DODGE RAM VAN · model year

1994 DODGE RAM VAN

9 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994DODGERAM VAN carries 9 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 1994 RAM VAN is unknown or other with 2 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys (1) and latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch (1). 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 VAN, 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.

9
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

9 filings

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

ComponentCount
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH1
TIRES1
STEERING1
STRUCTURE1
SUSPENSION1
POWER TRAIN1

Recent Complaints

20060309UNKNOWN OR OTHER

A DODGE RAM VAN, 1994, THE PAINT KEEPS PEELING OFF THE HOOD AND RUSTING. THE PAINT COMES OFF IN CHUNKS WHEN WASHING. *JB

20040422STRUCTURE

I HAD PROBLEMS FROM DAY 1. BATTERY WENT DEAD THE VERY NEXT MORNING AFTER I BROUGHT THE VAN HOME. I KEPT RECHARGING IT UNTILL IT FAILED COMPLETLY ON A TRIP TO FRORIDA. I FIGUIRED OUT THE BUILT IN VACUUM CLEANER HAD A SHORT. I TOOK IT OUT. THE FRONT TIRES SHOWED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON OUTER EDGES. I KEPT ROTATING THEM. I WENT TO A FRONT END SHOP FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, THEY TOLD ME THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE BAD AND BALL JOINTS WERE WORN, THEY SUGGESTED I GO TO A CHRYSLER DEALER SINCE IT WAS STILL UNDE WARRANTY. THEY DID NOTHING, TIGHTENING UP THE BEARINGS SO THE WHEELS WOULDNT WOBBLE AND SENT ME ON MY WAY, SAYING IT'S JUST NORMAL. TIRES ARE STILL WEARING OUT ON OUTER EDGES. PAINT STARTED PEELING ALONG ROOF EDGES AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS. WHEN I VERBALY COMPLAINED TO CHRYSLER, THEY SAID ACID RAIN IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT AUTO TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN MAKING CLUNKING NOISES WHEN I SHIFT FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL AND DRIVE. THAT IS ONLY SOME OF MY TALE OF WOE.

20040422UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAD PROBLEMS FROM DAY 1. BATTERY WENT DEAD THE VERY NEXT MORNING AFTER I BROUGHT THE VAN HOME. I KEPT RECHARGING IT UNTILL IT FAILED COMPLETLY ON A TRIP TO FRORIDA. I FIGUIRED OUT THE BUILT IN VACUUM CLEANER HAD A SHORT. I TOOK IT OUT. THE FRONT TIRES SHOWED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON OUTER EDGES. I KEPT ROTATING THEM. I WENT TO A FRONT END SHOP FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, THEY TOLD ME THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE BAD AND BALL JOINTS WERE WORN, THEY SUGGESTED I GO TO A CHRYSLER DEALER SINCE IT WAS STILL UNDE WARRANTY. THEY DID NOTHING, TIGHTENING UP THE BEARINGS SO THE WHEELS WOULDNT WOBBLE AND SENT ME ON MY WAY, SAYING IT'S JUST NORMAL. TIRES ARE STILL WEARING OUT ON OUTER EDGES. PAINT STARTED PEELING ALONG ROOF EDGES AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS. WHEN I VERBALY COMPLAINED TO CHRYSLER, THEY SAID ACID RAIN IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT AUTO TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN MAKING CLUNKING NOISES WHEN I SHIFT FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL AND DRIVE. THAT IS ONLY SOME OF MY TALE OF WOE.

20040422SUSPENSION

I HAD PROBLEMS FROM DAY 1. BATTERY WENT DEAD THE VERY NEXT MORNING AFTER I BROUGHT THE VAN HOME. I KEPT RECHARGING IT UNTILL IT FAILED COMPLETLY ON A TRIP TO FRORIDA. I FIGUIRED OUT THE BUILT IN VACUUM CLEANER HAD A SHORT. I TOOK IT OUT. THE FRONT TIRES SHOWED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON OUTER EDGES. I KEPT ROTATING THEM. I WENT TO A FRONT END SHOP FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, THEY TOLD ME THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE BAD AND BALL JOINTS WERE WORN, THEY SUGGESTED I GO TO A CHRYSLER DEALER SINCE IT WAS STILL UNDE WARRANTY. THEY DID NOTHING, TIGHTENING UP THE BEARINGS SO THE WHEELS WOULDNT WOBBLE AND SENT ME ON MY WAY, SAYING IT'S JUST NORMAL. TIRES ARE STILL WEARING OUT ON OUTER EDGES. PAINT STARTED PEELING ALONG ROOF EDGES AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS. WHEN I VERBALY COMPLAINED TO CHRYSLER, THEY SAID ACID RAIN IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT AUTO TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN MAKING CLUNKING NOISES WHEN I SHIFT FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL AND DRIVE. THAT IS ONLY SOME OF MY TALE OF WOE.

20040422POWER TRAIN

I HAD PROBLEMS FROM DAY 1. BATTERY WENT DEAD THE VERY NEXT MORNING AFTER I BROUGHT THE VAN HOME. I KEPT RECHARGING IT UNTILL IT FAILED COMPLETLY ON A TRIP TO FRORIDA. I FIGUIRED OUT THE BUILT IN VACUUM CLEANER HAD A SHORT. I TOOK IT OUT. THE FRONT TIRES SHOWED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON OUTER EDGES. I KEPT ROTATING THEM. I WENT TO A FRONT END SHOP FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, THEY TOLD ME THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE BAD AND BALL JOINTS WERE WORN, THEY SUGGESTED I GO TO A CHRYSLER DEALER SINCE IT WAS STILL UNDE WARRANTY. THEY DID NOTHING, TIGHTENING UP THE BEARINGS SO THE WHEELS WOULDNT WOBBLE AND SENT ME ON MY WAY, SAYING IT'S JUST NORMAL. TIRES ARE STILL WEARING OUT ON OUTER EDGES. PAINT STARTED PEELING ALONG ROOF EDGES AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS. WHEN I VERBALY COMPLAINED TO CHRYSLER, THEY SAID ACID RAIN IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT AUTO TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN MAKING CLUNKING NOISES WHEN I SHIFT FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL AND DRIVE. THAT IS ONLY SOME OF MY TALE OF WOE.

20021016STEERING

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING IS OVALED OUT. MR

20000922TIRES

DELAMINATION OF TREAD AND BELT FOR 1/2+ OF CIRCUMFERANCE CAUSED $850.00 VEHICLE DAMAGE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

20000229LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

THE METAL ON THE DOOR WHERE THE LATCH MECHANISM ATTACHES IS CRACKING. PROBLEM IS WORSE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. VAN WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *ML

19971113ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

THE SERPENTINE BELT WILL DISENGAGE FROM THE ENGINE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY. *AK WHILE FIRST STARTING VEHICLE AND PUTTING INTO REVERSE, LOUD NOISES CAME FROM THE SERPENTINE BELT AREA, DEALER REPLACED FAULTY SERPENTINE BELT. *SLC

Compare 1994DODGERAM VAN to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 DODGE RAM VAN have?
The 1994 DODGE RAM VAN has 9 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 DODGE RAM VAN?
The most-complained component for the 1994 DODGE RAM VAN is UNKNOWN OR OTHER with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS and LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH.
Is the 1994 DODGE RAM VAN 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.