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Dodge Ram 2009-Present: Why is My Radio Malfunctioning?

Other than having your truck break down on the road, one of the most frustrating things about components failing on you is when your Dodge Ram's radio and Uconnect system decide to stop following your orders. Here are some thoughts on how to regain control.

By Tom Cavanagh - July 22, 2015

This article applies to the 4th Generation Dodge Ram (2009-Present).

As consumers demand more features and technology be incorporated into their trucks, the rush to market new innovations can hit a few speed bumps. Sometimes the features work incorrectly, sometimes they won't turn off or on, and sometimes they won't work at all. For example, combining features and adding sophisticated electronics to the good old AM/FM in-dash radio means a higher chance of glitches turning up. The Dodge Ram's Uconnect system relies on computer technology to operate correctly. In 2013, the automotive site CarComplaints.com recorded 137 complaints from Dodge Ram owners. Almost 50% of the complaints were about interior accessories. Over 66% of these were about the Uconnect system, which includes Bluetooth and radio problems. However, since these problems alone should not be enough to prevent you from enjoying your Ram, you obviously still want it to do what it is supposed to do. In this article, we'll talk about some problems and what you can do to overcome them.

Figure 1. 2014 Dodge Ram Uconnect console.

Materials Needed

  • Flat head and Phillips screwdrivers
  • Needle nose pliers
  • Electrical tape
  • Socket wrench set

Issue 1 – The unit flips between radio and AUX modes

A very common problem reported by 4th generation Ram owners is that the radio and auxiliary device modes change spontaneously. The only fixes owners could do by themselves is to disconnect the negative (black) cable on the truck's battery and reconnect it after a few minutes. Another fix is to remove and reinsert the radio fuse. These would resolve the problem, but only for a while as they would reappear in a week or two.

By disconnecting and reconnecting the power source, you will reboot the system and temporarily fix the problem, which means that something was causing the glitch in the unit's software. Although the problems may seem to go away, they might come back and some say they reappeared even after replacing the radios. Currently, new software updates seem to fix the problem, so check with your dealer to find out how to upgrade your Ram's Uconnect system.

Figure 2. Uconnect system spontaneously changes modes.

Issue 2 – The radio won't turn on/off

A number of owners report problems specifically with their radios. Sometimes the radio won't turn on, sometimes it won't turn off, and sometimes it will skip between channels or AM/FM bands. Again, this may be a software problem. Many have found that disconnecting the negative (black) battery cable or the radio fuse for a few minutes helps. This will allow the radio to reboot after the cable or fuse are reconnected, but is likely a temporary fix as well.

Take your truck in for a software update or radio replacement. Problems in the system's software might also be causing the steering wheel's radio controls to improperly sync with the head unit features.

  • Figure 3. Steering wheel radio controls.
  • Figure 4. Steering wheel controls transfer over to the center console.

Issue 3 – The clock spring is faulty

The problem could be a faulty clock spring. Today, most steering wheels have buttons that control a number of functions, such as answering phone calls, gear shifting, cruise control, airbags, etc. A clock spring is a gear within the gear mounted in your steering wheel. It is an electrical device that relays the button's command to its corresponding item. The inner gear, which rotates with the wheel, has bands of electrical ribbons that maintain contact with the outer gear. The outer gear, which has the connections to the electronic devices, maintains contact with the ribbon.

If the clock spring is defective, faulty signals are being sent to your radio. You can mend the problem by replacing the clock spring yourself. A new replacement unit starts at around $75.

Figure 5. Dodge Ram steering column clock spring.

Summary

Radio/Nav/Camera/Bluetooth problems could stem from one or more additional things. If problems arise:

  • See if your truck is still under warranty. Ask the dealership if the repair or software update is covered. If not, you may want to pay to have it repaired. As this can be an expensive proposition, be sure you have the skills and necessary tools if you want to do them yourself.
  • You might opt for temporary repairs such as rebooting the radio and Uconnect system by disconnecting the battery or replacing the fuse. It gets tedious if you're doing it every few weeks, but much less expensive than buying and installing new parts.

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