Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1990 Dodge RAM
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Transmission & Drivetrain
313.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Engine & Cooling
313.0%
0 crashes, 2 fires
Seats
28.7%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Tires
28.7%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
28.7%
Steering
28.7%
Electrical System
28.7%
0 crashes, 2 fires
Child Seats
14.3%
Equipment & Accessories
14.3%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Seat Belts
14.3%
Median failure at 17,000 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
14.3%
Suspension
14.3%
Body & Structure
14.3%
Brakes
14.3%
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.
Apr 1995peak 2Oct 2005
Recalls on the 1990 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 199102310,092 units in Canada
Emissions
Certain vehicles do not comply with CMVSS 1105 - evaporative emissions. Defective evaporative canister.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Burleson, TXCrash1 injured
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AT 60 MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SEATBACK COLLAPSED, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #880639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Maidstone Ontario, CDFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
NHTSA complaint #552516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sanlorenco, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE AND IN FRONT OF HOUSE. CONSUMER WAS AWAKENED BY NEIGHBORS AND TOLD THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. FIREMAN TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE AREA THE WIRING.
NHTSA complaint #864271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fouke, ARFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
UNDERHOOD WIRING CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. DEALER HAS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #848789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Venice, FLFire
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THE DEFECTIVE A/C WIRING GETS EXTREMELY HOT WHICH CAUSES SMOKE AND FIRE. REPLACED THE SWITCH TWICE. PROBLEM OCCURRING AGAIN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #826665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Athens, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #507467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 17,000 milesChesapeake, VA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 95V1030000 CONCERNING THE FRONT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT SECURE THE OCCUPANT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE SHOULDER BELT STRAP WOULD NOT LOCK AND THE BUCKLE WOULD NOT STAY LATCHED. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME HE USED THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK (11/21/05)
NHTSA complaint #10140877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kody, WY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE JUMPING ANOTHER VEHICLE ENGINE SENSOR FAILED COMPLETELY. TOOK TO DEALER PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED AS OF YET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND VEHCILE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
NHTSA complaint #8008332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Walnut Park, CA
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TREAD ON LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8005565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NHTSA complaint #746483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Burleson, TXCrash1 injured
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AT 60 MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SEATBACK COLLAPSED, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #880639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Maidstone Ontario, CDFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
NHTSA complaint #552516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sanlorenco, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE AND IN FRONT OF HOUSE. CONSUMER WAS AWAKENED BY NEIGHBORS AND TOLD THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. FIREMAN TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE AREA THE WIRING.
NHTSA complaint #864271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fouke, ARFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
UNDERHOOD WIRING CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. DEALER HAS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #848789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MWC, OK
CHILD SEAT
CAR SEAT FILL OUT OF CAPTAIN CHAIR.
NHTSA complaint #707677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Deptford, NJ
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE DOESN'T SHIFT CORRECTLY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #831882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Venice, FLFire
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THE DEFECTIVE A/C WIRING GETS EXTREMELY HOT WHICH CAUSES SMOKE AND FIRE. REPLACED THE SWITCH TWICE. PROBLEM OCCURRING AGAIN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #826665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Anchorage, AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
COMPLETE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED AND STILL FAILS.
NHTSA complaint #535764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lorain, OH
SUSPENSION:FRONT
VEHICLE ANDERS, FEELS VERY LOOSE AND DRIFTS FROM LANE TO LANE. CAUSE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #811743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakton, VA
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE FRAME BROKE OFF FROM THE UNDERBODY OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #807554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Athens, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #507467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ripon, WI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO BE PINNED BETWEEN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED FROM PARK TO REVERSE TO GET OCCUPANT FROM BETWEEN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN FOR SERVICE.
NHTSA complaint #806470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sterling, VA
SEATS
BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEATS FALL BACK WHEN PULLING FORWARD.
NHTSA complaint #984862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Myrtle POI, OR
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
RETURN HOSE DISCONNECTED FROM GAS LINE, CAUSING GASOLINE LEAK. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #485183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OAK Harbor, WA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
ACCELERATOR CABLE SEPARATES. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #501136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Slinger, WI
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #484196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rocky Hill, CT
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
AS STEERING COUPLER WEARS OU, MORE PLAY SHOWS UP IN STEERING WHEEL, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE IN A TURN.
NHTSA complaint #970122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eden Prairie, MN
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING COUPLING BADLY WORN; READY TO BREAK; IF BREAKS, COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT; CAUSED DIFFICULT STEERING. TT
NHTSA complaint #966158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
White Lake, MICrash
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTEED FROM PARK TO REVERSE 3 TIMES, ONCE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. TT
NHTSA complaint #964198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.