ttflowers33
Junior Member
I came across a post regarding the continuous reboot of the radio in the Ram 1500. So I joined this forum for ANY help. My husband and I recently bought a 2018 Ram 1500 Sport, certified pre-owned. The day we bought it we test drove it 3 times everything was great, carfax was good. My husband has NEVER made such a huge purchase like this before, and while this truck is used it’s as close to The Dream as we could get. Our biggest reason for choosing this specific truck was the 3.92 axle ratio, we have a camper trailer and while it only weighs about 5000 pounds we would like to upgrade in a couple years so this truck would cover the weight if we went bigger, possible 7500 pound trailer. My husband was nervous because it’s a huge cost for a used truck (32,000 miles +or-), but the dealership is great and made us feel really good about the purchase. Here’s the problem we live almost 2 hours from the used car dealer, we went to them because they specialize in used trucks and are highly recommended. While driving home, with my super happy husband following in his ‘New’ truck, he calls me roughly and hour and 15 minutes into the ride and states the radio has turned itself on and off 5 times already.
At this point the dealership was closed, we knew that because we were there until an hour after closing and when we left they were pretty much just waiting to wave goodbye to us. Once we were home it was late and dark so my husband figured he’d look into it more the next day. As it turns out he took the car to work and it continued to shut down and reboot the whole trip to and from work. He went back to the dealership the next day after we called and explained the problem. They worked on the truck for about 2 hours updating the radio, downloading and whatever else. At that point it was late so my husband came home, with their good intention they would call with a solution.
The next day he decided we would go back to car pooling to work as he just didn’t want to drive the truck. The next morning was a Saturday he went out to start the truck and the battery was dead. Apparently the radio was now continuing to reboot over and over while the truck was off. At this point I called the dealer he stated to replace the battery and they would reimburse us. Next was to bring it back for them to check it out again. However I was diagnosed with Covid (comes with being a nurse) and well it’s 5 hours out of our lives to go there and back. They agreed we would take it to a local dealer and have them do a diagnostic and again they would reimburse us. We did this and they told my husband he needs a whole new radio, and of course explained the cost. We explained we just needed the diagnostic for the dealer we bought it from. At this point yesterday we bring the truck home, he meant to disconnect new battery but forgot and this morning it was drained. Sooooo now he just wants to return the truck, but I know he loves it and frankly deserves a really nice truck!
My question, that this incredibly long story has lead to is- is the solution to fix the truck as simple as replacing the radio? Is it worth it to do so, in the sense that it’s an issue these trucks have had and this is the absolute fix? If so whom should it be ordered from? The dealer stated they want to fix this and I believe they do, because they’ve returned all our calls and want us to bring them the truck so they can fix it. My husband is just afraid that they will just band aide it and in 2 months it will break down. Plus the drive there is harsh and they do not have loaner cars so if it has to stay (which I hope not because our local dealer said the job only takes about 1-1.5hours) we are down to one car and would have to rent something for as long as they have it as I’m back in school after work each night (nursing education never ends). So any advice you could give would be fantastic and so sorry for the long post, I really just want the truck fixed because we love it and well my brother has a 2004 Ram 1500 (that year offered a lifetime warranty he’s never selling it) and my last car I bought was in 2008 and it drove its last mile this past June. So we like to maintain and keep our vehicles, so I know that if it’s just the radio and it can be fixed, this truck will have a good long life with our family. Now they him drop it off so they could send out and when ready he can pick up. We can’t be without car that’s why we bought it that night. He feel they will mess it up then 30 will have gone by and he can’t do anything, we bought it 10 days ago.
Thank you for any help and taking the time to read this!!
Teresa
At this point the dealership was closed, we knew that because we were there until an hour after closing and when we left they were pretty much just waiting to wave goodbye to us. Once we were home it was late and dark so my husband figured he’d look into it more the next day. As it turns out he took the car to work and it continued to shut down and reboot the whole trip to and from work. He went back to the dealership the next day after we called and explained the problem. They worked on the truck for about 2 hours updating the radio, downloading and whatever else. At that point it was late so my husband came home, with their good intention they would call with a solution.
The next day he decided we would go back to car pooling to work as he just didn’t want to drive the truck. The next morning was a Saturday he went out to start the truck and the battery was dead. Apparently the radio was now continuing to reboot over and over while the truck was off. At this point I called the dealer he stated to replace the battery and they would reimburse us. Next was to bring it back for them to check it out again. However I was diagnosed with Covid (comes with being a nurse) and well it’s 5 hours out of our lives to go there and back. They agreed we would take it to a local dealer and have them do a diagnostic and again they would reimburse us. We did this and they told my husband he needs a whole new radio, and of course explained the cost. We explained we just needed the diagnostic for the dealer we bought it from. At this point yesterday we bring the truck home, he meant to disconnect new battery but forgot and this morning it was drained. Sooooo now he just wants to return the truck, but I know he loves it and frankly deserves a really nice truck!
My question, that this incredibly long story has lead to is- is the solution to fix the truck as simple as replacing the radio? Is it worth it to do so, in the sense that it’s an issue these trucks have had and this is the absolute fix? If so whom should it be ordered from? The dealer stated they want to fix this and I believe they do, because they’ve returned all our calls and want us to bring them the truck so they can fix it. My husband is just afraid that they will just band aide it and in 2 months it will break down. Plus the drive there is harsh and they do not have loaner cars so if it has to stay (which I hope not because our local dealer said the job only takes about 1-1.5hours) we are down to one car and would have to rent something for as long as they have it as I’m back in school after work each night (nursing education never ends). So any advice you could give would be fantastic and so sorry for the long post, I really just want the truck fixed because we love it and well my brother has a 2004 Ram 1500 (that year offered a lifetime warranty he’s never selling it) and my last car I bought was in 2008 and it drove its last mile this past June. So we like to maintain and keep our vehicles, so I know that if it’s just the radio and it can be fixed, this truck will have a good long life with our family. Now they him drop it off so they could send out and when ready he can pick up. We can’t be without car that’s why we bought it that night. He feel they will mess it up then 30 will have gone by and he can’t do anything, we bought it 10 days ago.
Thank you for any help and taking the time to read this!!
Teresa
