RAM Repair Rant

[Doug627]

I own a 2020 RAM 1500 5.7L 4X4 Bighorn. When I bought the truck, I was sold an extended warranty. I don't usually buy these, but I was told it had bumper-to-bumper coverage for "anything" up to 150,000 miles. One of the exhaust manifold bolts broke. I was told by a mechanic, after buying the truck, that this happens at about 50,000 miles. Sure enough, I have 50,060 miles on the truck. I took it to a dealership and told them about the extended warranty. The dealership said it had to run diagnostics on the truck before it could "know" what was wrong. I told them it was a broken exhaust manifold bolt. It ran the diagnostics, and it then told me it was a broken exhaust manifold bolt. $195.00 diagnostics cost. It also told me that the extended warranty did not cover the problem because it was exhaust related and that wasn't covered. It is going to cost $785.00. It claims that all of the exhaust manifold bolts are seized. I will be discussing this with the finance people where I bought the truck. It is not a RAM dealership. My father always told me: "You get what you pay for." Not today.

 

[sceva]

I was told it had bumper-to-bumper coverage for "anything" up to 150,000 miles.

But what does it say in writing? I have learned to not take their word for things and read it over myself before committing. That said; I would thing that it should be covered. Some things are considered wear items; brake pads/shoes, Spark Plugs, and possible mufflers. I do not think a bolt would be a wear item.

 

[Grayfox]

I'm not familiar with that truck or that engine, so I can't say for sure what's involved, but broken exhaust bolts are a major PITA.
The heat basically rusts everything together and it takes time, patience and skill to get that thing out and replace it. Quite possibly it will require removing the whole manifold. Maybe even the head. In that case expect more bolts to break.
That $785 will likely go up a lot higher real fast.

 

[LVSteve]

I own a 2020 RAM 1500 5.7L 4X4 Bighorn. When I bought the truck, I was sold an extended warranty. I don't usually buy these, but I was told it had bumper-to-bumper coverage for "anything" up to 150,000 miles. One of the exhaust manifold bolts broke. I was told by a mechanic, after buying the truck, that this happens at about 50,000 miles. Sure enough, I have 50,060 miles on the truck. I took it to a dealership and told them about the extended warranty. The dealership said it had to run diagnostics on the truck before it could "know" what was wrong. I told them it was a broken exhaust manifold bolt. It ran the diagnostics, and it then told me it was a broken exhaust manifold bolt. $195.00 diagnostics cost. It also told me that the extended warranty did not cover the problem because it was exhaust related and that wasn't covered. It is going to cost $785.00. It claims that all of the exhaust manifold bolts are seized. I will be discussing this with the finance people where I bought the truck. It is not a RAM dealership. My father always told me: "You get what you pay for." Not today.

Would love to know how a computer looking at your sensor data can detect a single broken manifold bolt. As for the shop saying they are all seized, that could either be the shop shooting you a line, or that they know damned well that RAM over-torqued them all at the factory and there is a dissimilar metal and/or corrosion issue endemic in the design.

 

[Oldengineer]

The very harsh reality is that dealers hate warranty repairs because their respective companies pay so poorly for the service. Nobody wants the work since it is not profitable. Scanning the microprocessors for an “exhaust leak” code is a real reach. I view that as a money grab.

Your 2020 model year RAM, if it has an exhaust leak, is not in compliance with the Clean Air Act. If this broken bolt problem is widespread, a threatened class action lawsuit might get the dealer and Stelantis attention. This is really a big problem for a manufacturer. Think recall.

The other side of the coin is a big “So What”. Is there evidence of leakage —- noise, smell, etc. ? If not, save your energy and money. Avoid the hassle and (here’s where I get in trouble) buy a Ford! I can help with that.

Tom H.

BTW, having been a base engine design engineer, the bolt material was likely out of spec (hydrogen embridlement ?) or the bolts were over torqued. Just a few thoughts.

 

[03hemi]

Financing couldn't care less unless you stop paying, then it's your credit that suffers.
I can confirm these bolts have issues, just throw some headers on now with new bolts because it doesn't look like your warranty is worth a damn and be done with it?
You'd be amazed how the headers wake it up!

 

[LVSteve]

Financing couldn't care less unless you stop paying, then it's your credit that suffers.
I can confirm these bolts have issues, just throw some headers on now with new bolts because it doesn't look like your warranty is worth a damn and be done with it?
You'd be amazed how the headers wake it up!

Headers wake up your insurance company, too.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Headers wake up your insurance company, too.

How so? How would they know? They are still an exhaust system. Had headers on a car i once owned ......NO difference in insurance.

EXPLAIN,

 

[DWalt]

I thought about that also. How would the insurance company know, and why would they care even if they did know? Just a different manifold design.

