Total Complaints
102 filings
DODGE RAM 3500 · model year
102 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994DODGERAM 3500 carries 102 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 9 fires, 6 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 3500 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 5 filings, followed by electrical system (5) and suspension (4). 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 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.
Total Complaints
102 filings
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 5 |
| SUSPENSION | 4 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 4 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES | 3 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 3 |
IN A HARD RAIN OR EVEN WASHING UP UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK THE 4WD SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON AND IT WILL SAY IT'S TRYING TO TRANSFER OVER TO 4WD AND WHEN IT TRIED WITH ME I WAS RUNNING AROUND 55 MPH! IT JERKS THE [XXX] OUT OF THE TRUCK WITH A LOUD HAMMER NOISE! IT WILL CAUSE A PERSON TO WRECK IF YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING IT ! IT WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 2019 AND STARTED THE 4WD CRAP AT 4,500 MILES NOT TO MENTION THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER DOESN'T WORK EITHER NOW, FOUND THAT OUT THE HARD WAY WITH 22 ROLLS OF HAY AND NO IT'S NOT THE TRAILER MY FORD TRUCK HAS TRAILER BRAKES, SAME TRAILER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Mileage: 4,500
IN A HARD RAIN OR EVEN WASHING UP UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK THE 4WD SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON AND IT WILL SAY IT'S TRYING TO TRANSFER OVER TO 4WD AND WHEN IT TRIED WITH ME I WAS RUNNING AROUND 55 MPH! IT JERKS THE [XXX] OUT OF THE TRUCK WITH A LOUD HAMMER NOISE! IT WILL CAUSE A PERSON TO WRECK IF YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING IT ! IT WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 2019 AND STARTED THE 4WD CRAP AT 4,500 MILES NOT TO MENTION THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER DOESN'T WORK EITHER NOW, FOUND THAT OUT THE HARD WAY WITH 22 ROLLS OF HAY AND NO IT'S NOT THE TRAILER MY FORD TRUCK HAS TRAILER BRAKES, SAME TRAILER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Mileage: 4,500
IN A HARD RAIN OR EVEN WASHING UP UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK THE 4WD SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON AND IT WILL SAY IT'S TRYING TO TRANSFER OVER TO 4WD AND WHEN IT TRIED WITH ME I WAS RUNNING AROUND 55 MPH! IT JERKS THE [XXX] OUT OF THE TRUCK WITH A LOUD HAMMER NOISE! IT WILL CAUSE A PERSON TO WRECK IF YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING IT ! IT WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 2019 AND STARTED THE 4WD CRAP AT 4,500 MILES NOT TO MENTION THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER DOESN'T WORK EITHER NOW, FOUND THAT OUT THE HARD WAY WITH 22 ROLLS OF HAY AND NO IT'S NOT THE TRAILER MY FORD TRUCK HAS TRAILER BRAKES, SAME TRAILER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Mileage: 4,500
2 OUT OF THE 3 MAIN TRANSPIRATION AND DELIVERY SERVICE VEHICLES THAT I PERSONALLY USED TO GET TO THE JOB SITE AND TO DELIVER HEAVY METAL STRUCTURES ARE IN VERY BAD SHAPE, PARTICULARLY DODGE RUM 1994 PLATE NUMBER (74R 300). THE MAIN PROBLEMS ON THIS TRUCK ARE THE BAD BRAKES, ESPECIALLY WHEN CARRYING HEAVY METAL MATERIALS. ABS LIGHT ON, NO HORN, BROKEN SPEEDOMETER, AIR BAG LIGHT ON, BROKEN TURNING SIGNALS, SPECKS OF RED PAINT ON THE WINDSHIELD, WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID NOT WORKING, NO A/C, TURNING SIGNALS NOT ALL WORKING, WEAR OUT TIRES, ETC. EVEN THOUGH I POINT OUT TO THEM THAT THE BREAKS WERE NOT GOOD, THEY STILL NEVER PAID ANY ATTENTION TO WHAT I SAID. THEY PROBABLY DID NOT PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO ME BECAUSE THEY NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY VEHICLE RELATED ACCIDENTS. BUT KNOWING THAT THEY AREA ALWAYS CARING HEAVY METALS, THEY SHOULD BE A LITTLE MORE CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR WORKERS IN GENERAL BUT CLEARLY THEY DO NOT CARE A BIT AND THAT REALLY BOTHERED ME VERY MUCH. IN THIS EMAIL, I AM
