1995 Dodge RAM 2500 Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year are dominated by front-end steering and suspension shake at highway speed, brake problems that reduce braking response, and fuel-system and speed-control faults. Because these trucks are now old and mostly high-mileage, many reports come from second or third owners working through wear items and long-pending recalls, and a large share involve tires that were installed after purchase rather than parts fitted at the factory.

1. 1
   Tires

   Tire tread separation and blowouts

   • 20 complaints (7%)
   • median 192,000 mi at 15.2 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2017

   Owners describe vibration that develops into a loud bang, with tread peeling away and damaging the bed, running boards or exhaust. Some report sidewall splits or several failures from the same set of tires, and say the tire maker replaced or declined to help with the damaged set. Most complaints name the aftermarket tires and sizes that were fitted later, not the original equipment. Failure mileages vary widely, from a few thousand miles on a new set up to 190,000 miles on the truck, mostly at 40-70 mph.

   What to check: Read the date codes on all tires, check for uneven wear, bulges or sidewall cracks, and ask how old the current set is and whether any tire has been replaced for separation.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “5/31/2008 I purchased 4 definity dakota a/t lt265/75r16 tires for my Dodge ram pickup. About a month or two later, one of rear detreaded and I had it replaced under warranty. In december 2009 and then in january 2010, the two front tires detreaded (passenger side in dec, driver side in january). This was followed last night 2/26/2010 with a violent detread of the driver rear tire. The DOT numbers involved were upw8 pa9 0108 (front tires) and upw8 pa9 4307 (rear).”

   NHTSA complaint #10314776, filed 2010-02, 382,000 miles

   “5/31/2008 I purchased 4 definity dakota a/t truck tires lt265/75r16 for my 1995 Dodge ram pickup. One of them detreaded almost immediately but was replaced under warranty. December 2009, my front right detreaded at 40 MPH while driving on a city road. Early january, the front left detreaded driving 65 MPH on the fl turnpike, leading me to suspect a defect. Last night, my left rear detreaded while driving 70 MPH on I-75, nearly causing a roll-over. Significant damage to my truck body occurred as the tread spun around cutting through sheet metal. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10314775, filed 2010-02, 384,181 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Headlight switch and dash wiring overheating

   • 23 complaints (9%)
   • median 174,000 mi at 15.4 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2018

   Complaints describe smoke or a burning smell from the dash, headlights going out, and headlamp switch or socket and wiring damage. Owners say some trucks had a wiring recall done, and that after the repair the fuel and temperature gauges stopped working normally. Several note their truck was not covered by the campaign even though the same switch part was used. Reported from low mileage up to roughly 230,000 miles, often while driving at night or pulling a trailer.

   What to check: Turn the headlights on and off repeatedly, check for a scorched smell or heat marks around the switch and under-dash wiring, and confirm whether the lighting/ignition switch recalls were completed for this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Headlight switch, socket and associated wiring burnt up, causing loss of lighting function. I was only doing 30 MPH and was able to pull into a parking lot without any danger to other motorists. I had to purchase and replace the switch, socket and about 8 of wiring.”

   NHTSA complaint #11129938, filed 2018-09, 165,000 miles

   “I purchased this truck this past summer. I found recently that several safety recalls had not been performed on the truck. I took the truck to the dealer. They refused to complete the ignition switch wiring recall until I paid them to trace all of the wiring that could be affected because one of the wires on the ignition switch harness had melted. They did not know how much this might cost me. The dealer contacted FCA to see if the factory would contribute to the cost. Fca declined. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10836788, filed 2016-02, 202,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake pedal fading or going to the floor

   • 43 complaints (16%)
   • median 122,672 mi at 10.8 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2016

   Owners report the brake pedal sinking to the floor or brakes feeling like they are not gripping, especially under hard or sudden pressure, while light steady pressure works. Several complaints trace it to a collapsing vacuum hose between the vacuum pump and the brake booster, and others describe rear drum brakes that do not self-adjust so the front brakes do most of the work and overheat. Some report pulling to one side under ABS braking. Mostly reported between roughly 100,000 and 230,000 miles, often during emergency stops or when towing.

