Dodge RAM PICKUP problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
142 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
56,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: . 80 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure is the most frequently named component, appearing in 35 of 142 complaints (24.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 20 | 14.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 9.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 7.7% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 7.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure | 35 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 9 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 4 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 4 |
Structure: 35; Air Bags:Frontal: 9; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Unknown Or Other: 7; Air Bags: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 4; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 21 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 62 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 18 |
| 2003 | 32 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 14 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 3 |
2000: 7; 2001: 3; 2002: 18; 2003: 32; 2004: 12; 2005: 18; 2006: 2; 2007: 11; 2008: 14; 2009: 7; 2010: 9; 2011: 6; 2012: 3
Pattern summary
Structure leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 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 722067 · 2000-04-28 (April 28, 2000)
I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT MR 1995 DODGE RAM SPORT PICKUP, THAT I HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH. I WASN'T AWARE OF ANY RECALLS REGARDING THE REDUCED POWER BRAKE ASSIST, AND I AM TRYING TO GET MY VEHICLE'S COMPANY TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE TO MY PICKUP. THERE WAS NO BODILY INJURY, HOWEVER, I FEEL LIKE IF MY BRAKES WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE FOR ME, THIS ACCIDENT WOUL NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. I AM NOW LOOKING AT MY BEAUTIFUL TRUCK, JUST WAITING TO BE FIXED, ( I GOT A LIST OF PARTS AAND PRICES FOR THE PARTS FROM MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER IN IMLAY CITY, MICHIGAN, AND THER …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722067 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126925 · 2005-06-28 (June 28, 2005)
BRAKES FAILED DUE TO METAL LINE TUBE BREAKING AND RELEASED ALL BRAKE FLUID FROM MASTER CYLINDER.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067432 · 2004-05-11 (May 11, 2004)
THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WIRING CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE TRUCK WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL 00V13500 WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067432 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135660 · 2005-09-07 (September 7, 2005)
FAX FM NOEL & CYNTHIA MARTINEZ (NY) REQUEST INVESTIGATION INTO THE RECALL OF IGNITION SWITCH/ STEERING COLUMN WIRING OF THEIR 1995 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCK WHICH BURNED WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WERE TWO OPEN RECALLS ON THE TRUCK WHICH HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THE TWO RECALLS. THE CONSUMER HAD ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 4 MONTHS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10135660 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002342 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED UP HILL AND NO WITH WARNING TRANSMISSION WILL DECELERATE EVEN WHEN FOOT IS ON ACCELERATOR, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS.....*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002342 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059234 · 2005-03-28 (March 28, 2005)
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHCILE WA TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE GOVERNOR PRESSURE SENSOR AND THE GOVERNOR PRESSURE SOLENOID FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO SLIPPED MOMENTARILY. *AK THESE PARTS WERE REPLACED TWICE. *BF
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059234 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043449 · 2003-10-23 (October 23, 2003)
AIRBAG LIGHT ACTIVATED, MOMENTS AFTERWARD SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT A CRASH. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 184,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043449 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10123966 · 2005-06-02 (June 2, 2005)
DT: I WAS DRIVING MY DIESEL TRUCK OFF OF MY FARM ABOUT TO GO ON A STATE HIGHWAY WITH MY CHILDREN AND THE TRUCK JUST STOPPED RUNNING. THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP WENT OUT. IF I HAD WENT ANOTHER 50 FT. I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE TRUCK JUST LOCKED UP. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10123966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078418 · 2004-06-18 (June 18, 2004)
2001 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL TRUCK. THERE HAVE BEEN A LARGE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEMS ON THESE TRUCKS. DODGE HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE BAD DESIGN OF THE FUEL PUMPS. MY TRUCK LIKE OTHERS HAS RUN VERY WELL, BUT THE FUEL PUMP HAS GONE OUT, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO ACT UP WHEN I WOULD GET TO 1/4 OF TANK LEFT IN DIESEL. THE FUEL GAUGES HAVE BECOME A MAJOR PROBLEM ON THESE TRUCKS AS IT BEGINS TO MALFUNCTION AND DISPLAY INCORRECT FUEL AMOUNTS. WHICH IN A DIESEL IF YOUR RUN OUT OF FUEL YOU BEGIN TO HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS. THE FUEL …
Owner-reported narrative. 140,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10141190 · 2005-10-29 (October 29, 2005)
WE DRIVE A 1999 DODGE RAM 3/4 TON TRUCK WITH AN 11 FOOT CAMPER ON IT. LAST WEEK WHILE ON VACATION IN MONTANA, WE HAD A MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH. ON THE MOUNTAIN ROADS OF INTERSTATE 90. THE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK OFF THE HIGHWAY AND ONTO THE SHOULDER BEFORE IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, EVEN WITH THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. WE HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO MISSOULA WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS TRACED TO THE INJECTION PUMP FREEZING UP FROM LACK OF FU…
Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10141190 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 0 |
1992: 0; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 1; 2003: 0