RoadVitals

1983 Dodge Ram

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.
1
Latest Nov 10, 1999
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.
0
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 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1983 Dodge Ram, most frequently naming the body & structure category. 2 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 & structure1100.0%

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.

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structure
Filed Nov 10, 1999

WHILE BACKING UP, (APPROX. 2 MILES/HR), THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL COLLAPSED! UPON INSPECTION, FOUND METAL FATIGUE IN THE FRAME AREA WHERE THE "LOWER CONTROL ARM" ATTACHES TO THE "FRAME". A LARGE SECTION OF THE FRAME RIPPED AWAY AT THE MATING AREA WHERE 4 BOLTS HOLD THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO MY RESIDENCE. 3 MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE, AND ALL 3 STATED, "THEY HAVE NEVER OBSERVED SUCH A DEFECT, AND SUGGESTED I CONTACT DODGE". I HAVE AND DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE IN MICHIGAN SAID, "THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY SUCH PROBLEM". THE MECHANICS BELIEVE THIS IS A "DESIGN FLAW" AND IS NOT REPAIRABALE BY REPLACING PARTS (COULD ONLY WELD THE FRAME - WHICH WOULD HAVE NO GUARENTEE OF NO FUTURE FAILURES. THE MECHANICS WERE SURPRISED AT HOW THIN THE METAL OF THE FRAME IS IN THAT AREA (THAT BEING THE DESIGN FLAW). IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING AT ANY NORMAL SPEED (65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY) THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSED A TREMENDOUS CRASH, LOOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND POSSIBLY TAKING OTHERS WITH ME. WHO KNOWS HOW MANY VEHICLES OF THE SAME DESIGN MAY BE AT THE POINT OF KILLING THE OCCUPANTANTS. MY WIFE AND I USED THIS VEHICLE TO GO ON A CAMPING VACATION TO SAN DIEGO, CA THIS LAST JUNE, AND THE THOUGHT OF THIS HAPPENING DURING THAT TRIP, STILL LINGERS IN OUR DREAMS. I STILL HAVE THE VEHICLE AND SOMEONE SHOULD SEE IT. DODGE INDICATED, "THEY WOULD NOT SEND ANYONE TO INVESTIGATE AND THEY WOULD NOT BEAR ANY RESPONSIBILITY (IT'S AN OLD VEHICLE!)". IF THIS FAILURE SHOULD HAPPEN AT NORMAL SPEEDS, THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT MAY BE COVERED UP DUE TO THE VIOLENT CRASH THIS WOULD CAUSE. WE ALSO OWN A 1988 DODGE CARAVAN, AND WE LIKE DODGE PRODUCTS, BUT THIS IS NOT NORMAL. I AM CONCERNED FOR OTHERS WITH LIKE VEHICLES. MINE IS NOW JUNK. THANK GOD, WE WERE NOT INJURED OR CAUSE ANY DAMAGE TO OTHERS OR PROPERTY!!!

NHTSA ID
714592
Incident
Oct 7, 1999

Manufacturer communications

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

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.~

190393

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING COLUMN COUPLER SERVICE. *TW

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 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2011041—
2010275159.7
2009961—
2008254156.1
2007174049.2
2006254046.7
2005405053.1
2004587261.0
2003537159.0
20021166158.4
200131814162.0
200014711163.4
199936613056.1
199848317057.4
199739811565.2
199662514966.6
1995611161066.9
1994469221366.6
1993541247.9
1992582153.5
1991513258.5
1990230044.4
1989280042.6
1988220042.6
1987180029.9
1986180049.3
1985100041.8
1984200—
1983Viewing100—
1982000—
1981200—
1980000—
1979300—
1977200—
1976100—

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.