1993 Dodge Ram

Routine

Owners filed 54 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip6
101
Structure › Frame and Members4
000
Steering › Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)4
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission4
000
Vehicle Speed Control3
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum3
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components2
102
Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch2
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Linkages1
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump93E034001
Filed Dec 7, 199335,000 vehiclesChrysler Corporation

Defect. BOSCH DISTRIBUTOR-TYPE FUEL PUMPS HAVE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT CAN CAUSE THE BALL PIN, WHICH IS PART OF THE PUMP'S CONTROL LEVER ASSEMBLY, TO BREAK CAUSING THE LINK BETWEEN THE CONTROL SLEEVE AND THE CONTROL LEVER TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Risk. WHEN THE LINK BETWEEN THE CONTROL LEVER AND THE CONTROLSLEEVE BREAKS, THE SPEED CONTROL NO LONGER RESPONDS TO MOVEMENT OF THEACCELERATOR PEDAL, RESULTING IN LOSS OF SPEED CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. THE FUEL PUMPS WILL BE INSPECTED, AND IF NECESSARY, REPAIRED OR REPLACED.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
Filed Mar 23, 2005190,000 milesFL

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP FAILED. VEHICLE REVVED AT HIGH SPEEDS WHILE IN PARK, OWNER HAD TO THE VEHICLE TOWED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jan 15, 200432,550 milesCA

WHITE PAINT PEELED FROM BODY OF TRUCK. MASTER CYLINDER SEALS FAILED.

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Sep 6, 2002CO

PAINT DELAMINATION POTENTIALLY LEADING TO UNSTABLE WINDSHIELD. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Apr 30, 2002GA

CONSUMER STATES THE FRONT BREAK PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE AND REAR BREAK SHOES HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER STATES BREAKS ARE FAILING PREMATURELY. *TT

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under DashFire
Filed Apr 29, 2002OR

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH DASH. ALSO, FUSE MELTED. *AK

Steering › Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)
Filed Feb 5, 2002CA

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING STEERING COLUMN BECAME VERY LOOSE AND WAS HARD TO STEER, DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING BRACKET BETWEEN THE STEERING BOX AND FRAME BROKE CAUSING ALMOST TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING, ALSO STEERING COUPLER BETWEEN STEERING BOX AND COLUMN WERE WORN OUT, CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITH THE STEERING COLUMN, IT WAS THE BRACKET THAT BROKE THAT HOLDS THE STEERING GEAR BOX TO THE FRAME.*SLC

Power Train
Filed Aug 11, 2001IL

I BELIEVE THIS VAN HAS MANY MORE MILES THAN STATED ON THE SPEEDOMETER, OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. IT IS FALLING APART, AND A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 61211 MILES, SHOULDN'T BE IN SUCH BAD MECHANICAL CONDITION. . CAN YOU HELP?*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Park/Neutral Start Interlock SwitchCrash
Filed Aug 8, 2001CA

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOME. SELECTOR WAS IN PARK. WITHIN 10-15 SEC THE TRUCK TRAVELED BACKWARD AND AFTER 30 FT. IMPACTED A PARKED CAR. SERVICE REPORT INDICATED SHIFT LEVER AT TRANSMISSION WAS LOOSE AND IMPROPERLY ATTACHED.*AK

Steering › Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)
Filed Jul 9, 2001IL

ON TWO OCCASIONS VEHICLE LOST CONTROL IN STEERING WHILE TRAVELING AT 6O MPH AND AGAIN AT 45 MPH WHICH FORCED VEHICLE INTO A DITCH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY STEERING GEAR BOX FAILURE. *AK THE SECOND OCCURRENCE HAPPENED AFTER VEHICLE HAD REPAIRS BECAUSE OF FIRST FAILURE. *SLC

Service Brakes, Air › Antilock
Filed Jun 29, 2001NY

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 30, 2001AK

WHILE GOING TO MY HUSBANDS GRANDMOTHERS FUNERAL WE HEARD AN ODD NOISE-LIKE SOMETHING MIGHT BE LOSE -MY HUSBAND PULLED OVER AND GOT UNDER VEHICLE TO CHECK IT OUT-FOUND NOTHING-THOUGHT PERHAPS IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION OR EXHAUST LEAK .WE PULLED INTO THE FIRST CAMPING SPOT AND LEFT VEHICLE-TRIED TO DRIVE HOME 2 DAYS LATER-WE GOT ABOUT 10 MILES AND THERE WAS A HUGE BANG IN TRUCK-ENGINE FAILED AND TRUCK TIRES COMPLETELY LOCKED-VEHICLE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AND THE WEIGHT OF SUCH A SUDDEN STOP (WE HAD A CAMPER ON) PULLED THE REAR-END OUT.LUCKILY MY HUSBAND HAD THE PRESCENCE OF MIND TO PUSH IN THE CLUTCH AND ROLL TO THE ROAD SIDE-HAD HE NOT OR IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN BEHIND US IN THE CANYON IT WOULD OF BEEN VERY BAD. AFTER TALKING TO TWO INDEPENDENTT DRIVELINE PLACES I WAS TOLD THAT THIDS IS AN EXTREMELLY COMMON PROBLEM THAT IS OFTEN FIXED SEVERAL TIMES WITH ONE VEHICLE. ALL (NOT AN EXXAGERATION) THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE TALKED TO WITH THE SAME MODEL YEAR HAVE HAD PROBLEMS-MOST REPLACING OR HAVING TRANSMISSIONFIXED BEFORE IT BLEW BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT IT WOULD-ONE EVEN REPLACED HIS AT 70,000 -- I CALLED A CHRYSLER DEALER IN MY AREA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.I CALLED CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THAT IT ONLY EXTENDED TO 7 YEARS AND I WAS 1 YEAR OVER SO TOO BAD FOR ME. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 23, 2001CO

