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full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 RAM 2500 brakes problems
moderate Owners of the 2014 RAM 2500 have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the brakes at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 2500 (this page) | 10 |
| 2015 2500 | 10 |
| 2016 2500 | 21 |
| 2017 2500 | 344 |
| 2018 2500 | 1,611 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
"Antilock brake system Attention: Please return removed ABS modules ASAP to the supplier. Components are needed by Engineering and Production due to limited availability. To avoid being charged the full replacement value, return within 60 days 68295359AD 68347098AC 68232683AG 68347099AC"
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗MASTER CYLINDER, Brake A new master cylinder reservoir has been made available that is backward compatible but not interchangeable with old parts as follows: 68144489AA MASTER CYLINDER (OLD) or 68144492AA RESERVOIR (OLD) should be replaced with 68285796AA MASTER CYLINDER AND 68285797AA RESERVOIR (NEW) in pairs and not individually.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗PLATE - CLUTCH PRESSURE For 68RFE trans use selective fit pressure plates between the overdrive and reverse clutch packs and hence use all three 52119929A$, 52119930A$, 04799116A$ maintain clearance For 65RFE & 66RFE no selectives for this pressure plate: 65RFE use 04799116A$ 66RFE use 52119929A$
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗PLATE - CLUTCH PRESSURE For 68RFE trans use selective fit pressure plates between the overdrive and reverse clutch packs and hence use all three 52119929A$, 52119930A$, 04799116A$ maintain clearance For 65RFE & 66RFE no selectives for this pressure plate: 65RFE use 04799116A$ 66RFE use 52119929A$
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe multiple distinct brake system failures on 2014 Ram 2500s. The most severe involves ABS control module and hydraulic control unit (HCU) failure. Affected owners report warning lights (ABS, TCS, check engine), brakes locking up when pressed, and risk of complete brake loss while driving. One owner replaced all ABS sensors without resolution and learned the dealer has discontinued the HCU due to it being a faulty part, with no replacement available and no timeline for resolution. Another owner experienced the same ABS module failure recur 30,000 km after the first repair.
Additional brake issues include brake line crushing during body shop repair (causing brake fade), left front caliper sticking (causing hard pulling during braking), loud brake noise during deceleration that dealers cannot diagnose, insufficient parking brake holding power (described as poor design by a mechanic), and inadequate factory trailer brake controller output that aftermarket controllers outperform.
One owner also reports loss of exhaust brakes due to turbocharger failure while towing, with the 2015 model receiving a warranty extension for the same turbo problem. Owners cite these as common failures on Ram 2500 forums and express serious safety concerns about brake loss, particularly when towing or in emergency situations.
Same RAM 2500 brakes reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
ABS module and hydraulic control unit failure
ABS control module and hydraulic control unit (HCU) fail, with the HCU confirmed by the manufacturer as a faulty part no longer in production. Owners report that replacement parts are on extended backorder or unavailable.
When: Varies; one owner at unspecified mileage; another after 30,000 km following initial repair
Symptoms owners cite: ABS light illuminated; Traction control (TCS) light illuminated; Check engine light illuminated; Service electronic throttle control warning; Brake warning light illuminated; Brakes lock up when pedal is pressed; Vehicle may lose braking ability entirely
Codes mentioned: ABS light, TCS light, Check engine light, Service electronic throttle control
Repairs/costs cited: ABS sensors replaced with OEM parts without resolving issue. ABS control module and HCU replacement required; HCU discontinued and parts on backorder with no estimated availability. One owner replaced ABS module and electric motor as a unit plus plug connector.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ram dealership confirmed HCU is faulty part no longer manufactured; backorder status as of report submission, possibly available by February at earliest; no new design available yet.
ABS system malfunction after impact event
Following a rear-end collision, ABS and anti-skid warning lights appear along with service messages. Owner reports this is a common failure on Ram 2500 forums.
When: Occurred after hitting large bump on highway; timing relative to accident not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control shuts down; Backup sensor shuts down; ABS light illuminated; Anti-skid light illuminated; Service ABS message displayed; Service EBS message displayed; Service backup sensor message displayed; Concern about brakes locking up and potential rollover
Codes mentioned: ABS light, Anti-skid light
Brake line damage during body repair
Brake lines crushed under truck bed during body shop repair work, causing brake failure. Damage not accessible without truck bed removal.
When: Occurred during body shop repair following rear-end accident
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes go to floor; Brakes almost not functioning; Brakes continued to degrade; Nearly caused accident while transporting newborn to hospital
Repairs/costs cited: Brake shop inspection confirmed brake lines smashed under truck bed. Dodge dealer removed truck bed and documented crushed brake lines with photos.
Left front caliper sticking
Left front caliper fails to release properly, with one or both pistons hanging up. Creates inconsistent braking and hard pull to left during braking.
When: Occurred within warranty period; vehicle now past 3/36 warranty
Symptoms owners cite: Caliper not releasing; Pistons hanging up; Vehicle pulls hard left when braking; Inconsistent problem while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer lubricated slide pins twice without resolving issue.
Loud brake noise during deceleration
Brakes emit extremely loud noise during deceleration. Dealer unable to diagnose or repair the issue.
When: At 94 miles/kilometers (unit not specified in narrative)
Symptoms owners cite: Extremely loud noise during deceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; failure could not be diagnosed at dealer
Trailer brake controller inadequate braking power
Factory-installed integrated brake control system does not apply sufficient braking power to trailer even at maximum gain settings. Manual trailer brake control produces same inadequate results. Aftermarket controllers perform better.
When: Unspecified
Symptoms owners cite: Insufficient braking power to trailer; Trailer brakes engage at slow speed but do not apply adequate power
Repairs/costs cited: Gain adjusted from 0 to 10 with no improvement. Trailer brakes confirmed good and work properly on other vehicles.
E-brake (parking brake) insufficient holding power
Electric parking brake does not hold vehicle on even slight inclines. Insufficient holding power whether truck is light or loaded. Identified as poor design by mechanic with no solution available.
When: Occurred since vehicle purchase as new
Symptoms owners cite: E-brake will not hold on slight incline; Worse when vehicle is loaded with equipment; Hazard that could cause serious accident
Repairs/costs cited: Ram ProMaster diesel mechanic examined multiple times and confirmed poor design with no available fix
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acknowledged as poor design with no solution
Exhaust brake loss due to turbocharger failure
Turbocharger failure results in loss of exhaust brakes, creating dangerous condition especially when towing on mountain roads. Owner reports two turbo failures under 80,000 miles. 2015 model year received warranty extension for turbo failures, indicating known issue.
When: Two failures in under 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of exhaust brakes when turbo fails; Loss of acceleration when needed to avoid collision; Dangerous when towing and descending mountain roads
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 2015 model year only received warranty extension for turbocharger failures
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2014 RAM 2500?
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 2500?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 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?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 24,738 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2500.
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.