Malfunction Indicator Lamp Illumination (MIL). Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P203E ? Reductant Level Sensor 1 Circuit Intermittent-Erratic Set.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 RAM 1500 lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2014 RAM 1500 have filed 19 NHTSA complaints about the lighting, typically surfacing around 59,000 miles at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 1500 | 12 |
| 2014 1500 (this page) | 19 |
| 2015 1500 | 21 |
| 2016 1500 | 7 |
| 2017 1500 | 6 |
| 2018 1500 | 5 |
What stands out
Among the 10 model years of RAM 1500 in our records for lighting problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp Illumination (MIL). Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P203E ? Reductant Level Sensor 1 Circuit Intermittent-Erratic Set.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗3.0L Diesel Crankshaft Tone Wheel Loss of Signal - X94 Warranty Extension This bulletin involves replacing the crankshaft tone wheel. Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon further investigation, a technician may find one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) have been set: P0335-00 - Crankshaft Position Sensor Circuit. P0336-00 - Crankshaft Position Sensor Performance. Customers may also comment on one or more of the following: The vehicle will not accelerate quickly over 80 kph (50 mph) (vehicle is in limp mode). Vehicle periodically stalls.This symptom/condition is caused from missing magnetic material on the crankshaft tone wheel
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dual EVAP System Extreme Duty Vapor Canister Filter Kit This informational bulletin is to make technicians aware that an EVAP dual vapor canister filter kit(Mopar part #68478013AA)is available in place of the OEM single vapor canister filter.This kit should not be installed on vehicles driven in normal conditions that are not subjected to the below symptom/conditions. Customers operating fleet or severe/extreme duty gasoline vehicles in continuous dusty driving conditions can plug the single OE filter system and may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon furtherinvestigation the technician may find that the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) have been set:P04
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗(Rev. A) Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) Illuminated. Service Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) System ? See Dealer Soon Message on Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) Along With Possible Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P241D - SCR Inducement - Forced Engine Shutdown.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2014 RAM 1500 accumulates a heavy history of lighting failures across multiple systems. The most recurring complaint is inadequate headlight output—owners call them dangerous from day one, citing inability to see the road surface at night even with both headlights and fog lights on. The problem worsens with age and persists after bulb upgrades and professional lens buffing; some owners resort to aftermarket HID systems at personal expense. Several owners report headlights shutting off completely while driving at night, leaving only marker and fog lights, with lights mysteriously returning after minutes—a safety hazard that nearly caused accidents.
The third brake light is plagued by water intrusion. High-pressure dealership washing forces water into the housing and blows the bulb; heavy rain alone also triggers failures. Water stains the interior headliner and can damage the RTF system. Despite a prior recall addressing rear-window leaks, the sealant continues to wear and fail, allowing rain into the cab whether parked or moving. The driver-side headlight assembly collects water and fogs over, reducing output and confusing oncoming drivers. One owner manually poured half a cup of water from a headlight vent.
Intermittent electrical failures also appear: both low and high beams drop out together at night, only to restore themselves after a few minutes. One passenger-side headlight quit entirely with no blown bulb and no accessible fuse, requiring a dealership visit. RAM has also revoked the previously available option to enable Daytime Running Lights on U.S.-market trucks—a feature still available to Canadian and fleet customers.
Same RAM 1500 lighting reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Third brake light water ingress and bulb failure
High-pressure washing forces water into the third brake light (CHMSL) housing, blowing the bulb. Water also stains the interior headliner and can damage the RTF. The seal wears over time and fails during heavy rain as well. Owners report this is an ongoing, recurring issue.
When: Throughout ownership; occurs during dealership detailing with high-pressure jets and heavy rain
Symptoms owners cite: Bulb blows when third brake light assembly gets wet; Water stains on interior headliner; Permanent water damage inside cab; Third brake light goes out, fails safety inspection
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaces bulb repeatedly. Aftermarket LED units suggested by owners but not factory solution offered. Owners request headliner replacement due to water stains.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership recommends stopping high-pressure washing. No recall issued despite multiple complaints. Stellantis has not sealed the units on new vehicles.
CHMSL (third brake light) electrical failure
The third brake light loses power or fails electrically with no fault codes. The TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) or Body Control Module may be the cause, but no consistent diagnostic has been confirmed. Cargo lights and tail brake lights continue to work normally.
When: 2013–2014 model year examples reported; mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: No power to CHMSL bulb; Third brake light inoperative; Cargo lamps work fine; Tail brake lights work fine; No warning lights on dash
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership technicians disagreed on root cause—TIPM vs. Body Control Module. Multiple bulb and housing replacements did not resolve the issue.
Inadequate headlight illumination
Stock headlights are too dim for safe night driving, especially on wet pavement or at highway speeds. The problem persists across multiple model years and worsens as the truck ages. Owners report bulb upgrades and professional headlight buffing make little difference. Some resort to aftermarket HID systems at personal expense.
