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Ram Trying to Fix Continuous Uconnect Reboot Problem in 2018 Rams

2018 Ram 1500 truck owners started noticing the problem on February 13, 2018. A new over-the-air update made their Uconnect systems go haywire, continuously trying to reboot every minute or so.
2018 Ram 1500 truck interior

Mac, from Massachusetts, first reported the problem with his 2018 Ram 1500 on a Ram forum February 13, 2018. Mac wrote “On my way to work this morning the radio turned off and the Uconnect screen went black. After about 30 seconds or less it started to boot up again. It came back fine but after about a minute of working correctly it started to repeat this process and did so for the next 20 minutes until I shut the truck off at work. I'll check it again at noon time since I have a medical appointment, but has anyone heard of this happening before? This is on a 2018 Tungsten Limited with 2973 miles on it. The update was completed without any issues about a month ago, so it has nothing to do with any type of update taking place. Sounds like a service call is in order but I thought I'd check to see if anyone has had this happen before and what the outcome was. Thanks.”

Other owners quickly answered that they were experiencing similar issues. Mazak, also from Massachusetts, posted “My Uconnect screen just started rebooting itself yesterday around 4pm. and today it continues to do the same thing. My boss just came and told me that several people he knows just started having the same problem with their Uconnect system. Dealer says Chrysler is working on a fix.”

Widespread Rebooting Problems Reported

Apparently the Uconnect problems were reported on the 2018 Chrysler, Dodge and Ram products that use the Uconnect system.

Mac was able to get through to Mopar support and then posted, “Just chatted with the Mopar Owners website and this is what they told me: We are currently aware of an issue causing the radios to restart repeatedly. At the moment we are working on a resolution to this concern however as of right now there is not. The concern did start on Friday and engineers have been contacted. At this time we are able to create a case here for you in regards to this issue and we are advising our customer to contact us back in a couple business days in regards to a solution. We are working as quickly as possible to get this resolved and we do apologize for the inconvenience. They can't say for certain but they think the fix will come across the vehicle automatically. You may want to chat with someone on the site and let them know you're having this problem. She said that since I have a case opened they'll contact me about the solution.”

Chris, from Connecticut, added, “It seems there was an over the air update that caused this last Friday. Affecting only the 2018 models since they have the newer head units (by Panasonic).”

Chrysler sent Mac this message on Valentine’s Day. “Regarding customers experiencing repeated system rebooting: We have identified that the concern is related to SiriusXM Travel Link services. In the next 48 hours we’ll temporarily suspend the Travel Link feature in order to cease the reboot. We appreciate your patience.”

Concerns about Fixing the Glitch

Some 2018 Ram 1500 owners wondered if they would have trouble receiving the message that would fix the problem because their radios wouldn’t stay on long enough to download it.

Mac checked in with great news this morning. “I drove 35 minutes to work this morning and not one reboot took place. So it appears to be fixed on my truck. It's odd that I haven't seen any messages about the fix being rolled out yet. I couldn't go for more than a minute without the reboot taking place prior to this morning. I hope it continues to work. I also checked the "Travel Link" and it seemed to be working and wasn't turned off. Hoping for the best!”

And later Mac posted this, “I received confirmation that the fix started going out yesterday.”

It is unclear how quickly all of the vehicle owners will receive the fix for their Uconnect systems. Apparently the problem may have been on the Sirius side of the programming equation. It makes sense that if Chrysler, Dodge, Ram can force the update without the vehicle being on, the companies should also be able to update and fix the problem without the radio system being on.

Mary Conway covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin. Follow Mary on Twitter at @maryconwaymedia.

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Comments

Adam Martinez (not verified)    March 12, 2018 - 1:40PM

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I had a update on Friday 3/9/18 on my 2015 dodge challenger. Radio station reset and can't pair my phone.

