U.S. public vehicle records

Dodge RAM 3500 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2,909 owner complaints analyzed

32 distinct recall campaigns

74,175 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1991 to 2012 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 1,662 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 927 of 2,909 complaints (31.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	827	28.4%
Braking behavior	335	11.5%
Transmission and shifting	186	6.4%
Electrical and battery issues	150	5.2%
Fuel system concerns	95	3.3%
Engine operation	85	2.9%

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.

Steering

927

Air Bags

286

Suspension

220

Electrical System

213

Power Train

123

Engine

117

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

108

Structure

101

Steering: 927; Air Bags: 286; Suspension: 220; Electrical System: 213; Power Train: 123; Engine: 117; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 108; Structure: 101

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

318

25,000 to 49,999

252

50,000 to 74,999

271

75,000 to 99,999

262

100,000 to 149,999

328

150,000 and above

231

Under 25,000: 318; 25,000 to 49,999: 252; 50,000 to 74,999: 271; 75,000 to 99,999: 262; 100,000 to 149,999: 328; 150,000 and above: 231

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (328). 1,247 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.

1995

1996

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

111

2005

111

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

153

2011

140

2012

124

2013

102

2014

590

2015

343

2016

204

2017

125

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Complaints over time data
Category	Count
1995	31
1996	29
2000	73
2001	71
2002	82
2003	90
2004	111
2005	111
2006	77
2007	83
2008	85
2009	74
2010	153
2011	140
2012	124
2013	102
2014	590
2015	343
2016	204
2017	125
2018	55
2019	52
2020	28
2021	20
2022	9
2023	13
2024	9
2025	15
2026	10

1995: 31; 1996: 29; 2000: 73; 2001: 71; 2002: 82; 2003: 90; 2004: 111; 2005: 111; 2006: 77; 2007: 83; 2008: 85; 2009: 74; 2010: 153; 2011: 140; 2012: 124; 2013: 102; 2014: 590; 2015: 343; 2016: 204; 2017: 125; 2018: 55; 2019: 52; 2020: 28; 2021: 20; 2022: 9; 2023: 13; 2024: 9; 2025: 15; 2026: 10

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 827 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 335 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 186 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 11233342 · 2019-07-19 (July 19, 2019)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 95V089000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT CALLED WALNUT CREEK CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (LOCATED AT 2404 N MAIN ST, WALNUT CREEK, CA 94596, [phone removed]) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REMEDY WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 157,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11233342 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 962758 · 1995-03-29 (March 29, 1995)

STEERING WHEEL BROKE OFF IN OCCUPANTS HAND AFTER BEING LOOSE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 962758 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 976509 · 1995-12-13 (December 13, 1995)

THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS UP THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL BROKE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 976509 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 968203 · 1995-07-05 (July 5, 1995)

ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILED ABOUT FOUR TIMES. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 968203 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8021632 · 2002-10-25 (October 25, 2002)

CONSUMER NOTICED THE A FUEL LINE FITTING CONNECTOR, AND AUXILIARY COOLER ON TRANSMISSION IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8021632 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10015740 · 2003-04-14 (April 14, 2003)

THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES AS STATED IN RECALL 97 V 084 000, BUT THE CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015740 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 984238 · 1996-05-08 (May 8, 1996)

THE END OF THE WIRING HARNES COULD BURN AND START A FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 984238 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10705827 · 2015-04-15 (April 15, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR AND WIRING HARNESS MELTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V135000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,639. UPDATED 6/18/15*CN UPDATED 10/05/2017*CN

Owner-reported narrative. 148,639 miles reported. Look up ODI 10705827 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10430246 · 2011-10-14 (October 14, 2011)

BRAKE LINE RUSTED INTO BETWEEN FUEL TANK AND FRAME. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 86,879 miles reported. Look up ODI 10430246 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10121066 · 2005-05-16 (May 16, 2005)

DT: FUEL PUMP, BLOWING FUSES, FAST AS FUSES ARE PUT IN THE ARE BLOWN AGAIN. AS SOON START THE VEHICLE THE FUSES BLOW. THE BOTTON FUSE BOX WHERE WIRE GO INTO ENGINE SHOUT OFF RELAY, BURNED RELAY. THIS WIRE STARTS OUT A 10- GAUGE WIRE, IT REDUSES DOWN WHEN IT GOES MAIN CONTROLL MODULE HALF THE SIZE. THIS ALSO RUNS BOTH COIL PACKS AND ALL THE FUEL INJECTORS. THE WIRING HARNESS NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACE, AND THE MODLE NEEDS TO BE INSPECTED BY A CETRFIED DODGE MECHINE TO MAKE SURE WIRING IS PROPER SIZE AND MAKE SURE THERE ARE NOT SHORTS I…

Owner-reported narrative. 227,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121066 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 897569 · 2001-10-10 (October 10, 2001)

VEHICLE OF WILL STALL INTERMITTENTLY. PROBLEM IS MORE FREQUENT DURING WARM WEATHER. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 897569 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 736402 · 2000-11-16 (November 16, 2000)

IN JULY I RECEIVED CHRYSLER RECALL #875 WHICH STATED:THE IGNITION SWITCH AND/OR STEERING COLUMN WIRING ON YOUR RAM TRUCK MAY OVERHEAT WHEN THE BLOWER MOTOR IS OPERATED AT HIGH SPEED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THIS CAN CAUSE STALLING, LOSS OF BLOWER MOTOR OR POWER WINDOW OPERATION, ABS OR AIRBAG LAMP ILLUMINATION OR A STEERING COLUMN/INSTRUMENT PANEL FIRE.THE DAY I RECEIVED THE NOTICE, THE STARTER DIED BEFORE I COULD GET TO THE DEALER. I TRIED TO CALL CHRYSLER TO DETERMINE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A CONNECTION BETWEEN FAILURE AND RECALL. THE DEALE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 736402 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1996

1997

1998

1999