Dodge RAM VAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
203 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
62,093 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: . 114 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 203 complaints (11.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 53 | 26.1% |
| Steering behavior | 33 | 16.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 22 | 10.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 6.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 3.0% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 2.5% |
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 | 23 |
| Steering | 20 |
| Structure:Body | 13 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 |
| Suspension | 10 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Tires | 7 |
Electrical System: 23; Steering: 20; Structure:Body: 13; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 12; Unknown Or Other: 12; Suspension: 10; Power Train: 8; Tires: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 29 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 29 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 29; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 29; 150,000 and above: 9
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 89 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 | 24 |
| 2001 | 14 |
| 2002 | 18 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 40 |
| 2005 | 16 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
2000: 24; 2001: 14; 2002: 18; 2003: 11; 2004: 40; 2005: 16; 2006: 10; 2007: 3; 2008: 16; 2009: 6; 2010: 9; 2011: 4; 2012: 4; 2013: 8; 2014: 7; 2015: 3; 2016: 6; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 53 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 22 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 10316552 · 2010-03-04 (March 4, 2010)
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) FRONT DISC BRAKES ONLY PARTIALLY RELEASED FROM LOCKED UP. STILL MOSTLY ON. DRAGGING EXCESSIVLY. DROVESAFELY HOME LESS THAN 3 MILES. LOTS OF HOT BRAKES ODOR. PARKED OVERNIGHT. NEXT MORNING NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PROBLEM THE NIGHT BEFORE. 1993 DODGE RAMVAN 3500 1TON MAXIVAN. VIN:[XXX] . GOT ON LINE TO TRY TO GET SOME INFO ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW TO CORRECT. FOUND INFO ON RECALL#93V082000 BRAKES/HYDRAULIC-ANTISKID SYSTEM 1993 DODGE RAMVAN3500 MAXIVAN. CON…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,130 miles reported. Look up ODI 10316552 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 723602 · 2000-06-05 (June 5, 2000)
CAR WAS IN PARK WITH EM. BRAKE ON, PARKED ON AN INCLINE. DRIVER LEFT CAR RUNNING FOR APPROX. 4 MINS. WHEN SHE RETURNED, SHE DECIDED NOT TO LEAVE AGAIN, SO REACHED IN AND TURNED KEY TO SHUT OF IGNITION. VAN ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN HILL. EMER. BRAKE WAS STILL ON. DRIVER FELL OUT OF CAR. CAR WENT DOWN EMBANKEMENT. HIT TREE AND CAME TO A STANDSTILL IN GULLY, STILL UPRIGHT. THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO UNDERCARRAIGE OF CAR. DRIVER RECEIVED ABRASIONS AND BRUISES, SPRAINED WRIST. WHEN THE CAR WAS EXAMINED WE COULD SEE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE STILL ENGA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 723602 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8020962 · 2002-10-16 (October 16, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING IS OVALED OUT. MR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8020962 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 721359 · 2000-04-12 (April 12, 2000)
THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED INTO 2ND GEAR AND STALLED WHILE GOING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. POWER STEERING WAS LOST AND GETTING THE VAN ACROSS 3 LANES OF CITY TRAFFIC WHILE LOSING SPEED WAS VERY DIFFICULT. COMPLETE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED W/ REPAIRS AT OWNERS COST. ONLY 6 MONTHS OVER 3 YR. WARRENTY AND ONLY 12,000 MILES ON THE 36,000 MILE WARRENTY. CHRYSLER WOULD NOT TAKE RESPOSIBLITY EVEN WHEN WE HAD THE VAN INTO A CHRYSLER DEALER THE MONTH BEFORE COMPLAINING THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THEY RETURNED THE VAN SAYING THER…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 721359 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070267 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
I HAD PROBLEMS FROM DAY 1. BATTERY WENT DEAD THE VERY NEXT MORNING AFTER I BROUGHT THE VAN HOME. I KEPT RECHARGING IT UNTILL IT FAILED COMPLETLY ON A TRIP TO FRORIDA. I FIGUIRED OUT THE BUILT IN VACUUM CLEANER HAD A SHORT. I TOOK IT OUT. THE FRONT TIRES SHOWED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON OUTER EDGES. I KEPT ROTATING THEM. I WENT TO A FRONT END SHOP FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, THEY TOLD ME THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE BAD AND BALL JOINTS WERE WORN, THEY SUGGESTED I GO TO A CHRYSLER DEALER SINCE IT WAS STILL UNDE WARRANTY. THEY DID NOTHING, TIGHTENING UP THE BEARING…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10070267 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003608 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH AC/HEATER WIRING HARNESS. THE BLOWER MOTOR FOR THE AC/HEATER SYSTEM IN THE VAN CONTINUES TO OVERLOAD AND BURN OUT COMPONENTS FOR THIS SYSTEM. THE VAN HAS BEEN PUT INTO REPAIR ON FOUR SEPERATE OCCASIONS. IT HAS NOW ONCE AGAIN BURNED OUT. HERE IS SOME INFORMATION: TURNED IN ON 6/18/99. REPLACED BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR. MILEAGE 24010 TURNED IN ON 9/16/99. REPLACED BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR, REPAIRED WIRING HARNESS AND SLEEVE. MILEAGE 26434 TURNED IN ON 12/14/99. REPLACED CONTROL HEAD AND BLOWER SWITCH. MILEAGE 29880. TURNED I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003608 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 5500353 · 2000-01-11 (January 11, 2000)
TRANSMISSION FAILED. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 5500353 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8004191 · 2002-02-19 (February 19, 2002)
WIRE THAT WAS CONNECTED TO FUEL PUMP BURNED OUT WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, VEHICLE STALLED OUT. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8004191 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088754 · 2004-08-29 (August 29, 2004)
ON AUGUST 27, 2004, I HAD JUST DRIVEN 80 MILES FROM HOME, I PARKED MY DODGE VAN FOR APPROXIMATELY 1/2 HOUR, WHICH GAVE IT TIME TO COOL DOWN FROM TRIP. I THEN MOVED AND PARKED MY VAN TO A PARKING SPACE 1 BLOCK AWAY TO UNLOAD, WHERE IT SAT AND COOLED DOWN AGAIN. MOVING THE VAN BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PARKING SPACE REQUIRED ME TO GO 1/2 MILE, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD, I PULLED INTO THE ORIGINAL PARKING LOT TO PARK. WHEN EXAMINING THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE, I DISCOVERED THE METAL BAND ON THE FILL SIDE OF MY GAS TANK HAD BROK…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,518 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088754 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 |
|---|---|
| 1989 | 0 |
| 1991 | 0 |
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1993 | 1 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 0 |
1989: 0; 1991: 0; 1992: 0; 1993: 1; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 1; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 0