Total Complaints
4 filings
DODGE RAM · model year
1979 DODGE RAM
4 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1979DODGERAM carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 2 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1979 RAM is electrical system with 2 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (1) and structure:frame and members (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 1979 RAM, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
4
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
2
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020514FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO FIRE WHICH STARTED IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE NEAR AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET. *JG
20020307FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO FIRE WHICH STARTED IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE NEAR AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET. *JG
20010906STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE PICKUP IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IS NOT TO BE ON THE ROAD, ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER BODY SHOP MANAGER. THE FRAME SEPARATED 2" AT THE WELD, JUST UNDER THE DRIVERS DOOR AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE THE WELD IS CRACKED. THE FRAME IS READY TO BREAK IN 2. LUCKILY IT WAS FOUND BEFORE SOMEONE DRIVING IT GOT KILLED OR KILLED SOMEONE ELSE ON THE HIGHWAY. CHRYSLER WAS NOTIFIED BUT IT HAS BEEN 8 DAYS AND STILL HAVE NOT HEARD WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE TRUCK IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, BUT ANYONE CAN SEE THAT WHEN IT WAS WELDED BY THE MANUFACTURER, THE WELDING DID NOT PENETRATE THE METAL. ANOTHER WORDS, A VERY POOR WELDING JOB. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MANY PEOPLE THAT OWN DODGE TRUCKS THAT THE FRAME IS VERY WEAK. THEY ARE NOT TOUGH TRUCKS AS THEY ADVERTISE THEM TO BE. NOW I HAVE A TRUCK SITTING IN MY YARD THAT IS STILL FINANCED AND NOT ABLE TO USE. PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE. IF THAT FRAME WOULD OF BROKE IN 2 GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS, CAN YOU IMAGINE
19971020CrashFatalVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE SELF STARTED AND DROVE THROUGH A GLASS ENTRANCE OF A STORE, AND KILLED 2 CHILDREN. PROBLEM HAS BEEN FOUND. *AK
Compare 1979DODGERAM to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1979 DODGE RAM have?▼
The 1979 DODGE RAM has 4 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1979 DODGE RAM?▼
The most-complained component for the 1979 DODGE RAM is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS.
Is the 1979 DODGE RAM safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.