Key takeaways
- Some Hemi noises are normal: Ram's owner's manual says a 5.7 Hemi can tick right after startup for approximately 30 seconds without harm, and SlashGear says steady injector ticking is normal too.
- A tick from the exhaust manifold when the engine is cold is addressed by Stellantis bulletins for 2019 to 2024 Ram 1500 trucks and some Durango and Grand Cherokee models, and the bulletin repair is reimbursable within the provisions of the warranty.
- Chrysler's STAR case S1709000010 describes camshaft lobe and lifter roller wear with noise, rough idle, lack of power and misfire; if metal debris is found on the oil control valve screens, it says engine replacement is required.
- RepairPal puts a Ram 1500 exhaust manifold replacement at $455 to $595 on average; a technician quoted by SlashGear put a camshaft and lifter job at around $4,500.
- If the engine has to be replaced, used 5.7 Hemi engines were typically listed at $1,688 to $4,316 in our October 21, 2026 snapshot, before shipping and labor.
What is the Hemi tick?
The Hemi tick is a nickname for several different ticking sounds from Chrysler's Hemi V8s, and the cause decides whether you have a cheap fix, a warranty claim or a failing engine.
The key numbers
- 4.5 Hrs.Stellantis warranty labor time to replace both exhaust manifolds on a 2019 to 2024 Ram 1500 (DT)Stellantis TSB 09-001-24
- $455–$595average Ram 1500 exhaust manifold replacement, per RepairPalRepairPal
- Around $4,500camshaft and lifter replacement, as a technician told SlashGearSlashGear
- $1,688–$4,316typical used 5.7 Hemi asking price, engine onlyTexas Engine Finder price snapshot, October 21, 2026
SlashGear, drawing on a working technician, separates them into normal noises, an exhaust leak and the lifter and camshaft failure that a group of Ram owners took to court. Stellantis has its own paperwork on two of them: service bulletins for a cracked exhaust manifold, and a dealer case report for camshaft and lifter wear.
What does the Hemi tick sound like?
It depends on the cause: a fast, even ticking is usually the injectors, a short rattle at startup is the lifters refilling with oil, a loud cold-start tick that fades is an exhaust leak, and a softer, irregular tick at warm idle is the one to worry about. Listen for when the sound starts, how long it lasts and whether it keeps a steady rhythm.
Ram's owner's manual says a 5.7 Hemi can tick right after startup and quiet down after approximately 30 seconds, and that this is normal and will not harm the engine. SlashGear says a startup rattle after the truck has sat comes from oil draining out of the hydraulic lifters. If it goes on for a couple of minutes or more, one or more lifters may have failed, and the manual says to see a dealer if the ticking continues or the Malfunction Indicator Light comes on.
| Sound | When you hear it | Likely cause | How serious |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick, steady ticking or pinging | Whenever the engine runs, loudest with the hood up | Fuel injectors, which are loud by design on a Hemi | Normal |
| Rattle or tick at startup | After the truck has sat, or after a short trip; quiets within about 30 seconds | Oil has drained from the hydraulic lifters | Normal, per Ram's owner's manual; a lifter may have failed if it lasts minutes |
| Loud tick from the side of the engine | On a cold start; fades as the engine warms | Cracked exhaust manifold or broken manifold studs (an exhaust leak) | Needs fixing; addressed by Stellantis bulletins on some models |
| Softer, irregular tick | At idle once the engine has run a couple of minutes, often with misfires | Lifter and camshaft wear | Get it inspected right away |
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The cold-start tick: a leaking exhaust manifold
A loud tick from the side of the engine on a cold start that stops once it warms up is commonly an exhaust leak at the manifold, and it is the one Stellantis has written bulletins for. Each bulletin gives the same customer symptom: a ticking noise from the exhaust manifold location when cold. The repair is new exhaust manifolds.
How the dealer bulletin confirms it
- 1Cold startStart the vehicle cold and listen for a tick that stops after the engine warms up.
