RoadVitals

1981 Dodge Ramcharger

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 16, 2000
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.
1
Latest Sep 24, 1984
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 1981 Dodge Ramcharger, most frequently naming the tires & wheels category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is 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

  • Tires & wheels1100.0%

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

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
84V115000

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

Sep 24, 1984
8,800 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLES ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE IMPACT TEST REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." THE STRUCTURE OF THE REAR STEP BUMPER MAY NOT WITHSTAND A REAR END COLLISION SIMILAR TO THE FORCE CREATED IN TESTING; FUEL LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR UPON IMPACT.
The remedy: A FUEL TANK PROTECTIVE SKID PLATE WILL BE INSTALLED FREE OF CHARGE.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 16, 2000

INFO SENT TO WEBMASTER ,I DID RECEIVE A MESSAGE ON THE PHONE BUT LOST THE #. RIGHTREAR TIRE HAD TOTAL TREAD SEPARATION. LEFTREAR REPLACED AFTER HEAVY BULGING OF TREAD NOTICED. NO DOTS ON REPLACED TIRES. BUT BOTH FRONT TIRES ARE FROM THE ORIGINAL SET OF 4 AND STILL OK.(FRONT DOTS-VN60AXC135 & VD60AXC265) LEFTREAR LASTED 2600 MILES, RIGHTREAR LASTED 40K MILES BEFORE TREAD SEPARATION AND DENTING REAR BODY AREA AND RIPING OFF MUFFLER AND TAIL PIPE. LH REAR REPLACED WITH WILDERNESS AT DOTVD60AW3183, RHREAR REPLACED WITH GOODYEAR TIRE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VN60AXC135 TIRESIZE: 31X10.50R1)

NHTSA ID
736432
Incident
Jan 1, 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.~

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 Ramcharger by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1993001—
1992000—
1991401—
1990200—
1989100—
1988300—
1987401—
1986201—
1985421—
1984021—
1983020—
1982020—
1981Viewing110—
1980010—
1979200—
1978020—
1974010—

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.