Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1986 Dodge RAM
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Seat Belts
735.0%
2 crashes, 0 fires
Tires
315.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Electrical System
315.0%
0 crashes, 3 fires
Other & Unspecified
210.0%
Engine & Cooling
210.0%
0 crashes, 2 fires
Doors, Latches & Locks
15.0%
Wheels
15.0%
Fuel & Propulsion
15.0%
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.
Mar 1995peak 2Nov 2004
Recalls on the 1986 Dodge RAM
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 199508712,080 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
On certain vehicles, the (takata) ABS plastic front seat belt release buttons may break allowing plastic pieces to fall into the buckle assembly. If this should happen, a no latch, false latch or failure to unlatch condition could occur creating the risk of personal injury in the event of a crash or sudden stop. Correction: Front seat belt buckles will be repaired or replaced as necessary.
Recall 1986020721 units in Canada
Brakes
On certain vehicles, the master cylinder may have been overstressed and cracked during cylinder manufacture. A cracked cylinder may fail during braking resulting in loss of vehicle braking capability. This could result in a vehicle crash without prior warning.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Akron, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE ENGINE FIRE. NAR 07/02/2003.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF GAS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AFTER PUTTING SOME FUEL IN IT, A FIRE ERUPTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).
NHTSA complaint #10026614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cleveland, OHFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE IN MOTION, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER STOPPED VEHICLE AND REALIZED THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AT THE SCENE INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE WIRING TO THE AUDIO EQUIPMENT FROM THE BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint #566988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oshkosh, WIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO BURN. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #808763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicago, ILFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #512996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Napleville, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #803107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Bernardi, CACrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
FRONT RIGHT SHOULDER/LAP BELT LATCH BROKE UPON IMPACT; RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW; VEHICLE HIT DIRT BANK; TUMBLED OVER.; VEHICLE TOTALED. TT
NHTSA complaint #967407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Akron, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE ENGINE FIRE. NAR 07/02/2003.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF GAS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AFTER PUTTING SOME FUEL IN IT, A FIRE ERUPTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).
NHTSA complaint #10026614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cleveland, OHFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE IN MOTION, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER STOPPED VEHICLE AND REALIZED THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AT THE SCENE INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE WIRING TO THE AUDIO EQUIPMENT FROM THE BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint #566988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orlando, FL
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE TREAD AND BELT SEPARATION. BELTS EXPOSED; RAPID DEFLATION. TIRE DESTROYED. NOT THE FIRST SIMILAR PROBLEM I'VE HAD WITH THIS MODEL OF TIRE. IT HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE A FEW YEARS AGO. *AK (DOT NUMBER: M3H3 AKYX TIRESIZE: 205-70R15)
NHTSA complaint #746550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Knightdale, NC
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THERE IS A SEAT BELT RECALL FOR SEAT BELT COMING UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #878550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Troy, NY
TIRES
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM VISITING FRIENDS WHO LIVE ABOUT 13 MILES FROM ME ON A HOT SUN. AFTERNOON ON A 2-LANE COUNTRY ROAD. I BEGAN TO NOTICE SOME SWAY ON THE CURVES ABOUT 1/3 OF THE WAY HOME. AS I WAS DRIVING INTO THE CITY LIMITS I REALIZED THE REAR TIRE HAD GONE FLAT BUT DROVE ABOUT 1 BLOCK SO I COULD PULL OFF SAFELY. AS A RESULT THE TIRE RECEIVED SOME DAMAGE WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FLAT. I HAD IT REPLACED AT THE SAME FIRESTONE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM BUT WAS PUZZLED BECAUSE IT SEEMED TO BE VERY CHEWED UP FOR THE SHORT DISTANCE I CONTINUED TO DRIVE ONCE I NOTICED THE FLAT. THE TIRE WAS ONE OF FOUR I BOUGHT TOGETHER LESS THAN A YEAR AGO BUT THE ONE WHICH WENT FLAT WAS REPLACED BEFORE WORD OF THE PROBLEMS WITH SIMILAR TIRES WAS PUBLICIZED. I AM STILL DRIVING ON THE OTHER 3 PLUS THE REPLACEMENT. I AM VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE ONE OF THE TIRES (LEFT FRONT) HAS NEVER HELD AIR WELL, IN SPITE OF TAKING IT BACK FOR REMOUNTING, AND IT IS ONCE AGAIN LOSING AIR REGULARLY WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP IT PROPERLY INFLATED. THE EARLIEST APPOINTMENT I COULD GET AT ANOTHER LOCAL FIRESTONE STORE IS SEPT. 9. THE ONLY DOCUMENTATION WHICH MIGHT BE AVAILABLE OF THIS EVENT, BESIDES MY RECEIPTS, WOULD BE THE AAA RECORDS WHEN I CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE WITH CHANGING THE TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
NHTSA complaint #728691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Effort, PA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #728398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sacramento, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
FUEL TANK SEEMS TO BE LEAKING FROM THE BOTTOM AND NEAR THE SEAM OF THE TANK. IF AN IGNITION SOURE WAS PRESENT IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THIS WAS FOUND WHEN OIL WAS BEING CHANGED. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, FUEL WAS LEAKNG FROM FILLER TUBE. OWNER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND A REPLACEMENT. FUEL TANK HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. OWNER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #868455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yuba City, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTON BROKE--REPAIRED AND LATER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE. WANT REFUND.
NHTSA complaint #515266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Albuquerqu, NM
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
CENTER SEAT BELT WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED AFTER RECALL REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #541548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FT. Lauderdale, FL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH DO NOT FUNCTION, INCLUDING THE WIPERS. DEALER WILL NOT FIX.
NHTSA complaint #818208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yuba City, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTON BROKE PRIOR TO RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #515266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
WHEELS
WHEEL FELL OFF, CAUSING AXLE DAMAGE. ( NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #602455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oshkosh, WIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO BURN. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #808763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicago, ILFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #512996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brownsville, MN
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DOOR LATCH FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #509783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Napleville, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #803107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mechanicsvil, VA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DEALER INDICATES PER MFR. COMPUTER INFO, VIN'S NOT INVOLVED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 95V103003, EVEN THOUGH BELTS DISPLAY TK ON THEM.
NHTSA complaint #984285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Bernardi, CACrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
FRONT RIGHT SHOULDER/LAP BELT LATCH BROKE UPON IMPACT; RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW; VEHICLE HIT DIRT BANK; TUMBLED OVER.; VEHICLE TOTALED. TT
NHTSA complaint #967407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Bernardi, CACrash2 injured
TIRES
FRONT RIGHT SHOULDER/LAP BELT LATCH BROKE UPON IMPACT; RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW; VEHICLE HIT DIRT BANK; TUMBLED OVER.; VEHICLE TOTALED. TT
NHTSA complaint #967407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Duncan, OKCrash1 killed
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
TAKATA SEAT BELT. HIT OBJECT IN HIGHWAY, LOST CONTROL PASSENGERS SEAT BELT FAILED AND OCCUPANT WAS EJECTED. TT
NHTSA complaint #962663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.