RICK BATES (not verified)    July 7, 2018 - 3:16PM

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MY 1 DAY OLD TRUCK THAT I BOUGHT ON DEC. 31 2017 STARTED HAVING THIS ISSUE ON JAN. 1 2018...DEALER HAD IT FOR 21 DAYS BEFORE REPLACING WITH RADIO FROM LOT TRUCK. WORKED UNTIL 3 DAYS AGO...NOW SAME PROBLEM... THIS ISSUE STARTED WAY BEFORE THE FEB. UPDATE....PISSED OFF DODGE OWNER

Jill (not verified)    August 2, 2018 - 9:01AM

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My stereo goes blank or black during hot weather but I have a sun shade in and park in the shade as much as I can at work and it will sometimes take up to 5 mins to turn back on by itself . Anyone else have the same issue? Also my u connect with connect off and on . And yesterday I had purple lines come up on my screen and still showing connected to my phone call and my caller on the other side got a noise I had to manually call them back on my phone and talk with my phone. Any thoughts. Wireing issue? Just a Dodge ram issue? So frustrated only 6912 miles on my truck

Shawn S Smith (not verified)    December 17, 2018 - 10:41PM

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I have been experiencing the same problems with my 2015 ram pickup. I was not experiencing any problems like that until I recently cancel my SiriusXM subscription. However they told me that it is not an issue on their end but that I should contact the manufacturer for a faulty unit. I believe that that is bullshit and net SiriusXM is causing automatic reboots simply because I canceled my subscription. Maybe a tactic to get me frustrated and resign up again for their service. Did you ever find a solution for this problem?

Marvin Miller (not verified)    December 26, 2018 - 12:32PM

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Had 2018 Ram 1500 Bighorn since March 2018 first time hearing about a fix. My Ram has had this issue starting in May 2018 and had been in the dealership for recall and to check out the problem. I am in a new dealership for another recall and to still check our this issue. 2 hours and waiting.

Marvin Miller (not verified)    December 26, 2018 - 12:32PM

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Had 2018 Ram 1500 Bighorn since March 2018 first time hearing about a fix. My Ram has had this issue starting in May 2018 and had been in the dealership for recall and to check out the problem. I am in a new dealership for another recall and to still check our this issue. 2 hours and waiting.

Christopher Sperry (not verified)    December 30, 2018 - 3:15PM

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Got the new RAM 1500 in March of 2018. Problem started immediately (Cycling/continuous reboot). Had it in the shop 4 times for this issue, all the time they were blaming it on software issue. Finally, they forced a software load and I seemed to work . . .for about 2 weeks. Bottom line - 4th replacement radio. Issue always returns. Not happy

Bill Pressly (not verified)    January 3, 2019 - 10:50PM

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The only fix for me was when they installed a new radio… Second one with the proper updates on it. No problems since then. Oct

luis Fernandez (not verified)    February 25, 2019 - 8:33AM

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good morning I have a 2014 dodge big horn 1500 3.0 eco diesel my ucunnect stuck on connecting

ART RAMIREZ (not verified)    June 20, 2019 - 4:05PM

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I have 2018 Ram I brought my truck in May 28th to the dealer and its june 20th still not fixed they told me hopefully the 28th they might have a radio.I have a great looking truck sitting the driveway can't drive it and they don't care a bit.they should not sell a truck when they don't have parts to repair it not good business.

John (not verified)    July 23, 2019 - 11:21AM

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My 2019 ram rebel radio started rebooting also on July 22 I took to dealer for a flash it did not work I also am a pissed off ram owner if this is no resolved soon I’m going back to ford last 3 Ford I’ve owned never had one problem with anything

mark (not verified)    August 1, 2019 - 2:53PM

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So Friday August second 2019 my Ram 2018 started to do the Uconnect reboot and it shuts off the Ac as well. Dropped off at dealer they had it all day they said it will not take the new update now they claim they are getting a thumb drive that will take hours to download. Nobody has a fix for this and its been occurring for months now what a joke. $50'000 truck that is junk.