2 OUT OF THE 3 MAIN TRANSPIRATION AND DELIVERY SERVICE VEHICLES THAT I PERSONALLY USED TO GET TO THE JOB SITE AND TO DELIVER HEAVY METAL STRUCTURES ARE IN VERY BAD SHAPE, PARTICULARLY DODGE RUM 1994 PLATE NUMBER (74R 300). THE MAIN PROBLEMS ON THIS TRUCK ARE THE BAD BRAKES, ESPECIALLY WHEN CARRYING HEAVY METAL MATERIALS. ABS LIGHT ON, NO HORN, BROKEN SPEEDOMETER, AIR BAG LIGHT ON, BROKEN TURNING SIGNALS, SPECKS OF RED PAINT ON THE WINDSHIELD, WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID NOT WORKING, NO A/C, TURNING SIGNALS NOT ALL WORKING, WEAR OUT TIRES, ETC. EVEN THOUGH I POINT OUT TO THEM THAT THE BREAKS WERE NOT GOOD, THEY STILL NEVER PAID ANY ATTENTION TO WHAT I SAID. THEY PROBABLY DID NOT PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO ME BECAUSE THEY NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY VEHICLE RELATED ACCIDENTS. BUT KNOWING THAT THEY AREA ALWAYS CARING HEAVY METALS, THEY SHOULD BE A LITTLE MORE CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR WORKERS IN GENERAL BUT CLEARLY THEY DO NOT CARE A BIT AND THAT REALLY BOTHERED ME VERY MUCH. IN THIS EMAIL, I AM
2 OUT OF THE 3 MAIN TRANSPIRATION AND DELIVERY SERVICE VEHICLES THAT I PERSONALLY USED TO GET TO THE JOB SITE AND TO DELIVER HEAVY METAL STRUCTURES ARE IN VERY BAD SHAPE, PARTICULARLY DODGE RUM 1994 PLATE NUMBER (74R 300). THE MAIN PROBLEMS ON THIS TRUCK ARE THE BAD BRAKES, ESPECIALLY WHEN CARRYING HEAVY METAL MATERIALS. ABS LIGHT ON, NO HORN, BROKEN SPEEDOMETER, AIR BAG LIGHT ON, BROKEN TURNING SIGNALS, SPECKS OF RED PAINT ON THE WINDSHIELD, WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID NOT WORKING, NO A/C, TURNING SIGNALS NOT ALL WORKING, WEAR OUT TIRES, ETC. EVEN THOUGH I POINT OUT TO THEM THAT THE BREAKS WERE NOT GOOD, THEY STILL NEVER PAID ANY ATTENTION TO WHAT I SAID. THEY PROBABLY DID NOT PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO ME BECAUSE THEY NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY VEHICLE RELATED ACCIDENTS. BUT KNOWING THAT THEY AREA ALWAYS CARING HEAVY METALS, THEY SHOULD BE A LITTLE MORE CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR WORKERS IN GENERAL BUT CLEARLY THEY DO NOT CARE A BIT AND THAT REALLY BOTHERED ME VERY MUCH. IN THIS EMAIL, I AM
TL-CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCK.... INQUIRED ABOUT GENERAL RECALLS... CONTACT HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DODGE DEALERSHIP AFTER CATCHING FIRE DUE TO RECALL... DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING... DEALERSHIP HAD INVESTIGATIONS TEAM COME OUT TO INSPECT TRUCK AFTER FIRE... TRUCK HAD BEEN REPAIRED AFTER FIRE... DEALERSHIPHAS DEAD ENGINE CABLE ... THROTTLE OF TRUCK IS FAILING... DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO FIX RECALL DUE TO TRUCK BEING REPAIRED AFTER FIRE.... DEALERSHIP STATED INSPECTION NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE THROTTLE CAN BE FIXED.... CONTACT WAS GIVEN NUMBER TO FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AT 202-366-2222 MAY 10,2000 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER875 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER00V-135 RECALL STATUSRECALL INCOMPLETE SUMMARYTHE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN IGNITION SWITCH AND WIRING THAT COULD OVERHEAT. 853-1403. PLEASE HAVE YOUR VIN READY WHEN CALLING.NHTSA. YOU CAN PROVE THE REPAIRS WERE MADE.) HOWEVER, IF THE COURT ULTIMATELY RULES THE DEFECT IS NOT SAFETY-RELATED,
TL-CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCK.... INQUIRED ABOUT GENERAL RECALLS... CONTACT HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DODGE DEALERSHIP AFTER CATCHING FIRE DUE TO RECALL... DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING... DEALERSHIP HAD INVESTIGATIONS TEAM COME OUT TO INSPECT TRUCK AFTER FIRE... TRUCK HAD BEEN REPAIRED AFTER FIRE... DEALERSHIPHAS DEAD ENGINE CABLE ... THROTTLE OF TRUCK IS FAILING... DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO FIX RECALL DUE TO TRUCK BEING REPAIRED AFTER FIRE.... DEALERSHIP STATED INSPECTION NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE THROTTLE CAN BE FIXED.... CONTACT WAS GIVEN NUMBER TO FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AT 202-366-2222 MAY 10,2000 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER875 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER00V-135 RECALL STATUSRECALL INCOMPLETE SUMMARYTHE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN IGNITION SWITCH AND WIRING THAT COULD OVERHEAT. 853-1403. PLEASE HAVE YOUR VIN READY WHEN CALLING.NHTSA. YOU CAN PROVE THE REPAIRS WERE MADE.) HOWEVER, IF THE COURT ULTIMATELY RULES THE DEFECT IS NOT SAFETY-RELATED,