   What to check: Test the brakes with a firm, quick pedal application from moderate speed, look for a soft or long pedal, and have the vacuum lines to the booster and the rear drum adjustment checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In an emergancy situation I have hit the brakes hard! I hear a click or snap and it feels like the brakes are wet or they oil on them, it just keeps going I have gone off the road on the shoulder and also into the ditch a couple of times to avoid the vehicle in front of me. I pull a 5th wheel often so far it hasn't happened when I have had the tlr....but I am afraid that if it I am pulling the 5th wheel and it happens somebody may be injured or even worse killed, I am very concerned..”

   NHTSA complaint #10025416, filed 2003-07, 75 miles

   “I was leaving the parking lot to the stop sign and I applied the brakes and my vehicle continued rolling even when I applied more pressure until it stopped in the middle of the intersection. I was not hit but close. I pulled over to the side of the street and brakes seem to be working again. I took it straight to a wheel and brake shop very close to where this happen and they check the system and told me what had cause this problem was the vacuum hose from the vacuum pump to the brake booster was collapsing so I had them replace it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10134803, filed 2005-08, 122,672 miles
4. 4
   Suspension

   Front-end shake / "death wobble" at speed

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the front wheels and steering wheel suddenly shaking violently after a bump or at highway speed, sometimes so strongly the truck has to be pulled over. Several report the track bar, stabilizer bar brackets, ball joints and steering damper were replaced, and that the shaking returned after a short time. Some complaints note a loose or torn stabilizer bracket weld or a track bar failure identified by a mechanic, and that the dealer could not locate or fix the problem. Usually reported between about 50,000 and 170,000 miles, most often at highway speeds or when hitting a bump.

   What to check: Drive it on the highway and over bumps at 50-70 mph before buying, and have a shop inspect the track bar, ball joints, stabilizer brackets and steering damper. Ask whether any front-end parts were replaced and whether the shake came back.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Death wobble. I have been having constant problems with the front end of my Dodge RAM 2500, most recently after replacing the steering knuckles, tie rods in the stabilizer bar, bushings in the stabilizer arms, all the ball joints, and track arm, and constantly balancing tires it has developed what all the blogs are calling the death wobble I'm getting sick and tired of replacing everything in the front end of this truck with no decent fixes available on the part of Dodge. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10358929, filed 2010-10, 100,000 miles

   “The truck has experienced the phenonomen known as the death wobble. Extremely violent shaking of the steering wheel and front suspension to the point that the vehicle is almost out of control. Today it happened at 70 MPH on the freeway. It has happened as slow as 40 my in the past. I had to pull over very quickly on the freeway today in a very dangerous scenario with semi trucks coming up behind me. Twice I have taken it to mechanics that have replaced the track bar and the steering damper. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11352870, filed 2020-09, 144,900 miles
5. 5
   Vehicle speed control

   Throttle cable sticking or breaking

   • 15 complaints (6%)
   • median 186,000 mi at 10.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2012

   Complaints describe the throttle linkage or cable jamming, the gas pedal staying down, and in some cases sudden high engine speed or unintended acceleration. Owners mention frayed cable strands, rusted linkage, plastic ends on the linkage, and the pedal having to be pulled up by hand or freed by a mechanic. Some note a cruise control cable was found frayed and disconnected during unrelated service. Reported at widely varying mileages, including trucks under 70,000 miles, and often noticed during routine inspection or while driving.

   What to check: Inspect the throttle cable and linkage for fraying, rust or catch points, and confirm with the seller whether the speed-control recall for this VIN was completed; ask if the cruise control cable is still connected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle experienced sudden acceleration on two occasions. Once the throttle cable became stuck and the consumer managed to pull the pedal up. The second time a lever became jammed and a mechanic had to free up the lever which was rusted.”

   NHTSA complaint #10026269, filed 2003-07, 68,000 miles

   “During recall repairs the mechanic discovered that cruise control cable was frayed, and suggested that it be disconnected. Manufacturer was notified , and the consumer was told that the problem was not related to the recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10115490, filed 2005-03, 186,000 miles

Buying note. Have a shop check the front steering and suspension links, the brake booster vacuum lines and the throttle linkage before buying, and verify which open recalls remain for the VIN. Tire date codes and any prior tread separation are worth confirming, since many reports involve later-installed tires.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.