Hit a deer with your Ram 1500? Which front-end parts to check

What should I do right after hitting a deer in Ontario?

Ontario's official Driver's Handbook says: "If you hit a deer or moose, report it to the local police service or the Ministry of Natural Resources." It also says not to try to move an injured animal, and that if an animal is on the road you should "stay in your vehicle; getting out increases your chance of being hit by another vehicle." Take photos of the truck before anything is moved; they help your insurer and they help us match the parts.

Source: Government of Ontario, Official MTO Driver's Handbook: Dealing with particular situations. Checked 28 October 2026.

Which front-end parts sit in the path of a deer?

Everything ahead of the engine. The table runs from the outside in, which is the order to check them, with what changes between the two bodies. A damaged part further in is easy to miss until the outer parts come off, so a body shop's teardown often adds to the first list.

Sources: Stellantis Media, 2013 Ram 1500 press kit (aluminum hood "saving 26 pounds", grille shutters, projector headlamps), 23 August 2012; All-new 2019 Ram 1500 (raised aluminum hood, grille shutters, active air dam, radar and park sensors), 15 January 2018. Headlamp types as in our headlight guide. Checked 28 October 2026.

Do front-end parts swap between a DS, a Classic and a DT?

Between a 2009 to 2018 DS and a 2019 to 2024 Classic, mostly yes, because the Classic is the DS body. Between either of those and a 2019 to 2026 DT, almost never: the DT is wider, with a different hood, fenders, lamps and bumper mounts. Within a body, trim still matters, because a Sport, Rebel or Limited front end differs from a Tradesman's. The part-by-part list is in our interchange guide.

What about the sensors on a 2019 or later Ram 1500?

Stellantis says the DT's Forward Collision Warning-Plus uses "radar and video sensors", and its ParkSense system uses ultrasonic sensors in the bumper. It also fitted the DT with an active front air dam that, approaching 35 mph, extends 2.5 inches. After a deer strike, any of these can be cracked, knocked out of aim or have its bracket bent. Our advice, which is general guidance and not a Stellantis procedure: have the shop that fits the parts confirm every driver-assist warning is clear and the systems work before you drive at highway speed, the same way a 2019 or later windshield needs its camera recalibrated.

Source: Stellantis Media, All-new 2019 Ram 1500, 15 January 2018. Checked 28 October 2026.

How do I order deer-damage parts from Dodge Daddy?

Send the year and trim of your truck, the body, the paint code from the door jamb, and photos of the damage, and list the parts you think you need. We confirm fit for each one, reply with a price and photographs of the actual parts, and tell you if a matching-colour panel is on the shelf, which saves a paint bill. Front-end panels are big, so pickup in the Hamilton Region is the usual way. If a part is not in, put it on the Most Wanted list and you get a call when one comes off a truck.