Total Complaints
27 filings
DODGE RAM · model year
1988 DODGE RAM
27 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988DODGERAM carries 27 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 1 fire, 1 injury, and 0 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 1988 RAM is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 3 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (2) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (2). 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 1988 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.
27
Complaints
4
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
4 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 |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| TIRES | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM | 1 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20010918POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARKING GEAR IT MAKES HORRIBLE AND BUMPING NOISE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
20010831CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
20010808CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND RUNNING, AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, VEHICLE SLIPPED INTO ANOTHER GEAR AND ROLLED BACK, HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE.*AK
20010403FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
SHORTLY AFTER COLD START VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. WAS COMPLETELY CONSUMED. *AK
20001213EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
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
20000905CrashTIRES
ON AUGUST 6, 2000, TRAVELING NORTH ON I-75 NEAR BELLVIEW FORIDA I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. THE TREAD TORE AWAY FROM THE TIRE CASING WHILE TRAVELING AT A RATE OF 75 MPH LEAVING THE TIRE STILL INFLATED WITH THE STEEL BELTS SHOWING. THE VEHICLE RAN OVER THE SEPARATED TREAD THROWING THE MATERIAL INTO THE UNDERBODY CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TAILPIPE /MUFFLER ASSEMBLY. THE FORCE OF THE INCIDENT CAUSED THE RIGHT REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO JUMP UPWARDS APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET CAUSING A UNCONTROLLED SKID INTO THE LEFT LANE SLIGHTLY ONTO THE LEFT PAVEMENT EDGE AND THEN BACK INTO RIGHT LANE AND CONTINUED OFF THE LEFT EDGE OF THE PAVEMENT. AS THE WHEEL TWISTED DURING THE SKIDDING I EITHER SPRAINED OR BROKE MY RIGHT WRIST . THE ACCIDENT CAUSED NO DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLES OR PROPERTY AND A LETTER DESCRIBING THE ACCIDENT WAS HAND DELIVERED TO OLSON TIRE, COUNTRYSIDE OFFICE, CLEARWATER FLORIDA. THE VEHICLE'S OTHER TIRES ARE THE SAME MAKE AND SIZE BUT ARE MADE IN
20000905TIRES
3 YEARS AGO, I WAS RETURNING FROM HOUSTON TX WHEN THE TREAD ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE OF MY DODGE RAM CHARGER PEELED OFF. FORTUNETALLY, THE PIECES OF THE TIRE WENT UNDER THE TRUCK AND OUT THE BACK. WHEN I STOPPED AND CHECKED THE TIRE, IT WAS INFLATED YET MISSING ALL OF THE TREAD MINUS THE WALLS. THERE WAS NO SERIOUS DAMAGE, NOR AM I LOOKING FOR ANY COMPENSATION. BUT GIVEN THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION REGARDING FIRESTONE TIRES, I FELT IT COULDN'T HURT TO SUBMIT THIS. I AM NOT SURE HOW OLD THE TIRES WERE WHEN WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN 1996 (USED). AFTER THE INCIDENT, I REPLACED ALL THE TIRES (SPARE INCLUDED) WITH BRAND NEW *COUGH* FIRESTONE TIRES, AND SOLD THE TRUCK IN APRIL.( DOT NUMBER: )
19990318SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARM CROSSMEMBER RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE COIL SPRING TO PUSH UP THROUGH THE TOP.
19990311VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
CABURETOR CORRODED SHUT DURING THE NORMAL USE OF THE TRUCK, RESULTING IN THE PRIMARY THROTTLE LINKAGE STICKING AGAINST THE SECONDARY THROTTLE PLATE CAUSING VEHICLE TOO ACCELERATE AND VEHICLE TO RUN INTO STORE. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).
19990224ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHEN IT'S RAINING OR WATER GETS INTO THE DISTRIBUTOR THROUGH THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE CUTS COMPLETELY OFF. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK
19990217VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE CARBURETOR, SECONDARY THROTTLE PLATE ON THE CARBURETOR CORRODED SHUT DURING THE NORMAL, THROTTLE LINKAGE STICKING AGAINST THE SECONDARY THROTTLE LINKAGE.
19981005TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
SPARE TIRE CABLE RUSTED OFF CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF OF VEHICLE.
19980605STRUCTURE:BODY
FACTORY PAINT ON TOP AND SIDES IS PEELING OFF IN SHEETS.
19980528STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
STEERING GEAR BOX IS CRACKED WHICH CAUSES A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. DEALER SAYS THE CHASSIS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK
19980514STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL HAS PLAY IN IT, AND DRIVER HAD TO MOVE IT LIKE A FOOT BEFORE ANYTHING HAPPENED,. SPEED APPROXIMATELY 25-60 MPH, NO CHANGE IN WET OR DRY PAVEMENTS, NO WARRANTY ON VEHICLE. DEALER CONTACTED AND TIGHTENED BOLTS, COSTS WERE $62. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE COST WAS TOO MUCH. *AK
19970417FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
GASP IN FUEL INTAKE WHEN ACCELERATING OR SOMETIMES WHEN CRUISING ALONG 75 MPH UP AN INCLINE IN PASSING LANE, SPEEDOMETER DROPPED DOWN TO 35 MPH. PREVIOUSLY REPLACED OXYGEN SENSOR/FUEL PUMP/CARBURETOR TWICE. *AK
19970417ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
GASP IN FUEL INTAKE WHEN ACCELERATING OR SOMETIMES WHEN CRUISING ALONG 75 MPH UP AN INCLINE IN PASSING LANE, SPEEDOMETER DROPPED DOWN TO 35 MPH. PREVIOUSLY REPLACED OXYGEN SENSOR/FUEL PUMP/CARBURETOR TWICE. *AK
19970417FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
GASP IN FUEL INTAKE WHEN ACCELERATING OR SOMETIMES WHEN CRUISING ALONG 75 MPH UP AN INCLINE IN PASSING LANE, SPEEDOMETER DROPPED DOWN TO 35 MPH. PREVIOUSLY REPLACED OXYGEN SENSOR/FUEL PUMP/CARBURETOR TWICE. *AK
19970417FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
GASP IN FUEL INTAKE WHEN ACCELERATING OR SOMETIMES WHEN CRUISING ALONG 75 MPH UP AN INCLINE IN PASSING LANE, SPEEDOMETER DROPPED DOWN TO 35 MPH. PREVIOUSLY REPLACED OXYGEN SENSOR/FUEL PUMP/CARBURETOR TWICE. *AK
19961009CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, PUT INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION, SPEED UNKNOWN, IMPACT 11:00 POSITION. *AK
Compare 1988DODGERAM to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 DODGE RAM have?▼
The 1988 DODGE RAM has 27 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 DODGE RAM?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 DODGE RAM is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1988 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.