Malfunction Indicator Lamp Illumination (MIL). Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P203E ? Reductant Level Sensor 1 Circuit Intermittent-Erratic Set.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 RAM 1500 lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2015 RAM 1500 have filed 21 NHTSA complaints about the lighting, typically surfacing around 20,000 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
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 1500 | 12 |
| 2014 1500 | 19 |
| 2015 1500 (this page) | 21 |
| 2016 1500 | 7 |
| 2017 1500 | 6 |
| 2018 1500 | 5 |
| 2019 1500 | 11 |
What stands out
Of the 10 model years of RAM 1500 we track for lighting problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 21.
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 2015 RAM 1500 lighting system shows a cluster of distinct electrical and optical problems that owners call out as safety risks for night driving.
Dim low-beam headlights top the list. Owners say the factory halogen low beams produce inadequate light—so poor that many resort to fog lights or high beams to see the road. One owner went through seven low-beam replacements. RAM issued a Technical Service Bulletin addressing this by increasing voltage via scanner at the dealer, but owners report the fix is temporary or barely helps. Aftermarket bulbs (Sylvania Silver Star Ultra, performance halogen replacements) worked better in some cases.
Headlight flickering and dropout also appear repeatedly. Multiple owners report lights cycling on and off rapidly while driving, or flickering every minute or so. Dealers cannot duplicate these failures, and the manufacturer has offered no solution despite direct contact from owners.
Water and condensation inside headlight assemblies plague several vehicles. Moisture collects in the lens, fogs the light output, and never evaporates. One owner noted seeing a dozen other RAM 1500s with the same condition. Dealers cite no recall or repair direction.
The roof-mounted third brake light leaks during heavy rain. A rear passenger taillight assembly shorts repeatedly despite bulb and assembly replacement, with one mechanic warning of fire risk. Fog light brackets wear and bounce, creating glare hazards. Instrument cluster lights also dim and flicker unpredictably while driving, forcing owners to pull over and restart the vehicle.
Same RAM 1500 lighting reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Dim low-beam headlights
Factory halogen low-beam headlights produce insufficient light output for safe night driving. Owners report needing to use fog lights or high beams as workarounds. A Technical Service Bulletin exists addressing this by increasing voltage via scanner, but owners report the fix is temporary or ineffective.
When: Occurs from early ownership; one TSB reference mentioned in complaint #5
Symptoms owners cite: Extremely dim low beams even on clear nights; Poor visibility down the road; Cannot see side of road safely; Inadequate lighting compared to other vehicles; Requires use of fog lights or high beams to see properly
Repairs/costs cited: Aftermarket bulb upgrades (Sylvania Silver Star Ultra, 9012 halogen replacements) reported by owners as solution; dealer voltage adjustment via scanner attempted but results in dim lights that persist
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB issued for dim low beams with voltage adjustment procedure; RAM acknowledged design issues through feedback channels but offered no official recall or remedy
Headlight bulbs and wiring failure
Both front headlight bulbs burn out prematurely. In one case, independent mechanic found wiring harness and bulb socket had melted, indicating electrical overheat condition.
When: Approximately 60,000 miles in one reported instance
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side and passenger-side front headlight bulbs burned out; Bulb replacement does not resolve failure; Melted wiring harness and socket
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic diagnosed melted wiring harness and socket; no further repair attempted
Headlight flickering and on-off cycling
Headlights flicker at regular intervals or cycle on and off rapidly while driving. Owners report no reproducible pattern and dealers unable to duplicate the issue.
When: Occurs while driving; one report notes it does not happen when vehicle is off
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights flicker about every 1 minute; Headlights shut off then turn back on rapidly (too fast to notice unless paying attention); Occurs on both high and low beams; No pattern to when failure occurs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No solution provided despite multiple dealer visits and direct manufacturer contact
Instrument cluster light dimming and flickering
Dashboard instrument lights dim and brighten repeatedly while driving, making gauges difficult to read and creating a safety hazard. Only remedy is pulling off the road and restarting the vehicle.
When: Occurs during night driving
Symptoms owners cite: Instrument cluster lights blink from dim to bright repeatedly; Extremely difficult to see instruments while this occurs; Occurs regardless of time of day or light conditions; Distracting and dangerous, especially on highways
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership attributed radio screen dimming to safety feature; no official explanation provided for instrument cluster issue
Headlight condensation and water intrusion
Moisture collects inside headlight assemblies, fogging the lens and reducing light output. Multiple owners report seeing this on other 2015 RAM 1500s. Condensation does not evaporate and persists indefinitely.
When: Appears early in ownership; one report at approximately 100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side headlight fills with water when vehicle is driven; Lens becomes fogged with condensation; Condensation never dissipates; Reduced light performance; Compromised night visibility
Repairs/costs cited: No successful repair reported
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer states they have no direction from RAM to repair; no recall issued
Rear passenger taillight shorting and failure
Rear passenger taillight assembly shorts out repeatedly despite bulb replacement and full assembly replacement. Mechanic warned of potential fire risk from electrical malfunction.
When: Recurring throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Rear passenger taillight assembly shorts out; Bulb fails repeatedly even after replacement; Problem returns after temporary fixes; No water leakage into assembly; Risk of electrical fire
Repairs/costs cited: Bulb replacement and assembly replacement attempted multiple times; neither resolves underlying issue
Third brake light water leakage
Roof-mounted third brake light leaks water into the vehicle during heavy rain. Dealer reports having seen several cases of this problem but no solution offered.
When: Occurs during heavy rain
Symptoms owners cite: Water leaking through third brake light on roof; Occurs in heavy rain conditions
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer aware of multiple cases but no remedy provided
Fog light bracket wear
Fog light mounting brackets wear out, causing lights to bounce and glare into oncoming traffic, creating a safety hazard.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Fog light brackets worn out; Light bounces while driving; Glares and blinds oncoming traffic
Synthesized from 21 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 2015 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 2015 RAM 1500?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 21 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 5,700 and 60,000 miles, with the median around 20,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 5,700; a quarter make it past 60,000. 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/2015/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.