FaultScore

1994 Dodge RAM 3500 brake problems

21 of the 102 complaints about the 1994 Dodge RAM 3500 are about the braking system — 21% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 45,689 miles.

F

21

Complaints

2

Crashes

1

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 5 23.8%
Disc 4 19.0%
Foundation Components 3 14.3%
Pads 3 14.3%
Power Assist 2 9.5%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 2 9.5%
Service Brakes 2 9.5%

Brakes across every Dodge RAM 3500 year

1994 21 9.5%
1995 38 17.2%
1996 45 20.4%
1997 22 10.0%
1998 20 9.0%
1999 18 8.1%
2001 19 8.6%
2006 13 5.9%
2011 11 5.0%
2012 14 6.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 4,500 miles Vilas, NC

SERVICE BRAKES

IN A HARD RAIN OR EVEN WASHING UP UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK THE 4WD SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON AND IT WILL SAY IT'S TRYING TO TRANSFER OVER TO 4WD AND WHEN IT TRIED WITH ME I WAS RUNNING AROUND 55 MPH! IT JERKS THE [XXX] OUT OF THE TRUCK WITH A LOUD HAMMER NOISE! IT WILL CAUSE A PERSON TO WRECK IF YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING IT ! IT WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 2019 AND STARTED THE 4WD CRAP AT 4,500 MILES NOT TO MENTION THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER DOESN'T WORK EITHER NOW, FOUND THAT OUT THE HARD WAY WITH 22 ROLLS OF HAY AND NO IT'S NOT THE TRAILER MY FORD TRUCK HAS TRAILER BRAKES, SAME TRAILER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #11342811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alexandria, VA

SERVICE BRAKES

2 OUT OF THE 3 MAIN TRANSPIRATION AND DELIVERY SERVICE VEHICLES THAT I PERSONALLY USED TO GET TO THE JOB SITE AND TO DELIVER HEAVY METAL STRUCTURES ARE IN VERY BAD SHAPE, PARTICULARLY DODGE RUM 1994 PLATE NUMBER (74R 300). THE MAIN PROBLEMS ON THIS TRUCK ARE THE BAD BRAKES, ESPECIALLY WHEN CARRYING HEAVY METAL MATERIALS. ABS LIGHT ON, NO HORN, BROKEN SPEEDOMETER, AIR BAG LIGHT ON, BROKEN TURNING SIGNALS, SPECKS OF RED PAINT ON THE WINDSHIELD, WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID NOT WORKING, NO A/C, TURNING SIGNALS NOT ALL WORKING, WEAR OUT TIRES, ETC. EVEN THOUGH I POINT OUT TO THEM THAT THE BREAKS WERE NOT GOOD, THEY STILL NEVER PAID ANY ATTENTION TO WHAT I SAID. THEY PROBABLY DID NOT PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO ME BECAUSE THEY NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY VEHICLE RELATED ACCIDENTS. BUT KNOWING THAT THEY AREA ALWAYS CARING HEAVY METALS, THEY SHOULD BE A LITTLE MORE CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR WORKERS IN GENERAL BUT CLEARLY THEY DO NOT CARE A BIT AND THAT REALLY BOTHERED ME VERY MUCH. IN THIS EMAIL, I AM MOSTLY POINTING OUT THE DODGE RUM 1994 PLATE NUMBER (74R-300), UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT PLATE NUMBER OF THE OTHER 2 VEHICLES. I AM SURE THAT IF SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT TRUCK SAFETY AND MECHANICS TAKES A LOOK AT ALL 3 VEHICLES, THEY WILL SE THAT WHAT I AM SAYING IS TRUE. I AM ALSO ATTACHING A FEW IMAGES TO BACKUP MY STATEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #11054912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 86,879 miles Lancaster, KY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKE LINE RUSTED INTO BETWEEN FUEL TANK AND FRAME.

NHTSA complaint #10430246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Aiken, SC

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS BRAKES PULSATE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, PEDAL SINKS TO THE FLOOR. ONCE POWER BRAKES LOCKED, AND CONSUMER WENT INTO A SLIDE.

NHTSA complaint #876628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Aiken, SC

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST

ABS BRAKES PULSATE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, PEDAL SINKS TO THE FLOOR. ONCE POWER BRAKES LOCKED, AND CONSUMER WENT INTO A SLIDE.

NHTSA complaint #876628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fairfield, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP. DEFECTIVE BRAKES.

NHTSA complaint #515772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Midleton, ID Fire

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

IGITION SWITCH HAD A LOOSE CONNECTION, AND WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE AND MELTED. ALSO, ABS LIGHT CAME ON.

NHTSA complaint #845993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Middletown, MD

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST

POWER BRAKE LOSS DUE TO DESIGN FLAW OF THE SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #507785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Upton, MA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE TRUCK LOSES IT'S BRAKING POWER WHEN BACKING UP. THE BRAKE PADS HAVE TO BE CHANGED EVERY 5 TO 10 THOUSAND MILES. THE BRAKES ON THE TRUCK ARE NOT LARGE ENOUGH FOR THAT SIZE TRUCK.

NHTSA complaint #822007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Upton, MA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

THE TRUCK LOSES IT'S BRAKING POWER WHEN BACKING UP. THE BRAKE PADS HAVE TO BE CHANGED EVERY 5 TO 10 THOUSAND MILES. THE BRAKES ON THE TRUCK ARE NOT LARGE ENOUGH FOR THAT SIZE TRUCK.

NHTSA complaint #822007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rathdrum, ID

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA complaint #818879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Florence, OR

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

THE FRONT END VIBRATES WHILE APPLYING BRAKES.

NHTSA complaint #521642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rathdrum, ID

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

PREMATURE WEAR OF BRAKE SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #520729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fairfield, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #515772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alpharetta, GA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

FRONT BRAKES FAILED SEVEN TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #517234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dayton, OH

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

WHILE DRIVING AND DURING PANIC OR HARD STOPPING, VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT AND LEFT FRONT BRAKES LOCKS UP.

NHTSA complaint #804010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Liberty, MO Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN WET CONDITIONS ONLY ABS SYSTEM LOCKS UP. VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO STOP. PEDAL IS HARD AND VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED.*AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE PULL FROM SIDE TO SIDE AT RANDOM.

NHTSA complaint #801076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newton, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

FAILURE OF THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE TO CHANGE THE BRAKES TOO OFTEN EVERY 3000 MILES. TT

NHTSA complaint #979206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pembrook, MA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE PADS, VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN BRAKING. TT

NHTSA complaint #969444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Birmingham, AL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

FAST FREQUENT APPLICATION OF BRAKE PEDAL CAUSES LOSS OF BRAKING PRESSURE TO BRAKES.

NHTSA complaint #969247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Evans, CO Crash 2 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKES FAILED; PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK, D LEAK, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT/INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #963048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1994 Dodge RAM 3500 problems

← Full 1994 Dodge RAM 3500 report