Total Complaints
26 filings
DODGE RAM 3500 · model year
1993 DODGE RAM 3500
26 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1993DODGERAM 3500 carries 26 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 1993 RAM 3500 is exterior lighting:headlights:switch with 5 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (3) and suspension:front (3). 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 1993 RAM 3500, 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.
26
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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 |
|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 3 |
| STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | 2 |
| WHEELS | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM | 1 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030717ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURE. THE KEY WILL TURN IN THE IGNITION, BUT WOULDN'T ENGAGE. PER DEALERSHIP IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE IT HAD BURNED OUT. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALERSHIP HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX THE VEHICLE. *AK *CB *JB
Mileage: 50,010
19990830EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
HEAD LIGHT SWITCH HAD TURNED RED HOT & MELTED CENTER CONNECTOR. WAS REPLACED AT LEAST 5 OTHER TIMES. THE LAST TIME SWITCH REPLACED, HAD TO BY PASS THE MIDDLE PRONG. TAKING BACK TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED & REPAIRED AGAIN. *AK
19990406WHEELS
DEFECTIVE WHEELS CAUSE VEHICLE TO RIDE ROUGH, TIRES HAVE BEEN BALANCED SEVERAL TIMES AND REPLACED, PROBLEM CONTINUES.
19990201SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
BRAKE DRUMS/SHOES FAILED.
19980429ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WIRING HARNESS TO THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH IS INADEQUATE CASING THE SWITCH TO GET TOO HOT AND SHORT OUT RESULTING IN LIGHT FAILURES.
19980302SEATS
PASSENGER BUCKET SEAT FRAME BREAKS AT THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE SEAT TO THE FLOOR (ANCHOR), SEVERAL TIMES.
19971204EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
HEAD LIGHT SWITCH FAILED.
19971204ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WIRING HARNESS FAILED.
19971128STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE WORKING ON VEHICLE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME AND STEERING BRACKET CRACKED. *AK
19971128STEERING
WHILE WORKING ON VEHICLE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME AND STEERING BRACKET CRACKED. *AK
19970527WHEELS
PROBLEM WITH WHEELS CAUSE VIBRATION AT CERTAIN SPEEDS.
19961119EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAS BURNT OUT AS A RESULT OF THE CONNECTION TO THE TRAILER LIGHTS. *AK
19960517STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL THERE IS LOT OF PLAY, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK
19960412STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
STEERING GEAR BOX IS LEAKING STEERING FLUID, DEALER WILL REPLACE GEAR BOX. *AK
19951031STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
STEERING GEAR BOX BROKE AWAY FROM THE FRAME, WHILE DRIVING, REPLACE STEERING BOX AND NEW BRACKET. TT *JB
19950809SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED, RESULTING IN LONG STOPPING DISTANCE. TT
19950729EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
THE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED AT 23,000 MILES IT FAILED AT 6,000 MILE LATER ONLY HAVE THE HEAD LIGHT BEAM . TT
19950725EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
RADIO AND SPEAKER DON'T WORK . TT
19950725SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BOTH FRONT ROTORS WERE OUT OF ROUND. *AK
19950725SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM
REAR DRUM OUT OF ROUND. *AK
Compare 1993DODGERAM 3500 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1993 DODGE RAM 3500 have?▼
The 1993 DODGE RAM 3500 has 26 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 DODGE RAM 3500?▼
The most-complained component for the 1993 DODGE RAM 3500 is EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and SUSPENSION:FRONT.
Is the 1993 DODGE RAM 3500 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.