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1993 Dodge RAM 2500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1993 Dodge RAM 2500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 275.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
39Owner complaints

Model-year median: 275

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1993 Dodge RAM 2500

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 39 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 2 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 13 reports
  • Power Train: 6 reports
  • Steering: 6 reports
  • Electrical System: 4 reports
  • Structure: 4 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    16
    1991    32
    1992    39
    1993    168
    1994    267
    1995    291
    1996
    Compare all RAM 2500 years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    13    Power Train
    6    Steering
    6    Electrical System
    4    Structure
    4
    All reported categories
    Vehicle Speed Control
    4    Parking Brake
    3    Engine And Engine Cooling
    2    Seats
    2    Service Brakes, Air
    2    Latches/locks/linkages
    1    Seat Belts
    1    Suspension
    1    Tires
    1    Visibility
    1

    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: 6 of 39 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.

    • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Steering. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    2 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

    Power Train complaints

    6 reports
    Clear category filter
    108,399 miles · Dec 17, 2004
    Power Train

    WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN 2-WHEEL DRIVE, THE TRANSFER CASE LEVER STARTED VIBRATING, HEARD A SNAP, THEN THIS AWFUL GRINDING NOISE AND SHAKING OF VEHICLE. PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY ONTO SHOULDER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. CRAWLED UNDERNEATH THE PICKUP AND SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF BELL HOUSING AND SMELLED CLUTCH MATERIAL. TRANSMISSION WAS…

    Read full complaint

    WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN 2-WHEEL DRIVE, THE TRANSFER CASE LEVER STARTED VIBRATING, HEARD A SNAP, THEN THIS AWFUL GRINDING NOISE AND SHAKING OF VEHICLE. PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY ONTO SHOULDER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. CRAWLED UNDERNEATH THE PICKUP AND SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF BELL HOUSING AND SMELLED CLUTCH MATERIAL. TRANSMISSION WAS ALSO EXTREMELY HOT ! WAS TOWED HOME. DRAINED OIL FROM TRANSMISSION. VERY BLACK AND SMELLED BURNT. PULLED SIDE COVERS OFF TRANSMISSION AND NOTED THAT INPUT SHAFT GEAR AND THE GEAR BELOW IT WERE VERY BADLY DAMAGED. PULLED TRANSMISSION AND FOUND THAT THE INPUT SHAFT BEARING WAS DESTROYED. FIRST TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 74,717 MILES. 11/01/99. REPLACED WITH A REMAN.TR. FOUGHT DEALERSHIP FOR WARRANTY. THEY FINALLY PAID FOR TRANSMISSION BUT MADE ME PAY LABOR CHARGES OF $713.00 TO GET IT OUT OF THE SHOP. THE TRUCK NOW HAS 108,399 MILES. THAT'S 33,000 MILES ON A FACTORY REMANUFACTURER TRANSMISSION. I DON'T BELIEVE I'LL BUY ANOTHER DODGE PRODUCT. *JB

    NHTSA ODI #10103988

    135,644 miles · Jul 7, 2004
    Power Train

    GEAR SHIFT LEVER IN 1993 DODGE RAM 250 PU HAS BROKEN OF FOR THE SECOND TIME. VEHICLE HAS 135644 AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. WHY IS IT BREAKING OFF. NEVER HAD THIS BREAK IN A VEHICLE BEFORE. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE.*AK

    NHTSA ODI #10080510

    Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 1999
    Power TrainSeatsService Brakes, Air

    DODGE FAILED TO NOTIFY ME OF SAFETY AND EMISSION RECALLS

    NHTSA ODI #702240

    Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 1997
    Power Train

    WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT NORMALSPEED HEARD A NOISE AND THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. TOOK TO DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME FOR THIS PROBLEM . *AK

    NHTSA ODI #808465

    Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 1997
    Power Train

    DIESEL ENGINE PRODUCES TO MUCH TORQUE WHICH CAUSES THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #807129

    Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 1995
    Power Train

    REAR INNER AXLE SEALS CONTINUE BLOWOUT, CAUSING A LOSS OF BRAKES, REPLACE 5 TIMES. TT

    NHTSA ODI #976799

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    2

    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.

    PE93054 · Poor Brake Performance

    Opened May 27, 1993 · Closed Dec 29, 1993

    Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

    There is no summary currently available

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.