IllustrationHEAD LAMP SWITCH AND HARNESS FRIED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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
What owners actually said
116 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 35 MPH, THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE FLEW BACK INTO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH AREA. THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED AND THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR BODY DAMAGE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE FAIL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 35 MPH, THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE FLEW BACK INTO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH AREA. THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED AND THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR BODY DAMAGE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 213,000.
MY 1994 DODGE RAM 1500 DASH HAS EXPLODED INTO 5 SEPARATE PIECES. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM FT GORDON GA LAST WEEK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DASH HEAVED UPWARD AND BURST THROWING PIECES OF PLASTIC EVERYWHERE. I ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD AS A RESULT. NOW THE ELECTRICAL MATERIALS UNDERNEATH THE DASH ARE EXPOSED TO THE SUN AND ELEMENTS. …
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MY 1994 DODGE RAM 1500 DASH HAS EXPLODED INTO 5 SEPARATE PIECES. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM FT GORDON GA LAST WEEK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DASH HEAVED UPWARD AND BURST THROWING PIECES OF PLASTIC EVERYWHERE. I ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD AS A RESULT. NOW THE ELECTRICAL MATERIALS UNDERNEATH THE DASH ARE EXPOSED TO THE SUN AND ELEMENTS. *TR
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.
THE DASHBOARD OF THE 1994 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP HAD THREE HUGE CRACKS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. NOW A PART OF THE TRIM ON THE DASHBOARD BROKE OFF. IT WAS SLOWLY FALLING APART.*AK
MY RAMS DASH WAS CRACKED WHEN I BOUGHT IT IN 2003 AND THE ORIGINAL OWNER GLUED IT BACK TOGETHER AND IT PROCEEDED TO CRACK. IN 2006 I RIPPED THE DASH OUT AND AND COMPLETELY GLUED IT TOGETHER AND IT IS CONTINUING TO CRACK. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND PRODUCED A GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WAS HEARD THE MOST WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION AND BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS C…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND PRODUCED A GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WAS HEARD THE MOST WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION AND BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGEWAS 49,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.*AK
I WAS DRIVING MY 1994 DODGE RAM 1500 ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 24, 2007 WHEN SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE DASH. THE RUNNING LIGHTS, TAILL IGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS THEN WENT OUT. I WAS DRVING IN THE FOG, AND IT WAS NOT YET LIGHT OUT. FORTUNATELY, I STILL HAD HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLAMP SWITCHWAS BAD AND THE WIRING CONNECTOR MELTED. I HAVE…
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I WAS DRIVING MY 1994 DODGE RAM 1500 ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 24, 2007 WHEN SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE DASH. THE RUNNING LIGHTS, TAILL IGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS THEN WENT OUT. I WAS DRVING IN THE FOG, AND IT WAS NOT YET LIGHT OUT. FORTUNATELY, I STILL HAD HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLAMP SWITCHWAS BAD AND THE WIRING CONNECTOR MELTED. I HAVE NOT HAD IT FIXED YET. ITWAS THE EXACT CONDITION DESCRIBED IN RECALL #99V024000 , EXCEPT THAT MY TRUCK WAS A 1500, NOT A 3500. I HAD TO REPLACE THE SWITCH FOR THIS SAME THING A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO, AND I'M SURE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS EXPERIENCED IT.*AK
TAIL GATE CABLES ARE FAILING DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION UNDER THE PLASTIC COVERING. *NM
DASH BOARD CRACKING. *JB
Official recalls
0No 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
4DP03006 · 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.