RoadVitals

1994 Dodge Ram Van

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
6
Latest Mar 9, 2006
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Dodge Ram Van, most frequently naming the body & structure, engine and interior & seats categories. 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 19 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Body & structure114.3%
  • Engine114.3%
  • Interior & seats114.3%
  • Powertrain (other)114.3%
  • Steering114.3%
  • Suspension114.3%
  • Tires & wheels114.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

DP03002ClosedDefect Petition

STEERING COLUMN SEPARATION

Opened May 7, 2003
Closed Jul 22, 2003

MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR DETAILS, SEE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE VOLUME 68, NO. 130, JULY 8, 2003.

STEERING:COLUMN

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Filed Mar 9, 2006

A DODGE RAM VAN, 1994, THE PAINT KEEPS PEELING OFF THE HOOD AND RUSTING. THE PAINT COMES OFF IN CHUNKS WHEN WASHING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10152339
Incident
Jun 8, 1994
Body & structurePowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Jan 15, 2004

I HAD PROBLEMS FROM DAY 1. BATTERY WENT DEAD THE VERY NEXT MORNING AFTER I BROUGHT THE VAN HOME. I KEPT RECHARGING IT UNTILL IT FAILED COMPLETLY ON A TRIP TO FRORIDA. I FIGUIRED OUT THE BUILT IN VACUUM CLEANER HAD A SHORT. I TOOK IT OUT. THE FRONT TIRES SHOWED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON OUTER EDGES. I KEPT ROTATING THEM. I WENT TO A FRONT END SHOP FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, THEY TOLD ME THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE BAD AND BALL JOINTS WERE WORN, THEY SUGGESTED I GO TO A CHRYSLER DEALER SINCE IT WAS STILL UNDE WARRANTY. THEY DID NOTHING, TIGHTENING UP THE BEARINGS SO THE WHEELS WOULDNT WOBBLE AND SENT ME ON MY WAY, SAYING IT'S JUST NORMAL. TIRES ARE STILL WEARING OUT ON OUTER EDGES. PAINT STARTED PEELING ALONG ROOF EDGES AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS. WHEN I VERBALY COMPLAINED TO CHRYSLER, THEY SAID ACID RAIN IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT AUTO TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN MAKING CLUNKING NOISES WHEN I SHIFT FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL AND DRIVE. THAT IS ONLY SOME OF MY TALE OF WOE.

NHTSA ID
10070267
Incident
May 15, 1996
Steering
Filed Oct 16, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING IS OVALED OUT. MR

NHTSA ID
8020962
Incident
Sep 26, 2002
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 14, 2000

DELAMINATION OF TREAD AND BELT FOR 1/2+ OF CIRCUMFERANCE CAUSED $850.00 VEHICLE DAMAGE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

NHTSA ID
731434
Incident
Aug 23, 2000
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 29, 2000

THE METAL ON THE DOOR WHERE THE LATCH MECHANISM ATTACHES IS CRACKING. PROBLEM IS WORSE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. VAN WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *ML

NHTSA ID
857654
Incident
Feb 1, 2000
Engine
Filed Nov 13, 1997

THE SERPENTINE BELT WILL DISENGAGE FROM THE ENGINE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY. *AK WHILE FIRST STARTING VEHICLE AND PUTTING INTO REVERSE, LOUD NOISES CAME FROM THE SERPENTINE BELT AREA, DEALER REPLACED FAULTY SERPENTINE BELT. *SLC

NHTSA ID
818990
Incident
Nov 5, 1997

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

R2118796A

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Valve Body. These may cause over drive cycling.

9002688

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT

68069384A$, R8069384A$, 68086182A$, R8027067A$, RL002012A$ - Gasket, Cylinder Head Cover Before replacing injectors for Diagnostic Trouble Codes P0201, P0202, P0203, P0204, P0205, and/or P0206, please make sure that the wiring loom and/or connector in the valve cover gasket is not the root cause to your concern. In addition, make sure that the wiring attaching nuts are torqued to their proper value.~

2100601

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ

0800600REV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB

2300800B

SEATS

SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT

020400

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A SQUEAKING / CLICKING NOISE FROM REAR LEAF SPRINGS. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Dodge Ram Van by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003160143.5
2002141151.5
2001331148.9
2000290150.2
1999470152.6
1998221155.8
1997160145.7
1996180131.4
1995140238.4
1994Viewing601—
1993310—
1992200—
1991100—
1990000—
1989100—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.