- 2Shields offLet the engine cool, then remove the heat shield on the suspect side.
- 3Listen againRestart cold and listen at the exhaust manifold.
- 4Look for the crackCheck that a suspect line is a real crack, not a casting line, and replace only the cracked manifold.
SlashGear explains the mechanism: the manifolds and cylinder heads expand and contract at different rates, the manifold warps, studs break and a gap opens that rattles until the metal heats up and closes it. Stellantis's kit adds tie bars and longer fasteners, which it says were lengthened 6mm, and the bulletin says to use every kit part even on engines that never had tie bars.
Where the money goes: a Ram 1500 exhaust manifold
- Labor$300–$439
- Partsaround $156
- Average total$455–$595
The bulletin repair is listed as reimbursable within the provisions of the warranty. If your truck is still under warranty, ask the dealer to check it against the bulletin before you pay anyone.
The tick that matters: lifters and camshaft
The tick to take seriously is softer and irregular, starts at idle after the engine has run a couple of minutes, and comes with misfires over time. SlashGear says failing lifters move in ways they are not meant to and chip away at the camshaft, and that you need to get it looked at right away.
Symptoms in Chrysler's STAR case
- Abnormal engine noise
- Rough idle
- Lack of power
- Misfire
Chrysler has a dealer case report that describes the same failure. STAR case S1709000010, revised in January 2021 and filed with NHTSA, says complaints may include abnormal engine noise, rough idle, lack of power and misfire, and that inspection may find excessive camshaft lobe and lifter roller wear on one or more lobes. The case itself does not name an engine or model years; CarComplaints.com reports that the Hemi lawsuit cites it, alleging it shows FCA knew of the defect.
How to fix the Hemi tick (and what it costs)
The fix follows the cause: new exhaust manifolds for the cold-start tick, a camshaft and lifters for the irregular tick, or a replacement engine if the dealer finds metal debris. RepairPal's national average for a Ram 1500 exhaust manifold replacement is $455 to $595, and the technician SlashGear spoke to estimated $500 to $650 per side, depending on whether it is a truck or a car.
A failed lifter alone could cost a couple of thousand dollars because the job is labor-intensive, the same source says, and a camshaft and lifter replacement around $4,500. Both are one shop's estimates, reported by SlashGear. Your own written estimate is the real number.
Hemi tick repairs and a replacement engine, side by side
- Exhaust manifoldRam 1500, RepairPal average$455–$595RepairPal
- Exhaust manifoldper side, technician estimate$500–$650SlashGear
- Camshaft and lifterstechnician estimate$4,500SlashGear
- Used 5.7 Hemi enginetypical asking range$1,688–$4,316Texas Engine Finder price snapshot, October 21, 2026
- Remanufactured 5.7 Hemilisted price$3,599–$4,199Texas Engine Finder price snapshot, October 22, 2026
For the lifter tick, Chrysler's procedure is to pull the oil control valve for the variable valve timing system and inspect its screens for metal debris. If they are clean, the repair is a camshaft and lifter replacement. If debris is found, the case says engine replacement is required.
Chrysler's camshaft and lifter decision
- 1Confirm the wearExcessive camshaft lobe or lifter roller wear is found on one or more lobes.
- 2Pull the oil control valveRemove the VVT oil control valve and inspect its screens for metal.
- 3Clean screensContinue with camshaft and lifter replacement.
- 4Metal on the screensEngine replacement is required; warranty pre-authorization may apply.
That check is why two trucks with the same tick can get very different quotes. Ask the shop whether it has inspected the oil control valve screens, and what it found, before you approve either job.
Can you prevent the Hemi tick?
Only partly: Ram's owner's manual ties the harmless startup tick to habits you control, but none of the sources we checked gives a proven way to stop a manifold cracking or a lifter failing.
The manual names short drive cycles, a vehicle left unused for an extended period, incorrect oil, extended oil changes and extended idling as causes of that startup tick. It recommends only API Certified engine oils that meet the manufacturer's own standard, so use the oil your owner's manual specifies.
