1994 Dodge RAM 1500 problems
Owners have filed 148 complaints about the 1994 Dodge RAM 1500 with NHTSA. Electrical system accounts for 16.2% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of suspension at 12.8%.
Complaints148
Crashes14
Fires9
Injuries15
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Electrical system 16.2% · 24
Suspension 12.8% · 19
Steering 12.2% · 18
Service brakes, hydraulic 9.5% · 14
Structure 5.4% · 8
Visibility 5.4% · 8
Exterior lighting 5.4% · 8
Air bags 4.7% · 7
Severity
Of those complaints, 14 describe a crash, 9 describe a fire and 15 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 19 model years of the Dodge RAM 1500 in this data, 1994 draws comparatively few complaints; 2005 is the outlier year.
Filings are rising — 7 in the last three years against 6 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 108,250 miles.
In owners' own words
Lights would not come on jiggled knob they came on we drove about 4 miles turned on left turn signal lights flickered and top of dash and vent on driver side was smoking smelt like rubber burning touched top of dash it burned my hand pulled over shut engine and lights off boyfriend/husband took dash off to stop fire it was the light switch burned completely inside. Electrical system · reported at 142,367 miles
While driving at 25 mph consumer smelled smoke coming from vehicle. Pulled over and saw smoke coming from the ignition switch. Consumer cut off the vehicle, and vehicle was not smoking. Consumer was able to start the vehicle back up and drove it to the dealer. Electrical system
Possible fire hazard. The technician told me the Dodge ignition had less wires going to it than many other vehicles he had worked on. Two of the prong in this module were charred and two wires were slightly damaged. Electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…