1987 Dodge Ram Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1987 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
- Seat belts842.1%
- Powertrain (other)210.5%
- Interior & seats210.5%
- Electrical210.5%
- Body & structure15.3%
- Transmission15.3%
- Engine15.3%
- Other / unspecified15.3%
- Tires & wheels15.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
UPON COMPLETION OF THE RECALL, THE DRIVER'S LATCHING MECHANISM BECAME INOPERATIVE. DEALER REFUSES TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. DEALER: KEN PTHORM CHRYSLER. *AK
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE # 655 FOR SEAT BELT ON 14-OCT-96, CALLED LOCAL DEALER, NO PARTS/WILL CALL BACK WHEN IN, JANUARY 1997 CALLED MANUFACTURER WHO HAD ALL CONSUMER INFORMATION, NO PARTS, WILL CALL WHEN IN, NO RESPONSE. *AK
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS PAST FRIDAY AUGUST 6, 1999 I HAD A MAJOR FIRE BREAK OUT IN THE BACK OF MY TRUCK IT DESTORYED EVERYTHING THE FIRE WAS SO INTENSED IT MELTED MY LADDERS AND POWER TOOLS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNKNOWN
TRANSMISSION POPPING OUT OF GEAR AND NOISE FROM REAR END.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
FAILURE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, FRAME RAIL CRACKED CAUSING THE STEEL TO PULL WAY FROM THE SEAT PE90-031C. *AK
FRONT SEAT TRACK ANCHORS ARE LOOSE DUE TO BOLTS CONTINUE TO COME OUT. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
PULLEY CAME OFF ALTERNATOR WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO STOP DEAD. ALTERNATOR PULLEY WAS PRESSED ON, NOT BOLTED. THIS WAS DONE BY OZARKS AUTOMOTIVES LOCATED IN SPRINGFIELD, MO.*AK
IGINITION WIRING FAILURE. *SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEAT SHIELDS HAVE NEVER BEEN CORRECTED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION POPPING OUT OF GEAR AND NOISE FROM REAR END.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT ENGINE CROSSMEMBER HAD A-ARM MOUNTING PAD PULLED OUT OF WHERE A-ARM IS CONNECTED, CRACKING ORIGINAL WELDS, CREATING NOISE WHEN TURNING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE JACK PROBLEMS, PARALEGAL FOR CLIENT. *TW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE TIRE WAS MOUNTED IN THE SPIRE TIRE HOLDER IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE SUNDAY NIGHT AND BLUE UP DAMAGING THE IN SIDE OF THE VEHICLE( DOT NUMBER: B3DD565455 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .