113 of the 623 complaints about the 1994 Dodge RAM are about the braking system — 18% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 87,608 miles.
113
Complaints
13
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TOWARDS TRAFFIC WHICH RESULTEDC IN AN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10037773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES WILL PULSATE CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH
NHTSA complaint #10006592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT AND EXTEND STOPPING DISTANCE. TS DEALERSHIP INSTALLED NEW BRAKE LINE. DEALERSHIP STATED STARTED NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER CONSUMER DECLINED.
NHTSA complaint #8022330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
VEHICLE PULLS HARD TO LEFT WHEN BRAKING,,,,,,HAVE TO HOLD IT RIGHT TO KEEP STEERING WHEEL FROM GOING LEFT,,,,,PADS & CALIPERS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND AFTER WARRANTY RAN OUT BUT DOES NOT HELP,,,,,,,THE STEERING GEAR BOX ON THESE TRUCKS MAKE THEM WANDER ALL OVER THE ROAD,,,,,,LOTS OF PLAY IN THE STEERING,,,,,,,,,,,I FEEL CHRYSLER NEEDS TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS,,,,,,,I AM A MEMBER OF A CLUB THAT HAS 6600 MEMBERS WITH THE DODGE RAM 2500/3500 PICKUPS WITH THE DIESEL ENGINE AND THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF STORIES THERE ABOUT TRYING TO DEAL WITH THESE PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #741976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE PULLING INTO A GAS STATION WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO DOWN. ALSO, ABS LIGHT/ CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THEN, CONSUMER COULD NOT TURN CAR OFF. CONSUMER HAD TO SHAKE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE KEY OUT.
NHTSA complaint #865160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE PADS ARE TOO SMALL FOR THE SIZE OF THIS VEHICLE WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKE PADS TO WEAR PREMATURELY, WHICH MAY CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. BRAKE PADS BEEN CHANGED ABOUT 10 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #864881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE PADS ARE TOO SMALL FOR THE SIZE OF THIS VEHICLE WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKE PADS TO WEAR PREMATURELY, WHICH MAY CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. BRAKE PADS BEEN CHANGED ABOUT 10 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #864881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE AVOIDING A ACCIDENT, I LOCKED UP MY BRAKES AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS FAILED AND BENT APPROXIMATLEY 60 DEGREES. CAUSING THE FRONT WHEELS TO RUB THE BACK OF THE FENDER WELLS. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MGR. AT BERG CHRYSLER ADDITIONAL DAMAGES OCCURRED: BENT SHOCKS , STABILIZER BAR, AND SHEARED OFF BOLTS ON DRIVE SHAFT. APPROXIMATE COSTS $1700+. CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CENTER TOOK MY COMPLAINT ON MAY 22 GIVING ME FILE NO. 7194767. ACCORDING TO BERG`S SERVICE MGR., THE TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND CLAIM IS DENIED. I CANNOT GET CHRYSLER TO RETURN MY PHONE CALLS.
NHTSA complaint #723848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 99V214000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 835/ SUSPENSION. DEALER CORRECTED THE RECALL WORK, BUT FAILED TO REPLACE THE BOLTS WITHIN THE BRAKE LINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #861624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
WHEN PUMPING THE BRAKES ON THE FOURTH TIME, THERE WAS NO BRAKNG ABILITY. TRUCK CONTINUED TO TRAVEL. THIS HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. A VACCUM ASSIST CANISTER WAS INSTALLED BY THE DEALER AT NO CHARGE. PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCK CONTINUES.
NHTSA complaint #859584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN PUMPING THE BRAKES ON THE FOURTH TIME, THERE WAS NO BRAKNG ABILITY. TRUCK CONTINUED TO TRAVEL. THIS HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. A VACCUM ASSIST CANISTER WAS INSTALLED BY THE DEALER AT NO CHARGE. PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCK CONTINUES.
