Is the 1994 Dodge RAM reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1994 Dodge RAM is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 1994 Dodge RAM?

The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 23% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1994 Dodge RAM have?

22 recalls on file for this model year.

1994 Dodge RAM

■ Significantly worse — known issue year

1994 Dodge RAM
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints: 481
Recalls: 22
Investigations: 13
Top problem: Service brakes

Complaints per year

1994: 481 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1981	2
1983	1
1984	2
1985	10
1986	18
1987	18
1988	22
1989	28
1990	23
1991	52
1992	63
1993	56
1994	481
1995	612
1996	625
1997	398
1998	483
1999	366
2000	147
2001	318
2002	116
2003	53
2004	58
2005	40
2006	25
2007	17
2008	25
2009	9
2010	27
2011	0

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Service brakes

23% · 109 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASH

Power train

15% · 73 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and cooling unit and lines.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Electrical system

14% · 67 reports

Most commonly citing switch and ignition.

FIREINJURY

Show complaint excerpts

The vehicle caught fire. The fire department stated the fire began in area of fuse box.

NHTSA ODI report, 2003-04-21

There was a problem with the ignition switch, the key became hard to turn, and then all of a sudden there was a burnt wire smell coming from the steering wheel, and a burn hole was on the side of the steering wheel column, several weeks later, the...

NHTSA ODI report, 2003-03-26

Suspension

11% · 54 reports

Most commonly citing front and rear.

CRASH

Show complaint excerpts

Steering wheel locked up while attempting to make a right turn prior to recall due to suspension failure (93V-173), causing loss of control/accident.

NHTSA ODI report, 1994-11-16

The contact owns a 1994 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 01V037000 (Vehicle Speed Control) and 99V214000 (Suspension); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available.

NHTSA ODI report, 2024-10-31

Also filed under Vehicle speed control

Steering

9% · 44 reports

Most commonly citing steering wheel/handle bar and gear box (other than rack and pinion).

CRASHINJURY

Safety timeline

22 recalls · 13 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

R

1993-11-01Suspension93V173000 Front suspension track bar attachment to the axle may not be adequately tightened.

Remedy: Tighten front suspension track bar axle attachment to the specified torque.

Check if this car was fixed →
▮
1994Complaint volume 481 complaints filed for this model year.
R

1994-01-03Seats93V213000 The seat back latch lever pivot rivets are susceptible to distortion. The distorted assemblies allow the seat back release latch lever to remain in the released position which is in non-compliance…

Remedy: Dealers will replace the suspect seat back latch assembly with a revised assembly.

Check if this car was fixed →
I
1994-01-28Preliminary evaluationClosed 1994-06-29 Seat belt
I
1994-06-29Engineering analysisClosed 1995-01-30 Seat belt buckle failure
R

1994-07-08Interior lighting94V128000 The transformer used to power the neon center lightbeam can overheat and catch on fire.

Remedy: Mark iii dealers will modify the assemblies to eliminate the neon lighting fixture in the vehicle and replace it with incandescent lights operating directly from the vehicle 12-volt battery.

Check if this car was fixed →
R

1994-07-27Suspension94V097000 The front suspension track bar has inadequate fatigue strength.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the front suspension track bar.

Check if this car was fixed →
R

1994-09-26Fuel system, gasoline94V113000 These vehicles do not meet the rear impact test requirements of FMVSS 301, "Fuel system integrity."

Remedy: Dealers will strengthen the left frame rail by installing a frame rail reinforcement bracket.

Check if this car was fixed →
R

1994-11-30Suspension94V202000 The front suspension track bar bracket attachment has inadequate fatigue strength and can fail, causing front axle vibration.

Remedy: A front suspension track bar bracket reinforcement strut will be installed.

Check if this car was fixed →
R

1995-02-17Visibility94V025002 The right outside rearview mirror contains convex glass rather than flat. Therefore, these vehicles fail to comply with FMVSS No. 111, "Rearview mirrors."

Remedy: Dealers will replace the right outside rearview mirror with a mirror having a flat surface.

Check if this car was fixed →
R

1995-03-23Seat belts95V005000 The cinch bar component within the passenger side safety belt buckle assembly shatters causing the belt to release.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the cinch bar with a newly designed part.

Check if this car was fixed →
R

1995-07-17Steering95V088000 While making a turn, the extra keys on a vehicle operator's key ring can become temporarily lodged in the screw access holes in the back cover of the steering wheel.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the steering wheel back cover with a redesigned cover.

Check if this car was fixed →
R

1995-08-03Latches/locks/linkages95V056000 The secondary hood latch rod can bind on the guide bracket and prevent engagement of the secondary latch.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the secondary hood latch bracket.

