2014 Ram 1500 Body & Structure Problems

Tailgate was dropping open while driving, and sometimes would not latch when shut without slamming it several times. Took it to Gupton Dodge Dealership 37172 and they performed the recall. A few months later the same problems started occurring again, then after a while longer the tailgate actually would not open at all anymore. I took it back to the same dealership to notify them that their recall repair failed. They told me the recall had already been done and it was working when it left their shop, so I would need to pay for any further repairs which would require replacing the entire actuator assembly. I brought the truck back home and removed the tailgate latch cover to assess the problem myself. I found that the original actuator was still on and had never been replaced in the recall work. I also found that by cleaning up the metal actuator parts with carb cleaner spray, and lubing it with dry lube and white lithium grease at critical movement spots, the actuator and tailgate latches started working perfectly again. I now realize that they very likely did the same thing for the recall, just cleaned and lubed it, and no parts replaced or added. I expect it will now work for another few more months before dust and moisture will cause it to need cleaning and lubing again in order to keep it working. Serious safety hazard, not just from dropped cargo! My wife closed tailgate once while my 6 year old grandson was standing next to her. As soon as she stepped away the heavy tailgate fell open hard, missing my grandson's head by inches. Dealers are just doing a quick, cheap, temporary fix to say they met their obligation, and are perpetuating the danger. Even if the actuator assembly is replaced with the OEM part, it will also fail from normal dust & moisture over time. The recall needs to require the actuator assembly to be REPLACED with an IMPROVED DESIGN that will not fail from normal dust and moisture, since it is not in a sealed compartment.

The fuel tank brackets broke which I was driving. The gas tank was about 4 inches from dragging on the road. Also there was a severe grinding noise associated with this incident.

Was backing into a parking stall, I turned the wheel to the right and started to back up, when I did this, the lower control are broke away from the frame of the truck. The truck was taken to Hendricks Dodge in Charlotte, NC. It was inspected, determined that it was a manufacture failure. It was submitted to insurance as well, they had an independent investigator look at it, they also determined that it was a manufacture failure. Had I been on the road or interstate this would have caused a major accident. Submitted an Insurance claim. Claim was denied, stating it was a Manufacture Failure. Insurance Company Hired an Independent Appraiser / Investigator. No warnning lights or indicators.

Front gas tank frame bracket rusted away and gas tank tilted down on front of tank. 2009 through 2012 models recalled for this identical problem. Dealer tells me my 2014 not covered under recall. I have same problem that was recalled two years before.

While I was driving my wife and I heard a sound that was similar to a ratchet strap being run over while attached to a vehicle. Once in my drive way I began to inspect what the noise could have been. After looking underneath my truck I could see my GAS TANK hanging at almost a 45 degree angle. I crawled underneath to see what had happened and found that 1 of 2 fuel tank straps had been ripped out of the frame of the truck. It wasn’t until later that I found a 12 year unlimited mile warranty was available. After speaking to a Ram dealer they informed me that ONLY the fuel straps were covered under the warranty and NONE of the damages that occur from their flawed and failed design are covered under that and if I want it covered then I would have to file a claim with my insurance. Keep in mind the fuel strap itself is only 50$ and that is all that will be covered, not the tank itself, fuel neck, gas lines, or any component of the evap system. So because Ram does not want to pay now I have to and I almost paid in full with my life and my wife’s. I encourage others to keep an eye on this so you don’t fall victim to this scam. It’s nice to know that for almost loosing my life and that of my wife Ram will only cover 50$. How much is your life worth?

The T shaped frame mount where the fuel tank strap hooks to rusted out and the strap pulled through the frame letting the fuel tank drop.

Fuel Tank Hanger Broke. The fuel tank was hanging. Repair person confirmed the frame had rotted, and the mounting bracket was not good. Fuel tank needed to be removed and the new bracket was installed and the fuel tank reinstalled. Safety was at risk - fire/explosion hazard. Contacted the Dodge dealer and was unable to secure an appointment for two weeks . This was unacceptable. First noticed problem on 03/03/22. Repair taken place on 03/07/22. Located a recall for this exact problem on 2009-2012 Dodge Ram 1500 trucks - my exact model. My truck is a 2014 with only 103360 miles. This issue on new models of the Dodge Ram 1500 after 2012 should be investigated and repairs should be reimbursed to truck owners who have been forced to make repairs - especially when the dealer could not accommodate with an appointment.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN PROPERLY. WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED AN INCH AND A HALF OR MORE, IT MADE CONTACT WITH THE FENDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BROWNING DODGE (LOCATED AT 1983 HAMNER AVE, NORCO, CA 92860, (951) 272-3110) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CASE NUMBER: 58241629 WAS PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

THE SHEET METAL BRACKETS THAT STEP BARS ATTACH TO HAVE RIPPED OUT. THE METAL IS WEAK AND RAM WILL NOT COVER IT UNDER THEIR WARRANTY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 RAM 1500. UPON INSPECTING THE BED FLOOR OF THE TAILGATE AREA, THERE WERE SEVERAL SEPARATED SEAMS IN THE BED PANELS. THE CAUSE OF THE SEPARATIONS WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE LOCAL DEALER (C.H. GOSS OF SOUTH BURLINGTON, VERMONT) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

AT ALL FOUR ROOF CORNERS THERE IS A LEAK THAT OCCURS DURING A RAIN STORM. THE ISSUE WITH THIS IS WINDOWS GET A MOISTURE ISSUE AND IMPAIRS VISSION WHILE DRIVING ALSO CREATES A MILDEW ISSUE . THIS CONDITION HAPPENS WHEN IT RAINS , WHILE DRIVING OR SITTING MOTIONLESS. ROAD SURFACE DOESN'T MATTER.

