DODGE RAM 2500 · model year

1994 DODGE RAM 2500

210 NHTSA complaints, 15 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994DODGERAM 2500 carries 210 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 15 crashes, 8 fires, 11 injuries, 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 1994 RAM 2500 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 24 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (10) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (8). 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 2500, 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.

210
Complaints
15
Crashes
8
Fires
11
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

210 filings

Crashes Reported

15 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP24
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL10
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS8
STEERING8
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL7
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION7
SUSPENSION:FRONT7
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS7
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES6
STRUCTURE5
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH5
STRUCTURE:BODY5
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH4
AIR BAGS4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT4

Recent Complaints

20210817STRUCTURE:BODY

Dash panel is completely broken in 20 to 30 pieces including part that holds Vin plate. I the event of a accident these pieces could be shrapnel that can cause death or serious injury to passengers.

20201214ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT WITH $105 WORTH OF GROCERIES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY HEADLIGHTS JUST QUIT WORKING AND IT WAS PRETTY DARK COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING SO I HAD TO PULL OVER AND STOP AND WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO COME PICK ME AND ALL MY GROCERIES UP BECAUSE I COULDN'T DRIVE HOME WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS

Mileage: 88,956

20201214EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT WITH $105 WORTH OF GROCERIES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY HEADLIGHTS JUST QUIT WORKING AND IT WAS PRETTY DARK COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING SO I HAD TO PULL OVER AND STOP AND WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO COME PICK ME AND ALL MY GROCERIES UP BECAUSE I COULDN'T DRIVE HOME WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS

Mileage: 88,956

20180926EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I WAS DRIVING DOWN AN OLD COUNTRY ROAD AROUND 8:30 PM ON MY WAY HOME FROM A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT. MY WIFE WAS IN FRONT OF ME AND I WAS LUCKILY FOLLOWING HER HOME INSTEAD OF VICE VERSA. MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO ON AND OFF WITH NO CONSISTENT TIME ON OR OFF. IT WAS VERY RADICAL AND UNPREDICTABLE. I WAS ABLE TO USE MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND ABLE TO SEE ENOUGH WITH THEM TO STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY. YOU KNOW HOW COUNTRY ROADS ARE ....NARROW AND LARGE DITCHES ON EITHER SIDE. THANK YOU GOD!

Mileage: 200,000

20150729STEERING

VEHICLE INSPECTION INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE STEERING ROD WAS COMING OUT OF THE GEAR BOX. STEERING BOX WAS REPLACED. TEST DRIVE OF VEHICLE WAS A DISASTER. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING ABOVE 10 MPH AND ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE. YOU WERE ALL OVER THE ROAD. THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED TWO MORE TIMES WITH LITTLE CHANGE. OLD GEAR BOX REINSTALLED AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN HOME. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC THAT WORKED FOR A CLOSED DEALERSHIP. GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED TWO OR THREE MORE TIMES. ALL ASSOCIATED STEERING COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED AT LEAST ONE TIME. PROBLEM STILL EXIST. VEHICLE IS USED SPARELY BECAUSE OF STEERING PROBLEM. IT IS ONLY DRIVEN ABOUT 4 MILES EVERY WEEK OR TWO TO KEEP THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FROM GOING BAD. STEERING GEAR BOX IS A TOTAL ENGINEERING DISASTER. NO ONE YET HAS FOUND A CLEAR SOLUTION TO RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT ANYWHERE FOR THIS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND. CHRYSLER QUIT MAKING THIS GEAR BOX YEARS A

Mileage: 81,876

20150219STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

20150120AIR BAGS

I EXITED A DEPARTMENT STORE;GOT INTO MY VEHICLE,PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION ,AND WHEN I TURNED THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION MY DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED.I RECEIVED NUMEROUS ABRASIONS TO MY CHIN AND NECK,BROKEN NOSE,BLACK EYE,AND A HEAD CONCUSSION. *TR

Mileage: 127,627

20141113STEERING

EXPERIENCED AN EXTREME LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO A WOBBLE/VIBRATION THAT WOULD ONLY STOP WHEN YOU SLOWED TO A SPEED UNDER 25 MPH. THE DEATH WOBBLE WOULD GO AWAY BUT A SLIGHT VIBRATION ASSOCIATED WITH A LOOSE FEELING IN THE STEERING IS NOW CONSTANT. #94V202000, 94V097000, 93V173000, AND 01V037000 ALL NEED REPLACING. THE LAST RECALL MENTIONED HERE IS THE SPEED CONTROL THROTTLE CABLE, AND SO FAR IT HAS NOT BEEN A PROBLEM. THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS DUE TO ITS FAILURE URGES ME TO REPLACE THIS PART.