What Ram's owner's manual links to the startup tick
- Short drive cycles: started, driven a short distance, shut off, then restarted
- A vehicle left unused for an extended period
- Incorrect oil
- Extended oil changes
- Extended idling
For lifters and the camshaft, the only advice we found is one technician's, reported by SlashGear: timely oil changes, about every 5,000 miles or so, and keeping idling under an hour a day. None of the Stellantis documents we read gives prevention advice for this failure, so treat it as one informed opinion.
Which years and vehicles are affected?
Stellantis's exhaust manifold bulletins cover 5.7 Hemi versions of the 2019 to 2024 Ram 1500 (DT), the 2019 to 2022 Ram 1500 (DS), the 2019 to 2022 Dodge Durango and the Jeep Grand Cherokee from 2019 to 2022 (WK to 2021, WL from 2021).
We found no bulletin that gives model years for the lifter and camshaft failure: Chrysler's STAR case lists symptoms and a repair, not vehicles. The lawsuit names Gen III 5.7 and 6.4 Hemi vehicles from 2014 to 2022 as allegations; they are listed in the next section.
| Bulletin | Date | Vehicles (5.7 Hemi) | Warranty labor time, both manifolds |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSB 09-011-22 | September 3, 2022 | 2019 to 2021 Ram 1500 (DT) | 4.5 Hrs. |
| TSB 09-001-24 (replaces 09-011-22) | January 20, 2024 | 2019 to 2024 Ram 1500 (DT), with or without eTorque | 4.5 Hrs. |
| TSB 09-019-23 | October 7, 2023 | 2019 to 2022 Ram 1500 (DS) | 2.8 Hrs. |
| TSB 09-019-23 | October 7, 2023 | 2019 to 2022 Dodge Durango (WD), 2019 to 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK) | 5.6 Hrs. |
| TSB 09-019-23 | October 7, 2023 | 2021 to 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee (WL) | 4.6 Hrs. |
The Hemi tick lawsuit and the vehicles it names
Ram owners sued FCA US in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware (Petro, et al., v. FCA US LLC); CarComplaints.com's September 2024 report lists five plaintiffs. They allege that the valve train in Gen III 5.7 and 6.4 Hemi engines is defective, causes the tick, and that lifters, camshafts and finally engines may fail. These are allegations, not findings.
CarComplaints.com reported on September 5, 2024 that the judge dismissed the nationwide class allegations, and dismissed the unjust enrichment and express warranty claims without prejudice, so the plaintiffs may refile those two. Fraud-based, implied warranty and Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act claims were allowed to continue. The list below shows the vehicles named in the complaint, which says nothing about whether a particular engine is failing.
| Vehicle | Model years named |
|---|---|
| Ram 1500 | 2014 to 2020 |
| Ram 2500 and 3500 | 2014 to 2022 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 2014 to 2022 |
| Dodge Durango | 2014 to 2021 |
| Dodge Charger and Challenger | 2014 to 2016 per CarComplaints.com (2024); 2014 to 2022 per WSB-TV (2023) |
| Chrysler 300 | 2014 to 2016 per CarComplaints.com (2024); 2014 to 2022 per WSB-TV (2023) |
Watch: an Atlanta TV report on the Hemi tick lawsuit
If the engine has to be replaced: 5.7 Hemi prices
When the oil control valve screens show metal, the engine is the part you shop for. In our October 21, 2026 snapshot, used 5.7 Hemi engines were typically listed at $1,688 to $4,316 across 462 priced yard listings; on October 22, 2026, remanufactured units were listed at $3,599 to $4,199. The lawsuit also names the 6.4 Hemi, which listed higher: $4,500 to $9,186 used in our October 22, 2026 data.
- 5.7 HemiUsed$1,688–$4,316Reman$3,599–$4,199
- 6.4 HemiUsed$4,500–$9,186Reman$6,999–$8,899
Match the generation. A 2009-or-later 5.7 has variable cam timing, revised heads and different spark plugs from a 2003 to 2008 engine, and some engines have MDS cylinder deactivation while others do not. Give the supplier your VIN so the replacement matches what your vehicle was built with.