PULLING INTO TRAFFIC VEHICLE SUDDENLY HAS NO POWER AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE NEARLY CAUSED A ACCIDENT. THROTTLE BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DODGE DEALER. DODGE SAYS THIS IS DUE TO A THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WHICH HAS BEEN ON BACK-ORDER SINCE MAY. WE RECEIVE A E-MAIL FROM DODGE CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVE APPROXIMATELY EVERY 2 WEEKS SAYING THANKS FOR YOU PATIENCE BUT THERE STILL IS NO DELIVERY DATE FOR THIS PART. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE MAY BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I FEEL THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE TO EXPECT A VEHICLE TO BE PARKED FOR 4 MONTHS WITH NO SOLUTION FROM DEALER FOR A REPAIR PART.
Mileage: 200,000
TLA* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT RETRACTED, BUT FAILED TO STOP WHEN PULLED FORCEFULLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THREE POINT SEAT BELT SYSTEM IN THE FLOORBOARD WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NO LONGER PRODUCED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 7/16/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LOCK AND THE TENSION SPRING HAD BECOME VERY WEAK. . UPDATED 07/28/15
Mileage: 120,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR AND WIRING HARNESS MELTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V135000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,639. UPDATED 6/18/15*CN UPDATED 10/05/2017*CN
Mileage: 148,639
TL* THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE TRANSFER CASE FAILED . THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD TO APPLY THE BREAKS AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM SHAKING . THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED MANY TIMES.. UPDATED 05/12/2014*LJ
Mileage: 60,000
TL* THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE TRANSFER CASE FAILED . THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD TO APPLY THE BREAKS AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM SHAKING . THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED MANY TIMES.. UPDATED 05/12/2014*LJ
Mileage: 60,000
TL* THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE TRANSFER CASE FAILED . THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD TO APPLY THE BREAKS AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM SHAKING . THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED MANY TIMES.. UPDATED 05/12/2014*LJ
Mileage: 60,000
BRAKE LINE RUSTED INTO BETWEEN FUEL TANK AND FRAME. *TR
Mileage: 86,879
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED AND FALLEN APART. HE STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD IS NO LONGER A COSMETIC ISSUE, BUT A SAFETY ISSUE. WHILE DRIVING, THE DASHBOARD FELL DOWN IN THE AREA WHERE THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE LOCATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PLASTIC PIECES OF THE DASHBOARD HAVE FALLEN OUT. THE HANDS ON THE DASHBOARD THAT INDICATE THE VEHICLE SPEED ARE LOOSE. THE # OF CYLINDERS IS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 200,014.
Mileage: 200,014
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP, WHICH STARTED A VIOLENT SHAKING OR "DEATH WOBBLE" IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER REINFORCED THE SHOCK TOWER, AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRACK BAR WAS LOOSE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 94V097000 WHICH PERTAINS TO THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
Mileage: 95,000
DT: CONSUMER'S VAN HEATS UP EVERY NOW AND THEN. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR, INSIDE AND OUT. THE CONSUMER HAD FIRES AS WELL, HAD TO PUT THEM OUT WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND HE CHANGED THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER, AND THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN.*AK UPDATED 11/29/05. *JB
FAILURE OF TRAILER HITCH ON THE BACK OF THE 1994 DODGE PICKUP TRUCK.*MR THE TRUCK HITCH EXTENDED TOO FAR OUT FROM THE MOUNTS, PUTTING UNDUE LEVERAGE AND STRESS ON THE METAL WHICH RESULTED IN IT FAILING. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR MODEL YEAR 1998-2000 BUT NOT FOR EARLIER MODEL YEARS. THE CONSUMER HAD THE HITCHES REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *NM
WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH VEHICLE RAN OVER A SMALL BUMP. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE SEVERELY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE STABILIZE BAR BRACKET WAS RIPPED FROM THE FRAME. *AK
Mileage: 173,000
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.