Mileage: 100,000

20141113SUSPENSION

EXPERIENCED AN EXTREME LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO A WOBBLE/VIBRATION THAT WOULD ONLY STOP WHEN YOU SLOWED TO A SPEED UNDER 25 MPH. THE DEATH WOBBLE WOULD GO AWAY BUT A SLIGHT VIBRATION ASSOCIATED WITH A LOOSE FEELING IN THE STEERING IS NOW CONSTANT. #94V202000, 94V097000, 93V173000, AND 01V037000 ALL NEED REPLACING. THE LAST RECALL MENTIONED HERE IS THE SPEED CONTROL THROTTLE CABLE, AND SO FAR IT HAS NOT BEEN A PROBLEM. THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS DUE TO ITS FAILURE URGES ME TO REPLACE THIS PART.

Mileage: 100,000

20141113VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

EXPERIENCED AN EXTREME LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO A WOBBLE/VIBRATION THAT WOULD ONLY STOP WHEN YOU SLOWED TO A SPEED UNDER 25 MPH. THE DEATH WOBBLE WOULD GO AWAY BUT A SLIGHT VIBRATION ASSOCIATED WITH A LOOSE FEELING IN THE STEERING IS NOW CONSTANT. #94V202000, 94V097000, 93V173000, AND 01V037000 ALL NEED REPLACING. THE LAST RECALL MENTIONED HERE IS THE SPEED CONTROL THROTTLE CABLE, AND SO FAR IT HAS NOT BEEN A PROBLEM. THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS DUE TO ITS FAILURE URGES ME TO REPLACE THIS PART.

Mileage: 100,000

20141112STEERING

THE FRONT LEFT TIRE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH A SMALL BUMP WHILE SLIGHTLY TURNING LEFT. IT VIOLENTLY STARTED WOBBLING MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, AND WILL ONLY STOP WHEN YOUR SPEED REACHES UNDER 25 MPH. THE DEATH WOBBLE WAS VERY UNPREDICTABLE WHEN IT FIRST STARTED HAPPENING, BUT NOW IT IS CONSTANTLY THREATENING. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO AUTO NATION DODGE RAM ON ARAPAHOE RD IN COLORADO BACK IN MAY OF 2014. I ASKED THEM TO FIX ALL RECALLS, AND DESCRIBED TO THEM WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THE INVOICE I RECEIVED CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED JUST A FEW RECALLS THAT DID NOT FIX THE MAIN PROBLEM. WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP THE DEATH WOBBLE HAPPENED ONCE AGAIN, AND THE PARTS THAT WERE CLAIMED TO BE FIXED CLEARLY WAS INCORRECT. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

20141112SUSPENSION

THE FRONT LEFT TIRE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH A SMALL BUMP WHILE SLIGHTLY TURNING LEFT. IT VIOLENTLY STARTED WOBBLING MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, AND WILL ONLY STOP WHEN YOUR SPEED REACHES UNDER 25 MPH. THE DEATH WOBBLE WAS VERY UNPREDICTABLE WHEN IT FIRST STARTED HAPPENING, BUT NOW IT IS CONSTANTLY THREATENING. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO AUTO NATION DODGE RAM ON ARAPAHOE RD IN COLORADO BACK IN MAY OF 2014. I ASKED THEM TO FIX ALL RECALLS, AND DESCRIBED TO THEM WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THE INVOICE I RECEIVED CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED JUST A FEW RECALLS THAT DID NOT FIX THE MAIN PROBLEM. WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP THE DEATH WOBBLE HAPPENED ONCE AGAIN, AND THE PARTS THAT WERE CLAIMED TO BE FIXED CLEARLY WAS INCORRECT. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

