IllustrationLOWER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BROKE, CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. FORTUNATELY, WAS JUST MOVING FARM PICKUP OUT OF BARN AND NOT ON ROAD AT THE TIME. BARELY MOVING WHEN CONTROL WAS LOST TRYING TO TURN.
1994 Dodge RAM 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1994 Dodge RAM 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 520.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 28 of 116 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports7 fire reports11 injury reports
Steering complaints
17 reportsWE ( MY FAMILY AND I) WERE DRIVING EAST ON I40 GETTING ON THE INTERSTATE AT PAPERMILL ROAD. THERE WAS AS SHIMMY, THEN A POP, BANG CLANK AND SHUDDER AND THEN WE LOST STEERING. IT ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES,AND HAD TO TROUBLE STEERING IT TO THE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE CROSSING OVER INFRONT OF OTHER CARS. I…
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WE ( MY FAMILY AND I) WERE DRIVING EAST ON I40 GETTING ON THE INTERSTATE AT PAPERMILL ROAD. THERE WAS AS SHIMMY, THEN A POP, BANG CLANK AND SHUDDER AND THEN WE LOST STEERING. IT ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES,AND HAD TO TROUBLE STEERING IT TO THE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE CROSSING OVER INFRONT OF OTHER CARS. I LOST STEERING ABILITY IN THE TRUCK WE HAD TO DRIVE IT HOME AT 25 MILES PER HOUR. WHEN WE WOULD HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD IT WOULD SHIMMY AND SHAKE. IT TAKES THREE ROTATIONS OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE EVEN A GENTLE CURVE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH ON A WET ROAD VEHICLE SUDDENLY DID A COMPLETE 90-DEGREE SPIN , AND ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE STOPPING. CONSUMER SUSTAINED 10 BROKEN RIBS, AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AN AMBULANCE TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL. *AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM. STEERING COLUMN KEPT BREAKING THE CLOCK SPRING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. *AK
DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE AT 40 MPH. REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE TIE ROD AND BALL JOINTS. CONSUMER WAS NOT SURE IF UPPER OR LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED.*AK
STEERING WHEEL PROBLEMS.ALSO, DIMS GO OUT WHICH CAUSES THE STEERING COLUMN TO FAIL. MANUFACTURER WA NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. *AK
WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A POPPING SOUND. *AK THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR AT A POINT WHERE STEERING SHAFT COMES THROUGH FIRE WALL. *YH
I HAVE THIS WONDERING STEERING AS SOON AS A PICK UP FREEWAY SPEEDS I WENT TO THE DEALER AND SAID THEY HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS AND THEY HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS BY PLACING A RECALL ON ONE COMPONENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. I PLACED AN AD ON THE EDMUND.COM, AND I WAS SURPRISED HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM UNDER THE…
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I HAVE THIS WONDERING STEERING AS SOON AS A PICK UP FREEWAY SPEEDS I WENT TO THE DEALER AND SAID THEY HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS AND THEY HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS BY PLACING A RECALL ON ONE COMPONENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. I PLACED AN AD ON THE EDMUND.COM, AND I WAS SURPRISED HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES,MANUFACTURER/MODEL/YEAR/SPEEDS. *AK
PITMAN SHAFT SHEARED OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF ALL STEERING.DURING MY PHONE CALL TO ORILLIA DODGE IN ORILLIA ONTARIO CANADA TO ORDER A NEW PART INFORMATION WAS GIVEN BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT DODGE NO LONGER USES THIS PIECE OF ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WHICH IS THE COMPLETE STEERING BOX ASSEMBLY. ORILLIA DODGE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT …
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PITMAN SHAFT SHEARED OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF ALL STEERING.DURING MY PHONE CALL TO ORILLIA DODGE IN ORILLIA ONTARIO CANADA TO ORDER A NEW PART INFORMATION WAS GIVEN BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT DODGE NO LONGER USES THIS PIECE OF ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WHICH IS THE COMPLETE STEERING BOX ASSEMBLY. ORILLIA DODGE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT A NEW UPGRADED MODEL IS NOW BEING USED FOR REPLACEMENT PART. THE SHAFT BROKE A NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS ,COUNTRY ROAD FRESHLY GRADED AT 30 KILOMETERS PER HOUR.THERE HAS BEEN INCIDENTS OF SIMILAR NATURE KNOWN OF ACROSS CANADA. ISEEM TO FEEL IF ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT IS NO LONGER RECOMMENDED FOR REPLACEMENT A RECALL SHOULD BE WARRENTED TO PREVENT FURTHER ACCIDENTS AN INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OWNER,PASSENGERS,AND OTHER PUBLIC ON OUR ROADS AND SIDEWALKS. PLEASE NOTE THAT MY ADRESS IS IN ORILLIA ONTARIO CANADA, POSTAL CODE L3V-6H2 P.S. I (KEVIN DRAPER) HAS ALSO FORWARDED A LETTER OS SIMILAR NATURE TO THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION OF CANADA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME HOPE TO HEAR BACK FROM SOON ON YOUR INTENTIONS TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS MATTER.I FEEL I SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO HAVETHIS VEHILCE REPAIRED PARTS ALL BODY WORK AND LABOUR BACK TO THE CONDITION BEFORE THE ACCCIDENT COVERED BY CHRYLSER CORPORATION,BUMPER ,RIGHT FENDER,PASSENGER DOOR CAB CORNER,PASSENGER SIDE OF BOX,PLUSANY DAMAGE TO THE REST OF THE STEERING COMPONENTS LESS THE NORMAL WEAR . THE TRUCK IS NOT NEW BUT IT WAS NOT SMASHED UP BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. THANK YOU AGAIN. *AK
