Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1987 Dodge RAM 50
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Seat Belts
975.0%
Fuel & Propulsion
18.3%
Steering
18.3%
Engine & Cooling
18.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
May 1995peak 4Feb 1999
NHTSA investigations into the 1987 Dodge RAM 50
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE87037Opened 1 Jul 1987Closed 3 Nov 1987STEERING
PITMAN ARM FAILURE
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:BOTH CHRYSLER AND MITSUBISHIINDEPENDENTLY CONCLUDED THAT THE FAILURES WERE DUE TO SEVERE IMPACT LOADINGTRANSMITTED TO THE SHAFT BY THE STEERING LINKAGE SYSTEM -- IN OTHER WORDSSHAFT FAILURE IS THE RESULT, NOT THE CAUSE, OF THE ALLEGED COLLISIONCIRCUMSTANCES.MITSUBISHI DID STRENGTHEN THE SHAFT DURING THE 1984 MODELYEAR BY INCREASING THE SPLINE AND BEARING JOURNAL DIAMETERS.ANALYSIS:FAILING COMPONENT IS THE STEERING BOX CROSS SHAFT (OUTPUT SHAFT)WHICH BREAKS BETWEEN THE BOTTOM BEARING IN THE STEERING BOX AND THE PITMANARM.KNOWN FAILURES INVOLVE 4 WHEEL DR...
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Grant City, MO
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLE RECALL WORK NOT DONE DUE TO DEALERSHIP HAVING NO KNOWLEDGE OF RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #530964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lufin, TX
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE RECALL WAS TAKING CARE OF AUGUST 12. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TAKEN BACK ON THE 14TH BECAUSE THE BELT BUCKLE WOULD NOT BUCKLE. RECALL- 95V103003.
NHTSA complaint #816098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palmyra, PA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
RECALL 95V-103003 ; DEALERS HAVE NOT SERVICED VEHICLE FOR RECALL ON SEATBELT BUCKLES FOR 3 YEARS BECAUSE OF PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #815744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fhaftfbury, VT
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
OWNER STATES THAT SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR SEAT BELT BUCKLES AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERS THAT THE WORK WAS REPAIRED WHEN IT REALLY WASN'T. OWNER ALSO NOTES THAT DEALERS THEN TOLD HER THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #810762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Michigamme, MI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
MR. BENTTI CALLED DODGE AND DODGE SAID THAT THERE ISN'T A RECALL ON THE SEAT BELTS.
NHTSA complaint #986627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Honey Brook, PA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT BUCKLE IS BROKEN AND WILL NOT LATCH.PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #985838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Olympia, WA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT BUCKLE NEVER LOCKED AT 68,66O MILES. TT
NHTSA complaint #966338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Olympia, WA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE OIL LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #966338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Olympia, WA
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
REPLACED NOISY STEERING BOX GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #966338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Olympia, WA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
CARBURETOR FAILED DUE TO CORROSION.
NHTSA complaint #966338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chesapeake, VA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
TWO REPLACEMENTS OF PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BECAUSE OF LATCHING DEFICIENCY. TT
NHTSA complaint #966028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Camas, WA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
TWO OF THREE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT LATCH, TWO HAVE BROKEN PIECES INSIDE. TT
NHTSA complaint #965703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.