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1994 Dodge RAM 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1994 Dodge RAM 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 520.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 28 of 116 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports7 fire reports11 injury reports

Tires complaints

5 reports
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97,350 miles · Jan 21, 2015
Equipment Adaptive/mobilityTiresWheels

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AT ABOUT 50-55 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE REAR OF THE TRUCK IS VIOLENTLY PROPELLED UPWARDS, LIFTING THE REAR WHEELS UP OFF THE PAVEMENT. I LOOK UP IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF WHAT JUST HAPPENED AND I SEE MY SPARE TIRE STANDING STRAIGHT UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND OTHER VEHICLES BRAKING AN…

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I WAS DRIVING ALONG AT ABOUT 50-55 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE REAR OF THE TRUCK IS VIOLENTLY PROPELLED UPWARDS, LIFTING THE REAR WHEELS UP OFF THE PAVEMENT. I LOOK UP IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF WHAT JUST HAPPENED AND I SEE MY SPARE TIRE STANDING STRAIGHT UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND OTHER VEHICLES BRAKING AND WEAVING TO AVOID THE DUMP MY TRUCK JUST TOOK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. ONCE I LOOKED UNDER THE BED OF THE TRUCK I NOTICED A 4 TO 5 INCH PIECE OF FRAYED CABLE IS ALL THAT'S LEFT WHERE MY SPARE TIRE USED TO BE. IT MUST HAVE GOTTEN HUNG UP UNDER THE BUMPER WHEN IT DROPPED BECAUSE THE BUMPER IS NOW PUSHED UP TOWARDS THE TAILGATE IN THE CENTER. MY SPARE WAS A BRAND NEW TIRE AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10676872

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2013
Tires

WHILE PARKED, A MICHELIN 245/75-16 LT M/S SPONTANEOUSLY FAILED. I HAVE IMAGES OF THE FAILURE FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES, AND HAVE RETAINED THE TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547729

Mileage unknown · May 14, 2008
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE RAM 1500. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER COBRA RADIAL G/T TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 67 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TREAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE FAILURE DAMAGED THE REAR WHEEL WELL. THE TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE AND NO CRASH OCCURRED. THE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VIN…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE RAM 1500. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER COBRA RADIAL G/T TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 67 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TREAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE FAILURE DAMAGED THE REAR WHEEL WELL. THE TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE AND NO CRASH OCCURRED. THE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10227747

190,560 miles · Apr 18, 2005
Latches/locks/linkagesTires

I OWN AND DRIVE A 1994 DODGE RAM 1500. ON 4/13/05 I WAS DRIVING ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY WHEN THE SMALL CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE UNDER THE TRUCK BED IN PLACE SNAPPED. THE TIRE EXITED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND ENTERED TRAFFIC. MIRACULOUSLY, FELLOW MOTORIST TOOK EVASIVE MANEUVERS AND MISSED THIS TIRE AND WHEEL BOUNCING …