SEAL ON PITMAN ARM STEERING BOX COMPONENT FAILED, FLUID LOSS CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENT. MJS
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
4DP03006 · Seat Back Failure
Opened Sep 23, 2003 · Closed Apr 8, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats; Seats:front Assembly:recliner
ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 30 INCIDENTS WHERE IT IS ALLEGED THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED IN A REAR IMPACT CRASH.THESE INCIDENTS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO 23 INJURIES AND TWO DEATHS.THE DATA PRESENTED TO ODI SHOW THAT THE SEAT BACK STRENGTH OF THE FRONT SEATS COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207. SEATING SYSTEM.ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYLSER THE FRONT SEATS WERE DESIGNED TO COLLAPSE REARWARD IN REAR IMPACT CRASHES AS PART OF THE ENERGY ABSORPTIONCAPABILITIES OF THE SEATING SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.RATES OF OCCURANCE WERE COMPARED TO PEER VEHICLES, AND IT WAS SHOWN THAT THE PERFORMACE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS COMPARABLE TO THOSE VEHICLES.IN VIEW OF THE FORGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION REMEDY OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS DEFINED BY THE PETITIONER AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THERFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE THE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR FURTHER DETAILS, REFER TO ODI'S RESPONSE TO THE PETITION PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER VOL.69, NO. 60 , DATED MARCH 29, 2004.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Seats
ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 30 INCIDENTS WHERE IT IS ALLEGED THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED IN A REAR IMPACT CRASH.THESE INCIDENTS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO 23 INJURIES AND TWO DEATHS.THE DATA PRESENTED TO ODI SHOW THAT THE SEAT BACK STRENGTH OF THE FRONT SEATS COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207. SEATING SYSTEM.ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYLSER THE FRONT SEATS WERE DESIGNED TO COLLAPSE REARWARD IN REAR IMPACT CRASHES AS PART OF THE ENERGY ABSORPTIONCAPABILITIES OF THE SEATING SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.RATES OF OCCURANCE WERE COMPARED TO PEER VEHICLES, AND IT WAS SHOWN THAT THE PERFORMACE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS COMPARABLE TO THOSE VEHICLES.IN VIEW OF THE FORGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION REMEDY OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS DEFINED BY THE PETITIONER AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THERFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE THE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR FURTHER DETAILS, REFER TO ODI'S RESPONSE TO THE PETITION PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER VOL.69, NO. 60 , DATED MARCH 29, 2004.
Seats:front Assembly:recliner
ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 30 INCIDENTS WHERE IT IS ALLEGED THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED IN A REAR IMPACT CRASH.THESE INCIDENTS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO 23 INJURIES AND TWO DEATHS.THE DATA PRESENTED TO ODI SHOW THAT THE SEAT BACK STRENGTH OF THE FRONT SEATS COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207. SEATING SYSTEM.ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYLSER THE FRONT SEATS WERE DESIGNED TO COLLAPSE REARWARD IN REAR IMPACT CRASHES AS PART OF THE ENERGY ABSORPTIONCAPABILITIES OF THE SEATING SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.RATES OF OCCURANCE WERE COMPARED TO PEER VEHICLES, AND IT WAS SHOWN THAT THE PERFORMACE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS COMPARABLE TO THOSE VEHICLES.IN VIEW OF THE FORGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION REMEDY OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS DEFINED BY THE PETITIONER AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THERFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE THE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR FURTHER DETAILS, REFER TO ODI'S RESPONSE TO THE PETITION PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER VOL.69, NO. 60 , DATED MARCH 29, 2004.
DP03002 · Steering Column Separation
Opened May 7, 2003 · Closed Jul 22, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:column
MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR DETAILS, SEE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE VOLUME 68, NO. 130, JULY 8, 2003.
EA98010 · Headlight Circuit
Opened May 8, 1998 · Closed Dec 10, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
THE HEADLAMP SWITCH IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CAN OVER-HEAT AND FAIL RESULTING IN LOSS OF HEAD LAMPS AND POSSIBLY OTHER LIGHTS.DAIMLERCHRYSLER CONDUCTED A SERIES OF TESTS AND DETERMINED THAT THE 3500 SERIES IS PRONE TO GENERATING HEAD LAMP SWITCH TEMPERATURES IN EXCESS OF THE SWITCH LUBRICANT THRESHOLD OF 100 DEGREES CENTIGRADE.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE LUBRICANT SOLIDIFIES AND ADHERES TO THE SWITCH CONTACH SURFACES INCREASING INTERNAL RESISTANCE AND THERFORE, TEMPERATURE.DAIMLERCHRYSLER INFORMED THE NHTSA THAT IT WOULD INITIATE A RECALL OF 79,3665 MODEL YEAR 1994-1997 DODGE 3500 SERIES RAM TRUCKS ONLY BASED ON ADDITIONAL TESTING FROM WHICH IT DETERMINED THAT THE 1500/2500 SERIES VEHICLES NOMINALLY OPERATE SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW THE TEMPERATURE THRESHOLD OF THE SWITCH LUBRICANT.OWNERS OF 1500/2500 SERIES TRUCKS WERE SENT A NOTIFICATION LETTER ADVISING OF THE PROPER METHODS FOR ADDING AFTERMARKET LIGHTING ACCESSORIES.
PE96022 · Alleged Failure Of Steering Pitman Shaft
Opened Mar 22, 1996 · Closed Jul 31, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:gear Box:shaft Pitman
STEERING BOX OUTPUT (PITMAN) SHAFT BREAKAGE RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL.