Dodge RAM Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 4,069 consumer complaints across the 26 model years of the Dodge RAM (1985–2010) that have at least 5 complaints. 1996 has the most, with 625. Across all years, the part named most often is brakes (818 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All RAM model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 27 | 10,025 | 5 | 2 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Falling |
| 2009 | 9 | 43,992 | 5 | 5 | — | Not enough data |
| 2008 | 25 | 25,000 | 2 | 3 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Falling |
| 2007 | 17 | 59,436 | 1 | 4 | — | Stable |
| 2006 | 25 | 36,470 | 0 | 26 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 40 | 22,500 | 0 | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2004 | 58 | 37,000 | 1 | 29 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2003 | 53 | 38,750 | 2 | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 116 | 37,827 | 2 | 10 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 318 | 45,000 | 9 | 1 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2000 | 147 | 63,000 | 6 | 2 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 366 | 78,000 | 9 | 2 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 483 | 74,000 | 13 | 1 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 398 | 80,000 | 7 | 1 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 625 | 81,500 | 10 | 1 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1995 | 611 | 102,398 | 12 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 469 | 125,254 | 18 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1993 | 54 | 111,275 | 0 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 58 | 87,000 | 1 | 1 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 51 | — | 2 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 23 | 17,000 | 0 | 1 | — | Stable |
| 1989 | 28 | — | 0 | 1 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 22 | — | 0 | 1 | — | Stable |
| 1987 | 18 | — | 0 | 1 | — | Stable |
| 1986 | 18 | — | 0 | 1 | — | Stable |
| 1985 | 10 | — | 0 | 1 | — | Not enough data |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Brakes818 23%
- Transmission and drivetrain663 19%
- Steering375 11%
- Electrical system365 10%
- Engine cooling358 10%
- Suspension349 9.9%
- Air bags349 9.9%
- Fuel system240 6.8%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
1998: “The spare tire mechanism that hold the tire under the bed broke. This failure was very dangerous since it occurred while I was driving, my spare tire fell onto the street and rolled. Luckily I was in a 35 MPH area, but cars still had to move out of the way of the rolling tire. Had I been on the interstate, it could have been disastrous.”
NHTSA complaint #10445718, filed 2012-01, 193,000 miles2002: “The dash in my 2002 Dodge RAM quad cab pickup began to crack and has now completely shattered. There are pieces that have broken off and are now effecting my heating and cooling system. I am concerned that if I hit a bump to hard that a piece might actually dislodge and harm someone. Or cause even more severe internal damage that might effect my ability to operate the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10432304, filed 2011-10, 80,000 miles2008: “I have a 2008 Dodge RAM pickup truck- the dashboard is reflected onto the windshield and impairs vision, especially when it is sunny and makes it hard to see clearly through the windshield. I have had four other trucks of the exact same size etc. But never had a vision problem from the dashboard being superimposed onto the windshield.”
NHTSA complaint #10268181, filed 2009-05, 100 milesOther Dodge models
13,779 complaintsDodge Grand Caravan
13,511 complaintsDodge RAM 1500
12,422 complaintsDodge Caravan
10,523 complaintsDodge Dakota
6,626 complaintsDodge RAM 2500
6,443 complaintsDodge Intrepid
6,223 complaintsDodge Charger
5,732 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology