1988 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 1988 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
- Engine417.4%
- Seat belts313.0%
- Tires & wheels313.0%
- Transmission313.0%
- Steering28.7%
- Driver assistance28.7%
- Other / unspecified14.3%
- Fuel system14.3%
- Interior & seats14.3%
- Exterior lighting14.3%
- Body & structure14.3%
- Suspension14.3%
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
SHORTLY AFTER COLD START VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. WAS COMPLETELY CONSUMED. *AK
WHEN IT'S RAINING OR WATER GETS INTO THE DISTRIBUTOR THROUGH THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE CUTS COMPLETELY OFF. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAT BELT LATCHES BROKE PRIOR TO RECALL. *SD
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BUCKLE WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY. *AK
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
3 YEARS AGO, I WAS RETURNING FROM HOUSTON TX WHEN THE TREAD ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE OF MY DODGE RAM CHARGER PEELED OFF. FORTUNETALLY, THE PIECES OF THE TIRE WENT UNDER THE TRUCK AND OUT THE BACK. WHEN I STOPPED AND CHECKED THE TIRE, IT WAS INFLATED YET MISSING ALL OF THE TREAD MINUS THE WALLS. THERE WAS NO SERIOUS DAMAGE, NOR AM I LOOKING FOR ANY COMPENSATION. BUT GIVEN THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION REGARDING FIRESTONE TIRES, I FELT IT COULDN'T HURT TO SUBMIT THIS. I AM NOT SURE HOW OLD THE TIRES WERE WHEN WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN 1996 (USED). AFTER THE INCIDENT, I REPLACED ALL THE TIRES (SPARE INCLUDED) WITH BRAND NEW *COUGH* FIRESTONE TIRES, AND SOLD THE TRUCK IN APRIL.( DOT NUMBER: )
ON AUGUST 6, 2000, TRAVELING NORTH ON I-75 NEAR BELLVIEW FORIDA I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. THE TREAD TORE AWAY FROM THE TIRE CASING WHILE TRAVELING AT A RATE OF 75 MPH LEAVING THE TIRE STILL INFLATED WITH THE STEEL BELTS SHOWING. THE VEHICLE RAN OVER THE SEPARATED TREAD THROWING THE MATERIAL INTO THE UNDERBODY CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TAILPIPE /MUFFLER ASSEMBLY. THE FORCE OF THE INCIDENT CAUSED THE RIGHT REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO JUMP UPWARDS APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET CAUSING A UNCONTROLLED SKID INTO THE LEFT LANE SLIGHTLY ONTO THE LEFT PAVEMENT EDGE AND THEN BACK INTO RIGHT LANE AND CONTINUED OFF THE LEFT EDGE OF THE PAVEMENT. AS THE WHEEL TWISTED DURING THE SKIDDING I EITHER SPRAINED OR BROKE MY RIGHT WRIST . THE ACCIDENT CAUSED NO DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLES OR PROPERTY AND A LETTER DESCRIBING THE ACCIDENT WAS HAND DELIVERED TO OLSON TIRE, COUNTRYSIDE OFFICE, CLEARWATER FLORIDA. THE VEHICLE'S OTHER TIRES ARE THE SAME MAKE AND SIZE BUT ARE MADE IN CANADA AND NOT BEARING THE DOT VDHL CODE, EACH TIRE HAS APPROXIMATELY TWO THIRDS REMAING TREAD AS COMPARED TO NEW AND ALL TIRES WERE INFLATED PROPLERLY. I VISITED THE OLSON STORE TWICE MAKING AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE TIRE INSPECTED EXLAINING THE DEFECTIVE TIRE WAS AVAILABLE TO SEE, HOWEVER THE EMPLOYEE DECLINED TO LOOK AT THE TIRE INSTRUCTING ME TO BRING IT BACK WHEN NEW TIRES WERE AVAILABLE. HE WAS NOT IMPRESSED THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS DAMAGED AND MAY BE A SAFETY HAZARD WITH EXHAUST FUMES , NEITHER DID HE ADVISE WHAT INFORMATION MIGHT BE NEEDED REGARDING THE WRIST INJURY.THE TIRE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AND I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIRS TO THE EXHAUST AND HAVE SCHEDULED A PHYSICIAN OFFICE VISIT TO EXAMINE AND XRAY WRIST IF REQUIRED.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PY157 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
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
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARKING GEAR IT MAKES HORRIBLE AND BUMPING NOISE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
STEERING GEAR BOX IS CRACKED WHICH CAUSES A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. DEALER SAYS THE CHASSIS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK
STEERING WHEEL HAS PLAY IN IT, AND DRIVER HAD TO MOVE IT LIKE A FOOT BEFORE ANYTHING HAPPENED,. SPEED APPROXIMATELY 25-60 MPH, NO CHANGE IN WET OR DRY PAVEMENTS, NO WARRANTY ON VEHICLE. DEALER CONTACTED AND TIGHTENED BOLTS, COSTS WERE $62. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE COST WAS TOO MUCH. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
CABURETOR CORRODED SHUT DURING THE NORMAL USE OF THE TRUCK, RESULTING IN THE PRIMARY THROTTLE LINKAGE STICKING AGAINST THE SECONDARY THROTTLE PLATE CAUSING VEHICLE TOO ACCELERATE AND VEHICLE TO RUN INTO STORE. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).
VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, PUT INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION, SPEED UNKNOWN, IMPACT 11:00 POSITION. *AK
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
VEHICLES SPARE TIRE CARRIER CABLE BROKE ON HWY AND TIRE ROLLED OVER TOP OF ANOTHER VEHICLE.TT *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
GASP IN FUEL INTAKE WHEN ACCELERATING OR SOMETIMES WHEN CRUISING ALONG 75 MPH UP AN INCLINE IN PASSING LANE, SPEEDOMETER DROPPED DOWN TO 35 MPH. PREVIOUSLY REPLACED OXYGEN SENSOR/FUEL PUMP/CARBURETOR TWICE. *AK
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
PASSENGER'S SEAT HINGE THAT TILTS FORWARD IS MADE OF WEAK MATERIAL CAUSING HINGE TO BREAK. *SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
DUE TO FAILURE OF TURN SWITCH, I WAS TICKETED FOR NO BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS, AND FORCED TO HAVE $366.48 IN REPAIRS FOR A FAULTY SWITCH THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AT INITIAL RELEASE OF VEHICLE IN 1988.*AK
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
FACTORY PAINT ON TOP AND SIDES IS PEELING OFF IN SHEETS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARM CROSSMEMBER RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE COIL SPRING TO PUSH UP THROUGH THE TOP.
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 .