2014 Ram 1500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2014 Ram 1500 has 2374 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 29.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2014 dodge ram 1500. the contact stated while driving various speeds, the vehicle would drift from side to side. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician diagnosed that the vehicle was out of line but they were unable to alter it. the manufacturer was not made . ⚠️ 36 fire reports filed.

36 fire reports 116 crash reports 105 injuries

2374

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

29.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

488 complaints

21%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF LINE BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ALTER IT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE DEFECT. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE WHEELS HAD BEEN ALIGNED MULTIPLE TIMES BUT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT AN ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 21 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF LINE BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ALTER IT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

350 complaints

15%

• WE WERE DRIVING OUR NEW TRUCK (ONLY 13 DAYS OLD) AND CAME UP BEHIND A CAR GOING 25MPH IN A 50MPH ZONE. WE SLOWLY ACCELERATED THE TRUCK TO PASS THE VEHICLE. DURING THIS ACCELERATION, WE SAW LARGE AMOUNTS OF WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM BOTH TAILPIPES. THEN A BRIEF SINGLE CHIME STARTED FROM THE INSTRUME
• THERE IS A NASTY PROPANE SMELL COMING FROM THE TRUCK, I HAVE NOTICED THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE 2013 DODGE RAM 1500. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE ANTIFREEZE THAT IS BEING USED AND IS CAUSING A CHEMICAL REACTION WITH THE RUBBER HOSES. SYSTEM HAS TO BE FLUSHED AND NEW ANTIFREEZE ADD
• THERE IS A FAINT PROPANE-LIKE SMELL COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS WHEN TRUCK IS AT IDLE. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 16 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“WE WERE DRIVING OUR NEW TRUCK (ONLY 13 DAYS OLD) AND CAME UP BEHIND A CAR GOING 25MPH IN A 50MPH ZONE. WE SLOWLY ACCELERATED THE TRUCK TO PASS THE VEHICLE. DURING THIS ACCELERATION, WE SAW LARGE AMOUNTS OF WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM BOTH TAILPIPES. THEN A BRIEF SINGLE CHIME STARTED FROM THE INSTRUME”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

273 complaints

11%

• THERE IS A FAINT PROPANE-LIKE SMELL COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS WHEN TRUCK IS AT IDLE. *TR
• ON OR ABOUT MARCH 6 2014 WHEN THE TRUCK SITS OVER NIGHT OR AFTER ABOUT 5 HOURS WHEN THE MOTOR AND TRANS ARE COLD , I NOTICE A HESITATION GOING FROM REVERSE TO FORWARD, THIS IS A HESITATION THAT IS ABOUT 2-5 SECONDS, IT SEEMS THAT THE MOTOR IS NOT GETTING ENOUGH AIR IT SEEMS LIKE IT WANTS TO IDLE DO
• BOUGHT 2014 RAM 1500 NEW AT TOMBALL DODGE INC. IN TOMBALL TEXAS ON MARCH 28, 2014. ON APRIL 14, 2014 AT START UP, A HUGE CLOUD OF WHITE/LIGHT BLUE SMOKE CAME OUT OF TAILPIPES. MILEAGE WAS 702. FROM THIS DAY FORWARD IT HAS DONE THIS NUMEROUS TIMES. I CALLED DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT, COULDN'T G

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 7 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“THERE IS A FAINT PROPANE-LIKE SMELL COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS WHEN TRUCK IS AT IDLE. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

242 complaints

10%

• THERE IS A CONTINUOUS UNKNOWN ELECTRICAL DRAW CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN TO THE POINT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. AN ELECTRICAL SURGE WILL CAUSE THE ELECTRIC SUSPENSION TO ACTIVATE ALONG WITH THE CONSOLE CLUSTER AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 6 T
• MY BRAND NEW VEHICLE HAD A FRONT LEFT HEADLIGHT THAT WAS OUT. STOPPED BY POLICE, WENT TO DEALER NEXT DAY, THEY SAID THEY SEE THIS ACROSS MODEL LINE. BRAND NEW CAR . WAS CONCERNED HOW DARK ROAD WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT..NEVER THOUGHT ON A BRAND NEW CAR THIS WOULD OCCUR ! *TR
• THE REMOTE CONTROL CAN START THE VEHICLE JUST BY CONTACT IN A POCKET. THE AUTO START IS TOO EXPOSED ON THE KEY FOB. IT HAS STARTED MY RAM TRUCK IN MY GARAGE WHILE I WAS INSIDE THE HOUSE, CAUSING A CARBON MONOXIDE HAZARD. ALSO ANY MOVEMENT CAN LOCK OR UNLOCK THE VEHICLE AT ANY TIME JUST MY THE CON

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 6 fire reports💥 10 crashes

“THERE IS A CONTINUOUS UNKNOWN ELECTRICAL DRAW CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN TO THE POINT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. AN ELECTRICAL SURGE WILL CAUSE THE ELECTRIC SUSPENSION TO ACTIVATE ALONG WITH THE CONSOLE CLUSTER AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 6 T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

192 complaints

• THE NEW RAM TRUCKS USE A DIAL LIKE SHIFTER THAT CHRYSLER IS CALLING THE "ROTARY SHIFTER" IN WHICH THE DRIVER USES TO SELECT THE TRANSMISSION POSITION FROM PARK OR DRIVE. THE SYSTEM IS CAUSING SAFETY ISSUES IN CONFUSING DRIVERS THINKING THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, VAN SPEED CONTR
• WHEN TRUCK IS DOWN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST THE TRUCK SLAMS INTO FIRST AND MAKES A CLUNKIMG SOUND. DEALERSHIP FLASHED THE COMPUTERS AND I HAVE DRIVEN 2300 MILES WITH THE PROBLEM REMAINING. *TR
• TRUCK WAS PARKED, WE EXITED THE TRUCK, I WAS GETTING BAGS OUT OF THE BACK SEAT AND A FRIEND WAS GETTING HIS TOOL BOX OUT OF THE BED AND WHEN HE LEANED IN THE TRUCK BEGAN TO ROLL. IT ROLLED 15 FEET AND STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A SNOW BANK. I GOT IN THE TRUCK AND VERIFIED IT WAS IN PARK. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 23 crashes

“THE NEW RAM TRUCKS USE A DIAL LIKE SHIFTER THAT CHRYSLER IS CALLING THE "ROTARY SHIFTER" IN WHICH THE DRIVER USES TO SELECT THE TRANSMISSION POSITION FROM PARK OR DRIVE. THE SYSTEM IS CAUSING SAFETY ISSUES IN CONFUSING DRIVERS THINKING THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, VAN SPEED CONTR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 2374 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF LINE BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ALTER IT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WE WERE DRIVING OUR NEW TRUCK (ONLY 13 DAYS OLD) AND CAME UP BEHIND A CAR GOING 25MPH IN A 50MPH ZONE. WE SLOWLY ACCELERATED THE TRUCK TO PASS THE VEHICLE. DURING THIS ACCELERATION, WE SAW LARGE AMOUNTS OF WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM BOTH TAILPIPES. THEN A BRIEF SINGLE CHIME STARTED FROM THE INSTRUME
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: THERE IS A FAINT PROPANE-LIKE SMELL COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS WHEN TRUCK IS AT IDLE. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THERE IS A CONTINUOUS UNKNOWN ELECTRICAL DRAW CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN TO THE POINT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. AN ELECTRICAL SURGE WILL CAUSE THE ELECTRIC SUSPENSION TO ACTIVATE ALONG WITH THE CONSOLE CLUSTER AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 6 T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)