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U.S. public vehicle records

Dodge RAM problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2,750 owner complaints analyzed

63 distinct recall campaigns

52,344 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1976 to 2011 model years. Data snapshot: . 426 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 234 of 2,750 complaints (8.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior51518.7%
Steering behavior28910.5%
Transmission and shifting2699.8%
Electrical and battery issues1204.4%
Engine operation843.1%
Fuel system concerns843.1%

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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
234
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
207
Air Bags:Frontal
179
Vehicle Speed Control
108
Suspension:Front
79
Tires
77
Suspension
76
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
71
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip234
Power Train:Automatic Transmission207
Air Bags:Frontal179
Vehicle Speed Control108
Suspension:Front79
Tires77
Suspension76
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline71

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 234; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 207; Air Bags:Frontal: 179; Vehicle Speed Control: 108; Suspension:Front: 79; Tires: 77; Suspension: 76; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 71

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
109
25,000 to 49,999
92
50,000 to 74,999
83
75,000 to 99,999
53
100,000 to 149,999
61
150,000 and above
28
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000109
25,000 to 49,99992
50,000 to 74,99983
75,000 to 99,99953
100,000 to 149,99961
150,000 and above28

Under 25,000: 109; 25,000 to 49,999: 92; 50,000 to 74,999: 83; 75,000 to 99,999: 53; 100,000 to 149,999: 61; 150,000 and above: 28

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (109). 2,324 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
243
1996
276
2000
562
2001
552
2002
431
2003
156
2004
166
2005
72
2006
24
2007
62
2008
28
2009
28
2010
35
2011
49
2012
28
2021
10
2022
11
2023
7
2024
9
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
1995243
1996276
2000562
2001552
2002431
2003156
2004166
200572
200624
200762
200828
200928
201035
201149
201228
202110
202211
20237
20249
20251

1995: 243; 1996: 276; 2000: 562; 2001: 552; 2002: 431; 2003: 156; 2004: 166; 2005: 72; 2006: 24; 2007: 62; 2008: 28; 2009: 28; 2010: 35; 2011: 49; 2012: 28; 2021: 10; 2022: 11; 2023: 7; 2024: 9; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 515 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 289 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 269 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 8011678 · 2002-06-12 (June 12, 2002)

POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE CAUSING VEHICLE TO PROLONG THE STOP. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8011678 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 737294 · 2000-12-04 (December 4, 2000)

DUE TO FAILURE OF TURN SWITCH, I WAS TICKETED FOR NO BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS, AND FORCED TO HAVE $366.48 IN REPAIRS FOR A FAULTY SWITCH THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AT INITIAL RELEASE OF VEHICLE IN 1988.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 737294 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 987090 · 1996-07-19 (July 19, 1996)

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS TO MELT AND THE STEERING COLUMN TO SMOKE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 987090 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10334847 · 2010-06-02 (June 2, 2010)

1985 DODGE RAM 3500 PICKUP, STEERING LINKAGE BROKE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STRIKE A CONCRETE WALL. *BF OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0190-91. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10334847 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8015617 · 2002-08-06 (August 6, 2002)

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD PANEL. TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8015617 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 895622 · 2001-08-31 (August 31, 2001)

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 895622 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 564294 · 2002-02-14 (February 14, 2002)

VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO FIRE WHICH STARTED IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE NEAR AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET. *JG

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 564294 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 855172 · 2000-01-20 (January 20, 2000)

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED OF 20-55 MPH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. STALLING HAS ALMOST CAUSED A VEHICLE COLLISION. *AK *ML

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 855172 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 966020 · 1995-05-30 (May 30, 1995)

VEHICLE STALLED, MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT FUEL PUMP WIRING WAS SMOLDERING, GROMMIT WAS NOT IN PLACE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 966020 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 868455 · 2000-08-23 (August 23, 2000)

FUEL TANK SEEMS TO BE LEAKING FROM THE BOTTOM AND NEAR THE SEAM OF THE TANK. IF AN IGNITION SOURE WAS PRESENT IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THIS WAS FOUND WHEN OIL WAS BEING CHANGED. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, FUEL WAS LEAKNG FROM FILLER TUBE. OWNER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND A REPLACEMENT. FUEL TANK HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. OWNER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 868455 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 751139 · 2001-08-26 (August 26, 2001)

FUEL TANK HAS PULLED AWAY FROM HOLD AND FUEL LEAKS ON THE GROUND FROM SMALL HOLD ON TOP OF FUEL TANK. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 751139 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

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.

1995
12
1996
10
1997
7
1998
13
1999
9
2000
6
2001
9
2002
2
2003
2
2004
1
2005
0
2006
0
2007
1
2008
2
2009
5
2010
5
2011
4
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
199512
199610
19977
199813
19999
20006
20019
20022
20032
20041
20050
20060
20071
20082
20095
20105
20114

1995: 12; 1996: 10; 1997: 7; 1998: 13; 1999: 9; 2000: 6; 2001: 9; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2005: 0; 2006: 0; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 5; 2010: 5; 2011: 4

Year-by-year records

Dodge RAM model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
197610Not available
1977100
197920Not available
198110Not available
198420Not available
1985400
19861000
19871100
19881300
19891700
19901400
1991372+2
1992331-1
1993310-1
199431418+18
199536112-6
199630610-2
19972167-3
199825713+6
19992849-4
20001476-3
20013189+3
20021162-7
20035320
2004581-1
2005400-1
20062500
2007171+1
2008252+1
200995+3
20102750
201104-1