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2018 Ram 1500 · Torque converter replacement
2018 Ram 1500 torque converter replacement cost
A 2018 Ram 1500 torque converter replacement typically costs $1,060 to $2,655 at an independent shop, parts and labor included across its engine options. The torque converter itself runs $280 to $995, and the job takes 6 to 9 hours. Prices updated September 2026.
Estimated cost, selected engine
$1,060 to $1,990
Charlotte, NC area
Prices updated September 2026
Which engine? They price differently, so pick yours for a closer number.
Torque converter (part)
$280 to $995
Labor (6 to 9 hours)
$660 to $1,400
ATF full refill + misc supplies
$120 to $260
2018 Ram 1500 torque converter replacement: parts and labor
Labor runs $660 to $1,400 (the job takes 6 to 9 hours at typical independent-shop rates), and the torque converter itself typically costs $280 to $995 for the 2018 Ram 1500, plus $120 to $260 in atf full refill + misc supplies. Prices updated September 2026.
| Engine | Parts | Labor | Estimated total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L V6 | $280 to $490 | $660 to $1,240 (6.0 to 7.5 hrs) | $1,060 to $1,990 |
| 5.7L V8 | $300 to $995 | $700 to $1,400 (6.5 to 8.5 hrs) | $1,120 to $2,655 |
Coverage note: 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 excluded: its 8HP70 converter (RL282317AA) lists at $1,140 MSRP, diesel-spec labor and fluid push totals well above the gas trucks, and 2018 take rate was small because the EcoDiesel only returned mid-year after the emissions settlement. The 65RFE 6-speed version of the 5.7 is not excluded; it is folded into the 5.7 row (its cheaper converter sets the parts low end) and explained in vehicleNotes.
RepairPal publishes no torque converter estimator for the Ram 1500 (only adjacent jobs like catalytic converters), so aggregator numbers here are generic: JEGS/partcatalog style guides put converter jobs at $700 to $1,800 with $1,200 to $1,800 typical at an independent shop, which brackets these rows well. The true OEM premium is structural: Chrysler dealers generally will not do converter-only work on the ZF 8-speeds and instead quote a Mopar reman transmission assembly, with real-world quotes of $5,000 to $6,000, roughly 2 to 3 times the independent converter-only job. Even parts-only, the new OEM 8HP70 converter is $994 MSRP against $260 to $320 for a reman DACCO unit.
Where these numbers come from
- Estimate ranges: a hand-verified research pass for this exact vehicle and repair, cross-referenced across 12 independent sources (parts retailers, labor guides, and published shop pricing), completed September 2026.
- Recall and complaint data: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) records for the 2018 Ram 1500 specifically, filtered to transmission relevance and refreshed daily from the federal API.
- Local prices: real, accepted quotes from verified Fixxr marketplace jobs, published per metro once five verified jobs of this type have closed. Never estimates dressed up as transactions.
Not included in the estimate: Full transmission rebuild or Mopar reman assembly if metal debris or clutch material is found in the pan (turns a $1,500 job into $4,500 to $7,000), ZF plastic pan with integrated filter, about $95 to $160 in parts, commonly added while the transmission is out, Transmission cooler flush or cooler replacement if the old converter shed friction material, Flexplate replacement if cracked or if the converter hub damaged it, Initial diagnostic time to separate converter shudder from misfire or driveline vibration (typically 1.0 hr), Taxes, shop supplies fees, and fluid disposal charges.
What actually goes wrong on this exact vehicle
Federal safety data for the 2018 Ram 1500, filtered to the transmission specifically.
2
transmission recalls
14
transmission owner complaints
transmission recall · NHTSA 18V280000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Charger, Durango and Challenger, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, Chrysler 300, and RAM 1500 vehicles. An incorrect transmission park lock rod may have been installed in the transmission. If the incorrect park lock rod is installed, the transmission may not shift into 'PARK' and keep the vehicle from moving, increasing the risk of unintended vehicle movement and the risk of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct park lock rod, free of charge. The recall began June 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U43.
Real owner report, verbatim from NHTSA:
“The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off and in park(P), the gear shifter could be moved out of the park(P) position without depressing the brake pedal. Due to the failure, the vehicle would roll forward which caused a potential safety hazard. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA ID Number: 18V100000(Power Train); however, the contact's VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle had yet to be serviced or diagnosed for the failure. The dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.”
Get the failure confirmed with a real diagnosis before you approve the repair, so you fix the part that actually failed.
Recall fixes are free at the dealer. Everything else deserves a fair price.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), recalls and complaints for the 2018 Ram 1500. Refreshed periodically.
Not sure what’s wrong?
A shudder or slip can be the torque converter, the transmission itself, worn mounts, or even misfires. Describe what your truck is doing and our free diagnostic tool narrows it down before you spend a dollar.
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Get connected with a mechanicHow your torque converter works
The torque converter is the fluid coupling between the engine and the automatic transmission in your 2018 Ram 1500. It lets the engine keep spinning at a stoplight, multiplies torque when you pull away, and at cruising speed an internal lockup clutch grips solid to stop wasting fuel. That clutch is the part that wears out, and because the converter bolts on between the engine and transmission, replacing it means removing the transmission, which is why labor is most of the bill.
Four signs it’s the torque converter
Shudder at steady speed
A rumble-strip vibration at light throttle on the highway. The classic sign of a worn converter lockup clutch.
RPM flares, truck doesn't
Engine revs climb without matching speed. The converter or transmission is slipping instead of gripping.
Delayed or harsh engagement
A pause or clunk when shifting into drive or reverse, especially cold.
Hot, dark, or burnt fluid
A slipping converter cooks the fluid. Dark color or a burnt smell means friction material is circulating.
