FaultScore

1995 Dodge RAM 3500 electrical problems

10 of the 132 complaints about the 1995 Dodge RAM 3500 are about the electrical system — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 313,500 miles.

F

10

Complaints

3

Crashes

4

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Interior/Under Dash 3 30.0%
Ignition 2 20.0%
Switch 2 20.0%
Wiring 1 10.0%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 1 10.0%
Starter Assembly 1 10.0%

Electrical System across every Dodge RAM 3500 year

1994 14 5.5%
1995 10 3.9%
1996 10 3.9%
1998 15 5.9%
2004 15 5.9%
2005 16 6.3%
2006 52 20.5%
2007 24 9.4%
2008 18 7.1%
2010 17 6.7%
2011 17 6.7%
2012 46 18.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 227,000 miles Gamaliel, KY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

DT: FUEL PUMP, BLOWING FUSES, FAST AS FUSES ARE PUT IN THE ARE BLOWN AGAIN. AS SOON START THE VEHICLE THE FUSES BLOW. THE BOTTON FUSE BOX WHERE WIRE GO INTO ENGINE SHOUT OFF RELAY, BURNED RELAY. THIS WIRE STARTS OUT A 10- GAUGE WIRE, IT REDUSES DOWN WHEN IT GOES MAIN CONTROLL MODULE HALF THE SIZE. THIS ALSO RUNS BOTH COIL PACKS AND ALL THE FUEL INJECTORS. THE WIRING HARNESS NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACE, AND THE MODLE NEEDS TO BE INSPECTED BY A CETRFIED DODGE MECHINE TO MAKE SURE WIRING IS PROPER SIZE AND MAKE SURE THERE ARE NOT SHORTS IN THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10121066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 400,000 miles Elkhart, IN Crash Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

ELECTRICAL FIRE AND SMOKE UNDER DASH

NHTSA complaint #10004967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Boulder, CO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. WHEN PUTTING KEY IN IGNITION THERE IS A CLINKING NOISE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #891731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Menlo Park, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IN JULY I RECEIVED CHRYSLER RECALL #875 WHICH STATED:THE IGNITION SWITCH AND/OR STEERING COLUMN WIRING ON YOUR RAM TRUCK MAY OVERHEAT WHEN THE BLOWER MOTOR IS OPERATED AT HIGH SPEED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THIS CAN CAUSE STALLING, LOSS OF BLOWER MOTOR OR POWER WINDOW OPERATION, ABS OR AIRBAG LAMP ILLUMINATION OR A STEERING COLUMN/INSTRUMENT PANEL FIRE.THE DAY I RECEIVED THE NOTICE, THE STARTER DIED BEFORE I COULD GET TO THE DEALER. I TRIED TO CALL CHRYSLER TO DETERMINE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A CONNECTION BETWEEN FAILURE AND RECALL. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE RECALL SERVICE AND REPLACED THE STARTER AND SOLENOID. BY THE TIME I REACHED CHRYSLER, THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETE. THE MECHANIC, PERFORMING HIS FIRST 875 RECALL SAID NOCORRELATION. I ASKED IF THERE WERE OTHER STARTER FAILURES THAT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE DEALER SAID HE WOULD HAVE CHRYSLER CALL ME TO ANSWER THE QUESTION AND PROVIDE INFORMATION. THE DEALER CONTINUES TO SAY THAT ONLY CHRYSLER WOULD KNOW, CHRYSLER SAYS ONLY THE DEALER CAN ANSWER.BECAUSE FAILURE OF ELECTRIC MOTORS AND SOLENOIDS CAN OFTEN RESULT FROM LOW-VOLTAGE, OVER-HEATING, OR OVER-CURRENT OR RAPIDLY REPEATED VOLTAGE APPLICATION AND THE EXISTENCE OF SUCH CONDITIONS SEEMS TO BE WELL DOCUMENTED IN RECALL 875, THESE CONDITIONS ARE REASONABLE CAUSE OF STARTER FAILURE. CHRYSLER SHOULD PAY FOR THE ATARTER OR SHOW THERE IS NOT A HISTORY OF SIMILAR FAILURES OF OTHER TRUCKS RECALLED ON 875.

