The 2014 Ram 1500 Could Have Expensive Problems
Are you looking to save with a used Ram 1500? That’s an excellent way to get a deal. However, don’t pick the wrong model year. The 2014 Ram 1500 is proving to be a frustrating option due to its potential to come with expensive issues. Check out its seedy past.
Is the 2014 Ram 1500 a good truck?
Yes, the 2014 Ram 1500 is a good truck. According to U.S. News, it won the best full-size truck for the money award in 2014. It ranks well for having quality cabin materials, a comfortable ride, and a smooth-shifting V8 engine.
The current generation that kicked off in 2019 also has tons of awards related to its quality and comfort. But it still doesn’t tow as much as rivals can.
In 2014, J.D.Power gave the 2014 Ram 1500 a reliability ranking of 78 out of 100. This score is average. Anything between 70 and 80 is average, and scores between 81 and 90 are considered to be above average. The 2017 model earned an 81, indicating that a few issues may have been corrected.
However, on CarComplaints, real owners post the problems they face. If you compare the Ram 1500 model years, you can see that the 2014 model has more complaints than any other model in the past decade. So do your homework when you’re shopping to avoid a used Ram 1500 that comes with frustrating problems.
2014 model year transmission problems
The most common problem with the 2014 Ram 1500 involves transmission problems. Some drivers experienced a bump in their transmission when they went from a stop to accelerating. They noticed a bump when they applied the brakes too.
However, the Dodge service department failed to replicate the issue for some drivers and didn’t fix it. As they continued driving their trucks, the bumps got worse, and the transmission started jerking from 1st to 2nd gear. Others fixed this issue by replacing the drive shaft.
Another driver suddenly lost power on the highway and couldn’t accelerate. While going uphill on the highway, they accelerated as normal before losing all power. They had to restart their truck to get it moving again.
Other transmission issues include the truck shifting out of drive and coming to a stop, an annoying shuddering problem, incorrectly downshifting, being incredibly noisy with a cold start, and more.
Interior electrical problems
It seems like the 2014 Ram 1500 is also plagued by electrical issues. Drivers faced problems with their Uconnect system and GPS failing. The screen will suddenly go black and take a few minutes to reboot. Also, one driver noticed that their GPS showed a different location from where they actually were.
Another driver has to pay $125 for a diagnostic test only to discover that their system was bad. Then it was about $1,100 to replace it. They had their truck for almost two years before their Uconnect system got an update and failed.
Other electrical issues include cruise control failing, the radio not working, cracks in the dashboard, the driver’s seat squeaking, odometer failure, a faulty fuel gauge, a bad smell in the cab, and more.
Engine problems with the 2014 model
2014 cursed the Ram 1500 with engine problems too. Drivers faced a broken rocker arm, which was made noticeable by the check engine light illuminating and a rumble coming from the motor. Some people had the arm replaced, but the cause of the issue was never determined.
Other drivers noticed an annoying ticking sound coming from the engine. It turns out the needle bearings on the lifter are prone to failure. Some drivers had a two to three-month wait to have these items replaced.
More engine problems include random stalling, the gas pedal getting stuck on the floor, spontaneous acceleration, oil leaks, excessive engine noise, the engine stalling and dying while on the road, and more.
Typically buying a used Ram 1500 model isn’t a bad idea. But some model years are more prone to trouble than others.
