What 1,732 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Ram 1500 Quad Cab

My son was driving on the freeway and went to change lanes and all of a sudden the power steering system stopped working and he told me after the fact that it locked up and he could not turn the steering wheel so he hit a guard rail and flipped the truck on its side. It caught on fire instantly and he was lucky to be able to get out. A passerby stopped while the truck was on fire and held the passenger door opened for him as he climbed out. If there were any children in the vehicle, they might have not been so lucky! Could have killed my son and anybody else on the road that early morning. Should be a police report. No system failures at the time.

NHTSA ODI 11686887

Recently, I started having problems with my electric power steering. While driving I would experience sudden loss of power and the power steering service light would start flashing. This happened on multiple occasions without a warning. It also happens at random times so I decided to do some investigating on NHTSA’s website. I saw there was a recall issued for Ram 1500s models between 2013-2016 ( Recall VB9) so I contacted my nearest Chrysler dealer to obtain more information. I was told that my Vin is not related to the recall however, I feel like my vehicle should be included in this recall due to the fact that I am experiencing the same mechanical problems listed on the recall.

NHTSA ODI 11630739

Was driving one day while towing a trailer and all of a sudden while making a left turn the power steering went out which caused me to hit an embarkment and damage the front bumper area of my vehicle. My safety was put at risk because of the damage it caused and how difficult the steering became all of a sudden without warning or anything. There weren't any warning prior to the power steering going out, but as soon as it went out a symbol appeared on the dashboard. This was the first time that I have ever seen that symbol. Vehicle hasn't been inspected by anybody other than myself. Checked for recalls and saw that my 2014 wasn't included.

NHTSA ODI 11561676

This is the 4th time it's happened and also the 2nd time iv almost been killed!! I have a 2014 ram 1500 which iv grown to love. Iv have alot of issues but never complained and just took care of ... yet the gauge cluster display decides to go into a party mode (strobing) and flickering or just flat out going black!!! I have bad eyes and twice now within 2 months driving at night iv gone off the road because of the flashing in my eyes! Iv found this is a common issue but the dealer told me I cannot get it fixed even though it's been recalled under other trucks! This has almost killed me! Please all I'm asking is to fix this for me... I love this truck but I'm terrified to drive it now with this issue let alone get rid of it and God for bid someone else has an accident . Please help a ram fan pile on the miles with a safe vehicle.. thank you for your time, im sorry for the long message but this is very serious and obviously a safety issue . Again, iv gone off the road and avoided a very serious incident that was caused by a faulty part. I completly understand parts going bad and having to replace them out of pocket. NOTHING SHOULD WORK FINE ONE MINUTE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN START STROBBING IN ANYONES FACE . Thank you again

NHTSA ODI 11555762

INTERSECTION,I PROCEEDED TO TURN LEFT, THE WHEEL TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND LOCKED i STRUIGGLED TO CONTROLD THE VEHICLE, DESPERATELY TRYING NOT TO HIT A MAN CROSSING THE STREET IN A WHEELCHAIR. i LOST CONTROL, JUMPED A CURVE AND HIT A LIGHT POLE. MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. FOUR OF MY TEETH WERE KNOCKED LOOSE. IHAD TO HAVE THEM PULL DUE TO AN INFECTION. MY HEAD AND NECK WAS JERKED AROUND TWICE. I WAS IN SHOCK & TERRIFIED I DROVE HOME CALLED MY SON, HE IMMEDIATELY CAME TO DRIVE THE TRUCK TO MY HOME, I MANAGED. MY DENTIST PULLED THREE TEETH AND THEN ONE MORE BECAUSE THEY BECAME INFECTED. THIS STEERING PROBLEM WAS NOT NORMAL., NO FLUID LOSS, N0 WARNING. MY TRUCK HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP 4-6 WEEKS PRIOR A COMPLETE DIAGNOSIS WAS CONDUCTED. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE, HAD I TURN TO THE RIGHT I WOULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY. INSTEAD OF GOING HOME THAT NIGHT i WAS GOING TO SEE MY 6 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER. MY INSURANCE COMPANY TOLD ME TO PLACE IN THE SHIOP. AFTER THE REPAIRS THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE $5,000 REPAIR BECAUSE THEY DISCOVERED IT WAS A WEAR AND TEAR. THIS IS FALSE. I CALLED FCA they informed me that my warranty was out. I telephoned them several times to inform them this was not a warranty issue. The same issue for the recall, reoccurred. it wasn't unit I informed them of my injury, then they informed me they would send someone to investigate. They sent their Engineering Analysis associates/Bosch Automotive Services Solutions to exam the repaired vehicle. It was at that point they read the report from Lithia Dodge Ram, the dealer my deceased husband purchased this death trap and examined it, but they could not find no evidence of a manufacturing issue, no evidence of power steering, electrical nor the throttle. Well, this is a problem because my invoice I was given and I was advised the report code stated it was electrical steering rack, a manufacturer problem THOUSANDS COMPLAINED. #ACCOUNTABILITY!

