Known Issues by Model Year – Uconnect 4 / 4C 8.4" UAQ / UAS – Cuescreens

If your Uconnect 8.4" screen is acting up—ghost touches, delamination, dead zones, black display, random reboots, or camera glitches—this guide breaks down the most common issues owners report by model year for Uconnect 4 / 4C 8.4" systems (typically UAQ and UAS).

The goal: help you quickly identify what’s normal, what’s fixable, and what usually indicates a failing digitizer (touch layer) versus a failing LCD (display panel).

Quick Definitions (So You Replace the Right Part)

Digitizer (touch layer): The clear touch surface that detects your taps and swipes.
LCD (display): The screen that shows the image (maps, menus, camera, etc.).
UAQ / UAS: Common Uconnect 4 / 4C 8.4" system identifiers used across multiple Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge/RAM models.

Known Issues by Model Year (Owner-Reported Patterns)

Because UAQ/UAS units were installed across different vehicles and trims, symptoms can overlap. But the patterns below are the ones that show up most often in the field.

2017 Model Year: Early Uconnect 4 / 4C Growing Pains

Random screen freezes (touch stops responding, audio may continue).
Bluetooth pairing instability or frequent disconnects.
Slow boot times after starting the vehicle.
Intermittent camera delay when shifting into reverse.

What it usually means: 2017 issues are often software/firmware-related, but if the image looks perfect and touch is chaotic or presses by itself, that’s more consistent with a digitizer failure.

2018 Model Year: Touch Problems Begin Showing Up More

Ghost touches (screen taps itself, opens random menus).
Dead zones (top/bottom edge won’t register touches).
“Phantom” swipes and erratic behavior, worse in heat.

What it usually means: If the display is clear and stable while touch misbehaves, you’re typically looking at a digitizer/touch-layer issue.

2019 Model Year: Delamination & “Bubbling Understanding”

Screen bubbling or a cloudy “oil slick” look under the glass.
Touch lag that gets worse over time.
Pressure spots where touch registers without being pressed.

What it usually means: Classic delamination (bond failure) in the touch layer. It can start as cosmetic, then turns into ghost touches and dead zones. If you want prevention tips and what actually works: How to slow touchscreen delamination .

2020 Model Year: Mixed Bag — Software + Hardware Symptoms

Random reboots or “Uconnect restarting” messages.
Black screen on startup that returns after cycling ignition.
CarPlay/Android Auto drops (wired or wireless depending on model).
Touch delay (feels “sticky” even when accurate).

What it usually means: Reboots and black screens can be software, power, or the head unit itself. But if the LCD is intermittently black while the system still plays audio, it can be LCD/panel failure or connection-related.

2021–2022 Model Years: “Looks Fine, Touch Is Wrong”

Touch offset (you tap one spot, it registers somewhere else).
Edge drift (buttons near edges are hard to press).
Heat-related touch behavior (works in morning, fails after driving).

What it usually means: These are still most consistent with digitizer degradation, especially when the image is crisp and stable.

2023+ Model Years: Fewer Failures, But When It Happens…

Intermittent unresponsive touch that resolves after restart.
Connectivity issues (CarPlay/AA, Bluetooth, USB recognition).
Camera lag or delayed UI transitions.

What it usually means: For newer systems, software and connectivity are more common than physical delamination. Still, if you see bubbles, pressure spots, or persistent ghost touches, treat it as a touch layer failure and diagnose before replacing parts.

Symptom-to-Cause Cheat Sheet

Use this quick mapping to avoid replacing the wrong component.

Ghost touch / random presses → usually digitizer (touch layer) problem.
Dead zones / edges don’t respond → usually digitizer degradation.
Bubbles / cloudy patches / “oil slick” → delamination in touch layer.
Lines, flicker, washed-out image → more consistent with LCD issue.
Black display but audio still works → can be LCD, connection, or head unit behavior.
Reboots / freezing → often software/head unit, not the digitizer alone.

What Owners Can Do Before Replacing Anything

Check for obvious delamination. Look for bubbling, cloudiness, or a “wet” looking layer under the glass.
Test touch accuracy. If taps register in the wrong place or edges fail, it’s usually touch-layer related.
Heat test. If it’s worse after the cabin warms up, digitizer issues are more likely.
Rule out software. If the unit reboots, freezes, or goes black intermittently, check updates and power behavior first.

FAQ

Is UAQ the same as UAS?

They’re related families of Uconnect 4 / 4C systems used across many vehicles. The key for repairs is matching the correct screen assembly/digitizer/LCD to your unit and vehicle configuration. Use the compatibility guide above before ordering parts.

Why does ghost touch get worse over time?

Once delamination or digitizer degradation begins, temperature swings and cabin heat can accelerate the failure. It often starts as occasional phantom presses and ends with persistent unusable touch input.

Do I need to replace the whole screen or just the digitizer?

If the image is perfect but touch is the issue, many cases point to a digitizer/touch-layer problem. If the image itself is distorted, flickering, or missing, LCD-related issues are more likely.