Home › Guides › RAM › Visibility
Ram Visibility Recalls Involve Wipers, Mirror Glass, and Windshield Defrosting
Ram visibility problems repeat in two areas: loosening windshield wiper arms and detaching driver-side mirror glass. W25 covers certain 2019-2020 Ram 1500 and 1500 Classic vehicles, while Z08 covers certain 2019-2020 heavy-duty trucks and cab chassis configurations. Mirror recall W70 concerns certain 2020 Ram 1500 and 2500 vehicles; 86B concerns certain 2020-2023 Ram 1500 Classic vehicles with heated trailer tow mirrors. The 1500 family appears most often in these notices. A separate problem, V12, affects certain 2019 Ram 1500 vehicles combining a 12-inch touchscreen with base-level HVAC: their windshield defrosting and defogging system does not function.
Warning signs to watch for
- V12: The windshield defrosting and defogging system does not function.
- W25: Windshield wipers may not operate properly as the arms loosen.
- Z08: Windshield wipers may function improperly as the arms loosen.
- W70: Driver-side mirror glass can detach, leaving no reflective surface.
- 86B: Driver-side heated trailer tow mirror glass may detach.
Can you keep driving? What the notices say
The V12 notice about windshield defrosting and defogging does not tell owners to stop driving. Neither W25 nor Z08, the notices concerning loosening windshield wiper arms, tells owners to stop driving. W70, concerning driver-side mirror glass detachment, also does not tell owners to stop driving. The same is true of 86B, concerning heated trailer tow mirror glass. None of these notices carries a stop-driving instruction or an instruction to park outside.
What the free repair involves
W25 and Z08 direct dealers to tighten the wiper nuts free of charge. W70 directs replacement of the driver-side mirror glass free of charge, and 86B provides free mirror glass replacement. V12 instead specifies repurchase of affected vehicles; its notice does not describe that remedy as free.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 2 |
| medium | 3 |
Models affected most
Where owners report visibility problems most
NHTSA owner complaints filed under visibility for the RAM models and years in this guide. Complaints are unverified reports and are not limited to the recalled defects.
| Vehicle | Visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2020 RAM 1500 | 52 |
| 2020 RAM 4500 | 2 |
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2024 | Ram 1500 Tow Mirror Glass Can Fall Off | medium |
| Jan 27, 2022 | Ram Trucks Windshield Wiper Arms May Loosen | medium |
| Oct 8, 2020 | Ram 1500, 2500 Driver Mirror Glass May Detach | medium |
| Apr 9, 2020 | Ram 1500 and Jeep Compass windshield wipers may loosen | high |
| Jan 24, 2019 | Ram 1500 Windshield Defroster Doesn't Work | high |
Common questions
Which Ram trucks have the windshield wiper arm recalls?
W25 names certain 2019-2020 Ram 1500 and 1500 Classic vehicles. Z08 names certain 2019-2020 Ram 2500 and 3500 vehicles and specified 3500, 4500, and 5500 cab chassis configurations. Both remedies involve tightening the wiper nuts free of charge.
Does the Ram defroster recall provide a repair?
V12 specifies repurchase of affected vehicles. It covers certain 2019 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with both a 12-inch touchscreen and base-level HVAC. The notice says that combination lacks functioning windshield defrosting and defogging, which may reduce visibility.
Which mirror recall concerns heated trailer tow mirrors?
Recall 86B concerns certain 2020-2023 Ram 1500 Classic vehicles equipped with heated trailer tow rearview mirrors. Driver-side mirror glass may detach. W70 separately concerns driver-side mirror glass on certain 2020 Ram 1500 and 2500 vehicles.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.