Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1995 Dodge Ram submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 65 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 65, in the owner's own words
THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM THE IGNITION SWITCH WIRING RECALL #00V135000, AND THE THROTTLE CABLE RECALL# 01V037000 BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. IT HAS BEEN 60 DAYS. *NM RECALL CAMPAIGN; THE CONSUMER STATED THAT IT HAS NOW BEEN 3 MONTHS AND THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. *TC THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE FOUND A PART ON HIS OWN.
A SHORT IN WIRING HARNESS, CAUSED THE FUEL GAUGE TO GO OUT ALONG WITH A FEW OTHER ELECTRICAL ELEMENTS. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANY WORK. *AK *SCC
THROTTLE CONTROL CABLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER CAMPAIGN ID 01V037000. LESS THAN 500 MILES LATER, THROTTLE CABLE FAILED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE CHECKED BY ANOTHER DEALER, WHO ADVISED CONSUMER THAT RECALL REPAIRS DID NOT PROPERLY REPAIR THE FIRST TIME. DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT FIRST DEALER DID NOT ADD ALL NECESSARY COMPONENTS.*AK CONSUMER STATES HOOD LATCH AND IGNITION SWITCH REPAIRED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN (01V-040 AND 00V-135) BUT FAILED AGAIN. *YH
WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY DID NOT HOLD, PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE COASTED THROUGH A RED LIGHT THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION, THIS WAS CAUSED BY A HOLE IN THE BRAKE LINE, WHICH WAS THE RESULT OF THE WAY THE BRAKE LINE WAS ASSEMBLED.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE 4X4 DID NOT WORK, THE TIRE BLEW OUT, THERE WAS A WATER LEAK AND THE CARPET HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE, THE REAR WINDOW WAS REPLACED, THE REAR BRAKES NEVER WORKED, THE RADIO WAS INOPERATIVE, THE HOOD LIGHT FLICKERED WHILE DRIVING, AND ALSO VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.*JB
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY SPEED CONTROL WILL SURGE, AND IGNITION SWITCH WILL SHORT OUT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
ENGINE FAILS TO STAY ON AFTER CONSUMER REMOVES HAND FROM KEY AND IGNITION . UPON CONTACTING LOCAL DEALERSHIP, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 00V135000. CONSUMER DID NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATION VIA FIRST CLASS MAIL, AND DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN THE COMPONENS TO CORRECT DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK
THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO PRIVATE MECHANIC TO CHECK OUT SYSTEM. WAS INFORMED THAT ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE MELTED TOGETHER. THERE WERE NO RECALLS. *AK
I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE REGARDING THIS FAILURE, ARE TECH OR SAFETY BULLETINS BEING GENERATED, ARE OTHERS REPORTING THE FAILURE? RAM DIESEL MODEL FAILURE MODE ALLOWS STARTER TO REMAIN ENGAGED AND ENGINE RUNNING WITH VEHICLE KEY IN THE OFF POSITION. AFTER DIAGNOSING AND FAILURE ANALYSIS IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS FAILURE MODE IS NOT ONLY COMMON (INPUT FROM VARIOUS WEBSITES) BUT ALSO EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN MY OPINION. WHILE THE ROOT CAUSE (STARTER FAILURE) IS ACCEPTABLE AND UNDERSTANDABLE WITH AGE OF THE VEHICLE, THE SYMPTOM AND EFFECT IS NOT. INTERNAL SHORTING OF THE STARTER CAUSES 12VDC FEEDBACK THROUGH THE CONTROL CIRCUIT AND ALLOWS THE STARTER TO REMAIN ENGAGED AND VEHICLE TO REMAIN RUNNING WIT THE KEY ON!. IF LUCKY ENOUGH TO REACT TO THE FAILURE IN TIME PRIOR TO COMPONENTS AND WIRING BURNING UP AND MELTING, YOU MUST GET UNDER THE HOOD TO DISCONNECT "2" BATTERIES, OR CLIMB UNDER THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE STARTER TO SHUT DOWN ENGINE AND DISENGAGE STARTER, EITHER AGAIN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING WITH THE KEY OFF AND START ENGAGED IN FLYWHEEL, IF THE VEHICLE WERE TO JUMP IN GEAR (STD TRANSMISSION) BODILY INJURY WOULD CERTAINLY TAKE PLACE. AFTER MY FIRST FAILURE THE DEALER REPLACED THE DAMAGED COMPONENTS AT A COST OF >$700 BUT FAILED TO IDENTIFY THE ROOT CAUSE. ONLY AFTER INFORMATION LOCATED IN THE "TURBODIESEL WEBSITE" AND REPEAT FAILURE WAS I ABLE TO IDENTIFY AND CORRECT ROOT CAUSE!*AK
1. ROUGH IDLE AND SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER I'VE REPLACED PLUGS,WIRES,ROTOR, DISTRIBUTOR CAP,CLEANED INJECTORS,BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO HELP 2. THE CABLE WIRE ON THE THROTTLE BODY IS FRAYED2.
