RoadVitals

1986 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.
2
Latest Apr 9, 1999
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.
0
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
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Dodge Ramcharger, most frequently naming the body & structure and brakes categories. 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

  • Body & structure150.0%
  • Brakes150.0%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN 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

Body & structure
Filed Apr 9, 1999
1 injury reported

I LIFTED UP TAILGATE TO LOAD GROCERIES. WHILE I WAS BENT OVER MAKING ROOM, MY WIFE TURNED TO PUT TWO BAGS IN , SHOCKS FAILED. TAILGATE FELL & STRUCK HER IN HEAD . RUPTURED DISCS IN NECK & HAD HEAD INJURY. SO FAR BILLS ARE AT $70,000.00 AND CLIMBING. HAS THIS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE? *AK

NHTSA ID
705449
Incident
Dec 2, 1998
Brakes
Filed Oct 12, 1998

BRAKE MASTER CYLINGER FAILED.

NHTSA ID
781161
Incident
Oct 1, 1998

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—
1986Viewing201—
1985421—
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.