The contact owns a 2014 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH, the ABS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that a module inside the ABS system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 129,500.
2014 RAM 1500 brakes problems
moderate 101 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
101
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
3crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 101 brakes complaints filed for the 2014 RAM 1500, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 125,000-150,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 101 brakes complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 11 model years of RAM 1500 in our records for brakes problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2014 Ram 1500's ABS module failure is widespread and manufacturers cannot source replacement parts, leaving owners stranded with disabled safety systems and repair costs exceeding $1,200 with no solution. Additionally, brake system failures ranging from complete loss of braking to intermittent pedal collapse have been reported since 2017 without consistent diagnosis or recall action.
The 2014 Ram 1500's brake system generates two distinct failure clusters. The dominant issue is ABS module failure (part number 68228991AD and cross-references). Owners report the ABS, traction control, and brake warning lights illuminating; loss of anti-lock braking; disabled stability control and trailer brake control; disabled cruise control; and extended braking distances. Some owners experience wheel lockup during braking, loss of steering control, or the brake pedal going soft or to the floor. Diagnostic codes include C2200-0049 (ABS Control Module Internal Electrical Failure) and U0415 (Invalid Data from ABS Module). The core problem: this module has been discontinued by the manufacturer, remains on back order with no delivery estimates (some back orders exceed 13 months), and dealerships cannot source replacement parts. Owners report quoted repair costs of $1,200–$1,500 for the module alone.
The second cluster involves brake system component failures unrelated to the ABS module. One owner reported brake line collapse at 27,387 miles, destroying the rotor and caliper. Another encountered complete brake failure (pedal to floor) starting in 2017; dealers were unable to diagnose or reproduce the issue until 2024. A third reports intermittent brake failure in warm weather (75°F or higher) that occurs randomly without warning lights. Brake pad wear causing rotor damage has been reported as early as 30,000 miles without warning systems. Brake booster and master cylinder failures have also been cited as causes of complete brake loss.
Same RAM 1500 brakes reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
ABS module internal electrical failure (part 68228991AD)
ABS control module fails internally, disabling anti-lock braking, stability control, traction control, trailer brake control, and cruise control. Module has been discontinued by manufacturer and remains unavailable on back order indefinitely.
When: Typically between 62,000 and 220,000 miles; one owner reported failure at 56,000 miles. Some onset around August 2023–2024; others trace failure back to 2017–2021.
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light illuminates and remains on; Traction control warning light illuminates and remains on; Brake warning light illuminates and remains on; Parking brake warning light illuminates; Cruise control disabled or inoperable; Vehicle skids or slides while braking at various speeds; Front wheels lock up during braking; Extended braking distance; Brake pedal feels soft or mushy; Loss of steering control in wet/rain conditions; Vehicle vibrates or shakes; Service Shifter or Service Transmission messages displayed; Transmission refuses to shift out of park or into gear; Speedometer inoperable; Tire pressure monitoring system inoperable; Seat belt chime rings continuously; Hydraulic pump runs continuously, draining battery
Codes mentioned: C2200-0049 (ABS Control Module Internal Electrical Failure), C2200 (Anti-lock Brake System Module Internal Electronic Failure), U0415 (Invalid Data Received from ABS Control Module)
Repairs/costs cited: Module replacement quoted at $1,200–$1,500 for part alone, plus labor. Part 68228991AD discontinued by manufacturer. Multiple owners report ordering from third-party vendors at $915 and being told part is out of stock with no restock date. Some dealers on back order since July 2025 with no estimated delivery. One owner sent failed module to Georgia repair facility; repair cost under $300 but lasted less than one month before failing again.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Stellantis/Mopar has discontinued part 68228991AD and similar cross-reference parts. Dealerships report parts under engineering review with no specified restock date. One owner was told Dodge corporate said modules would be reengineered and manufactured for order after October 16, 2024, but could not guarantee availability. No recalls issued. Warranty programs do not cover; one owner's extended warranty had expired, leaving them unprotected.
Brake line collapse
Brake line ruptures, causing brake caliper to close down, destroying the rotor, and resulting in severe reduction of braking ability.
When: At 27,387 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal traveled to floorboard; Vehicle barely stopped; Smell of burning oil and rubber while braking
Repairs/costs cited: Repair cost $1,300 (dealer's original estimate; final bill enclosed per narrative). Owner states the original flexible brake lines were of poor quality, lasting only 27,387 miles. New replacement lines warranty is only 12,000 miles or 12 months. Owner notes they were fortunate failure occurred at low speed in town rather than on highway.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner's extended warranty had expired; no manufacturer assistance. Repairs handled entirely out-of-pocket by owner.
Complete brake failure—intermittent, temperature-dependent
Brake pedal fails to engage and goes directly to floorboard without engaging brakes. Failure is intermittent and unpredictable, occurring randomly without warning lights. Correlation with ambient temperature 75°F or higher noted by one owner.
When: First occurred in 2017 at 56,000 miles; one owner reported first failure in May 2017, subsequent intermittent failures through 2024. Another owner first experienced failure in 2017 in Arizona; issue persisted through 2024.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal goes directly to floor without engaging brakes; Vehicle fails to stop when needed; No warning lights prior to failure; Intermittent occurrence—happens randomly without reproducible pattern; Temperature-dependent pattern noted: more likely when outside temperature is 75°F or higher; Brake failure lasts only seconds to minutes, then resolves on its own
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple dealers in Texas, Arizona, and Florida unable to reproduce the issue for years. One Ram dealer in Florida finally recreated failure. Entire braking system inspected multiple times; root cause not definitively identified in narratives. Owner states issue poses immense safety risk.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls issued. Manufacturer contacted but did not provide assistance or diagnosis.
Unintended ABS engagement causing wheel lockup and loss of control
ABS system engages unintendedly during normal braking, causing front driver-side wheel to lock up, resulting in loss of vehicle control and collision with another vehicle.
When: At approximately 275,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: ABS engaged unintendedly while depressing brake pedal at 65 MPH; Front driver-side wheel locked up; Vehicle spun into oncoming lane; Brake light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was totaled following collision with another vehicle. Owner sustained fractured vertebrae on neck, torn right shoulder, fractured rib, dislocation of rib cage on right side, severe pain, and bruises. Other driver sustained injuries requiring hospitalization.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer notified of failure; manufacturer notified but provided no assistance.
Brake pad wear and rotor damage without warning system
Left front brake pads worn out, causing rotor damage at approximately 30,000 miles. Right front pads also affected. No warning system alerts driver to pad wear.
When: At approximately 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Left front brake pads worn out; Rotor damage on left front; Right front brake pads also worn but not completely
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports this may be part of NHTSA Recall #16V168000 and suspects the same parts and supplier. Owner believes design flaw due to lack of brake pad wear warning system.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer (Big O Dodge in Greenville, SC) treats the issue as normal wear and tear. No recall action.
Brake system failure—master cylinder and brake booster
Brake pedal loses pressure or goes to floor during braking; master cylinder and brake booster determined to be faulty. Failure diagnosed at 56,000 miles.
When: First failure May 2017 at 56,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Low brake pedal condition; Total loss of brakes during emergency or normal braking
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of brake booster and master cylinder resolved the problem. No details on repair cost provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No safety recall issued by Ram.
Brake system failure with ABS override—multiple cycles of failure and repair
Brake pedal goes to floor intermittently during normal braking at low speeds; issue persists despite multiple repairs and part replacements. ABS system may override driver control.
When: Multiple incidents over several months
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal goes to floor during braking at traffic light and four-way stop; Vehicle surges forward; Issue recurs within months of repair
Repairs/costs cited: Rear brake pads replaced; issue recurred. Master cylinder later replaced; issue recurred again. Owner questions whether ABS system overrides human control during dangerous situations.
Unintended high-speed acceleration—parking brake unable to hold
Vehicle suddenly accelerates at high RPMs while in reverse, braking is ineffective, and engine continues racing. Trailer acts as only stopping mechanism.
When: While unhitching camping trailer; no date provided
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle suddenly accelerated at high RPMs in reverse; Braking completely ineffective; Engine continued racing at high speed for approximately 30 seconds; Tires burned rubber on pavement; No warning lamps or symptoms preceding event
Repairs/costs cited: Issue not yet diagnosed by dealer or service center at time of complaint.
Parking brake rust-induced seizure
Parking brake fails to release due to rust accumulation on rear axle hub. Rust buildup causes parking brake levers to seize. Complete rear axle replacement required; no individual part available.
When: Not specified; design flaw present on used vehicle when purchased
Symptoms owners cite: Parking brake cable hangs loosely under truck when released; Parking brake fails to release; Parking brake shoes stay in contact with drum, causing heat; Friction material separates from shoes; Wheel seizes and cannot rotate
Repairs/costs cited: Entire rear axle replacement required; Chrysler does not offer the affected part separately. Owner describes this as design flaw aggravated by further design flaws that do not allow simple repair.
Vehicle sudden stop and loss of motive power with steering failure
Vehicle independently stopped while driving uphill, losing all motive power. Steering wheel failed to turn in intended direction. Vehicle rolled backward down hill into oncoming traffic.
When: While driving uphill; failure mileage 114,000
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle independently stopped; Loss of motive power; ABS warning light illuminated; Steering wheel failed to turn in intended direction; Vehicle rolled backward down hill into oncoming traffic
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosis: failed ABS and hydraulic electronic control unit (HECU) requiring replacement. Vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Parts reported on back order; manufacturer not made aware of failure.
Smoke from ABS vents with subsequent front brake seizure
Smoke visible coming through air conditioning vents; ABS module fails. After driving only 5 miles, front brakes seize completely, causing wheel temperatures to become extremely hot and wheel weights to melt and separate.
When: At approximately 95,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke coming through A/C vents while driving 40 MPH; ABS warning light illuminated; Front brakes seized after 5 miles of driving; Wheels became extremely hot; Wheel weights melted and separated
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle became undrivable after brake seizure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: ABS module reported under engineering review with no parts available; dealer advised vehicle was drivable (prior to brake seizure). Manufacturer not notified of the seizure failure.
Synthesized from 101 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The contact owns a 2014 RAM 1500. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the ABS warning illuminated, and then the cruise control mode became inoperable. The contact was able to take control of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the ABS module needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several different occasions.…
Had brakes trouble with your 2014 RAM 1500?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2014 RAM 1500?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 101 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $450 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 39 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 66,000 and 129,500 miles, with the median around 105,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 66,000; a quarter make it past 129,500. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/RAM/1500.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.