NHTSA complaint #859584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
ON A COLD WINTRY DAY. I SLOWED TO MAKE A TURN AND LOST MY BRAKES AS SOON AS I'D APPLIED THEM. THE BRAKES CAME BACK AFTER SEVERAL PEDAL APPLICATIONS, BUT MADE A LOUD SCRAPING NOISE. LATE THAT EVENING, I PULLED THE WHEEL TO INSPECT THE DAMAGE AND SAW THAT THE FRICTION MATERIAL OF THE PAD, ON THE PISTON SIDE, HAD DISAPPEARED COMPLETELY. THERE WAS A SMALL SCRATCH ON THE ROTOR. I SAVED ALL OF THE ORIGINAL PADS TO THIS SET AFTER REPLACING THEM MYSELF. LAST YEAR I WAS MOVING THINGS AROUND IN THE GARAGE AND ACCIDENTLY DROPPED THE IDENTICAL (INTACT) PAD FOR THE RIGHT SIDE. THE PAD FELL ABOUT 40" TO A CONCRETE FLOOR AND SEPARATED INTO TWO PIECES, ONE BACKING PLATE, AND ONE FRICTION MATERIAL. THE ADHESIVE BOND LOOKED AS THOUGH IT HAD FAILED AND ALLOWED MOISTURE TO ICE UP BETWEEN THE MATERIALS, CAUSING MY NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE. I HAD A COMPLETE LOSS OF STOPPING POWER. WITH A DUAL MASTER CYLINDER, I STILL WONDER WHY MY REAR BRAKES DIDN'T FUNCTION AS A BACK-UP SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #717924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO SWERVE VIOLENTLY INTO OTHER TRAFFIC. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WAS $800 DUE TO OVERHEATING OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND BRAKE COMPONENTS.
NHTSA complaint #716690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS
GREASY SEALS AND WHEEL CLYINDER LEAK, SATURATING THE BRAKE PADS WITH OIL AND GREASE, AND RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES.MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE.
NHTSA complaint #846030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE "BRAKE" & "ABS" WARNING LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES VERY HARD TO PUSH! THERE IS NO BRAKING ACTION, AND THE PEDAL IS ABOUT 1 INCH FROM THE FLOOR. IT THEN TAKES BOTH FEET TO GET ANY BRAKES! IF IT IDLES FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE LIGHTS WILL THEN GO OFF, AND THE BRAKES RETURN TO NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCASIONS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, BUT JUST FOUND YOUR SITE ON THE INTERNET.
NHTSA complaint #702645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES LOCK UP WITHOUT WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #533476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
BRAKES REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO DRUMS AND ROTORS OUT OF ROUND AND CRACKING.
NHTSA complaint #537933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKES REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO DRUMS AND ROTORS OUT OF ROUND AND CRACKING.
NHTSA complaint #537933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND APPYLING THE BRAKES, THEY DON'T STOP THE VEHICLE UNLESS THE CONSUMER USES THE TRAILER BRAKES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 30 TIMES FOR REPAIRS, AND THE DEALER STILL CAN'T FIND OUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #828946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHENEVER THE (ABS) BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON. TOOK TO DEALER & FOUND THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER BYPASS WAS NOT WORKING. HAD IT REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #825756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
WHENEVER THE (ABS) BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON. TOOK TO DEALER & FOUND THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER BYPASS WAS NOT WORKING. HAD IT REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #825756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER STATES THAT PAGE 34 OF NEW DODGE RAM MANUAL STATES A WARNING AND HE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, STOP AND GO. VEHICLE STOPPED AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES STARTED TO WORK AND CAME DOWN SLOWLY. WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA complaint #824952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE CORRODED AND PITTED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #824558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS EVERY TIME APPLYING THEM. WHILE DRIVING IN LOW SPEED 15 MPH OR LOWER , ESPECIALLY DURING BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC OR PRAKING THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE, BUT NO CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #822798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
THE POWER ASSIST BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY FOR A FEW SECONDS CAUSED BY NOT ENOUGH PRESSURE FOR A DODGE TRUCK, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #820907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
AN UNSHIELDED PORTION OF THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE IS ROUTED UNDER THE FLORBOARD AND OVER A BRACKET SUPPORTING THE FUEL PUMP. WHEN THE PARKING CABLE IS SET THE CABLE RUBS AGAINST THE BRACKET, CAUSING THE CABLE TO FRAY, AND WILL FAIL WITH REPEATED USE.
NHTSA complaint #522882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
PULLING TRAILER, ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. HARDER PRESSURIZATION AND LESS PEDAL REACTION. UNREASONABLE CONDITION: POTENTIAL CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #817710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKES DOES NOT RELEASE .THERE IS A LINE LOCK ON THE FRONT WHEELS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #815816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKES LOCK UP INTERMITTENTLY AND THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A FAULTY REAR AXLE SEAL.
NHTSA complaint #810578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
EVERY 8,000 MILES BRAKE ROTORS AND CALIPERS NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, ACCELERATOR LINKAGE ENDS FALL OFF IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN/TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE BROKE LOOSE DUE TO VIBRATION FROM HIGHWAY DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #809060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.