When Chrysler wound down the usage of their 40RE, 42RE, 42RLE, and A500 transmissions in different vehicles, it was replaced in the TorqueFlite series by the Chrysler A518 transmission. As an upgrade of the A727, it reflected the strength of that transmission line, while incorporating improvements to improve fuel economy. The popular three-speed automatic transmission had held the line for almost three decades, starting in several models in 1962 and ending in the Jeep Cherokee in 1991. However, the demands for better fuel efficiency required an upgrade to a four-speed transmission, providing a great opportunity for development in Chrysler's predominant transmission, though the original A727 remains popular in a number of motorsports due to its brute strength, reliability, controllability, and the ease and cheapness of repairs. 

Used predominantly in pickups and SUVs, the A518 (46RH) had big shoes to fill. As a heavy-duty transmission, it did a great job of keeping these types of vehicles in motion from 1998 to 2003, though the exact length they were used in each model varied. With the addition of a fourth overdrive gear, the transmission still has the A727's original three gears, at 2.45 in first gear, 1.45 in second gear, 1.00 in third gear, adding 0.69 in fourth gear, and changing the reverse gear ratio from its original 2.20 to 2.35. 

The Dodge A518 (46RH) transmission appeared in the Dakota, Durango, Ram Truck, Ram Van, and Ramcharger lineups, while also appearing in the Jeep Grand Cherokee in the 1993 model year. It also appeared in the W150, W250, and W350 Dodge trucks. It should be noted that this flexible transmission appeared in Dodge's truck lineup from the mid-size Dakota up to the V8 1-ton heavy-duty pickup, a range that showcases the transmission's extreme adaptability to a number of different motors and frames. This is part of the reason why the TorqueFlite series of transmissions has remained so popular for so long because it provides predictable, dependable results in a wide range of circumstances and driving conditions, even with the overdrive gear added to improve fuel economy. 

By the 2003 model year, the Dodge A518 transmission was ready for replacement in all vehicles by the upgraded and heavier-duty version of the transmission, named the A618. It featured a stronger input shaft, rated to handle up to 450 lb-ft of torque, delivering even more power from the engines to the wheels. As with the prior model, RE was used to designate an electronically-controlled governor pressure for the 46RE, while RH was used to designate hydraulically-controlled governor pressure for the 46RH. Its gear ratios remained the same as the preceding A518 transmission, with the exception of the reverse gear dropping to 2.21, providing strong continuity as the vehicles using it continued to evolve.