Many people are asking, “Is the Ram 1500 Hurricane engine reliable?” Here’s the truth.
Digging through forums, Facebook, Reddit and NHTSA.gov, here is what we know so far about the Hurricane engine.
It’s Not a New Engine Exactly
First, it is important to understand this engine has been in development for many years and made its debut in vehicles prior to the Ram 1500.
Development of the Hurricane began around 2013, when then-FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) engineers started work on a new inline-six engine to compete with turbocharged rivals like Ford’s EcoBoost lineup.
Rather than evolve an existing engine, the program was largely clean-sheet, with less than 5% of components shared with prior engines. The goal was clear: replace larger-displacement V8 engines with something lighter, more efficient, and more adaptable to future electrification.
The first production Hurricane engines rolled off the line in November 2021 at Stellantis’ Saltillo Engine Plant in Mexico. The company officially unveiled the engine in March 2022 as a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six, marking a return to the straight-six configuration not seen in Chrysler products for decades. The engine debuted in the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, positioning it immediately as a premium, high-output alternative to traditional V8s.
From launch, the Hurricane was offered in two variants: Standard Output (SO) and High Output (HO). The SO version targets efficiency and broad usability, while the HO version emphasizes performance with outputs exceeding 500 horsepower. Both utilize advanced technologies such as direct injection, twin turbochargers, and robust forged internal components to balance durability with high power density.
It is now used in the Ram 1500, the aforementioned Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Wagoneer as well as in the new Dodge Charger.
Ram 1500 Hurricane Engine Reliable?
Over the past several years, there have been reported issues with this engine including:
- Catalytic convertors overheating/melting
- Thermostat failures
- Disconnected purge lines
In each case, Stellantis, the parent company of Ram, has addressed these issues with either software updates or service bulletins.
It is worth noting, mechanics review of this engine can be mixed.
For example, a Facebook post had two Chrysler mechanics arguing over their thoughts on the reliability of the engines in terms of heating issues.
We covered other issues with the 2025-2026 Ram 1500 trucks in another article.
Mechanic Concerns Summarized
If you spend any time watching YouTube videos with mechanics discussing new engines, you’ll find they have concerns and are pretty wary about them.
The concerns really boil down to the materials used like aluminum, the plastic used for coolant couplings, thin/low-tension rings, etc… The criticism is the engines are built for fuel economy and emissions goals and not for long-term durability.
For thin/low-tension rings, people claim these rings cause oil consumption issues which will lead to long-term durability concerns. Ram isn’t alone in using these rings with most midsize trucks and half-ton truck engines use similar rings. That said, modern materials (like plasma-coated cylinder walls and advanced ring coatings) are designed to mitigate these downsides.
This is more of a it is what it is kind of thing.
Many mechanics and others don’t like how complex engines are like the Hurricane. The more complex, the more failure points you can have long-term.
They also don’t like the fact the Hurricane 6 engines don’t have oil dipsticks and instead rely on an oil sensor mounted on the oil pan.
It is worth stating there have been no widespread, documented recalls specific to the Hurricane engine.
Have any Hurricane Engines Failed?
Yes, there have been some reported failures involving the Hurricane engine, but the context is critical: so far, these appear to be isolated incidents rather than evidence of a widespread or systemic problem.
Most of the issues being discussed by owners and early reports center on supporting systems rather than catastrophic internal engine failures.
For example, there have been cases of early-life overheating, one Ram 1500 owner reported overheating at under 1,000 miles, which were often traced back to cooling system components such as thermostats or coolant flow issues rather than bottom-end damage.
Importantly, what has not emerged, at least so far, is a pattern of widespread internal engine failures involving critical components like connecting rods, crankshafts, or bearings which is typically what defines a true large-scale reliability issue.
The overall picture right now points to typical “new engine” teething issues rather than a clear design flaw, but it will take more time and higher mileage data to determine how the Hurricane performs over the long haul.
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