RoadVitals

1985 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.
4
Latest Sep 22, 2010
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.
2
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.
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1985 Dodge Ramcharger, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, interior & seats and visibility categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; 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 & wheels250.0%
  • Interior & seats125.0%
  • Visibility125.0%

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

2 campaigns 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
84V117000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Sep 24, 1984
682 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FRONT BRAKE HOSE, WHICH IS ROUTED FROM THE BODY BRAKE TUBING TO THE FRONT AXLE CONNECTOR, MAY HAVE BEEN TWISTED WHEN INSTALLED. IF THE HOSE IS TWISTED, IT MAY BECOME LOOPED OR COILED UPON ITSELF RESULTING IN ABRASIVE CONTACT DURING NORMAL OPERATION.
The remedy: THE FRONT BRAKE HOSE ON EACH VEHICLE INVOLVED WILL BE INSPECTED FOR PROPER ROUTING AND, IF NECESSARY, REROUTED TO PREVENT ANY ABRASIVE CONTACT.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView 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

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA88001ClosedEngineering Analysis

BRAKE POWER ASSIST

Opened Oct 1, 1987
Closed Mar 1, 1988

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:CHRYSLER RECALLED, IN CANADA,67,602 1984 THROUGH 1987 PASSENGER CARS, TRUCKS, AND VANS EQUIPPED WITH THE5.2L ENGINE FOR INTERMITTENT LOSS OF BRAKE POWER ASSIST ON A SECONDAPPLICATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL.THE DEFECT WAS A RESULT OF THE BRAKEBOOSTER VACUUM HOSE PORT IN THE BASE OF THE CARBURETOR BEING BLOCKED WITHFROZEN MOISTURE AFTER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF HIGHWAY DRIVING AT LOW AMBIENTTEMPERATURES.TO PREVENT THIS DEFECT FROM OCCURRING, THE VACUUM SOURCE FORTHE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS RELOCATED FROM THE BASE OF THE CARBURETOR TO THEINTAKE MANIFOLD.IT WAS STATED THAT REPORTS OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAVEOCCURRED IN THE NORTHERN AREAS OF CANADA.ANALYSIS:REVIEW OF MANUFACTURER'S DATA INDICATED AT LEAST 4 SIMILAR U.S.VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED FAILURES CONSISTENT WITH THOSE REPORTED IN THECANADIAN MARKET.ONE VEHICLE WAS A MANUFACTURER TEST VEHICLE.THE STATESIN WHICH THESE REPORTED FAILURES OCCURRED ARE ALASKA, MINNESOTA (2), ANDWISCONSIN.IT IS THIS ENGINEER'S OPINION THAT THERE IS SUFFICIENT EVIDENCETO SUGGEST THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT COULD BE REPRODUCED BY PERFORMING TESTSIN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMBER.STATUS:ANALYZING MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSE AT 12/09/87.===

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 22, 2010

DOMINATOR RADIAL A/T SIZE 31X1050R15, DOT U78D, TC21601, R8R1. TIRES WERE PURCHASED ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO FOR A 1985 DODGE RAMCHARGER. THEY WERE USED FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS THEN PLACED INTO STORAGE. TIRES WERE REMOVED FROM VEHICLE AND PLACED IN A CLIMATE CONTROLLED STORAGE AREA. IN AUGUST 2010 VEHICLE WAS PLACED BACK INTO OPERATION WITH THESE TIRES. TIRES WERE FINE FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS THEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A WEEK. WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES WERE OVER 100 DEGREES ALL WEEK. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO DRIVE IT WAS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL GOOD YEAR DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT ALL 4 TIRES HAD BELT /TREAD SEPARATION. THESE TIRES HAVE LESS THAN 1/32ND INCH OF WEAR. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE AND TIRES ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10356994
Incident
Aug 10, 2010
Mileage
132,197 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 8, 2006

FOGGED WINDSHIELD. *NM

NHTSA ID
10172950
Incident
Nov 8, 2006
Mileage
40,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 10, 2000

SIDE WALL CALLASPED WHILE ONLY GOING 30 HPH, RIGHT REAR TIRE, TIRE HAD 5000 MILES ON IT. (DOT NUMBER: VDP6 U6W TIRESIZE: 3312.50R15)

NHTSA ID
733887
Incident
May 1, 2000
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 22, 1997

DRIVER'S SEAT TRACKS BROKE. THE BASE OF SEAT CAUSED PRESSURE WHICH APPEARS TO BE THE CAUSE OF SEAT TRACKS BREAKING. *AK

NHTSA ID
810049

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—
1985Viewing421—
1984021—
1983020—
1982020—
1981110—
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.