CRUISE CONTROL HAD BEEN ENGAGED FOR ABOUT 35 MILES. UPON DISENGAGING CRUISE, THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN BELOW 60MPH WITHOUT SEVERE BRAKING. BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION BECAME EXTREMELY HOT AS RESULT. I LATER LEARNED THAT THE IDLE ADGUSTMENT SCREW HAD LOST ITS LOCK NUT AND THE SCREW VIBRATED INWARD, CAUSING THE IDLE SPEED TO STAY AT 60 MPH WHILE THE TRANMISSION WAS IN GEAR. WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP, I WAS AFRAID TO RE-ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION IN GEAR FOR FEAR OF SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND PERSONAL INJURY TO ME, MY WIFE, OR POSSIBLY BOTH.*AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Aug 11, 2000WI

IGNITON SWITCH AND POSSIBLE WIRING KEEPS FAILING. CONSUMER HAD REPLACED IGNITON AND PART OF WIRING 4 TIMES, BUT DEFECT KEEPS REOCCURRING. *AK THE PROBLELM IS STILL GOING ON BUT NO SOLUTION HAS BEEN FOUND. *YH

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 2, 2000KY

THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILED CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP IN AND OUT OVER DRIVE AND INCREASING THE RPMS. YH

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch
Filed Mar 31, 2000FL

HEADLIGHT SWITCH OVERHEATED, CAUSING SMOKE TO FILL THE CAB. WAS ABLE TO DISCONNECT THE SWITCH BEFORE A POSSIBLE FIRE COMMENCED. DEALER NOTIFIED,AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. PARTS/ LABOR WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 21, 2000NH

THE GETRAG TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS BEEN SINCE 1988 THRU 1993 IS WIDELY KNOWN AS BEING DEFECTIVE IN MOST TRANSMISSION SHOPS C HRYSLER IS OR SHOULD BE WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS, I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND THIS WILL COST ME $ 3000 INSTALLED. CHRYSLER HAS DEVELOPED A NEW TRANS. THE NV 4500 TO REPLACE THE PRESENT GETRAG TRANS. IM SURE THERE ARE MANY MORE OWNERS WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. LETTERS TO CHRYSLER ARE WRITTEN OFF LEAVING THE OWNER WITH THE COST OF REPAIR. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Oct 20, 1999MD

WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED TO SLOW DOWN OR TO STOP FOR A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL . THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON & WOULD NEED TO STAND ON THE BRAKES TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP. WOULD HAVE NO OTHER WARNING. *AK

Steering › Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)
Filed Oct 15, 1999OR

BRACKET SUPPORTING FRAME FOR THE STEERING BOX BROKE WHILE DRIVING. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE FOR A WHILE. HAD CONTACTED DEALER & INFORMED MECHANIC DID NOT DO FRAME WORK OF THAT KIND. WILL NOT BE THE FIRST TO BREAK NOR THE LAST. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 23, 1999MI

WITHIN LESS THEN 56,000 MILE OF WEAR TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REPLACED AND NOW NEEDS MAJOR REPAIRS AGAIN. ON REPLACEMENT MFR. SPLIT THE COST WITH CONSUMER, AND NOW WAITING ON THE RESOURCE ON THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS IS A MFR. DEFECT TRANSMISSION AND NEED NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed May 31, 1999KY

FLOOR PAN THAT HOLDS SEAT HAS 5 DIFFERENT RIPS IN IT . IF TRUCK WHERE IN WRECK , WITH NO ONE IN SEAT ,SEAT WOULD BE PULLED UP FROM FLOOR

20 of 54 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1996
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20110400Routine
201027520Routine
20099610Routine
200825410Routine
200717410Routine
200625410Routine
200540510Routine
200458702Fatalities reported
2003175730Routine
2002322671Fatalities reported
20014361492Fatalities reported
20001471160Routine
19993661361Fatalities reported
19984831763Fatalities reported
199739811184Fatalities reported
199662514232Fatalities reported
199561116332Fatalities reported
199446922272Fatalities reported
1993 — this page54110Routine
199258220Routine
199151320Routine
199023050Routine

Compare every Ram year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Dec 7, 1993. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.