When: Present from day one; worsens with age and mileage; affects 2013–2014 models across prior years
Symptoms owners cite: Cannot see road surface at night, even with both headlights and fog lights on; Lights become progressively dimmer over time; Poor visibility in rain; Unsafe at highway speeds, especially downhill; Brights on for 15 miles without other drivers flashing; Forced to use high beams for safe night driving
Repairs/costs cited: Owners upgrade bulbs to higher quality; professionally buff lenses; some install aftermarket HID systems at considerable personal expense. Dealership suggests only bulb replacement, which does not fix the underlying issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge/RAM refuses to acknowledge or correct the defect. Multiple prior model year complaints exist with no manufacturer action.
Headlights intermittently fail or shut off while driving
Both low and high beam headlights fail or shut off completely while the vehicle is in motion at night. Lights return on after a few minutes of driving. Four separate instances reported on one vehicle; marker and fog lights continue to work. One instance also noted headlights shut off while wife was driving; she pulled over to restart them.
When: Happens at night while driving in dark conditions; one vehicle reported 4 separate occurrences
Symptoms owners cite: Both low and high beams go out simultaneously; Only marker lights and fog lights remain operational; Lights come back on after a few minutes; Nearly caused accidents twice; No fault codes or warning lights reported
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; lights return on their own after brief period
Headlight assembly water accumulation and fogging
Water collects inside the headlight assembly on the driver's side and fogs over, significantly reducing light effectiveness. Owners report pouring out approximately half a cup of water from the vent opening. This creates a safety hazard and causes other drivers to flash high beams thinking the vehicle has its brights on.
When: Unspecified mileage and duration; reported as ongoing issue
Symptoms owners cite: Water accumulation inside headlight lens; Fogging of the headlight; Severely diminished light output; Poor night vision from driver's side; Other drivers flashing their lights; Visibility severely impeded on driver side
Repairs/costs cited: Owner manually removed assembly and poured out water; no permanent fix documented
Single headlight electrical failure
Passenger-side headlight stops working. The bulb is not blown, and there is no accessible fuse to replace. The only repair option is a dealership visit, creating a safety concern for rural drivers unable to reach a dealer.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger-side headlight non-operational; Bulb is not blown; No replaceable fuse; Safety risk for rural drivers at night
Repairs/costs cited: Requires dealership repair; no field-serviceable fix available
Headlight wiring and socket burnout
Factory headlight wiring is undersized and frequently burns out the socket that holds the bulbs, causing bulb failure.
When: Unspecified; reported as recurring issue
Symptoms owners cite: Bulb socket burns out; Bulb failure
Repairs/costs cited: Bulb and socket replacement required
Intermittent headlights, turn signals, and brake lights
Headlights, turn signals, and brake lights work intermittently, affecting multiple lighting functions.
When: Unspecified
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent headlight operation; Intermittent turn signal operation; Intermittent brake light operation
Fuel gauge and headlight failure with no retrievable codes
Fuel gauge became inoperative and headlights failed on several occasions. No fault codes could be retrieved by dealership technician despite multiple visits. Vehicle was not repaired.
When: At approximately 63,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Fuel gauge inoperable; Headlights failed on several occasions; No retrievable fault codes
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to retrieve fault code; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not made aware of failure
Tail light fluid leak
Vehicle leaks fluid from the tail lights. The issue was not diagnosed or repaired by the owner.
When: At 17,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Fluid leaking from tail lights
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not made aware of failure
DRL (Daytime Running Light) customer-selectable option denial
RAM has stopped allowing U.S. owners to add a sales code to their VIN that would enable Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) on certain trucks. The option codes (like LM5 for projector-style headlamps) were previously available and work on other FCA vehicles. Dealers can no longer enable this safety feature unless the vehicle is designated for the Canadian market or is a fleet vehicle.
When: Recent change; spans multiple previous years and current model year
Symptoms owners cite: Cannot request DRL enablement code from FCA dealers; Option codes previously available are now denied to U.S. customers; Feature remains available for Canadian and fleet vehicles only; Limits visible safety features for U.S. owners
Codes mentioned: LM5 (projector-style headlamp DRL code, among others)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: FCA has removed the option and is not offering sales codes to enable DRLs for U.S. market vehicles
Headlight switch stays on unless set to AUTO
The headlight switch remains on at all times unless the driver switches it to AUTO mode. Once the driver tries to turn the lights off manually, they only respond if switched to AUTO.
When: Unspecified
Symptoms owners cite: Headlight switch stays on continuously; Manual off position does not work; Only AUTO mode controls the lights properly
Rear window and third brake light seal wear
Sealant on the rear window and/or third brake light wears off and does not prevent rain from entering the cab. This causes water damage to upholstery and promotes internal rust, whether the vehicle is stationary or in motion. A prior recall addressed this issue on the same truck model, but the problem persists.
When: Ongoing after prior recall
Symptoms owners cite: Water leaks into cab through rear window or third brake light; Rain enters the vehicle; Upholstery ruined by water; Internal rust formation; Occurs whether vehicle is parked or moving
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Prior recall addressed the issue but sealant continues to wear and fail
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had lighting 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 lighting problem on the 2014 RAM 1500?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 19 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 6,000 and 73,745 miles, with the median around 59,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 6,000; a quarter make it past 73,745. 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 $250 for lighting 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 lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting 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.