Three ways out of a failed camshaft and lifters
- Camshaft and lifters
Your engine stays in; the shop replaces the camshaft and lifters when the oil control valve screens are clean.
Around $4,500, one technician's estimate
Did you inspect the oil control valve screens, and what did you find?
- Used engine
A 5.7 from another vehicle, matched to your generation and MDS setup by VIN.
$1,688–$4,316 asking, engine only
Donor mileage, how it was tested, and the warranty in writing
- Remanufactured engine
Torn down and rebuilt by a remanufacturer before sale.
$3,599–$4,199 listed, engine only
What shipping adds, and whether the warranty covers labor
| Vehicle | Engine (VIN code = 8th digit) | Typical asking range | Median | Listings priced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 | 5.7L, Mega Cab, code D | $2,103 – $4,091 | $3,736 | 93 |
| 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 | 5.7L, Quad Cab, code 2 | $1,688 – $4,316 | $2,000 | 96 |
| 2012 Ram 1500 | 5.7L, code T | $2,851 – $4,314 | $3,855 | 98 |
| 2019 Ram 1500 | 5.7L, code T, 5-lug Classic style | $2,700 – $3,455 | $3,000 | 100 |
| 2019 Ram 1500 | 5.7L, code T, 6-lug, no eTorque | $3,000 – $3,800 | $3,325 | 75 |
Before you pay for a Hemi tick repair
Run through these checks first. The first two can mean someone else pays, and the last two stop you paying for the wrong repair.
Check these first
- Warranty: the exhaust manifold bulletins are reimbursable within the provisions of the warranty, so ask a dealer to check your VIN against them.
- Recalls: NHTSA's recall search takes the 17-character VIN from the lower left of your windshield, and a recalled part is fixed for free at a dealership.
- Diagnosis: the FTC says a shop that only diagnoses, without selling parts or repairs, may give you an objective opinion. Many shops charge for diagnostic time, so ask first.
- Written estimate: the FTC says it should name the condition to be repaired, the parts needed and the expected labor charge.
- Debris check: for a lifter tick, ask whether the oil control valve screens were inspected for metal before you approve a camshaft job or an engine.
How to get a price on a replacement 5.7 Hemi
Send your VIN and tell us the engine you need. Texas Engine Finder passes your request to one independent parts supplier, who contacts you with a quote. It costs you nothing to ask.
The supplier confirms fitment, price, availability, shipping and warranty. Texas Engine Finder does not sell, repair or install engines, so take the quote to your shop. In Texas the swapped-in engine must keep every emissions component the vehicle was built with, per Texas DPS.
Questions
Is the Hemi tick bad?
It depends on the tick. A steady injector tick and a startup tick that quiets within about half a minute are normal, per SlashGear and Ram's owner's manual. A cold-start tick from the exhaust manifold needs fixing but is not an engine failure. An irregular tick at warm idle with misfires points to lifter and camshaft wear and should be inspected right away.
What causes the Hemi tick?
The two causes Stellantis documents are a cracked exhaust manifold, in service bulletins for 2019 to 2024 Ram 1500s and some Durango and Grand Cherokee models, and camshaft lobe and lifter roller wear, in STAR case S1709000010. Loud fuel injectors and lifters briefly low on oil at startup also tick, harmlessly.
Does the Hemi tick go away when the engine warms up?
The exhaust manifold tick does: the bulletins describe a ticking noise when cold that stops once the engine is warm, because the metal expands and closes the gap. The lifter and camshaft tick does the opposite, starting at idle after the engine has run a couple of minutes.
How much does it cost to fix a Hemi tick?
RepairPal averages $455 to $595 for a Ram 1500 exhaust manifold replacement. A technician quoted by SlashGear estimated around $4,500 for a camshaft and lifter replacement. If metal debris is found and the engine must be replaced, used 5.7 Hemi engines were typically listed at $1,688 to $4,316 on October 21, 2026, before labor.