 

[LVSteve]

I've never seen an insurance policy that doesn't have a question regarding engine mods, including headers. Maybe it is different in your state, but I've been asked here. I've seen insurance companies not payout on modified vehicles when there's a wreck. Remember, they are in business to keep that money you paid them.

 

[Oldengineer]

A reminder that the engine emissions control system is warranted for a minimum of 7years and 120,000 miles. All bets are off if the backpresure changes.

 

[S-W4EVER]

I snapped the front U-Joint, wiping out a wiring harness (in deep snow) on my ‘18 Ram 3500 CTD 4x4 and the dealer wouldn’t honor the factory warranty (at ~ 20K miles), claiming I hit a rock. Not true but it would cost more to fight them than to pay for the repair myself, which I did (& thanks to COVID it was four months until I got it back). I told them to quit bothering me about buying the Extended Warranty, they wouldn’t even honor the Factory Warranty.

Lesson Learned... no more new vehicles for me, I’ll keep this truck running for the rest of my life (has less than 30K miles on it now). No Extended Warranties either, I figure they know what’s likely to break and that won’t be covered. I put the money in Savings instead.

 

[chief38]

Many times (ok - most) the extended warranty's are just not worth buying. Even if you do have a meaningful and extensive coverage policy, the numbers jut don't justify the expense unless you blow a tranny and an engine too - possible, but unlikely.

When we moved into our new home, we were offered extended warranty's on all 8 appliances at the cost of thousands of dollars a year. It was a "5 year" extended warranty but really only a 4 year warranty because the first year was included with the appliances anyway. To spend thousands / year to protect one or two units that might break just was not worth it (I rolled the dice that they would last at least 4 years after the first 1 year warranty). Even if one or two had to be replaced outside the factory 1 year warranty period, it would still be at less cost that the warranties themselves when all added up! The likelihood of all 8 going south within the first 5 years is possible but very unlikely.

 

[Farmer17]

I recently found out Dodge stopped making the Hemi V8 and all their cars and trucks now have 6 cylinder engines. It seemed like a pretty solid, powerful engine that's been around a while and should have had all the bugs worked out of it by now, but the best engines won't work well if the people building and putting them together don't give their best effort. The twin turbo six bangers put out some great performance at slightly improved gas mileage but I still think there's a market and a lot of customers who would buy a simple big V8 for a pickup.

 

[WardenRoss]

I have the Ford factory extended warranty on my F-150. They are great and I've had no problems whatsoever with a claim. It is $100 deductible.

My water pump started leaking at the eight-year mark. They covered everything. My dealer's warranty girl even got approval to replace all my belts and they are specifically listed as a wear item and not covered.

I'm lucky to have a good dealer.

My last F-150 also had the factory extended warranty and it worked great too.

Just sayin...



,

 

[Yendor357]

Google Dave Ramsey on extended warranties. NEVER buy an extended warranty. I know someone will chime in and say how their extended warranty saved them $XXXX. And that happens occasionally, about 12% of the time. I think just enough to have people argue in their defense.

Whoever thought iron manifolds on a multi displacement aluminum head was a good idea?! (Just in case you don’t know, multi displacement means, they shut off part of the engine under light loads to get .00001 more mpg)

Warped manifolds are a common issue with RAM trucks. Go on any forum, there are mega tons of threads on it. I got out front of that problem by putting Shorty Headers on my 2011 Ram Hemi many years ago, BEFORE any of the exhaust bolts broke. Much cheaper that way.
Shorty headers aren’t all that expensive, and you retain the cats, so it’s still 50 state compliant. Shops have done before and after dyno runs of Shortys on the 5.7 and you do pick up 15-20 hp.

Iron manifolds are cheap. That’s the only reason they are still used.

My 2011 has been a really great truck. I may one day buy another. But I’ll never sell the one I have.

 

[jimmyj]

Car dealers/salesman are just wanta be policians that are not as corupt yet.

 

[Oldengineer]

Just a short explanation on steel tube headers. The industry uses them to help with exhaust emissions compliance. They offer much lower thermal inertia (they heat up faster) and therefore allow the catalyst to light off quicker. They are also lighter —- and that’s always desirable. The concern is that aftermarket headers have not been design verified and their durability is unknown.

 

[03hemi]

Headers wake up your insurance company, too.

They sound good, they do nothing to your premiums. lol
My USAA doesn't have any such clauses on your daily or weekend vehicle, sounds like you need some better insurance?

 

[ladder13]

I've never seen an insurance policy that doesn't have a question regarding engine mods, including headers. Maybe it is different in your state, but I've been asked here. I've seen insurance companies not payout on modified vehicles when there's a wreck. Remember, they are in business to keep that money you paid them.

What happens in Vegas needs to stay there.