The 5.7 Hemi is a strong, widely used V8 in Ram trucks and Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep vehicles, and its common problems are well documented: the Hemi tick from lifter and camshaft wear, especially on engines with the Multi-Displacement System (MDS), exhaust manifold bolt failures that cause a tick when cold, misfires, water pump leaks and, on newer Ram trucks, issues with the eTorque mild-hybrid system.
Common 5.7 Hemi problems
Hemi tick: lifters and camshaft
A tick that follows engine speed, sometimes with a misfire, is often a lifter roller that has stopped turning and is wearing the camshaft lobe. MDS engines use special lifters on the cylinders that deactivate. See Hemi tick and lifter tick.
Exhaust manifold bolts
Broken or loose exhaust manifold bolts cause a tick that is loudest on a cold start and fades as the engine warms. It is often mistaken for a lifter; see engine ticking noise.
MDS problems
MDS shuts down four cylinders at light load using solenoids and special lifters. Sticking lifters or solenoid faults cause ticks, misfires and rough running; see engine misfire.
Misfires and spark plugs
The 5.7 Hemi uses two spark plugs per cylinder, 16 in total. Worn plugs or coils cause misfire codes; see bad spark plug symptoms.
Water pump and cooling
Water pump leaks and weeping are commonly reported on high-mileage engines; see bad water pump symptoms.
eTorque
Newer Ram 1500s with eTorque add a belt-driven motor generator and a 48-volt battery; owners report occasional issues with that system separate from the engine itself.
How to diagnose a ticking or misfiring Hemi
- Read codes; a misfire on one cylinder plus a tick points toward a lifter on that cylinder.
- Listen with a stethoscope: a tick at the valve cover suggests the valvetrain, while a tick near the manifold that fades when warm suggests manifold bolts.
- Check oil level and condition, and look for metal glitter in the oil.
- Run a compression test before committing to a repair.
5.7 Hemi problem years
Lifter and camshaft complaints appear across many model years rather than one bad year, so condition, oil history and MDS status matter more than the year alone. Regular oil changes with the specified oil and avoiding long idling help the valvetrain.
Repair or replace?
A lifter and camshaft repair is a major job; if the engine has high mileage or bearing damage, a replacement can make more sense. Our 5.7 Hemi engines include the 2005-2009 non-MDS at $4,299.00, the 2005-2009 with MDS at $4,899.00 and the 2010-2012 at $4,999.00; replace like with like and see our 5.7 Hemi engines page and 5.7 Hemi specs.
More guides: 5.7 Hemi vs 5.3 · how long a 5.7 Hemi lasts · 5.4 Triton vs 5.7 Hemi · Dodge 4.7 vs 5.7 Hemi · MDS vs non-MDS 5.7 Hemi · Eagle vs pre-Eagle 5.7 Hemi.
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