Random flashing/flickering backlight on instrument cluster

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

beavermosh

Member
Joined
May 8, 2013
Posts
56
Reaction score
27
Ram Year
2013 Dodge Ram Big Horn 4x4
Engine
Hemi 5.7L 390HP
OP
OP
B

beavermosh

Member
Joined
May 8, 2013
Posts
56
Reaction score
27
Ram Year
2013 Dodge Ram Big Horn 4x4
Engine
Hemi 5.7L 390HP
I just found this recall alert:
Recall Alert: 2014 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 - PickupTrucks.com News



Also everyone else that seems to be encountering this problem states it only happens when it is cold, for my case you can see in the video it is 44°F. And that it is very random but only occurs when dimmed lower than 25%. I have a appointment with the dealer scheduled and I am not looking forward to it. They have horrific customer service.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
OP
OP
B

beavermosh

Member
Joined
May 8, 2013
Posts
56
Reaction score
27
Ram Year
2013 Dodge Ram Big Horn 4x4
Engine
Hemi 5.7L 390HP
Dealer is replacing the ENTIRE instrument cluster; seems excessive. If I still experience the issue after Chrysler is going to hear from me. The dealer actually agreed but he said that's what the engineers said to do... that's like replacing the entire printer when you're out of ink.

:Rant:

I would bet that this problem is caused by the input voltage to the LED driver fluctuating due to acceleration/deceleration; that is when the problem occurs. Along with changing the PWM that drives the LEDs to a specific intensity. Just poor design.
 

tricketuga

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2014
Posts
1
Reaction score
0
Ram Year
2013
Engine
Hemi 6.1
Thanks for posting about this. I just recently had my LED Panel in between my instrument panel go haywire. It goes from red, to white, to stripes continually like a computer screen saver.

Taking it to the dealer on Monday. Said he never heard of such a thing! I was hoping to find a quick fix, but alas, looks like I will be getting a new instrument panel as well!

Funny thing, started when it was cold outside for for me too!! 36 degrees!
 

Attachments

  • Panel.JPG
    Panel.JPG
    37.9 KB · Views: 1,072
OP
OP
B

beavermosh

Member
Joined
May 8, 2013
Posts
56
Reaction score
27
Ram Year
2013 Dodge Ram Big Horn 4x4
Engine
Hemi 5.7L 390HP
Since the cluster got replaced there have been no flickering issues. I did notice that the new "updated" cluster has bolder text/font.

Also, my odometer got rolled back about 200 miles because they have to program the mileage at the factory. So when you take it in they will write down the mileage and that is what it will be when they install the new one. It really confused me when I broke 5000 miles TWICE!

That's pretty crazy with the colors!

One thing to make sure of after they replace the cluster is to take a look at the top steering wheel shaft cover. They scratched the sh*t out of mine and they still haven't received the new part from Chrysler. Reading another thread I found a guy that had the same issue. I imagine that it's difficult to remove without scratching. The dealer techs could care less about your truck from my experience. Really any body shop for that matter.
 

outwism

Junior Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2014
Posts
9
Reaction score
0
Ram Year
2014
Engine
V6 3.7
I have a 2014 V6 Laramie and I'm seeing something very similar. I don't see any red or stripes, just a white screen then my numbers start going haywire such as my MPG and Miles to empty can range from 99mpg to 143999999mpg. Is there anyway I can find if there's a recall on the 2014 models?
 

RAMit2014

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2014
Posts
1
Reaction score
1
Location
Sioux Falls, SD
Ram Year
2014
Engine
5.7L v8 Hemi
Old thread, I know, but wanted to post and see if anyone has heard anything new from dealers? Today I noticed a flicker in my instrument panel on any brightness but 100%. As others have noted it is cold(ish) and this is the first time I've noticed it. Also, speed didn't seem to affect it.
 

hanadarko

Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2014
Posts
52
Reaction score
2
Location
Milwaukee WI USA
Ram Year
2013
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Old thread, I know, but wanted to post and see if anyone has heard anything new from dealers? Today I noticed a flicker in my instrument panel on any brightness but 100%. As others have noted it is cold(ish) and this is the first time I've noticed it. Also, speed didn't seem to affect it.

I have a 2013 1500 with 7900 miles on it. Bought it new in Nov 2013. (I don't drive it a lot)....

Been doing this in the cold weather since day 1. Sometimes I can go weeks w/o seeing it. Today was 30 and it was the worst ever.

I refuse to even THINK about letting them at my dash to replace it and I don't think thats the issue anyway. These techs are mostly idiots and do not make money on warranty work, so they do a half baked job.

Last time I got the RAM back, they put GOUGES in my step tubes <?> and two huge scratch/dents in the top bed area of the pickup and refused to accept any blame. Told me it came in that way.

So, now when I bring it in - me and the dipwad Service Manager do a walk around and identify anything. Then same when I pick it up.

I hate hate hate dealers. I'm hoping some software will be released since just about everything else that has been weird or broken was fixed with a flash update to some BCM.

:word:
 
OP
OP
B

beavermosh

Member
Joined
May 8, 2013
Posts
56
Reaction score
27
Ram Year
2013 Dodge Ram Big Horn 4x4
Engine
Hemi 5.7L 390HP
Update: I have not seen this issue since the cluster was replaced.