NHTSA ODI 11489907

SATURDAY EVENING WE WERE EXISTING THE INTERSTATE WHEN I STARTED TO SMELL WHAT SEEMED LIKE A CHEMICAL SMELL. WE COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHERE THIS SMELL WAS COMING FROM. AS WE PROCEEDED DOWN THE HIGHWAY, I STARTED TO GET WARM SO I TURNED OFF THE HEATED SEAT. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION, I COULD STILL SMELL THE SOMETHING OUT OF THE NORMAL. I BEGIN TO LOOK ALL AROUND. SMELLING MY JACKET TO MAKE SURE THE KIDS DIDN'T SPILL SOMETHING ON IT, OR JUST TRY TO FIND WHERE THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM. FINALLY, I TURN AROUND AND REALIZE MY HEATED SEAT HAD CAUGHT FIRE. THANK GOD I HAD TURNED THE SEAT WARMER OFF MOMENTS EARLIER. LUCKY FOR ME, THE TRUCK DID NOT GO UP IN FLAMES. THE SEAT HAS A DEEP BURN HOLE AND MY JACKET (WHICH WAS BETWEEN THE SEAT AND MYSELF) HAS 2 BURNS IN IT. I WAS UNHARMED BUT IF IT WASN'T FOR ME TURNING THE SEAT OFF, I'M AFRAID OF WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED. OUR TRUCK IS STILL UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED. HOWEVER, I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP WHO IS TO REPORT SUCH THINGS? THEY EXPRESSED THAT THEY WERE NOT SURE, BUT THEY DO NOT. WE HAVE AN OPEN CASE NOW THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP AND WAITING FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.

NHTSA ODI 11395178

2014 DODGE RAM. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION, LIGHTS AND TRANSMISSION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A HILL WHEN IT BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND CRASHED THROUGH A GATE. THE CONSUMER GRABBED THE WHEEL, FROM STANDING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, DIRECTING THE VEHICLE TOWARDS AN EMBANKMENT, WHERE IT LANDED. THE VEHICLE DRAGGED THE CONSUMER ALONG THE WAY. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON. THE CONSUMER STATED THE KEY FALLS OUT OF THE IGNITION, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO RUN. THE MILEAGE WOULD NOT APPEAR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ADJUSTABLE. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11301995