FRIDAY 6/2/17 NIGHT WE RECEIVED A LOT OF RAIN HERE IN PRINCETON,TX. THE NEXT MORNING I GOT IN MY PICKUP AND NOTICED THAT THE HEADLINER WAS COMPLETELY SOAKED. I CHECKED UNDER THE BACK SEAT OF MY PICKUP AND NOTICED THAT WATER HAD POOLED UNDERNEATH IN THE STORAGE COMPARTMENTS AS WELL. ALL OF MY WINDOWS WERE UP AND DOORS COMPLETELY SHUT, SO I KNEW IT WAS NOTHING I DID. I CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND A TON OF THREADS IN FORUMS THAT PINPOINTED THE CULPRIT AS BEING MY THIRD BRAKE LIGHT ON MY CAB. APPARENTLY THE SEAL ON THIS FIXTURE IS SUB-PAR AND WILL WARP AND CAUSE A GAP IN BETWEEN THE CAB AND THE FIXTURE ITSELF. THIS IS A VERY WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF RAM OWNERS.

I HAVE HAD A LOT OF RUST COMING FROM THE INSIDE OUT I HAD 3 SETS OF RUNNING BOARDS MY RIGHT FENDER MY HOOD AND NOW MY LEFT FENDER IS RUST FROM INSIDE OUT IT SEAMS TO MUCH RUST AND I WOULD LIKE IT REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE [XXX] MY VIN INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WINDSHIELD GLARE REFLECTION FROM DASH COMPROMISES VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING IN SUNLIGHT. SUNLIGHT REFLECTS OFF DASH CAUSING GLARE IN WINDSHIELD. MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED (FORUMS ONLINE) THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS AND OCCURS IN MANY VEHICLES. AUTO MANUFACTURES NEED TO PUT EXTREMELY NON-REFLECTIVE MATERIAL ON DASHES TO COUNTER THIS. A DULL DASH MAT REALLY HELPS, PROVING THAT IT CAN BE MITIGATED. *TR

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I NOTICED THAT UNDER THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WAS WET. INITIALLY I BELIEVED THAT SOMETHING HAD SPILLED. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED MY NEW RAM 1500 I NOTICED THAT IT BEGAN TO SMELL LIKE MILDEW AFTER IT RAINED. YESTERDAY I NOTICED THAT SEVERAL DOCUMENTS ON REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WERE SOAKED AFTER IT HAD RAINED. I THEN NOTICED SEVERAL LIQUID DROPLETS ON MY SEAT AND THE THE CORNER OF THE ROOF ABOVE THE SEAT WAS WET. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND NOTICED THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. SOME THAT HAVE RESOLVED THE ISSUE HAVE ADVISED THAT THE LEAK IS REPORTEDLY COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT ON THE CAB ABOVE THE REAR WINDOW. AFTER READING THIS MY WIFE AND I CHECKED THAT BRAKE LIGHT AND DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. IT IS REASONABLE TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS WHERE THE WATER IS ENTERING INTO THE CAB. I HAVE ONLY NOTICED THE LEAK AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STATIONARY AFTER IT HAS RAINED. WITH THE RAIN RENDING THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT NON-FUNTIONAL I BELIEVE THAT THE WATER HAS DAMAGED THE WIRES MAKING THIS FIRE HAZARD AND MOST CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR TAILGATE, IT FRACTURED AND FAILED TO OPEN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

I PURCHASED MY RAM ON TUESDAY (01/20/15). THE VEHICLE WAS A LEFT OVER 2014 MODEL THAT HAD BEEN ON THE DEALER'S LOT SINCE APPROXIMATELY MAY 2014. ON THURSDAY EVENING (01/22/15), AFTER A DAY'S RAIN, I OPENED THE RIGHT-REAR DOOR AND NOTICED THAT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WATER HAD LEAKED THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW. A FOLDED UP TOWEL, THAT WAS UNDERNEATH THE REAR SEAT, WAS COMPLETELY SOAKED THROUGH. THE SEATS WERE WET ALONG WITH THE SURROUNDING CARPETED AREA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, AN ABNORMAL SQUEAKING AND GRINDING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, A LARGE HOLE DEVELOPED ON THE FLOORBOARD OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BUSHINGS HAD FRACTURED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,025. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

AFTER CAR WASH OR RAIN AREA UNDER REAR SEAT HAS WATER IN IT I HAVE REMOVED REAR SEAT AND REAR CAB LINER AND FOUND THAT THE EXHAUSTER-BODYSIDE APERTURE - MOPAR (68157351AD) I HAVE CALLED FCI MORE THEN 1 TIME AND NOTHING . THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED FROM 6 MONTHS OF ME OWNING THE TRUCK

I PULLED UP IN MY DRIVEWAY. I SHIFTED MY GEAR INTO PARK. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE BREAK OPEN THE DOOR & STEP OUT OF THE TRUCK AT THAT TIME THE TRUCK STARTED TO ROLL AWAY. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HIT ME IN THE BACK, THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE ROLLED OVER MY LEFT ANKLE 1ST I THEN FELL TO THE GROUND WHILE I WAS LAYING ON THE GROUND THE SAME TIRE ROLLED OVER MY RIGHT ANKLE. THE TRUCK THEN JUMPED THE CURB & RAN INTO A WALL WITH MY GRANDMOTHER INSIDE OF THE TRUCK. *JS