Gene (not verified)    August 28, 2019 - 7:17PM

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My new 2019 Ram 1500 Classic has a similar issue. If you've been driving for more than a couple of minutes and get a call though Uconnect, when the call is over you hear nothing. The radio either goes blank but backlit and nothing works, or it freezes where it's not a blank screen, but nothing will change, not stations, not volume levels, but no sound at all for 10 or so minutes, then it comes back to life. It's been in 3 times so far, they replaced it with a refurb radio once, but it's still doing the same thing, EXCEPT at the shop. They can't get it to do it while they have it. I do plan to throw a fit next time it happens.

bub smith (not verified)    September 17, 2019 - 6:52PM

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my 2015 ram was invaded by uconnect which they described as a scheduled update...wasnt given opurtunity to accept or decline...after update nothing on radio or bluetooth works...dealer said they would fix it for $150.00...only choice i have is to pay it and not buy a chrysler product again...adios ram

Mark (not verified)    September 18, 2019 - 12:55PM

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$150. Wow mine under warranty has been sitting almost three months only fix I have heard of is replacing radio $1,900. Now we get to argue over battery because in one day it drains it and it has sit there for months. It is a Panasonic radio that is faulty

Diana Culler (not verified)    September 19, 2019 - 7:27PM

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Just got my new 2019 Ram Rebel and was excited for the big screen. Well not so much now! Nothing works except the radio, i guess i am fourtante. Navi works half the time and presets for the radio don't work, screen blacks out occasionally. Took it into the dealer and was told Chrysler is aware of the problem but haven't been able to fix the glitch yet. Apparently , from my reading, its been awhile. One spends $55,000 on a truck and you can't fix a software glitch?

Mark (not verified)    September 20, 2019 - 11:20AM

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Just received my truck back from dealer it took from July 26th to Aug 19th it was undrivable due to AC shutting off every 60 seconds for reboot and that when parked it still reboots every 60 sec until battery is dead the only fix is radio replacement and corporate refused to authorize it. Wrote corporate they will not answer letters. They need to chose another radio manufacturer not Panasonic. $60,000 2018 1500 eco diesel 4x4 useless warranty if they won’t replace broken part. Love the truck hate Uconnect

Edward H (not verified)    September 21, 2019 - 10:03PM

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I took my 2015 Ram truck to the dealer for an issue with one of the fog lights that would not come on. They had to change a wire harness but since I got it back the radio shuts down every 3 to 5 min for about 10-20 seconds and reboots. This sounds like the same issue. The dealer wants me to bring it in but if it is something Which doesn’t have a fix for I may wait.

Tim Reese (not verified)    September 27, 2019 - 3:04PM

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My 2018 RAM has the same issue that started when I let the SERIUS/XM trial period expire. About 5 months later I received an offer from SERIUS/XM to renew service for 12 months at $6:00 per month, so I did. Now the truck no longer reboots over and over again. When the unit reboots it also shuts off the rearview camera(s) which is not good when backing up in a tight spot or onto a trailer hitch. Since SERIUS/XM is normally $15 per month I hope they fix this before I cancel them again.

Judy Serruys (not verified)    March 24, 2022 - 9:08PM

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Same issue with my 2018 ram eco diesel 4X4. First the clock and now the whole display jumps all over the place. Radio is a piece of junk and Chrysler needs to fix this at their expense!

Stephen Jacobsen (not verified)    January 1, 2020 - 8:41PM

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My 2013 Ram Laramie Longhorn has had constant radio / touchscreen / navigation problems.
NY dealership replaced entire unit .... eventually.
Latest problems are ongoing with my local Florida dealership.
Was going to buy the new Ram Limited, but even with the lifetime warranty, everything is a fight to get competent service.

David Tew (not verified)    January 5, 2020 - 8:11PM

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My 2013 Ram 1500 radio has had the cutting on and off issue also! It quit doing it for some time on it’s own but now has started back!