The free check: on a quiet road, hold a steady 45 to 55 mph at light throttle. A vibration that appears in that zone and fades when you accelerate or lift off points at the converter clutch. Mention exactly when it happens to your shop; it is the single most useful thing you can tell them.
What a torque converter replacement is like on the 2018 Ram 1500
The 2018 Ram 1500 (DS body) sold with three engines in the US: the 3.6L Pentastar V6 backed only by the 845RE (Chrysler-built ZF 8HP45 8-speed), the 5.7L HEMI V8 backed by the 8HP70 8-speed on most trims but still bolted to the 65RFE 6-speed in some configurations, and the 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 (excluded below). Before ordering parts, confirm which transmission a 5.7 truck has: the 8HP70 has a rotary dial shifter on most trims and sales code DFD, while 65RFE trucks carry the older column or console shifter logic. The converters do not interchange and the price gap is large.
OEM converter pricing is verified in the Mopar catalog for this exact truck: RL234051AA for the 3.6L/845RE lists at $483 MSRP (about $341 discounted online), 68404379AA/RL404379AA for the 5.7L/8HP70 lists at $994 (about $824 online), and RL143186AB for a 65RFE-equipped 5.7 lists at $454 with a Mopar reman version around $201 to $281. Quality reman aftermarket units (DACCO/Transtar) run roughly $260 to $320 for the RFE and 8HP applications. Converter bolts are about $4 and the front seal kit about $102, which is why the parts spread on the 5.7 row is so wide: reman RFE at the bottom, new OEM 8HP70 at the top.
The classic failure on these trucks is 8HP70 lockup clutch shudder, typically showing up between 95,000 and 150,000 miles as a highway-speed vibration under light throttle that feels like driving over rumble strips. The clutch lining glazes as the ZF fluid shears down. Dealers often pitch a $300 to $400 fluid exchange first, and on a truck that just started shuddering that is a legitimate cheap gamble before pulling the transmission. If shudder returns, an independent transmission shop replacing the converter alone is the value play, because dealers frequently refuse converter-only work on the ZF and quote a Mopar reman transmission assembly instead, with forum-reported quotes of $5,000 to $6,000.
Fluid is a real line item on the 8-speed trucks. The 845RE and 8HP70 both require ZF LifeGuard 8 spec fluid (Mopar 8 and 9 speed ATF), which runs $16 to $40 per quart depending on whether you buy Mopar bottles, ZF bottles, or the identical BMW-branded fluid, and a dry-converter job takes roughly 8 to 9 quarts. The ZF units also use a plastic pan with a molded-in filter, about $95 to $160 for the pan itself, and most shops replace it while the transmission is out since it cannot be serviced separately. The 65RFE trucks instead take cheap ATF+4 and a conventional filter kit, which quietly pulls the consumables toward the low end on 6-speed 5.7s.
Labor is transmission R and R either way, and on this truck that means dropping the crossmember, driveshaft (two shafts on 4x4), exhaust clearance work on the HEMI, cooler lines, and then a scan-tool fill-and-level procedure on the ZF units, which set fluid level by temperature through a check plug rather than a dipstick, plus a transmission adaptation relearn drive. Figure the 4x4 trucks and HEMI exhaust routing add roughly half an hour to a full hour over a 4x2 V6, which is the main reason the 5.7 row carries the higher labor spread.
Estimate note: these are researched independent-shop ranges, not a guaranteed quote. The only exact number is one from a shop that has seen your car.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 2018 Ram 1500 torque converter replacement cost?
A 2018 Ram 1500 torque converter replacement typically runs $1,060 to $2,655 at an independent shop, parts and labor included. The torque converter itself is $280 to $995, labor makes up most of the rest, and the job takes 6 to 9 hours.Why does the price change with the engine?
The 2018 Ram 1500 came with more than one engine, and they do not share the same part or the same access. A tighter engine bay or extra teardown adds labor hours, and the part price moves too. Sites that show one national number flatten that out. Pick your engine on the estimate above for a closer figure.What are the signs of a bad torque converter?
The classic sign is a shudder at steady highway speed under light throttle, a rumble-strip vibration that comes and goes as the converter's lockup clutch grabs and slips. Others: engine RPM flaring up without the truck speeding up, a delayed or harsh clunk into drive, a whine that changes with gear, and transmission temperature climbing on grades. These symptoms overlap with internal transmission problems and even engine misfires, so get a real diagnosis before paying for either.Can I drive my Ram with a bad torque converter?
Briefly, but it gets more expensive the longer you wait. A slipping converter sheds clutch material into the transmission fluid and runs hot, and that debris circulates through the entire transmission. Caught early, this can be a converter and fluid job. Ignored, it becomes a full rebuild at several times the price. If it shudders occasionally, book the repair soon; if it slips hard or overheats, stop driving it.Should the transmission be rebuilt at the same time?
Fluid condition is the tell. If the fluid is clean and the failure is isolated to the converter clutch, a converter-only replacement is a legitimate fix, and the labor is already paid since the transmission comes out either way. If the fluid is dark, smells burnt, or carries metal or friction material, converter debris has been through the whole unit and a reputable shop will recommend a rebuild instead of bolting a new converter to a dying transmission. Ask to see the fluid and the pan.How long does a torque converter last?
Usually the life of the transmission, commonly 100,000 to 200,000 miles. The weak point is the lockup clutch inside the converter, which wears like any friction clutch, and worn-out fluid accelerates it. Regular transmission fluid service is the cheapest way to extend converter life, and it is also what keeps a future repair converter-only instead of a rebuild.Are there recalls on the 2018 Ram 1500?
Yes, NHTSA lists 15 recalls for the 2018 Ram 1500. Recall repairs are done free of charge at a franchised dealer for that brand, so it is worth checking your VIN before paying a shop for related work.
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