AFTER ELEC. INGNITION HARNESS REPLACED UNDER RECALL VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL RELATED FALIURES. HEADLIGHT SWITCH MELTED IN DASH 2X'S CAUSING SMOKE AND OR FIRE CONDITION. A/C FAILURE, NO POWER TO COMPRESSOR. BUCKING, MISSING, HESITATION AT IDLE AND ALL SPEEDS. BUCK, MISS, HESISTATION CAN NOT BE DIAGNOISED BY NUMEROUS DEALERS OR PRIVATE MECHANICS. HAVE SPENT OVER 1700.00 REPLACING PARTS (PCM, EGR SELONOID, EGR GASKET, TPS SENSOR, IAT MOTOR, O2 SENSOR, FUEL PUMP, FUEL REGULATOR) TO REMEDY PROBLEM. SO FAR NO HELP. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
40 AMP FUSE HAS BLOWN OUT TWICE, WHEN THIS HAPPENED CONSUEMR COULD NOT START VEHICLE. DEALER COULDN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM.*AK
PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (00V135000) CONSUMER EXPERIENCED STALLING, INTERMITTENT FAN MOTOR FAILURE AND PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO, WHICH ALL CONTRIBUTED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH BEING FAULTY AND THEREFORE WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. *JB
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING FROM DASHBOARD. THEN, WHEN DRIVER TURNED OFF HEAD LIGHTS SMOKE STOPPED, AND VEHICLE WAS STILL ON FIRE. CONSUMER HAD RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL # 875 THAT SAID IGNITION SWITCH COULD CAUSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, BUT DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR RECALL. *AK
CONSUMER HAD RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE 875 FOR IGNITION SWITCH. VEHICLE COULD CATCH ON FIRE IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. DEALER DID NOT TOOK CARE OF THIS RECALL.*AK
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER FOR RECALL 00V135000/ IGNITION SWITCH WIRING REPAIRS. WORK WAS REFUSED IN REGARD TO THIS RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-135, THEY COMPLAINED OF A BURNING SMELL EMMITING FROM THE VEHICLE ON 2 OCCASIONS BUT THE DEALER NEVER INVESTIGATED THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. NLM
TAIL LIGHT WIRES WERE MELTED AND LIGHTS WERE BURNED OUT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. VEHICLE ISN'T ON RECALL AT THIS TIME. *AK
THIS CONTINUES MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. CHECKED CIRCUITS AND FOUND THE A/C RELAY WAS ARCHED TOGETHER. REPLACE THE RELAY AND RECHECK SYSTEM. RECHECKED IOD OFFDRAW AND THE SYSTEM IS WITHIN SPECS AT THIS TIME." WITHIN 3 DAYS, THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED SO MUCH THAT THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START. I AM RETURNING IT AGAIN TO LANCASTER DODGE (717-393-0625) TODAY FOR REPAIRS.*AK
SINCE RECALL 875 WAS INSTALLED ON JULY 27 BY PROVIDENCE DODGE IN QUARRYVILLE, THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN INOPERABLE. WITHIN TREE DAYS OF THE RECALL INSTALLATION, THE CAR WOULD NOT START WITH OUT A JUMP. THEN, IF THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF, THE BATTERIES WOULD DRAIN SO MUCH WITHIN A FEW HOURS THAT THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START WITHOUT ANOTHER JUMP. PROVIDENCE DISCONNECTED A WIRE TO THE "D-CELLERATOR" EXHAUST BRAKE ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2000. WITHIN HOURS OF MY RETURN HOME, THE BATTERIES WERE AGAIN DRAINED. I HAD NEW BATTERIES INSTALLED. WITHIN HOURS THE BATTERIES WERE AGAIN DRAINED. ON OCTOBER 25, 2000, LANCASTER DODGE INSPECTED THE INSTALLATION AS REPORTED "CHECKED RECALL INSTALLATION, ALL LOOKED GOOD AT THIS TIME. REINSTALLED FUSE THAT THE CUSTORMER REMOVED AND CHECK BLOWER MOTOR OPERATION. NO PROBLEMS FOUND. CHECK FOR IGN OFF DRAW. FOUND HIGH OFF DRAW. CHECL. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 30MPH & STARTED TO SMELL AN ODOR INSIDE VEHICLE. SMOKE WAS COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD & RETRIEVED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. AFTER LEAVING VEHICLE, IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED & PUT OUT FLAMES. WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE TO VEHICLE. FIRE DEPARTMENT SUSPECTED FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A SHORT IN ELECTRICAL WIRINGS, BUT NOT DEFINITE DUE TO DAMAGE.*AK
TEMPERATURE OUSIDE WAS ABOUT 100 DEGREES ON I-80 EAST OF SALT LAKE CITY CLIMBING TOWARD PARLEY'S SUMMIT. ENGINE WAS RUNNING A LITTLE BIT WARM AS USUAL WHEN CLIMBING LONG STEEP GRADES, BUT WAS NOT OVERHEATING. SUDDENLY, I SMELLED SMOKE AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGHLY. I PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD WHERE THE WIRING HARNESS AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS IN FLAME. I HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WITH WHICH I PUT OUT THE FIRE. TRUCK IS STILL BEING REPAIRED, $5000 AND COUNTING.
WHEN STARTING UP VEHICLE BATTERY EXPLODED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
GAS GAUGE HAS MALFUNCTIONED, MOVING UP AND DOWN, GOING FROM A FULL TANK OF FUEL TO HALF A TANK OF FUEL, WHICH PREVENTED DRIVER TO IDENTIFY THE CORRECT FUEL READING. ALSO, HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK THIS VEHICLE HAD PROBLEM WITH IGNITION SWITCH. RADIO AND THE FAN MOTOR SPEEDING UP AND DOWN, THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER OCCASIONALY. THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF IRREGULARLY. *YH
RECALL 00V135000/IGNITION SWITCH/WIRING: AFTER CONTACTING DEALER CONCERNING RECALL NOTICE, DEALER URGED CONSUMER TO TAKE VEHICLE BACK TO WHERE HE BOUGHT IT. AGAIN ASKING NHTSA'S HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
RECALL 00V135000/IGNITION SWITCH/WIRING: AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED; STEERING COLUMN WAS UNABLE TO LOCK IN THE BOTTOM POSITION, AND CAUSED PLASTIC COVER TO CRACK. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND REFUSED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE OF THE REPAIRS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
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.
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