P0302 on 2013-2020 Ram 1500: Cylinder 2 Misfire Causes and Fixes

What's Unique About the 2013-2020 Ram 1500

For the 2013-2020 Ram 1500, a P0302 code can be more than just a simple spark plug issue. Early 3.6L Pentastar V6 engines (roughly 2011-2013) were known for a specific cylinder head problem that could cause this exact code, leading to a warranty extension (X56). This issue specifically affects the left-side cylinder head which houses cylinders 2, 4, and 6. 🎬 Watch: Diagnosing the Pentastar left cylinder head defect. On the 5.7L HEMI V8, this misfire code can be an early symptom of the infamous 'Hemi tick,' which points to a failing lifter roller bearing that subsequently grinds down the camshaft lobe, a much more severe and costly repair.

Diagnostic Flowchart

Tap your situation to follow the diagnostic path that matches what you're seeing on this vehicle. 👇

Generation note: This range covers the end of the fourth generation (2013-2018) and the beginning of the fifth generation (2019-2020) Ram 1500. While the basic causes of a misfire are the same, the notorious 3.6L V6 cylinder head issue is primarily associated with the earlier fourth-generation trucks (2013 models built before July 25, 2012). The 5.7L HEMI lifter/camshaft issue is a known problem across both generations in this range.

Symptoms You May Notice

• Rough idle or engine shaking
• Hesitation or stumbling during acceleration
• Noticeable loss of engine power
• Flashing Check Engine Light (indicates a severe misfire)
• Solid Check Engine Light
• Increased fuel consumption
• Smell of gasoline from the exhaust
• Audible ticking noise from the engine (especially with 5.7L HEMI lifter failure).

Most Likely Causes

1. Worn or Fouled Spark Plug 🔴 High Probability → Shop Spark Plug The 5.7L HEMI uses two spark plugs per cylinder (16 total), increasing the chance of a single plug failing. Standard wear over many miles is the most common reason for failure. Fouling from oil or fuel can also occur.
   How to confirm: Remove the spark plug(s) from cylinder 2 (front-most on driver's side) and inspect for wear, carbon buildup, oil fouling, or damage to the electrode or ceramic. Compare it to a new plug.
   Typical fix: Replace the spark plug(s) for cylinder 2. It is highly recommended to replace all spark plugs at the same time for even performance. For the 5.7L HEMI, this means replacing all 16.
   Est. part cost: $5-$20 per plug
2. Failing Ignition Coil 🔴 High Probability → Shop Ignition Coil Coil-on-plug systems are reliable but individual coils can fail from heat and vibration over time, leading to insufficient spark.
   How to confirm: Swap the ignition coil from cylinder 2 with an adjacent cylinder (e.g., cylinder 4 on the driver's side). Clear the codes and drive the vehicle. If the code changes to P0304, the coil is faulty.
   Typical fix: Replace the faulty ignition coil. Many owners choose to replace all coils on one bank, or all coils on the engine if they are high mileage.
   Est. part cost: $40-$90
3. Worn Camshaft Lobe and/or Failed Lifter 🟡 Medium Probability → Shop Engine Camshaft The 5.7L HEMI engine, particularly with the Multi-Displacement System (MDS), is known for lifter roller bearing failure. The roller stops spinning, grinds against the camshaft lobe, and causes a loss of valve lift, leading to a misfire. This often starts as a ticking noise that can be present for thousands of miles before a misfire code appears.
   How to confirm: Listen for a distinct ticking sound from the engine, especially at idle. A mechanic can perform a more in-depth diagnosis by removing the valve cover to inspect the valvetrain components for wear or lack of movement on the cylinder 2 rockers. In one forum post, an owner confirmed the issue by turning the motor by hand and observing the valve on cylinder 2 only opened about 15%.
   Typical fix: This is a major repair requiring replacement of the camshaft, all 16 lifters, head gaskets, and other related components. Many owners opt for an MDS delete kit at this time, which involves replacing the 8 MDS lifters with 8 standard (non-MDS) lifters and using a tuner to disable the MDS system in the PCM.
   Est. part cost: $800-$1500 for parts
4. Faulty Fuel Injector 🟡 Medium Probability → Shop Fuel Injector Fuel injectors can become clogged with deposits over time or fail electronically, preventing the correct amount of fuel from being delivered to cylinder 2.
   How to confirm: A professional can test the injector's flow and electrical pulse. A DIY method is to swap the cylinder 2 injector with another cylinder's injector (e.g. cylinder 4) to see if the misfire code follows. This is more involved than swapping a coil as it requires removing the fuel rail.
   Typical fix: Replace the faulty fuel injector. It's often recommended to replace the full set if they are high mileage.
   Est. part cost: $50-$120
5. Left Cylinder Head Failure (3.6L Pentastar) ⚪ Low Probability → Shop Engine Cylinder Head Early production 3.6L V6 engines (2011-2013 models built on or before July 25, 2012) had a design flaw causing excessive wear on the valve guides and seats of the left cylinder head (cylinders 2, 4, 6). This leads to a loss of compression and misfires. Chrysler issued warranty extension X56 (covered by TSB 09-002-14), extending coverage to 10 years or 150,000 miles.
   How to confirm: After ruling out spark, fuel, and coil issues, a cylinder leak-down test is the definitive diagnostic step. Per TSB 09-002-14, if leakage is 25% or greater, the head must be replaced.
   Typical fix: Replace the entire left-side cylinder head with an updated part (e.g., part number RL141353AC or a newer revision). The repair must be done at a dealer to be covered under the warranty extension.
   Est. part cost: $700-$1200 for a new head assembly

