2014 Ram 1500 — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $16,000–$28,000. There are 3 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.
Deciding between model years? Compare the 3 Ram 1500 years we've written up →
Kestrel Take
The 2014 Ram rides like a luxury truck and tows well, but the 8-speed hunts gears constantly and the TIPM electrical module can randomly disable any system in the truck without warning.
What we checked
Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11
NHTSA holds 1,760 owner complaints for the 2014 Ram 1500, across 17 recall campaigns.
A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. The largest single group is steering at 29%. That is notable without being overwhelming — worth checking, not worth panicking about.
17 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.
Not written up yet: the engine (352 complaints). That group is in the public record and is not covered by the issues below. Treat it as something to ask about, not as absent.
Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.
Known Issues for the 2014 Ram 1500
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
Hunts between gears, shudders at light throttle, shifts harshly cold. Correct ZF fluid helps but doesn't fully fix it.
Repair cost (estimate): $150 to $4,000
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (191).
Controls fuel pump, wipers, windows. Failure symptoms: random no-starts, horn honking at 3am, windows with a mind of their own.
Repair cost (estimate): $400-$1,200
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the fuel system (274), electrics and electronics (243).
Differential fluid drips onto the driveshaft. Easy to miss without crawling under the truck.
Repair cost (estimate): $150-$400
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (191).
NHTSA opened an investigation in 2023 covering roughly 1.1 million 2013-2016 Ram 1500s after reports of the steering suddenly stiffening or losing power assist at speed, including crashes. A related 2016 recall fixed 2015-2016 trucks built in a narrow window, but the broader complaint pattern for trucks like this one remained under investigation rather than a completed recall as of the last update. Test the steering at both parking-lot and highway speed, and ask if a steering-assist warning has ever come on.
Repair cost: $800–$1,600 (steering gear/EPS assembly; no completed recall remedy for this model year)
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under steering (502).
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Hesitation or clunking engaging 4WD
- ✗Random electrical failures — TIPM suspect
- ✗Transmission work without documentation of ZF fluid type
Good Signs
- ✓Transmission fluid changed with correct ZF fluid
- ✓5.7L Hemi — proven reliable
- ✓All electrical systems working on inspection
Found a specific Ram 1500?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2014 Ram 1500 in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
Get My Verdict — $7.99No account required. Delivered to your inbox, usually within minutes.
Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.
Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
Other Ram 1500 years
More from Ram
Similar trucks & pickups
No bullshit, no upsells, no affiliate links. One report, one price — we'll never charge you rent for your own thinking.
Think we got something wrong? Tell us — a real person reads every message.