IllustrationVEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO FIRE WHICH STARTED IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE NEAR AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET. *JG
1979 Dodge RAM
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
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: 0 of 3 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 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
3 reportsTHE PICKUP IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IS NOT TO BE ON THE ROAD, ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER BODY SHOP MANAGER. THE FRAME SEPARATED 2" AT THE WELD, JUST UNDER THE DRIVERS DOOR AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE THE WELD IS CRACKED. THE FRAME IS READY TO BREAK IN 2. LUCKILY IT WAS FOUND BEFORE SOMEONE DRIVING IT GOT KILLED OR KILLED SOME…
Read full complaint
THE PICKUP IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IS NOT TO BE ON THE ROAD, ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER BODY SHOP MANAGER. THE FRAME SEPARATED 2" AT THE WELD, JUST UNDER THE DRIVERS DOOR AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE THE WELD IS CRACKED. THE FRAME IS READY TO BREAK IN 2. LUCKILY IT WAS FOUND BEFORE SOMEONE DRIVING IT GOT KILLED OR KILLED SOMEONE ELSE ON THE HIGHWAY. CHRYSLER WAS NOTIFIED BUT IT HAS BEEN 8 DAYS AND STILL HAVE NOT HEARD WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE TRUCK IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, BUT ANYONE CAN SEE THAT WHEN IT WAS WELDED BY THE MANUFACTURER, THE WELDING DID NOT PENETRATE THE METAL. ANOTHER WORDS, A VERY POOR WELDING JOB. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MANY PEOPLE THAT OWN DODGE TRUCKS THAT THE FRAME IS VERY WEAK. THEY ARE NOT TOUGH TRUCKS AS THEY ADVERTISE THEM TO BE. NOW I HAVE A TRUCK SITTING IN MY YARD THAT IS STILL FINANCED AND NOT ABLE TO USE. PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE. IF THAT FRAME WOULD OF BROKE IN 2 GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS, CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT WOULD OF HAPPENED?*AK
THE VEHICLE SELF STARTED AND DROVE THROUGH A GLASS ENTRANCE OF A STORE, AND KILLED 2 CHILDREN. PROBLEM HAS BEEN FOUND. *AK
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.