Rare But Worth Checking

• Intake Manifold Gasket Leak: → Shop Engine Intake Manifold A vacuum leak near the cylinder 2 intake runner can lean out the air/fuel mixture, causing a misfire. This can sometimes be found by spraying brake cleaner near the gasket with the engine running and listening for a change in idle speed.
• Software Update for Cold Misfires: TSBs #18-002-23 and #1800821 mention that some 2020 models may set a P0302 code in cold ambient temperatures, which can be resolved with a PCM software update.
• Faulty Powertrain Control Module (PCM): → Shop Engine Control Module (ECM) In rare cases, after all other possibilities have been exhausted, a fault within the PCM itself can cause a false misfire code. One owner of a Town & Country with a 3.6L engine fixed a persistent P0302 by replacing the PCM after changing plugs and coils.

Diagnosis Steps

1. Read the code with an OBD-II scanner to confirm P0302 is the primary code. Note any other codes present.
2. Identify Cylinder 2: On both the 3.6L V6 and 5.7L V8, cylinder 2 is the front-most cylinder on the driver's side.
3. If driving a 5.7L HEMI, listen carefully for any engine ticking sounds that could indicate a lifter issue.
4. Swap the ignition coil from cylinder 2 with another cylinder on the same bank (e.g., cylinder 4). Clear the codes and drive. If the misfire moves to P0304, the coil is bad.
5. If the misfire remains on cylinder 2, inspect and swap the spark plug(s) from cylinder 2 with another cylinder. If the misfire moves, the spark plug is bad. Inspect the old plug for signs of wear, oil, or fuel fouling.
6. Inspect the wiring and connector for the cylinder 2 ignition coil and fuel injector for any visible damage, corrosion, or loose connections.
7. If spark and ignition components are good, the next step is to check the fuel system. Consider swapping the fuel injector with another cylinder if you are comfortable removing the fuel rail.
8. If the problem persists, a mechanical issue is likely. Perform a compression test and a cylinder leak-down test on cylinder 2. Low compression (one owner reported 185 psi vs 200 on others) or high leak-down (over 25% for the 3.6L head issue) points towards internal engine problems.
9. For 2013 3.6L V6 models, check with a dealer using your VIN to see if the X56 warranty extension for the left cylinder head is active for your vehicle.

Parts You'll Likely Need

• Ignition Coil (OEM #5149168AI (3.6L V6), 68238603AA (5.7L V8)) — A common failure item that directly causes a misfire on a single cylinder. It's easy to diagnose by swapping.
  Trusted brands: Mopar, NGK, Delphi
  OEM price range: $60-$90
  Aftermarket price range: $40-$70
• Spark Plug (OEM #SP143877AB (5.7L HEMI)) — Spark plugs are a routine maintenance item and the most frequent cause of single-cylinder misfires.
  Trusted brands: NGK, Champion
  OEM price range: $10-$20
  Aftermarket price range: $5-$15
• Camshaft and Lifter Kit (5.7L HEMI) (OEM #Non-MDS Lifter Set: 5038784AD (x4)) — For the common 'Hemi tick' failure, replacing the damaged camshaft and all lifters is required to fix the resulting misfire. Using a set of 16 non-MDS 'Hellcat' lifters (part 5038784AD) is a common upgrade/fix.
  Trusted brands: Mopar, Comp Cams, Brian Tooley Racing
  OEM price range: $1000-$1800
  Aftermarket price range: $800-$1500
• Left Cylinder Head (3.6L Pentastar) (OEM #RL141353AC (or newer revision)) — Required for the known valve guide/seat failure on early 3.6L engines. This is the official fix per TSB 09-002-14.
  Trusted brands: Mopar
  OEM price range: $700-$1200
  Aftermarket price range: $500-$900

Related Codes That Often Appear With This One

• P0300 — If the misfire is intermittent or severe, it can sometimes be registered as a 'Random Misfire' (P0300) before or along with the specific cylinder code. TSB 09-002-14 for the Pentastar head issue also lists P0300.
• P0202 — This code indicates a fault in the fuel injector circuit for cylinder 2. If you see P0302 and P0202 together, the problem is almost certainly the fuel injector or its wiring.
• P0304, P0306 — When seen with P0302 on a 3.6L V6, this strongly points to the known left cylinder head issue, as all three codes correspond to cylinders on that bank.

Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) & Recalls

• 09-002-14
• 18-002-23
• 1800821
• X56 Warranty Extension

Platform-Specific Known Issues

• 5.7L HEMI Camshaft/Lifter Failure: A P0302 code, often accompanied by a ticking noise, is a strong indicator of a failed hydraulic lifter (especially MDS lifters) grinding down a camshaft lobe. This is a well-documented and serious issue requiring extensive engine repair.
• 3.6L Pentastar Cylinder Head Defect: 2013 models fall into the year range known for a factory defect in the left cylinder head that causes premature valve guide wear, leading to compression loss and misfires, particularly P0301, P0302, P0303, etc. This was addressed by TSB #09-002-14 and a warranty extension.
• Cold Weather Misfire: TSBs #18-002-23 and #1800821 note that some 2020 models can exhibit a P0302 misfire in cold weather that can be fixed with a simple PCM software update from a dealer.