RoadVitals

1983 Dodge Ram Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1983 Dodge Ram, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • 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.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Nov 10, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .