The Dodge Ram 1500 is built for hard work. This full-sized pick-up can handle heavy loads and looks great doing it. But every vehicle can have mechanical problems at some time. Let’s look at some common Ram 1500 breakdowns and their associated costs. The Dodge factory warranty is 36 months/36,000 miles.
When your Dodge factory or extended warranty expires, a vehicle protection plan can pay for costly repairs. Sign up for a free quote now.
Ticking Noise
A ticking noise, especially when starting, could be due to broken exhaust manifold bolts. In many cases, the noise goes away after the engine warms up. This problem is more common in trucks with over 94,500 miles. Repair includes bolt replacement and exhaust manifold replacement.
The cost of this repair typically runs between $800 – $900, parts and labor.
Leaky Rear Window
Many Ram 1500 owners report rear window leakage due to a faulty seal. This can result in the back seat and floor getting wet after rain. Problems of this kind are more common in models with over 65,000 miles. In some cases, the leak may also come from a brake light fixture.
The cost of repairing the window leak is usually around $150 – $250.
Heavy Oil Consumption
If you notice your truck is burning oil much faster than normal, it could be due to a leaky intake manifold gasket. You may also hear or feel a knocking sensation with acceleration. The engine may misfire when idling as well. In most cases, you won’t see any smoke from burning oil.
This problem happens more often in vehicles with over 125,000 miles. This puts you over the factory warranty coverage limit, so the costs come out of your pocket. Parts will run you about $60 and labor nearly $200.
Head Gasket Failure
This breakdown is more common if your Ram 1500 engine has overheated. Trucks that experience heavy use or high mileage are also more prone to head gasket failure. The engine will run rough, especially when first starting. Coolant may also leak into the oil, causing the oil to appear milky. You might also notice white, sweet smelling exhaust smoke.
Head gasket replacement is costly, anywhere from $1000 to $1500, parts and labor. This is a work intensive repair, with most of the costs going toward labor.
Bump Clunk
When you drive over bumps and feel a clunk or pop, it’s probably the lower ball joint. This may occur also when turning in either direction. In addition, you might notice your tires wearing faster than normal.
Lower ball joint replacement on the Ram 1500runs $300 to $400, parts and labor. Parts alone cost around $140.
When your Dodge factory or extended warranty expires, a vehicle protection plan can pay for costly repairs. Sign up for a free quote now.
As the leading provider, CARCHEX has collected years of repair claim data on thousands of vehicle makes and models. Specific types of Dodge Ram 1500 repairs highlighted in this article are derived from data provided by RepairPal, a CARCHEX partner. Repair costs derived from both RepairPal, as well as CARCHEX based on actual claim related data.
