IllustrationI LIFTED UP TAILGATE TO LOAD GROCERIES. WHILE I WAS BENT OVER MAKING ROOM, MY WIFE TURNED TO PUT TWO BAGS IN , SHOCKS FAILED. TAILGATE FELL & STRUCK HER IN HEAD . RUPTURED DISCS IN NECK & HAD HEAD INJURY. SO FAR BILLS ARE AT $70,000.00 AND CLIMBING. HAS THIS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE? *AK
1986 Dodge Ramcharger
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 Ramcharger 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 2 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 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 →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
2 reportsBRAKE MASTER CYLINGER FAILED.
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
1EA88001 · Brake Power Assist
Opened Oct 1, 1987 · Closed Mar 1, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:CHRYSLER RECALLED, IN CANADA,67,602 1984 THROUGH 1987 PASSENGER CARS, TRUCKS, AND VANS EQUIPPED WITH THE5.2L ENGINE FOR INTERMITTENT LOSS OF BRAKE POWER ASSIST ON A SECONDAPPLICATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL.THE DEFECT WAS A RESULT OF THE BRAKEBOOSTER VACUUM HOSE PORT IN THE BASE OF THE CARBURETOR BEING BLOCKED WITHFROZEN MOISTURE AFTER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF HIGHWAY DRIVING AT LOW AMBIENTTEMPERATURES.TO PREVENT THIS DEFECT FROM OCCURRING, THE VACUUM SOURCE FORTHE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS RELOCATED FROM THE BASE OF THE CARBURETOR TO THEINTAKE MANIFOLD.IT WAS STATED THAT REPORTS OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAVEOCCURRED IN THE NORTHERN AREAS OF CANADA.ANALYSIS:REVIEW OF MANUFACTURER'S DATA INDICATED AT LEAST 4 SIMILAR U.S.VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED FAILURES CONSISTENT WITH THOSE REPORTED IN THECANADIAN MARKET.ONE VEHICLE WAS A MANUFACTURER TEST VEHICLE.THE STATESIN WHICH THESE REPORTED FAILURES OCCURRED ARE ALASKA, MINNESOTA (2), ANDWISCONSIN.IT IS THIS ENGINEER'S OPINION THAT THERE IS SUFFICIENT EVIDENCETO SUGGEST THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT COULD BE REPRODUCED BY PERFORMING TESTSIN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMBER.STATUS:ANALYZING MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSE AT 12/09/87.===