DRIVING ON HWY 17 DOWN A RAMP, THROTTLE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AND TRUCK STALLED OUT. RESTARTED TRUCK TO PULL OFF HWY/RAMP TO SAFER LOCATION, NOTICED THICK BL SMOKE BILLOWING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. PULLED INTO PARKING LOT, LIFTED HOOD TO SEE FLAMES COMING OFF ENGINE. BYSTANDER CALLED 911 WHILE I GOT A BUCKET OF WATER. THREW BUCKET OF WATER ONTO ENGINE WHILE POLICE AND FIRE DEPT FINISHED EXTINGUISHING. FIRE DEPT STATED THEY HAVE SEEN A FEW ECO FIRES. TOWED TO HENDRICK'S, CONTACTED RAM. RAM STATED NO NEED TO CONTACT INS CO (THEY WILL HANDLE IT). THOUGHT THIS WAS STRANGE, CONTACTED INS CO ANYWAYS. INSPECTED BY 2 FIRE SPECIALISTS, INS CO AND RAM. INS CO STATED MANUFACT DEFECT, RAM STATED LEAKY INJECTOR (WHICH WERE REPLACED BY RAM 18K MI PRIOR AT DEALERSHIP). I SUSTAINED SMOKE INHALATION AND 1ST DEGREE BURNS TO FACE,NECK,LT ARM AND HAD/HAVE HEADACHES. TRUCK WAS STILL UNDER 100K WARRANTY WITH ONLY 40K. RAM DENIED OPENED CLAIM AND WARRANTY. INS CO TOTALED TRUCK OUT, THEY STILL HAVE AN OPEN CLAIM AGAINST RAM. ADDITIONALLY RAM DENYING MY EMISSIONS SETTLEMENT OF 3K ONLY OFFERING 900 (STATING EMISSIONS WORK COULDN'T BE DONE DUE TO FIRE CLASSIFYING ME AS A PREVIOUS OWNER ALTHOUGH I WAS CURRENT OWNER EVEN AT THAT TIME). I STILL HAVEN'T SETTLED EMISSIONS. RECENTLY RAM HAS RECALLED ALL 108K ECO-DIESELS 2014-19 FOR FIRE HAZARD. MY TRUCK FITS THE DESCRIPTION FOR WHAT HAPPENS AND ALWAYS NEEDED A LITTLE COOLANT WITH MAINT, INSP, OIL CHANGES. I PAID OFF MY TRUCK BEFORE, AND NOW HAVE A PAYMENT WITH WHAT I CONSIDER A LESSER TRUCK. WHEN I CALL FCA AND GIVE MY INFO THEY OFTEN HANG UP, ACT LIKE THEY CANT HEAR ME, OR STATE THEY ARE TRANSFERRING ME TO MANAGER (HANGING UP ON ME). ALSO STATING SOMEONE WILL GET BACK TO ME, BUT NEVER ANY RETURNED CALL (SUPPOSED TO GET A CALL TOMORROW, WILL SEE).

NHTSA ODI 11283189

DURING COLD WEATHER IN MINNESOTA, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED TO RESPOND CAUSING MY TRUCK TO GO INTO THE DITCH.

NHTSA ODI 11173038

TRUCK TOOK BRIEF PERIODS WHERE IT WOULD JUST SUDDENLY DIE GOING DOWN THE ROAD, THEN THE LAST TIME RUNNING ABOUT 60 MPH, IT DIED NOT FAR FROM HOME AND SMOKE BILLOWED OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD WAFTING ITS WAY INSIDE THE CAB...SON-IN-LAW FOUGHT THE STEERING AND MANAGED TO BRING IT TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD...WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTERS IN THE BACK SEAT....THEY WERE ALMOST OVERCOME BY THIS BLACK OBNOXIOUS SMOKE AND BOTH SUFFERED FOR THE LONGEST TIME A HARSH, DRY COUGH...I NOTICED THERE ARE LIMITED RECALLS ON THIS MODEL OF TRUCK AND NONE SEEM TO BE RELATED TO ELECTRICAL FIRES UNDER THE HOOD...HOW EVER THESE VEHICLES ARE UNSAFE AND POSE A SIGNIFICANT HAZARD TO ALL THE MOTORING PUBLIC...THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED AND ALL OF THEM DESTROYED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC AND THE PASSENGERS...DEALERSHIP SATED THE 'BRAIN BOX AND STARTER BURNED UP' AND IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE...BUT THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF MY GRANDCHILDREN ARE FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN CHRYSLER'S PROFIT MARGIN.

NHTSA ODI 11088959

ON 11/22/17 AT AROUND 5PM DRIVING EAST BOUND ON I-76 IN PENNSYLVANIA OUR 2014 RAM 1500 ECODIESEL ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. AS I TRIED TO STOP I REALIZED I HAD NO BRAKES. WE SLOWED TO A STOP AS WE STARTED UP A HILL, I PUT IT IN PARK AND WE ALL GOT OUT JUST IN TIME. A CERTIFIED CHRYSLER MECHANIC HAD JUST 2 DAYS EARLIER FINISHED INSTALLING A NEW ENGINE. BOTH THE DEALERSHIP & CHRYSLER HAVE DENIED ALL OWNERSHIP AND NO ROOT CAUSE EVALUATION HAS BEEN COMPLETED. I BELIEVE A FUEL LINE FAILED DUE TO FAULTY WORKMANSHIP, BUT WITHOUT A THIRD PARTY INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION I GUESS WE WILL NEVER KNOW AND SOME OTHER CUSTOMER MAY EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING.

