IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH BURNED OUT AND CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 264,000.
1995 Dodge RAM 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1995 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
20–25K
425–50K
750–75K
1075–100K
15100–150K
20150K+
58 reports with mileage · 155 unknown
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.
- Structure. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports14 fire reports8 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
13 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE SPECIFIED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V024000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE SPECIFIED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V024000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK...AT APPROX 40MPH MY LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE OF THE DASH BOARD TO THE LEFT OF THE STEERING WHEEL...I WAS ABLE TO SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN AND NO OTHER DAMAGE WAS CAUSED HOWEVER AFTER GETTING THE TRUCK HOME IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAD OVER HEATED AND MELTED DOW…
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WHILE DRIVING TO WORK...AT APPROX 40MPH MY LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE OF THE DASH BOARD TO THE LEFT OF THE STEERING WHEEL...I WAS ABLE TO SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN AND NO OTHER DAMAGE WAS CAUSED HOWEVER AFTER GETTING THE TRUCK HOME IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAD OVER HEATED AND MELTED DOWN AFTER MY EXPERIENCE AND OTHER REPORTS I HAVE READ ONLINE I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V024000 BE UPDATED TO INCLUDE 1500 MODELS AS WELL. *TR
MY 1995 DODGE RAM 1500 HAS THE SAME FAULTY SWITCH THAT THE 3500 MODEL HAS, BUT DODGE WILL NOT COVER IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT YET FORCED THEM TO. THIS FAULTY SWITCH CAUSES THE HEAD LIGHTS TO GO OUT WITH OUT NOTICE FOR GOOD OR IT WILL JUST ALLOW THEM TO FLICKER ON AND OFF.. IT ALSO HAS THE POSSIBILITY TO MELT DOWN AND CAUSE A FIRE.…
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MY 1995 DODGE RAM 1500 HAS THE SAME FAULTY SWITCH THAT THE 3500 MODEL HAS, BUT DODGE WILL NOT COVER IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT YET FORCED THEM TO. THIS FAULTY SWITCH CAUSES THE HEAD LIGHTS TO GO OUT WITH OUT NOTICE FOR GOOD OR IT WILL JUST ALLOW THEM TO FLICKER ON AND OFF.. IT ALSO HAS THE POSSIBILITY TO MELT DOWN AND CAUSE A FIRE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLAMP SWITCH FAILS OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE HEADLAMPS OR PARK LAMPS TO DIM. HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE TO HAVE THE HEADLAMP SWITCH REPAIRED. DUE TO FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS, NO REPAIRS HAVE YET BEEN PERFORM…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLAMP SWITCH FAILS OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE HEADLAMPS OR PARK LAMPS TO DIM. HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE TO HAVE THE HEADLAMP SWITCH REPAIRED. DUE TO FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS, NO REPAIRS HAVE YET BEEN PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V024000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THIS WAS THE FOURTH HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT HAS BE PLACED IN THE VEHICLE. THE SWITCHES USUALLY LASTS FOR 3-4 WEEKS BEFORE FAILING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED AND DETERMINED THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE.
HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AT NIGHT. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT NHTSA WEBSITE SHOWED RECALL 99V024000 CONCERNING HEADLIGHT SWITCH FOR DODGE RAM 3500, 1995 TRUCK HAD DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS VEHICLE. WOULD LIKE NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *AK
HEADLIGHT SWITCH GETS TOO HOT/MELTS WIRING HARNESS,.THIS CAUSES HEADLIGHTS TO FLICKER, AND MAKES IT HARD TO TURN SWITCH ON AND OFF. CONSUMER FEELS IF HEAD LIGHT SWITCH WAS LEFT ON VEHICLE WOULD CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
IF VEHICLE IS PULLING A TRAILOR HEADLIGHTS WILL CUT OFF. DEALER HAS TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. *AK
CONSUMER DOES NOT HAVE ANY DIM LIGHTS SHINING ON THE HEADLIGHTS. THE ONLY LIGHTS THAT HE HAS ARE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS THAT SHINE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
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.