FCA Caribbean Warranty Bulletin ID-23-21 (XL1) Backlite Select 2019 - 2021 RAM 1500 Pickup (DT)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 RAM 1500 lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2019 RAM 1500 have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the lighting at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 1500 | 21 |
| 2016 1500 | 7 |
| 2017 1500 | 6 |
| 2018 1500 | 5 |
| 2019 1500 (this page) | 11 |
| 2020 1500 | 7 |
| 2021 1500 | 6 |
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.
Warranty Bulletin D-23-11 (XG1) Center High Mounted Stop Lamp (CHMSL) - Select 2019 - 2021 RAM 1500 Pickup (DT)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗FCA Caribbean Warranty Bulletin ID-23-13 (XG1) Center High Mounted Stop Lamp (CHMSL) - Select 2019 - 2021 RAM 1500 Pickup (DT)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Malfunction Indicator Lamp Illumination (MIL). Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P203E ? Reductant Level Sensor 1 Circuit Intermittent-Erratic Set.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Malfunction Indicator Lamp Illumination (MIL). Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P203E ? Reductant Level Sensor 1 Circuit Intermittent-Erratic Set.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report a constellation of lighting and electronic failures in the 2019 RAM 1500. The most serious complaint involves LED headlight condensation: moisture builds up inside the lens, shorts out modules positioned on the underside, and causes partial or total headlight failure without warning. Multiple owners note this mirrors a pattern discussed extensively in RAM forums, though only some received dealer replacements—typically with identical factory units that carry the same design flaw.
Separate from condensation, owners describe complete headlight failures (both high and low beams) with no warning lights, even after dealer repairs. One owner's high beams stopped working after activating them via the wiper stalk; the instrument screen displayed "HIGH BEAMS DISABLED" and the lights never came back online.
Turn signal problems include stalk failures that prevent the right signal from disengaging and block the left signal entirely. One owner at 18,600 miles faced a $145 diagnostic fee just beyond warranty expiration.
Owners also report failures in the digital instrument cluster and infotainment screens—one went completely dark, removing access to system warnings; another's screen blanked at 7,500 miles, preventing defroster control. Water intrusion through the sliding backlite damaged the RF module at over 100k miles, causing the vehicle to fail to shut off.
Failure modes owners describe
Headlight condensation and LED module failure
Water condensation builds up inside headlight assemblies, particularly with LED modules positioned on the underside where moisture collects. Moisture shorts out the LED module, causing partial or complete headlight failure without warning.
When: Progressive; weather-dependent
Symptoms owners cite: Condensation visible inside headlight lens; Partial headlight outage; Both headlights failing simultaneously; No warning indicator before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Bulb replacement and moisture removal for halogen units; LED module replacement required for LED headlights. Owners report replacements with factory-identical units, which may have the same design flaw.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Some owners report dealer replacements; majority report no manufacturer action despite multiple complaints in RAM owner forums.
Turn signal stalk malfunction
Right turn signal operates even when not engaged, and the stalk fails to return to neutral position after right turns. Left turn signal does not operate. Stalk must be forced to left position to disable right signal.
When: 38 months old at report, 18,600 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Right turn signal activates without engagement; Signal stalk stuck in engaged position; Left turn signal inoperative; Stalk does not auto-reset to neutral
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer quoted $145 diagnostic fee plus parts and labor; owner declined repair out of warranty.
Headlight switch and sensor failure
High and low beam headlights fail to illuminate without warning indicators. Repair of light switch and sensors did not resolve the issue; failure recurred.
When: 7,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: High beam failure; Low beam failure; No warning lights illuminated; Intermittent or persistent non-illumination
Repairs/costs cited: Light switch and sensors repaired at dealer; failure reoccurred despite repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; repair attempted by dealer.
High beam disable after wiper stalk activation
High beams stopped functioning after pushing wiper arm to activate them. Screen displayed 'HIGH BEAMS DISABLED' message and lights have not worked since.
When: November 21, 2019, during early-morning dark driving
Symptoms owners cite: High beam disable message displayed on information screen; High beams non-functional; Fog light status adjustment made no difference
Instrument cluster digital display failure
Digital sections of instrument panel went dark intermittently, then stopped working entirely. Owner unable to receive system warnings or information, creating safety risk.
When: A few months into ownership; condition has persisted
Symptoms owners cite: Digital display goes dark intermittently; Complete loss of digital display function; System warnings unavailable; Issue is 100% replicable
Repairs/costs cited: No inspection performed; owner attempting to determine cause.
Infotainment screen failure with defroster access loss
Video screen on console went blank, preventing access to vehicle settings including defroster control.
When: 7,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Video screen blank; Cannot access console settings; Defroster control inaccessible
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired at dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated issue would be addressed in Q4 2019; status pending at report time.
Water intrusion through sliding backlite into RF module
Water leaked through the sliding backlite, entered the cargo light assembly, and caused damage to the radio frequency module. Vehicle failed to turn off as a result.
When: 102,710 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Water leaking into RF module; Vehicle failed to turn off; Track control warning light illuminated; Check engine warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: RF module fractured; not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not covered under extended warranty. Owner referenced a Stellantis/Chrysler Technical Service Bulletin as potential solution, but VIN not included in the service bulletin.
Synthesized from 11 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 2019 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 2019 RAM 1500?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 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?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 25,902 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 $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/2019/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.