DODGE RAM · model year

1994 DODGE RAM

623 NHTSA complaints, 53 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994DODGERAM carries 623 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 53 crashes, 31 fires, 41 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 1994 RAM is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 49 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (37) and electrical system:ignition:switch (27). 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 1994 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.

623
Complaints
53
Crashes
31
Fires
41
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

623 filings

Crashes Reported

53 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP49
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION37
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH27
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL25
SUSPENSION:FRONT25
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL24
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR21
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES20
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH19
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS16
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD12
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION12
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY11
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE8

Recent Complaints

20241031VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

The contact owns a 1994 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 01V037000 (Vehicle Speed Control) and 99V214000 (Suspension); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer and a second dealer, Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (5401 I-30 Frontage Rd, Greenville, TX 75402), were contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that they were not required to perform the recall repair because the vehicle was more than 10 years old. However, the vehicle was not more than 10 years old on the date the defect or noncompliance was determined. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

20241031SUSPENSION

The contact owns a 1994 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 01V037000 (Vehicle Speed Control) and 99V214000 (Suspension); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer and a second dealer, Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (5401 I-30 Frontage Rd, Greenville, TX 75402), were contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that they were not required to perform the recall repair because the vehicle was more than 10 years old. However, the vehicle was not more than 10 years old on the date the defect or noncompliance was determined. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

20041112POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 97V084000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPAIR VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK THE TRUCK'S TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING WHICH CAUSED THE IT TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE COOLING LINE CONNECTION CAME APART FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHICH CAUSE ALL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. *NM

Mileage: 125,254

20040924ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND RUNNING AND CONSUMER WAS STANDING IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED HEALTH PROBLEMS TO THE CONSUMER. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 139,000

20040729POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER 30000 MILE WARRANTY PERIOD. CONSUMER STATED HE OWNED FOUR OF THE SAME VEHICLES, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *AK

Mileage: 30,000

20040723POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE SHIMMIED VIOLENTLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

20040323LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH HOOD LATCH SNAPPED. THIS CAUSED THE HOOD TO FLY BACK ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAD THE PROBLEM RESOLVED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. *AK

Mileage: 133,000

20031203POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

RECALL NO. 97V084000: CONSUMER NOTICED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. UPON LOOKING UNDER THE VEHICLE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE COOLING UNIT LINE RETAINER WAS MISSING, CAUSING THE FLUID TO LEAK. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE AUTOMATIC COOLING UNIT LINE WAS LEAKING. A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS ISSUED, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

Mileage: 120,000

20030827CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TOWARDS TRAFFIC WHICH RESULTEDC IN AN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

20030827CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TOWARDS TRAFFIC WHICH RESULTEDC IN AN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

20030814CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TRUCK WAS IN PARK AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING IT SUDDENLY JUMPED OUT GEAR, ACCELERATING UP TO 50 MPH. UPON UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION THE TRUCK HIT A TREE. *AK

20030630TIRES

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE OUTTER TREAD FLEW OFF AND IMPACTED THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

Mileage: 143,000

20030421FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE FIRE BEGAN IN AREA OF FUSE BOX. *JB

20030326FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE KEY BECAME HARD TO TURN, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A BURNT WIRE SMELL COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, AND A BURN HOLE WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN, SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH. *AK *JB

20030205SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKES WILL PULSATE CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH

20021211FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

HIDDEN DEFECT OF PUNCTURED FUEL TANK DISCOVERED AFTER REPLACEMENT OF INOPERATIVE FUEL GUAGE BY HUDSON CHRYSLER, HUDSON, WI 54016 TEL 800-236-1333. FOUR SCREWS INSTALLED THRU FLOOR BOARD INTO TANK BY CENTURION OF WHITE PIGEON, MI 49099. TANK REPLACED 11/22/02. I HAVE PHOTOS OF SCREWS THRU FLOOR AND PUNCTURES IN TANK. DT

20021126STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, IF VEHICLE HITS A BUMP IN THE ROAD. CONSUMER STATES' THE VEHICLE WILL SHIMMEY REALLY BAD VEHICLES ALL OTHER THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAS TO PULL OVER AND STOP TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP THE SHIMMERING. CAUSE IS UNKNONW. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

20021107ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT AND EXTEND STOPPING DISTANCE. TS DEALERSHIP INSTALLED NEW BRAKE LINE. DEALERSHIP STATED STARTED NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER CONSUMER DECLINED. *TT

Mileage: 87,608

20021107SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT AND EXTEND STOPPING DISTANCE. TS DEALERSHIP INSTALLED NEW BRAKE LINE. DEALERSHIP STATED STARTED NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER CONSUMER DECLINED. *TT

Mileage: 87,608

20021104LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 01V040000 HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY; WHILE TRAVELING, THE HOOD FLEW UP HITTING THE WINDOW. THE OWNER INDICATED THAT HE NEVER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE EVENTHOUGH HE SHOULD HAVE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE TRUCK FOR (2) WEEKS AND HAS NOT REPAIRED THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY AS OF YET. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. MR

Compare 1994DODGERAM to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 DODGE RAM have?
The 1994 DODGE RAM has 623 NHTSA complaints, 53 crashes, 31 fires, 41 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 DODGE RAM?
The most-complained component for the 1994 DODGE RAM is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 49 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH.
Is the 1994 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.