20141112POWER TRAIN

THE FRONT LEFT TIRE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH A SMALL BUMP WHILE SLIGHTLY TURNING LEFT. IT VIOLENTLY STARTED WOBBLING MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, AND WILL ONLY STOP WHEN YOUR SPEED REACHES UNDER 25 MPH. THE DEATH WOBBLE WAS VERY UNPREDICTABLE WHEN IT FIRST STARTED HAPPENING, BUT NOW IT IS CONSTANTLY THREATENING. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO AUTO NATION DODGE RAM ON ARAPAHOE RD IN COLORADO BACK IN MAY OF 2014. I ASKED THEM TO FIX ALL RECALLS, AND DESCRIBED TO THEM WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THE INVOICE I RECEIVED CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED JUST A FEW RECALLS THAT DID NOT FIX THE MAIN PROBLEM. WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP THE DEATH WOBBLE HAPPENED ONCE AGAIN, AND THE PARTS THAT WERE CLAIMED TO BE FIXED CLEARLY WAS INCORRECT. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

20130301SERVICE BRAKES

WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK AND YOU GO TO BRAKE, THE TRUCK PULLS TO THE LEFT. WE HAVE OWN THIS VEHICLE FROM DAY 1. NEW CALIBERS WAS INSTALLED WHEN IT FIRST STARTED AND THAT HAS NOT FIXED THE ISSUE. WE HAVE LEARNT TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE, EVEN THOUGH IT COULD BE DANGEROUS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. IS THERE A PROBLEM. FOR AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR A WHILE ON SOME OF THESE TRUCKS. WHAT IS THE FIX. *TR

20121204STRUCTURE:BODY

TOP OF DASHBOARD IS CRACKED AND COMING TO PIECES. THE RATTLING IS DISTRACTING AND LOOSE FLYING SHARP PIECES WOULD BE A DANGER IN ANY MINOR ACCIDENT OR EVEN A BAD BUMP. THE DEALER COST OF $647 TO REPLACE IT IS RIDICULOUS, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT'S A FACTORY DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 309,000

20120301AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL. AFTER SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND WITHOUT ACCELERATING, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING A INJURY TO THE CONTACTS EYE. MOMENTS LATER THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 300,000. UPDATED 4/2/12 *CN UPDATED 05/02/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER REVERSING AND PUTTING THE TRUCK IN DRIVE THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND EXPLODED. THE INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHERE THE AIR BAG WAS IS A ROUND METAL PIECE THAT WAS UNDER THE AIR BAG AND A PART OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE PIECE WAS HOT RED AND UNTOUCHABLE. IT APPEARED THAT SOMETHING HAD MELTED AND TURNED BLACK. UPDATED 05/12/2012 *JS

Mileage: 300,000

20110210STEERING

VIOLENT SHAKING IN THE FRONT END/ STEERING, AFTER DRIVING OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE AT SPEEDS OVER 40MPH.

Mileage: 137,000

20110124POWER TRAIN

THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT FAILED CAUSING THE DRIVE-SHAFT COUNTER BALLANCE TO MOVE APPROX. 4" TO THE LEFT. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVE-SHAFT COUNTER BALLANCE TO WEAR A HOLE ABOUT 3' LONG AND 1' WIDE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE RESULT WAS LOST FUEL SPRAYING UNDER TRUCK, COATING REAR TIRES AND BRAKES. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE OR POSSIBLE EXPLOSION. *TR

Mileage: 350,000

20101230STRUCTURE

CABLE THAT HOLDS FULL SIZE SPARE TIRE RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE IN WHICH MY SPARE TIRE WENT FLYING THROUGH TRAFFIC. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS KILLED. VEHICLE IS A 1994 DODGE RAM 2500 PICK-UP TRUCK. I FEEL CABLES SHOULD NOT BE USED TO SECURE SPARE TIRES UNDER A VEHICLE. VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIVE IN AN AREA THAT SALTS THE ROADS EVERY WINTER. *TR

20101230TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

CABLE THAT HOLDS FULL SIZE SPARE TIRE RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE IN WHICH MY SPARE TIRE WENT FLYING THROUGH TRAFFIC. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS KILLED. VEHICLE IS A 1994 DODGE RAM 2500 PICK-UP TRUCK. I FEEL CABLES SHOULD NOT BE USED TO SECURE SPARE TIRES UNDER A VEHICLE. VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIVE IN AN AREA THAT SALTS THE ROADS EVERY WINTER. *TR

Compare 1994DODGERAM 2500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 DODGE RAM 2500 have?
The 1994 DODGE RAM 2500 has 210 NHTSA complaints, 15 crashes, 8 fires, 11 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 DODGE RAM 2500?
The most-complained component for the 1994 DODGE RAM 2500 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 24 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS.
Is the 1994 DODGE RAM 2500 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.