--- title: "So Many Ram Truck Screens Are Being Stolen Because of These Two Screws" date: "2025-03-21" modified: "2025-03-21" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/so-many-ram-truck-screens-are-being-stolen-because-of-these-two-screws" categories: - "Car Tech" - "Infotainment" - "News" - "News by Brand" - "RAM News" tags: - "1500" - "pickup" - "ram" - "Ram 1500" --- # So Many Ram Truck Screens Are Being Stolen Because of These Two Screws ![Side-by-side images of Ram service manual diagram and a new Ram's center infotainment screen.]() *\Stellantis, The Drive\* Earlier this month, [Detroit Police issued a warning]() to owners of newer [Ram]() trucks to ensure their vehicles are locked after a spike in thefts of the pickup's large infotainment touchscreen unit. Given that modern cars are quite complicated and manufacturers typically prefer we leave repairs to trained professionals, you might wonder how easy it could possibly be to rip out the center of a Ram dashboard. Turns out, it's a piece of cake as the video below demonstrates. Now, look—some people will watch this brief explainer and complain that Tim Esterdahl of [Pickup Truck Plus SUV Talk]() on YouTube is giving the next generation of thieves and eBay profiteers a crash course on how to make a quick $10K. The fact is, this information is already out there, and the people inclined to engage in such behavior already have, or know how to start. At this point, what matters most is that Ram owners are [aware of how simple this is](), so they remember to lock their trucks, and that Stellantis itself is aware so it can develop a safeguard or two. Provided a thief has access to the interior, two Phillips screws and plastic clips are really all that stand between them and the Ram's center stack. The screws are located at the top of the unit and shrouded by a peel-away rubber liner for junk like coins and keys. Unscrew them, then disengage the clips that hold in the very bottom of the module, and the entire thing—buttons, knobs, and all—lifts from the face of the dash. Then, it's just a matter of unplugging the relevant wire harness connector, and you're on your way [to an $800, *maybe $1,800* profit](). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfNAtggjzDY My first thought is, "*Come on*, *Chrysler*." At least use, like, Torx screws or something slightly less ubiquitous for fasteners that obvious and easy to access. My second thought is, $800 for *that*? I know we're in the OEM territory of components where everything is made up and material costs don't matter, but we're talking around triple the price of an iPad or a little more than a PS5 Pro for what effectively amounts to a screen, lots of plastic, and a low-tech circuit board. All that is beside the point, though. There's simply got to be a little more security for tech and trim in a $75,000 pickup. As Esterdahl points out, these modules are software-locked to specific vehicles but, apparently, thieves can just replace those electronic keys with fake ones that do the trick just as well. None of this should be so easy. Here's hoping that if Stellantis can't work up a solution of its own quickly, the [aftermarket comes to the rescue again]() with an anti-theft kit that, ideally, costs just a fraction of what these screens are going for on the street. *Got tips? Send ’em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()