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I OWN AND DRIVE A 1994 DODGE RAM 1500. ON 4/13/05 I WAS DRIVING ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY WHEN THE SMALL CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE UNDER THE TRUCK BED IN PLACE SNAPPED. THE TIRE EXITED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND ENTERED TRAFFIC. MIRACULOUSLY, FELLOW MOTORIST TOOK EVASIVE MANEUVERS AND MISSED THIS TIRE AND WHEEL BOUNCING ALL OVER FOUR LANES OF ACTIVE TRAFFIC. I SPENT AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME UNTIL I LOCATED THE FAILED PART FROM MY TRUCK. I WAS VERY DISMAYED WHEN I DISCOVERED THIS TINY CABLE WAS ALL THAT RETAINED THE SPARE TIRE UNDER THE TRUCK. UPON INSPECTING EQUAL MODEL TRUCKS AT CAR LOTS I FOUND THAT THERE WERE NO SAFETY DEVICES TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING IN THE EVENT OF CABLE FAILURE. THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT SHOWED NO SIGNS OF CORROSION, FRAY OR ANY RUBBING OF THE CABLE. IT SIMPLY BROKE CLEAN. I MERE SECOND EITHER WAY COULD HAVE BEEN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ACTUAL EVENT OR IT BEING FATAL. I AM A SWORN PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIAL, AND IT HORRIFIED MY THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN. ALSO, I AM VERY UPSET AT THE LIABILITY THAT THIS COULD HAVE PUT ME IN. I HAVE NOT HAD THE TRUCK REPAIRED NOR WILL I HAVE THE TRUCK REPAIRED WITH THE ONGOING FEAR IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. I WROTE CHRYSLER ABOUT IT ONLY TO BE INSULATED AND APALLED AT THEIR RESPONCE. I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. I INTEND TO PURSUE IT TO THE END. ANY ADVICE, INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE PUBLIC SAFETY DIVISION ANDERSON, SOUTH CAROLINA 864-617-0889

NHTSA ODI #10118065

88,500 miles · Jul 18, 2003
Tires

TREAD SEPARATION OF SENTRY LT TIRE, SIZE LT 265/75 R16 AT LOW SPEED CAUSING DAMAGE TO FENDER WELL OF BED OF PICKUP. A PRIOR FAILURE IN ANOTHER OF THESE TIRES WAS SIDEWALL SEPARATION CAUSING SEVERE UNBALANCE. I HAVE TWO OTHER TIRES WHICH HAVEN'T FAILED BUT HAVE BEEN REMOVED. THE SELLER OF THESE TIRES WAS WESTERN AUTO STORES (A SE…

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TREAD SEPARATION OF SENTRY LT TIRE, SIZE LT 265/75 R16 AT LOW SPEED CAUSING DAMAGE TO FENDER WELL OF BED OF PICKUP. A PRIOR FAILURE IN ANOTHER OF THESE TIRES WAS SIDEWALL SEPARATION CAUSING SEVERE UNBALANCE. I HAVE TWO OTHER TIRES WHICH HAVEN'T FAILED BUT HAVE BEEN REMOVED. THE SELLER OF THESE TIRES WAS WESTERN AUTO STORES (A SEARS SUBSIDIARY). THERE IS ADEQUATE TREAD LEFT ON THE TIRES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10028573

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

4

DP03006 · Seat Back Failure

Opened Sep 23, 2003 · Closed Apr 8, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats; Seats:front Assembly:recliner

ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 30 INCIDENTS WHERE IT IS ALLEGED THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED IN A REAR IMPACT CRASH.THESE INCIDENTS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO 23 INJURIES AND TWO DEATHS.THE DATA PRESENTED TO ODI SHOW THAT THE SEAT BACK STRENGTH OF THE FRONT SEATS COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207. SEATING SYSTEM.ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYLSER THE FRONT SEATS WERE DESIGNED TO COLLAPSE REARWARD IN REAR IMPACT CRASHES AS PART OF THE ENERGY ABSORPTIONCAPABILITIES OF THE SEATING SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.RATES OF OCCURANCE WERE COMPARED TO PEER VEHICLES, AND IT WAS SHOWN THAT THE PERFORMACE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS COMPARABLE TO THOSE VEHICLES.IN VIEW OF THE FORGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION REMEDY OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS DEFINED BY THE PETITIONER AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THERFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE THE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR FURTHER DETAILS, REFER TO ODI'S RESPONSE TO THE PETITION PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER VOL.69, NO. 60 , DATED MARCH 29, 2004.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seats

ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 30 INCIDENTS WHERE IT IS ALLEGED THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED IN A REAR IMPACT CRASH.THESE INCIDENTS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO 23 INJURIES AND TWO DEATHS.THE DATA PRESENTED TO ODI SHOW THAT THE SEAT BACK STRENGTH OF THE FRONT SEATS COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207. SEATING SYSTEM.ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYLSER THE FRONT SEATS WERE DESIGNED TO COLLAPSE REARWARD IN REAR IMPACT CRASHES AS PART OF THE ENERGY ABSORPTIONCAPABILITIES OF THE SEATING SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.RATES OF OCCURANCE WERE COMPARED TO PEER VEHICLES, AND IT WAS SHOWN THAT THE PERFORMACE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS COMPARABLE TO THOSE VEHICLES.IN VIEW OF THE FORGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION REMEDY OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS DEFINED BY THE PETITIONER AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THERFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE THE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR FURTHER DETAILS, REFER TO ODI'S RESPONSE TO THE PETITION PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER VOL.69, NO. 60 , DATED MARCH 29, 2004.

Seats:front Assembly:recliner

ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 30 INCIDENTS WHERE IT IS ALLEGED THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED IN A REAR IMPACT CRASH.THESE INCIDENTS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO 23 INJURIES AND TWO DEATHS.THE DATA PRESENTED TO ODI SHOW THAT THE SEAT BACK STRENGTH OF THE FRONT SEATS COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207. SEATING SYSTEM.ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYLSER THE FRONT SEATS WERE DESIGNED TO COLLAPSE REARWARD IN REAR IMPACT CRASHES AS PART OF THE ENERGY ABSORPTIONCAPABILITIES OF THE SEATING SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.RATES OF OCCURANCE WERE COMPARED TO PEER VEHICLES, AND IT WAS SHOWN THAT THE PERFORMACE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS COMPARABLE TO THOSE VEHICLES.IN VIEW OF THE FORGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION REMEDY OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS DEFINED BY THE PETITIONER AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THERFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE THE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR FURTHER DETAILS, REFER TO ODI'S RESPONSE TO THE PETITION PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER VOL.69, NO. 60 , DATED MARCH 29, 2004.

DP03002 · Steering Column Separation

Opened May 7, 2003 · Closed Jul 22, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:column

MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR DETAILS, SEE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE VOLUME 68, NO. 130, JULY 8, 2003.

EA98010 · Headlight Circuit

Opened May 8, 1998 · Closed Dec 10, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

THE HEADLAMP SWITCH IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CAN OVER-HEAT AND FAIL RESULTING IN LOSS OF HEAD LAMPS AND POSSIBLY OTHER LIGHTS.DAIMLERCHRYSLER CONDUCTED A SERIES OF TESTS AND DETERMINED THAT THE 3500 SERIES IS PRONE TO GENERATING HEAD LAMP SWITCH TEMPERATURES IN EXCESS OF THE SWITCH LUBRICANT THRESHOLD OF 100 DEGREES CENTIGRADE.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE LUBRICANT SOLIDIFIES AND ADHERES TO THE SWITCH CONTACH SURFACES INCREASING INTERNAL RESISTANCE AND THERFORE, TEMPERATURE.DAIMLERCHRYSLER INFORMED THE NHTSA THAT IT WOULD INITIATE A RECALL OF 79,3665 MODEL YEAR 1994-1997 DODGE 3500 SERIES RAM TRUCKS ONLY BASED ON ADDITIONAL TESTING FROM WHICH IT DETERMINED THAT THE 1500/2500 SERIES VEHICLES NOMINALLY OPERATE SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW THE TEMPERATURE THRESHOLD OF THE SWITCH LUBRICANT.OWNERS OF 1500/2500 SERIES TRUCKS WERE SENT A NOTIFICATION LETTER ADVISING OF THE PROPER METHODS FOR ADDING AFTERMARKET LIGHTING ACCESSORIES.

PE96022 · Alleged Failure Of Steering Pitman Shaft

Opened Mar 22, 1996 · Closed Jul 31, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:gear Box:shaft Pitman

STEERING BOX OUTPUT (PITMAN) SHAFT BREAKAGE RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL.