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1989 Dodge RAM

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1989 Dodge RAM do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 27.

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 →
28Owner complaints

Model-year median: 27

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

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

Inspection summary

1989 Dodge RAM

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 28 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 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)

  • Seat Belts: 9 reports
  • Fuel System, Gasoline: 6 reports
  • Power Train: 3 reports
  • Tires: 3 reports
  • Seats: 2 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
    18
    1986    18
    1987    22
    1988    28
    1989    23
    1990    51
    1991    58
    1992
    Compare all RAM years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Seat Belts
    9    Fuel System, Gasoline
    6    Power Train
    3    Tires
    3    Seats
    2
    All reported categories
    Steering
    2    Electrical System
    1    Engine And Engine Cooling
    1    Fuel System, Other
    1    Structure
    1    Suspension
    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: 0 of 28 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.

    • Seat Belts. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    4 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

    What owners actually said

    28 reports
    Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 1998
    Fuel System, Gasoline

    WHILE FILLING VEHICLE WITH GAS TANK FUEL TANK EXPLODED, CAUSING FUEL TANK TO DEVELOP A HOLE . POSSIBLE CAUSE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP FAILURE. DEALERS WILL NOT ADDRESS PROBLEM. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #826415

    Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 1997
    Seat BeltsSeats

    LATCHING DEVICE FOR MIDDLE BENCH AND SEAT COVERS DO NOT FIT PROPERLY.

    NHTSA ODI #605553

    Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 1997
    Seats

    WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED 2 INCHES AT THE BASE AND THE BACK PORTION 8 TO 10 INCHES. PLATE THAT SUPPORTS BACK PORTION OF SEAT BROKE INTERNALLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #814725

    Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 1997
    Seat Belts

    CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING FOR SEAT BELT BUCKLE(S) AT LEAST (3) MONTHS. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #807212

    Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 1997
    SteeringCrash

    STEERING GEAR BOX: MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN, HEARD LOUD BUMP, LOST STEERING AND RAN INTO GUARD RAIL. TOOK IN FOR REPAIRS AND DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE STEERING BOX, STEEL HAD CRYSTALIZED AND CAUSED IT TO BREAK. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #810325

    Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 1997
    Visibility

    THE REMOTE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS CANNOT BE ADJUSTED BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE GEAR. WHEN ADUSTING THE MIRRORS, ONE CAN HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING, BUT THERE IS NO MOVEMENT OF MIRRORS. PROBLEM NOT CORRECTED BY DEALER. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #810110

    Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 1997
    Seat Belts

    PASSENGER'S SIDE LAP/SHOULDER BUCKLE RED RELEASE BUTTON WILL NOT LATCH, BUCKLE WILL NOT STAY CLOSED. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #807200

    Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 1996
    Seat Belts

    THE CONSUMER FELT THE SEAT BELT TIGHTENED AS HE WAS DRIVING. THEN THE SEAT BELT WOULDN'T RELEASE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #979864

    Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 1996
    Seat Belts

    PASSENGERS SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED. *DSH

    NHTSA ODI #500803

    Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 1995
    Seat Belts

    PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH AND LOCK. TT

    NHTSA ODI #976754

    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

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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