1994 Dodge RAM 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
82 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
108,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 28 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 82 complaints (7.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 15 | 18.3% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 13.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 9.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 6.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 3.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 |
| Structure | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch | 3 |
| Suspension:Front | 3 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 6; Electrical System: 5; Exterior Lighting: 5; Structure: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 4; Steering: 4; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch: 3; Suspension:Front: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 10
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 54 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 14 |
| 1996 | 3 |
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
1995: 14; 1996: 3; 2000: 9; 2001: 10; 2002: 5; 2003: 3; 2004: 6; 2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2007: 4; 2008: 4; 2010: 3; 2011: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 3; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10024168 · 2003-06-16 (June 16, 2003)
STEERING WHEEL PROBLEMS.ALSO, DIMS GO OUT WHICH CAUSES THE STEERING COLUMN TO FAIL. MANUFACTURER WA NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 84,548 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024168 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079500 · 2004-06-18 (June 18, 2004)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM. STEERING COLUMN KEPT BREAKING THE CLOCK SPRING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079500 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112263 · 2005-02-28 (February 28, 2005)
THE STEEL BRAKE LINE TO THE REAR BAKES ON MY TRUCK HAS RUSTED OUT RESULTING IN TOTAL FAILURE OF THE REAR BRAKES. LUCKLY, THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED WHILE IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT ON THE ROAD.
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10616551 · 2014-07-26 (July 26, 2014)
WE ( MY FAMILY AND I) WERE DRIVING EAST ON I40 GETTING ON THE INTERSTATE AT PAPERMILL ROAD. THERE WAS AS SHIMMY, THEN A POP, BANG CLANK AND SHUDDER AND THEN WE LOST STEERING. IT ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES,AND HAD TO TROUBLE STEERING IT TO THE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE CROSSING OVER INFRONT OF OTHER CARS. I LOST STEERING ABILITY IN THE TRUCK WE HAD TO DRIVE IT HOME AT 25 MILES PER HOUR. WHEN WE WOULD HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD IT WOULD SHIMMY AND SHAKE. IT TAKES THREE ROTATIONS OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE EVEN A GEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 283,502 miles reported. Look up ODI 10616551 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186173 · 2007-03-26 (March 26, 2007)
I WAS DRIVING MY 1994 DODGE RAM 1500 ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 24, 2007 WHEN SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE DASH. THE RUNNING LIGHTS, TAILL IGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS THEN WENT OUT. I WAS DRVING IN THE FOG, AND IT WAS NOT YET LIGHT OUT. FORTUNATELY, I STILL HAD HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLAMP SWITCHWAS BAD AND THE WIRING CONNECTOR MELTED. I HAVE NOT HAD IT FIXED YET. ITWAS THE EXACT CONDITION DESCRIBED IN RECALL #99V024000 , EXCEPT THAT MY TRUCK WAS A 1500, NOT A 3500. I HAD TO REPLACE THE SWITCH FOR THIS SAME THING A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO, AND I'M SURE THA…
Owner-reported narrative. 114,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186173 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10237208 · 2008-08-06 (August 6, 2008)
MY 1994 DODGE RAM 1500 DASH HAS EXPLODED INTO 5 SEPARATE PIECES. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM FT GORDON GA LAST WEEK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DASH HEAVED UPWARD AND BURST THROWING PIECES OF PLASTIC EVERYWHERE. I ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD AS A RESULT. NOW THE ELECTRICAL MATERIALS UNDERNEATH THE DASH ARE EXPOSED TO THE SUN AND ELEMENTS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 204,195 miles reported. Look up ODI 10237208 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10416578 · 2011-08-01 (August 1, 2011)
THE STRAPS HOLDING THE GAS TANK IN OUR 1994 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP CORRODED, CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO HANG DOWN BENEATH THE VEHICLE. WE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ANY DANGEROUS INCIDENT OCCURRED AND RIGGED A TEMPORARY NYLON STRAP. WE LATER REPLACED THE OEM RETAINING STRAPS AT A TOTAL COST OF APPROXIMATELY $300. *KB
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10416578 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10420948 · 2011-08-22 (August 22, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE FUEL TANK DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE REAR STRAPS FRACTURED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. UPDATED 09/21/11 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER REPLACED BOTH FUEL TANK STRAPS. UPDATED 09/28/11
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10420948 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 758140 · 2002-02-12 (February 12, 2002)
AT HIGH TEMPERATURES, TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKS ONTO THE MANIFOLD AND SMOKES. LEADING TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 758140 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 897825 · 2001-10-16 (October 16, 2001)
WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND TOOK OFF IN REVERSE, FORCING VEHICLE INTO A NEIGHBOR'S YARD AND BACK INTO THE STREET BEFORE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 897825 at NHTSA ↗