Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Emissions Fix: What to Verify on a Used 2014-2016 Truck

On a used 2014-2016 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, the thing to verify is whether the truck got FCA's Approved Emissions Modification, the software fix from the 2019 diesel emissions settlement. If it did, an extended emissions warranty may still cover expensive diesel parts and transfers to you; if it did not, you can usually still get the fix free, but a truck with a deleted or tuned emissions system may not qualify at all.

That last case is the one that hurts. A modified EcoDiesel can look like a bargain on a listing and turn into a truck you cannot easily register, sell or get warranty work on. So before you talk price, get the facts on that specific VIN.

What happened with the EcoDiesel

EPA says it found defeat devices in these trucks during testing at its national vehicle emissions lab, the same expanded testing that followed the Volkswagen diesel scandal. The settlement covered 101,482 model year 2014-2016 diesel Ram 1500s and Jeep Grand Cherokees, and FCA agreed to a $305 million civil penalty. EPA's breakdown of U.S.-registered vehicles as of October 2018 shows the Ram made up most of them: 14,222 from 2014, 31,923 from 2015 and 29,186 from 2016.

The repair is software only. EPA calls it a reflash, or the Approved Emissions Modification, and says no hardware changes are needed. Unlike the VW 2.0-liter settlement, there was no buyback, because these trucks could be brought back into compliance. If you want the VW comparison, our VW TDI Dieselgate used car check covers that side.

The extended warranty and how long it lasts

This is the part that can be worth real money. According to the class settlement notice, once a truck receives the Approved Emissions Modification it gets an extended warranty whose term is the greater of two options: 10 years from the original sale or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first, or 4 years or 48,000 miles from the date and mileage of the software install, whichever comes first. No coverage applies after May 1, 2029 under any circumstances.

Run those numbers for a November 2026 purchase. Every one of these trucks is now more than 10 years past its original sale, so the first option is gone. What is left is the 4-year, 48,000-mile clock from the install date. A truck that got the fix in 2020 is likely out. A truck that got it in late 2023 might still have a year or two. The notice says that if a modified truck is resold, whatever is left of the warranty transfers to the next buyer.

FCA's warranty sheet lists what is covered, and it is a long list of the parts that make diesel ownership expensive: the diesel oxidation catalyst and particulate filter assembly, SCR catalyst, the DEF system, fuel injectors, the high-pressure pump, EGR cooler and valve, NOx sensors, the engine and transmission control modules, the turbo system and parts of the cylinder head assembly. It even covers the diagnostic scan when the check-engine light comes on. Standard exclusions for accident, abuse, neglect and non-certified parts still apply.

If the fix was never done

EPA says the Approved Emissions Modification will remain available to consumers indefinitely, and the settlement notice says current owners can get the fix and extended warranty whether or not they are class members. So a truck that never had it done is not a dead end. Getting it done after you buy should start that 4-year, 48,000-mile clock, still capped at May 1, 2029. Confirm the details with a Ram dealer before counting on it.

The cash payments are a different matter. Those went to owners and lessees who filed claims under the settlement's deadlines, and you should not expect to collect anything as a new buyer in 2026.

Deleted and tuned trucks

The settlement notice limits the fix and warranty for vehicles with modified emissions systems and for vehicles that do not run. In plain terms, if a previous owner pulled the DPF, disabled the EGR or loaded a delete tune, you may be shut out until the truck is put back to stock, and putting it back can be expensive. Our deleted diesel used truck check walks through the signs to look for under the truck and in the cab.

Honestly, I would walk from a deleted EcoDiesel unless the price reflects the cost of restoring it and you have a shop quote in hand.

How to check a specific truck

• Run the VIN through Ram's recall lookup and NHTSA; our Ram recall check by VIN post shows how. The emissions fix is not a safety recall, so also ask a Ram dealer directly.
• Ask the dealer for the date and mileage when the Approved Emissions Modification was performed. That sets the warranty clock.
• Look for aftermarket exhaust, intake or tuning parts, and ask for receipts.
• Scan for stored codes. A clean scan with a recently cleared history is worth a question.

Our post on emissions recalls versus safety recalls explains why the two show up differently, and the used Ram 1500 buying guide covers everything else on the truck.

Where a history report helps

A history report will not show the warranty clock, but it can show dealer service visits that line up with the fix, emissions test results in some states, and title or accident problems. We sell CARFAX and AutoCheck reports as an unaffiliated licensed reseller, with no tie to CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian, and full official reports are never free. Ours are usually a few dollars, far below retail; prices move, so confirm at checkout.

Sources

• EPA: FCA Clean Air Act Settlement FAQs
• EcoDiesel Settlement: Long Form Class Notice
• EcoDiesel Settlement: Extended Emission Warranty, 3.0L Diesel