NHTSA complaint #736402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Menlo Park, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

IN JULY I RECEIVED CHRYSLER RECALL #875 WHICH STATED:THE IGNITION SWITCH AND/OR STEERING COLUMN WIRING ON YOUR RAM TRUCK MAY OVERHEAT WHEN THE BLOWER MOTOR IS OPERATED AT HIGH SPEED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THIS CAN CAUSE STALLING, LOSS OF BLOWER MOTOR OR POWER WINDOW OPERATION, ABS OR AIRBAG LAMP ILLUMINATION OR A STEERING COLUMN/INSTRUMENT PANEL FIRE.THE DAY I RECEIVED THE NOTICE, THE STARTER DIED BEFORE I COULD GET TO THE DEALER. I TRIED TO CALL CHRYSLER TO DETERMINE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A CONNECTION BETWEEN FAILURE AND RECALL. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE RECALL SERVICE AND REPLACED THE STARTER AND SOLENOID. BY THE TIME I REACHED CHRYSLER, THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETE. THE MECHANIC, PERFORMING HIS FIRST 875 RECALL SAID NOCORRELATION. I ASKED IF THERE WERE OTHER STARTER FAILURES THAT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE DEALER SAID HE WOULD HAVE CHRYSLER CALL ME TO ANSWER THE QUESTION AND PROVIDE INFORMATION. THE DEALER CONTINUES TO SAY THAT ONLY CHRYSLER WOULD KNOW, CHRYSLER SAYS ONLY THE DEALER CAN ANSWER.BECAUSE FAILURE OF ELECTRIC MOTORS AND SOLENOIDS CAN OFTEN RESULT FROM LOW-VOLTAGE, OVER-HEATING, OR OVER-CURRENT OR RAPIDLY REPEATED VOLTAGE APPLICATION AND THE EXISTENCE OF SUCH CONDITIONS SEEMS TO BE WELL DOCUMENTED IN RECALL 875, THESE CONDITIONS ARE REASONABLE CAUSE OF STARTER FAILURE. CHRYSLER SHOULD PAY FOR THE ATARTER OR SHOW THERE IS NOT A HISTORY OF SIMILAR FAILURES OF OTHER TRUCKS RECALLED ON 875.

NHTSA complaint #736402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elkhart, IN Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

IF YOU USE THE AIR CONDITIONING WHILE DRIVING THE SWITCH OVERHEATS AND BURNS OUT THE SWITCH AND YOU LOOSE THE ENGINE ALL TOGETHER. REAL BAD THING TO HAPPEN IN TRAFFIC.

NHTSA complaint #712707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elkhart, IN Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH KEEPS BURNING OUT. WIRE OVER HEATS AND MELTS PLUG AND SWITCH/ BRAKES DON'T STOP THE TRUCK LOADED. WE CHANGE THE FROUNT PADS 20 TO ONE SET OF REAR BRAKES. REAR BRAKES VERY IN AFECTIVE

NHTSA complaint #712708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elkhart, IN Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH KEEPS BURNING OUT. WIRE OVER HEATS AND MELTS PLUG AND SWITCH/ BRAKES DON'T STOP THE TRUCK LOADED. WE CHANGE THE FROUNT PADS 20 TO ONE SET OF REAR BRAKES. REAR BRAKES VERY IN AFECTIVE

NHTSA complaint #712708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lubbock, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

WIRING HARNESS FAILURE CAUSING MULTIPLE SHORTS IN SYSTEM, RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, LIGHT SWITCH AND BLOWN FUSES. MJS

NHTSA complaint #548168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arlington, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IN THE DASH STARTED TO SMOKE, CAUSING THE WIRING TO MELT AND LOSS OF ALL LIGHTS EXCEPT THE HEADLIGHTS. DEALERS ARE REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND THE WIRING HARNESS. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #809714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1995 Dodge RAM 3500 problems

← Full 1995 Dodge RAM 3500 report