Upgrade Your Uconnect 8.4 to a 12-Inch Screen or Just Replace It? The – Cuescreens

Your 8.4-inch Uconnect screen is bubbling at the edges, ghost touching, or ignoring your finger. Somewhere in your search for a fix, you saw a 12-inch screen in a newer RAM and thought: why not just upgrade?

It's a fair question. But before you spend that money, it helps to know what each path actually involves and what it costs. For most owners, the answer comes down to one thing: is your problem the screen, or is it the system?

Can You Upgrade a Uconnect 8.4 to 12 Inches?

On some vehicles, yes. Retrofit kits are sold for newer RAM 1500 trucks that came from the factory with the 8.4-inch UAV system. These kits don't swap the screen alone. They replace your factory 8.4 unit with a complete 12-inch Uconnect 5 system.

For older vehicles running the 8.4 UAQ or UAS system, we haven't found a factory-style 12-inch retrofit. The options there are aftermarket head units, which replace your factory radio entirely. That path brings its own risks with integration and vehicle coding, which we cover in Is a Used eBay Car Radio Worth the Risk?

What the 12-Inch Upgrade Costs

Retail listings for factory-style 12-inch retrofit kits run around $2,600. One 2019 to 2021 RAM 1500 kit was listed at $2,599.95 as of October 2026, before any installation labor.

Here's what that money gets you:

A larger 12-inch display
A newer Uconnect 5 system with its own feature set
A full replacement of your factory 8.4 unit, not a repair of it

It's also a bigger job. You're removing and replacing the whole system, so you'll want to confirm with the kit seller that every feature your truck has today carries over to the new unit.

What Replacing the 8.4 Screen Costs

If your 8.4 system still works and the screen is what failed, you can replace the screen and keep everything else.

Your factory radio stays in the dash. Your settings, your features, and your vehicle's integration all stay exactly as they were. The only thing that changes is the failed display.

The replacement itself is a real repair that takes time and care. The part is direct-fit, but you'll still be removing trim and working inside the dash.

Side by Side

	12-Inch Upgrade	Replace the 8.4 Screen
Parts cost	About $2,600	$249 to $299
What gets replaced	The entire 8.4 system	Only the failed screen
Factory radio	Removed	Kept
Available for UAQ/UAS vehicles	Aftermarket head units only	Yes
Fixes a failed screen	Yes	Yes

When the Upgrade Actually Makes Sense

Not everyone searching for a 12-inch upgrade has a broken screen. Some people just want the bigger display and the newer system, and that's a legitimate reason to spend the money.

The upgrade is worth a look if:

You want Uconnect 5 features your current system doesn't have
Your truck is one of the newer RAM 1500s with a kit made for it
You plan to keep the truck a long time and the larger screen matters to you

Replacing the screen makes more sense if:

Your system works fine and the screen is the only thing that failed
You're dealing with delamination, ghost touch, or dead spots
You want to keep your factory radio and settings
You'd rather not spend $2,600 to fix a $300 problem

Make Sure You Order the Right Screen

The 8.4 Uconnect comes in more than one version, and they are not interchangeable. Check the radio code on your unit (UAQ, UAS, or UAV) and the part number on the LCD before you order. UAQ/UAS systems use the LA084X01 display. UAV systems use the TDO-XGA0840J00001 series.

If you drive a Grand Cherokee, our guide to Jeep Grand Cherokee Uconnect screen problems walks through the most common failures by year.

Not sure which one you have? Contact us with a photo of your current screen and we'll confirm the right part before you buy.

The Bottom Line

If you want a bigger screen and a newer system, the 12-inch upgrade can get you there, at around $2,600. If your 8.4 just stopped working the way it should, the fix is the screen. Replace the part that failed, keep everything that works, and keep the difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you upgrade a Uconnect 8.4 to a 12-inch screen?

On some vehicles, yes. Retrofit kits exist for newer RAM 1500 trucks that came with the 8.4-inch UAV system. The kit replaces your factory 8.4 unit with a complete 12-inch Uconnect 5 system. Retail listings we found run around $2,600 before installation.

Is it cheaper to replace my Uconnect 8.4 screen than upgrade to 12 inches?

Yes. A Cuescreens replacement 8.4 touchscreen for the UAV system is $299 and the UAQ/UAS version is $249, compared with roughly $2,600 for a 12-inch retrofit kit. If your only problem is a failed screen, replacing the screen fixes the actual failure for about a tenth of the cost.

Do I lose anything by replacing the screen instead of upgrading?

You keep your factory radio, your settings, and every feature your vehicle already has. What you don't get are the features that come with Uconnect 5, such as the larger display and wireless phone connectivity. If those features matter to you, the upgrade may be worth the cost.

How do I know which 8.4 Uconnect screen I have?

Check the radio code on your unit (UAQ, UAS, or UAV) and the part number on the LCD. UAQ/UAS systems use the LA084X01 display, and UAV systems use the TDO-XGA0840J00001 series. If you are unsure, contact Cuescreens with a photo of your current screen before ordering.

About the Author: Daniel Gigante has over 18 years of experience in the automotive industry, with a focus on vehicle technology, infotainment systems, and real-world reliability. He writes about automotive design, touchscreen usability, and how modern technology impacts everyday driving.