CriticalCommonEngine

RAM 1500: EGR cooler cracking, coolant loss and intake fire risk recall (DS 3.0 EcoDiesel V6)

EGR cooler cracking, coolant loss and intake fire risk recall (DS 3.0 EcoDiesel V6) is a common engine fault on the RAM 1500 on the 2014–2019 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $0 to $6,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 22 documented faults on the RAM 1500.

Vehicle: RAM 1500
Engine: 3.0L
Years: 2014–2019
Fuel: diesel
System: Engine

This page covers the RAM 1500 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All RAM 1500 faults22 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the EGR valve yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler on the DS Ram 1500 3.0 EcoDiesel can crack from heat cycling and let hot, vaporised coolant into the EGR system, where it can ignite inside the intake manifold. FCA recalled 107,979 US 2014 to 2019 Ram 1500 and 1500 Classic EcoDiesels (NHTSA 19V-757, Chrysler recall VB1) to replace the EGR cooler and inspect or replace the intake manifold, and American Special Vehicles recalled 438 Australian-converted 2014 to 2019 Ram 1500 diesels for the same fire risk. Owners on EcoDiesel forums report coolant loss continuing or returning after the recall repair, so a truck that keeps using coolant needs checking even with the recall done. Ignored, it can mean overheating, a damaged intake or an engine-bay fire, and out-of-recall EGR cooler and intake work is costly.

What you would notice

Coolant level dropping with no visible leak on the ground
Sweet coolant smell from the engine bay or exhaust
White smoke from the exhaust, especially on start-up
Engine temperature warning or overheating when towing

How to check it

Where to look. EGR cooler on top of the 3.0 V6 diesel engine, feeding the intake manifold

With the engine cold, look at the coolant reservoir level against the min and max marks and ask when it was last topped up; a truck that needs regular top-ups with no puddle underneath is the classic sign.
Check under the bonnet with a phone torch for dried pink or orange coolant crust around the top and rear of the engine.
Start it cold and watch the exhaust for white smoke and smell for a sweet coolant odour, then watch the temperature gauge stay steady through the test drive.
Ask for dealer paperwork showing the EGR cooler recall (VB1 in the US, the ASV recall in Australia) was completed and whether coolant loss has happened since.
If a workshop inspection is possible: have a cooling-system pressure test done and ask a Ram dealer to run the VIN for the EGR cooler recall.

Parts involved: EGR valve.

What it costs to put right

$0 to $6,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the EGR cooler recall been done, and can you show the dealer record?”
“How often does the coolant need topping up?”
“Has the EGR cooler or intake manifold been replaced more than once?”

Now check the RAM 1500 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

NHTSA recall 19V-757 (Chrysler VB1), 2014-2019 Ram 1500 and 1500 Classic 3.0L EcoDiesel EGR cooler, 107,979 units
Drive.com.au / CarAdvice: '2014-2019 Ram 1500 diesel pick-up recalled due to fire hazard' (438 Australian vehicles)
Unsealed 4X4: 'ASV issues RAM 1500 Diesel Truck Recall'
AutoInformed: 'FCA US recalls more than 107,000 diesels for engine fires'
EcoDieselRam.com forum threads on coolant loss after the EGR cooler recall

RAM 1500 buyer questions

Is egr cooler cracking, coolant loss and intake fire risk recall (ds 3.0 ecodiesel v6) serious on a RAM 1500?

We rate it critical and common on the RAM 1500. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler on the DS Ram 1500 3.0 EcoDiesel can crack from heat cycling and let hot, vaporised coolant into the EGR system, where it can ignite inside the intake manifold. FCA recalled 107,979 US 2014 to 2019 Ram 1500 and 1500 Classic EcoDiesels (NHTSA 19V-757, Chrysler recall VB1) to replace the EGR cooler and inspect or replace the intake manifold, and American Special Vehicles recalled 438 Australian-converted 2014 to 2019 Ram 1500 diesels for the same fire risk. Owners on EcoDiesel forums report coolant loss continuing or returning after the recall repair, so a truck that keeps using coolant needs checking even with the recall done. Ignored, it can mean overheating, a damaged intake or an engine-bay fire, and out-of-recall EGR cooler and intake work is costly.

How much does it cost to fix on a RAM 1500?

$0 to $6,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which RAM 1500 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2014–2019 RAM 1500. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

With the engine cold, look at the coolant reservoir level against the min and max marks and ask when it was last topped up; a truck that needs regular top-ups with no puddle underneath is the classic sign. Check under the bonnet with a phone torch for dried pink or orange coolant crust around the top and rear of the engine. Start it cold and watch the exhaust for white smoke and smell for a sweet coolant odour, then watch the temperature gauge stay steady through the test drive. Ask for dealer paperwork showing the EGR cooler recall (VB1 in the US, the ASV recall in Australia) was completed and whether coolant loss has happened since. If a workshop inspection is possible: have a cooling-system pressure test done and ask a Ram dealer to run the VIN for the EGR cooler recall. Look here: EGR cooler on top of the 3.0 V6 diesel engine, feeding the intake manifold