The dealer my car was fixed at is decent. You have to watch them carefully because like mentioned they will scratch some stuff up! If you are in the Oregon area check out NW Jeep in Beaverton (Portland). The top steering wheel cover was scratched pretty bad when they replaced the cluster.

I've had pretty bad luck with this truck but he is my baby!
1) Driver's door been painted 7 times due to inept body shop and rouge firework on the 4th
2) Driver's rear door got hit with a shopping cart, got repainted
3) Cluster replaced twice
4) Both front and rear bumpers aligned properly, defect from beginning
5) Door jams/fenders/hood gaps are not even close to being aligned
6) Backed into pole slightly shorter than the tail gate, cost the insurance company 2g'z
7) Weird clicking when depressing brake and moving the column shifter from park
8) The ball joints needed to be tightened!!!!!! Come on Chrysler, put your trucks together properly
9) And some others

Get this though:
I got feed up and contacted my lawyer friend who threatened Chrysler with Lemon Law case. Within a single business day they replied offering a $1000 refund. I said no, I want a new truck. Threatened them again for a new truck, came back with $2000 offer, I said no I want a new truck. I didn't want to take them to court because that is expensive and could be a lot of money out of my pocket if I lose. So we asked for $5000 and they said yes! So I got a $5000 tax free refund.

The point is... if it is broken and the dealer can't fix it, Chrysler with compensate if you get a lawyer involved.
 

Dusty

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2013
Posts
1,222
Reaction score
1,262
Location
Rochester, New York
Ram Year
2019
Engine
5.7 Hemi

Gentlemen, the reason there are scratches on the upper steering column trim cover is because the technicians are not removing the Steering Column Upper Cover before removing the Outer Cluster Cover. The factory procedure is to first remove the steering column cover.

Dusty
 

dilbert

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2014
Posts
1
Reaction score
0
Ram Year
2015
Engine
Hemi
Interesting addition to this. I just bought a brand new 2015 Ram Sport and it now only has 400km on it, started it up the other day and at idle sitting in the parking lot the dash starts flickering EXACTLY like in the video posted. It was -6c outside and the truck was cold.

Contacting the dealer now.
 

piggott.scott.j

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2015
Posts
1
Reaction score
0
Ram Year
2015
Engine
Hemi
I have a 2 week old 2015 1500 sport that does the same thing. I read somewhere that people where checking there fuses and they were all loose and not clicked into position. Going to try this after work to see if it fixes the problem
 

willcomsto

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2015
Posts
1
Reaction score
0
Ram Year
2013
Engine
6.7 Cummins
So the backlight for my 2013 Ram 1500 Big Horn occasionally and randomly flickers when the back light is dimmed to approximately 25% or lower. It occurs say 1% of the time I drive the truck. Today it was doing it noticeably so I took a video (see link below). Has anyone else encountered this issue?

Video: Random flashing/flickering backlight on instrument cluster on 2013 Ram Big Horn - YouTube

Sorry for the resurrection, but my 2013 2500 with the 6.7L Cummins is doing the same thing, but it flickers from brightest to dimmest no matter where the dimmer switch is, even after the dealer replaced the switch. Also, with the dimmer wheel all the way to the right, when the cab lights are supposed to come on, the cab lights won't come on until the cargo light switch is pushed. Then, the instrument lights go to the brightest, and the cab and cargo lights come on... The dealer is saying they don't care that we have video, it wouldn't help them anyway...

Beavermosh, I sent you a PM about that Lawyer friend of yours.

Thanks guys!
 

Sir John

Senior Member
Joined
May 28, 2014
Posts
1,830
Reaction score
894
Location
Buffalo, NY
Ram Year
2016 1500 Rebel "Mopar 16" Special Edition
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Son of a *****!....I just got a Mopar 16 Rebel a week ago and under 500 miles my cluster is doing this EXACT SAME THING! The truck was built June 2016! How could they not had fixed this yet?????!!!!! I'll check all of the fuses, but calling the dealership for that software update or whatever they do. I would had thought the dealer would had done all of the software updates when I bought it new???....unless this update is only applied when people are having this issue. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole damn gauge cluster ends up being replaced. I got rid of my 2014 Sport because of all of the issues!
 
Last edited:

RamCares

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Posts
3,782
Reaction score
1,513
Location
Michigan
Ram Year
n/a
Engine
n/a
Son of a *****!....I just got a Mopar 16 Rebel a week ago and under 500 miles my cluster is doing this EXACT SAME THING! The truck was built June 2016! How could they not had fixed this yet?????!!!!! I'll check all of the fuses, but calling the dealership for that software update or whatever they do. I would had thought the dealer would had done all of the software updates when I bought it new???....unless this update is only applied when people are having this issue. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole damn gauge cluster ends up being replaced. I got rid of my 2014 Sport because of all of the issues!

Hi Sir John,

Sorry to hear about this! Can you PM our page with your VIN? I'd like to look into this further for you.

Andrea
Ram Social Care Specialist
 

Tach_tech

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2014
Posts
3,307
Reaction score
3,555
Ram Year
2017
Engine
5.7L HEMI
There is a software update released for this issue however as far as I can tell it only applies to 2015+ as of right now.
 
Top