NHTSA ODI 11056252

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SMELLED BURNING, ANOTHER CAR PULLED ALONG SIDE AND YELLED "YOU ARE ON FIRE" AFTER STOPPING THE TRUCK I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES UNDER THE ENGINE BY APPLYING DRY POWDER FIRE EXTINGISHER INTO THE OPEN HOOD. LATER INVESTIGATION BY A CHRYLSER HIRED INVESTIGATOR INDICATED THE STARTER CABLE SHORT CIRCUITED TO A SHARP BRACKET ATTACHED TO THE FRAME CAUSING THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS TO CATCH FIRE. IN MY OPINION CHRYLSER IS DRAGGING THEIR FEET IN AUTHORIZING A WARRANTY REPAIR

NHTSA ODI 11024711

TIPM (TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE) FAILURE. DEALERSHIP FAILS TO HONOR VEHICLE WARRANTY AND IS NOT REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PART UNDER FULL BUMPER WARRANTY. THIS 1 PART CAUSES MANY ISSUES TO THE ENTIRE VEHICLE AND MAJOR ROAD SAFETY ISSUES. I HAVE TRIED MANY ATTEMPTS WITH DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY TO HAVE THIS WARRANTY PART REPAIRED AND THEY FAIL TO HONOR SUCH REPAIRS. I SEE ONLINE THAT THIS EXACT PART HAS MANY KNOWN ISSUES AND PROBLEMS FOR MANY SIMILAR PEOPLE. THIS 1 PART AFFECTS ALL PROBLEMS ABOVE BECAUSE ALL THESE PARTS ARE ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED.

NHTSA ODI 10992736

THE COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONED I.E. SATELLEITE RADIO MALFUNCTIONED FOLOWED BY AN ELECTRIC SMELL. THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS FROM R TO P AND D TO P AT SLOW SPEEDS.

NHTSA ODI 10779524

AFTER PULLING INTO MY DRIVE WAY WITH MY ADULT SON IN THE PASSENGER SEAT I WAS ROLLING UP TO THE GARAGE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL SLOWING DOWN THE TRUCK. I STOPPED THE TRUCK COMPLETELY, BY PUSHING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER, ABOUT 5 FEET FROM THE HOUSE. I REACHED DOWN TO ROTATE THE SHIFT DIAL TO PARK, "P". AFTER TURNING TO "P" THE TRUCK ENGINE STARTED REVVING AND THE TRUCK LURCHED FORWARD, AFTER INITIALLY BEING STARTLED I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THE SHIFT DIAL WAS AT "P" AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL REVVING. THE TRUCK THEN STRUCK THE CORNER OF THE HOUSE WHILE I WAS ALMOST STANDING UP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TRYING TO GET IT TO STOP. I TURNED THE SHIFT DIAL TO REVERSE AND BACK TO PARK AND THE TRUCK STOPPED REVVING AND MOVING. THEN I BACKED AWAY FROM THE HOUSE. BEING A RETIRED POLICE DETECTIVE THE FIRST THING I DID WAS TO CHECK TO SEE IF THE FACTORY FLOOR MAT HAD DISLODGED AND JAMMED INTO THE PEDALS BUT IT WAS PROPERLY HOOKED IN PLACE. AFTER GETTING THE TRUCKS BODY DAMAGE REPAIRED I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCK. I DID NOTICE THAT WHEN I PICKED THE TRUCK UP FROM THE DEALER THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND UNDER THE DASH WHEN I ROTATED THE SHIFT DIAL FROM "R" TO "P" THAT I DO NOT RECALL HEARING BEFORE. NO CLICKING IS HEARD WHEN CHANGING BETWEEN ANY OTHER GEARS.

NHTSA ODI 10689364