Check if this car was fixed →
I
1996-03-08Preliminary evaluationClosed 1996-10-29 Air bag inflator failure
I
1996-07-29Engineering analysisClosed 1997-11-10 Evaporative canister leakage
I
1996-11-26Preliminary evaluationClosed 1997-05-15 Transmission fluid fires
R

1997-02-07Steering96V230000 If the plastic pins and metal clip that retain the lower steering shaft in the upper shaft break, the lower steering shaft can separate from the upper shaft.

Remedy: Dealers will add a restraining sleeve to the intermediate steering shaft to limit the amount of axial steering column shaft moving in the event the plastic pins and metal clip are broken.

Check if this car was fixed →
R

1997-05-19Power train97V084000 Under certain high load operating conditions, the transmission fluid temperature can exceed the melting point of the material used in the connector to retain the fluid line to the transmission.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the high temperature side of the transmission fluid cooler line connector fittings with connectors that incorporate a stainless steel retainer.

Check if this car was fixed →
I
1997-09-25Recall queryOpen Steering wheel and column
I
1998-03-10Recall queryOpen Transmission quick connectors
R

1998-04-06Fuel system, gasoline97V199000 Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks equipped with gasoline engines. The fuel tank mounted rollover valve can allow liquid fuel to leak onto the ground under certain vehicle operating…

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel tank rollover valve with a float type rollover valve.

Check if this car was fixed →
I
1999-05-05Preliminary evaluationClosed 1999-09-10 Ignition switch
I
1999-09-10Engineering analysisClosed 2000-05-30 Steering column fires
R

1999-12-27Power train99V115000 Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with manual transmission, V10 engines and four-wheel-drive transfer cases. Under sustained maximum rated vehicle load, while driving up a steep grade…

Remedy: Dealers will replace the hydraulic clutch assembly.

Check if this car was fixed →
I
2000-01-20Defect petitionClosed 2000-04-24 Steering column fire
R

2000-03-20Suspension99V214000 Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. (2500 and 3500 series 4X4 regular cab pickup produced before March 21, 1995; 2500 and 3500 series 4X4 club cab pickup produced before June 8, 1995…

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the spring/shock tower and any vehicles exhibiting cracking will have the tower replaced. Vehicles that are do not show any cracking will have a weld-on reinforcement added.

Check if this car was fixed →
I
2000-05-03Recall queryClosed 2001-04-20 Hood latch
R

2000-06-26Electrical system00V135000 Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. The affected vehicles were built with an ignition switch and wiring that could overheat. High electrical current loads pass through the switch when…

Remedy: Dealers will install a relay and overlay harness.

Check if this car was fixed →
R

2001-08-03Vehicle speed control01V037000 Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with diesel engines. The throttle cable could unravel (Fray) or break resulting in loss of throttle control.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the throttle cable and upper bell crank lever. Owner notification began August 3, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon…

Check if this car was fixed →
R

2001-09-17Latches/locks/linkages01V040000 On certain pickup trucks originally sold in or currently registered in the following "Salt belt" States: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, new…

Remedy: Dealers will replace the secondary hood latch. Owner notification began September 17, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not…

Check if this car was fixed →
I
2003-05-07Defect petitionClosed 2003-07-22 Steering column separation
I
2003-09-23Defect petitionClosed 2004-04-08 Seat back failure
R

2006-08-01Exterior lighting06E060000 Certain aai motorsports combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above list passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the…

Remedy: Aai motorsports will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2006. Owners may contact aai motorsports at 909-923-9188.

Check if this car was fixed →
R

2008-12-17Exterior lighting08E050000 K2 motor is recalling 1,921 aftermarket headlamps of various models sold for use on the above listed vehicles. These headlamps are missing the amber side reflex reflector which fails to conform…

Remedy: K2 motor will notify owners and offer a full refund. The recall began on decemeber 17, 2008. Owners may contact K2 motor at 1-909-839-2992.

Check if this car was fixed →
R

2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

Check if this car was fixed →
R

2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

Remedy: Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.

Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1994 Dodge RAM — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

Service brakes: 109 reports on file for this year.
Power train: 73 reports on file for this year.
Electrical system: 67 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

Recall 93V173000 · Suspension
Recall 93V213000 · Seats
Recall 94V128000 · Interior lighting
Recall 94V097000 · Suspension
Recall 94V113000 · Fuel system, gasoline
Recall 94V202000 · Suspension
Recall 94V025002 · Visibility
Recall 95V005000 · Seat belts
Recall 95V088000 · Steering
Recall 95V056000 · Latches/locks/linkages
Recall 96V230000 · Steering
Recall 97V084000 · Power train
Recall 97V199000 · Fuel system, gasoline
Recall 99V115000 · Power train
Recall 99V214000 · Suspension
Recall 00V135000 · Electrical system
Recall 01V037000 · Vehicle speed control
Recall 01V040000 · Latches/locks/linkages
Recall 06E060000 · Exterior lighting
Recall 08E050000 · Exterior lighting
Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1994 Dodge RAM reliable?: Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1994 Dodge RAM is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 1994 Dodge RAM?: The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 23% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1994 Dodge RAM have?: 22 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.