Your vehicle report
1995 Dodge RAM
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 611
- Received Jan 1995 to Jun 2023
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up47 complaints · 7.7% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines35 complaints · 5.7% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Vehicle catches fire from wiring33 complaints · 5.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #01V037000Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with diesel engines. The throttle cable could unravel (fray) or break resulting in loss of throttle control.
- Recall #01V040000On 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 jersey, pennsylvania, delaware, maryland, the district of columbia, west virginia, ohio, indiana, michigan, illinois, wisconsin, minnesota, iowa, and missouri. Corrosion of the return spring on the hood secondary latch could cause the mechanism to bind in the "release position."
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 67 crashes, 33 fires, 42 people injured, 2 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
- Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up
- Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines
- Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly
1 more problem
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 81 |
| 1996 | 117 |
| 1997 | 92 |
| 1998 | 71 |
| 1999 | 59 |
| 2000 | 81 |
| 2001 | 57 |
| 2002 | 31 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 611 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 47 | 7.7% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 35 | 5.7% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 33 | 5.4% | – | NHTSA recall #00V135000 |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 27 | 4.4% | – | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 23 | 3.8% | – | |
| Hood latch fails and hood flies open | 22 | 3.6% | – | NHTSA recall #95V056000 |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 22 | 3.6% | – | |
| Electronic throttle body fails and cuts power | 19 | 3.1% | – | NHTSA recall #01V037000 |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 17 | 2.8% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 17 | 2.8% | – | NHTSA recall #97V199000 |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 17 | 2.8% | – | |
| Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly | 15 | 2.5% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 13 | 2.1% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 10 | 1.6% | – | |
| Fuel pump fails and engine stalls | 10 | 1.6% | – | |
| Radiator transmission cooler leaks fluid into transmission | 10 | 1.6% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 8 | 1.3% | – | |
| Vehicle rolls backward out of park | 8 | 1.3% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 7 | 1.1% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 7 | 1.1% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #01V037000February 12, 2001157,000 vehicles affected
vehicle speed control
Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with diesel engines. The throttle cable could unravel (fray) or break resulting in loss of throttle control.
A throttle that does not return to idle could result in unexpected acceleration, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA recall #01V040000February 12, 2001701,000 vehicles affected
latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch
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 jersey, pennsylvania, delaware, maryland, the district of columbia, west virginia, ohio, indiana, michigan, illinois, wisconsin, minnesota, iowa, and missouri. Corrosion of the return spring on the hood secondary latch could cause the mechanism to bind in the "release position."
If the primary latch is not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly.
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 receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA recall #00V135000May 10, 2000690,000 vehicles affected
electrical system: ignition: switch
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 the blower motor is operated on high for an extended periods of time.
This could cause the ignition switch and wiring to overheat.
Remedy
Dealers will install a relay and overlay harness.
NHTSA recall #99V214000August 9, 199949,066 vehicles affected
suspension: front: shock absorber
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; and 3500 series 4X2/4X4 chassis cab trucks produced before june 21, 1995). The front suspension spring/shock towers Can crack and eventually separate from the vehicle frame. The shock tower could damage the rear wheel brake lines resulting in loss of rear brake system pressure.
This would create the potential for increased stopping distances.
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.
NHTSA recall #99V115000May 6, 19998,883 vehicles affected
power train: clutch assembly
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 in four-wheel-drive low range in hot ambient conditions, the local exhaust temperature proximate to the hydraulic clutch line Can generate line temperatures that exceed the temperature limit of the clutch line material. If this condition occurs and the clutch is depressed, the line could rupture.
The fluid could ignite on the hot exhaust possibly resulting in a vehicle fire.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the hydraulic clutch assembly.
NHTSA recall #99V023000February 5, 1999250,845 vehicles affected
air bags: frontal
Vehicle description: van and wagon model passenger vehicles. If water/road salt gets on the interior floor of the vehicle in the proximity of the air bag electronic control module (aecm), the aecm Can corrode. The resulting corrosion Can cause the driver side air bag to deploy inadvertently.
Deployment of the air bag without warning could cause a driver to lose vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash and personal injury.
Remedy
Dealers wil replace the aecm with an aecm that is sealed from moisture intrusion.
NHTSA recall #97V199000November 13, 1997497,000 vehicles affected
fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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 conditions.
Fuel leakage could result in a fire if an ignition source was present.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the fuel tank rollover valve with a float type rollover valve.
NHTSA recall #97V084000May 5, 1997960,000 vehicles affected
power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines
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.
When these temperatures occur, the fluid line will not stay connected with the transmission and fluid Can spray onto the exhaust manifold, resulting in smoke or fire.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the high temperature side of the transmission fluid cooler line connector fittings with connectors that incorporate a stainless steel retainer.
NHTSA recall #97V068000April 28, 199758,000 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with diesel engines. The engine driven vacuum pump Can allow engine oil into the vacuum hoses due to the absence of an internal check valve. The oil Can cause the hose to deteriorate and partially collapse, reducing the vacuum supply to the brake booster.
Reduced power brake assist Can result increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Dealers will add a vacuum pump check valve to the vacuum pump. In addition, the vacuum hose connected to the vacuum pump will be replaced with a hose that is engine oil resistant.
NHTSA recall #96V230000November 18, 1996475,000 vehicles affected
steering: steering wheel/handle bar
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.
If the lower steering shaft separates from the upper shaft, loss of vehicle control Can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.
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.
NHTSA recall #95V088000May 12, 1995293,043 vehicles affected
steering: steering wheel/handle bar
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.
This condition Can hamper the steering wheel return orcause the ignition to be turned off, resulting in loss of vehicle control and an accident.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the steering wheel back cover with a redesigned cover.
NHTSA recall #95V056000March 21, 1995175,000 vehicles affected
latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch
The secondary hood latch rod Can bind on the guide bracket and prevent engagement of the secondary latch.
This condition Can cause the hood to fly up obstructing the driver's vision increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the secondary hood latch bracket.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1995 Dodge RAM.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN