 2009 to 2018. None of them have had the issue happen yet.

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How many miles on rach of their trucks?

indept said:

How many miles on rach of their trucks?

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Lowest mileage is probably 15,000km. Highest is around 200,000km.

Tach_tech said:

Lowest mileage is probably 15,000km. Highest is around 200,000km.

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So in other words, plenty...as I said earlier, us Hemi owners (clearly you didn't read my avatar deets, russ) may or may not have it happen to our engines. It's the same for the Hemi tick, too. Not everybody gets it.

TXCOMT

TXCOMT said:

So in other words, plenty...as I said earlier, us Hemi owners (clearly you didn't read my avatar deets, russ) may or may not have it happen to our engines. It's the same for the Hemi tick, too. Not everybody gets it.

TXCOMT

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His account is 2 days old and these are his only posts. I’m guessing his truck had the failure, did some “research”. Got pissed off and wanted a soap box to complain so here we are.