Is the Hemi tick covered by warranty?
The exhaust manifold bulletins list the repair as reimbursable within the provisions of the warranty, so if your vehicle is still covered, ask a dealer to check it against them. For the lifter and camshaft failure, Chrysler's STAR case says it does not authorize warranty repairs and that pre-authorization requirements may apply to an engine replacement.
Sources
- Stellantis Technical Service Bulletin 09-001-24, Cold Engine Ticking Noise (January 20, 2024), filed with NHTSA (accessed October 26, 2026)
- Stellantis TSB 09-001-24 (labor time, repair procedure, warranty policy) (accessed October 26, 2026)
- Stellantis TSB 09-011-22, Cold Engine Ticking Noise From Exhaust Manifold Area (September 3, 2022), filed with NHTSA (accessed October 26, 2026)
- Stellantis TSB 09-019-23, Cold Engine Ticking Noise From Exhaust Manifold Area (October 7, 2023), filed with NHTSA (accessed October 26, 2026)
- Stellantis TSB 09-019-23 (labor times, both sides; repair procedure) (accessed October 26, 2026)
- FCA US STAR On-Line Case S1709000010 Rev. A (released 01/16/2021), filed with NHTSA (accessed October 26, 2026)
- FCA US STAR On-Line Case S1709000010 Rev. A (repair procedure) (accessed October 26, 2026)
- SlashGear — What Causes The Famous HEMI Tick, And Is It Bad? (Rob Rich, April 6, 2024; normal noises) (accessed October 26, 2026)
- SlashGear — What Causes The Famous HEMI Tick (lifter failure) (accessed October 26, 2026)
- SlashGear — What Causes The Famous HEMI Tick (exhaust leak, heat-shield check, cost) (accessed October 26, 2026)
- SlashGear — What Causes The Famous HEMI Tick (lifter and camshaft failure, prevention, cost) (accessed October 26, 2026)
- RepairPal — Ram 1500 Exhaust Manifold Replacement Cost Estimate (read via Internet Archive snapshot of 2026-05-29) (accessed October 26, 2026)
- CarComplaints.com — HEMI Tick Lawsuit Includes 5.7-liter and 6.4-liter Engines (September 5, 2024) (accessed October 26, 2026)
- CarComplaints.com — HEMI Tick Lawsuit (allegations and the court's ruling) (accessed October 26, 2026)
- NHTSA — Recalls (VIN search) (read via Internet Archive snapshot) (accessed October 26, 2026)
- FTC Consumer Advice — Auto Repair Basics (diagnosis and written estimates) (read via Internet Archive snapshot) (accessed October 26, 2026)
- Texas DPS — Emissions Testing FAQ (read via Internet Archive snapshot of 2026-09-10) (accessed October 26, 2026)
- Texas DPS — FAQs: Items of Inspection - Engines Swaps (read via Internet Archive snapshot of 2025-12-16) (accessed October 26, 2026)
- WSB-TV Channel 2 — 'Hemi tick' lawsuit claims some engines have defect that can lead to crashes (September 2023, read via Internet Archive snapshot of 2024-09-13) (accessed October 26, 2026)
- CarComplaints.com — HEMI Tick Lawsuit (the STAR case report) (accessed October 26, 2026)
- Texas Engine Finder price snapshot, October 21, 2026 (used-yard asking prices, shown on the 5.7 Hemi family page) (accessed October 21, 2026)
- Texas Engine Finder price snapshot, October 22, 2026 (remanufactured 5.7 Hemi catalog prices, shown on the 5.7 Hemi family page) (accessed October 22, 2026)
- Ram 1500 Owner's Manual (2021), Engine Oil Selection — Gasoline Engine (Mopar) (accessed October 26, 2026)
- Ram 1500 Owner's Manual (2021), Engine Oil Selection — oil standard (Mopar) (accessed October 26, 2026)