vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

1994 Dodge RAM 1500: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior1518.3%
Braking behavior1113.4%
Electrical and battery issues89.8%
Fuel system concerns56.1%
Transmission and shifting33.7%

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.

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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch6
Electrical System5
Exterior Lighting5
Structure5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip4
Steering4
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch3
Suspension:Front3

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9994
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9995
100,000 to 149,9996
150,000 and above10

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199514
19963
20009
200110
20025
20033
20046
20052
20062
20074
20084
20103
20113
20122
20131
20143
20151
20161
20171
20181
20203
20211

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.

Examples from the source records

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 10028573 · 2003-07-18 (July 18, 2003)

TREAD SEPARATION OF SENTRY LT TIRE, SIZE LT 265/75 R16 AT LOW SPEED CAUSING DAMAGE TO FENDER WELL OF BED OF PICKUP. A PRIOR FAILURE IN ANOTHER OF THESE TIRES WAS SIDEWALL SEPARATION CAUSING SEVERE UNBALANCE. I HAVE TWO OTHER TIRES WHICH HAVEN'T FAILED BUT HAVE BEEN REMOVED. THE SELLER OF THESE TIRES WAS WESTERN AUTO STORES (A SEARS SUBSIDIARY). THERE IS ADEQUATE TREAD LEFT ON THE TIRES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 88,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028573 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10041972 · 2003-09-30 (September 30, 2003)

HEADLIGHT SWITCH WOULD OVERHEAT AND WOULD CAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS TO FLICKER OFF AND ON. CONSUMER HAD MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND TRIED TO FLICK HEADLIGHTS BACK ON. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041972 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10062863 · 2004-03-10 (March 10, 2004)

DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE AT 40 MPH. REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE TIE ROD AND BALL JOINTS. CONSUMER WAS NOT SURE IF UPPER OR LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10062863 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10078659 · 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)

I HAVE A 1994 DODGE TRUCK. IT HAS A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR. THE END CAP ( PLASTIC HAS DEVELOPED A HAIRLINE CRACK. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. WHY IS PLASTIC JOINED TO METAL IN THE FIRST PLACE? SEEMS LIKE PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE TO ME.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10078659 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 10079954 · 2004-06-25 (June 25, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH ON A WET ROAD VEHICLE SUDDENLY DID A COMPLETE 90-DEGREE SPIN , AND ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE STOPPING. CONSUMER SUSTAINED 10 BROKEN RIBS, AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AN AMBULANCE TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079954 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10089696 · 2004-08-25 (August 25, 2004)

WHEN DRIVING 30 MPH OR MORE FRONT END VIBRATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TA REPAIR SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089696 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.