AI DamageDodge RAM 50: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Dodge RAM 50 across 7 model years: 31 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Seat belts 68% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 10% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 10% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 6% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 3% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 3% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 3% of all complaints
- 8 Suspension 3% of all complaints
- Seat belts: 21 complaints (68% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel system: 3 complaints (10% of all).
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (10% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (6% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (3% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1984–1989
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1990–1993
- 2.6 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1984–1989
- 2.3 L · diesel · 4 cyl 1984
- automatic, 3-speed 1984–1986
- automatic, 4-speed 1987–1993
- manual, 4-speed 1984–1985
- manual, 5-speed 1984–1993
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 31 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 21 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Wearing seat belt when the the crash occurred. The shoulder strap of driver side collapsed, allowing consumer's 110lbs upper body to hit the steering area and wheel; thighs bruised on arm rest .
The seat belt for both passangers, does not lock to hold passangers in place in case of sudden impact.
Driver's side wheel locked up while driving 70 mph. This caused the vehicle to spin around to the left on the highway. No injury or crash was reported. Vehicle was towed to a repair shop. Vehicle's front wheels bearing and front rotors needed to be replaced. Dealer was not contacted.
The engine ground wire was installed incorrectly, causing the sensors to burn out. The ground wire should have have been mounted on the engine block. Instead, it was mounted on the exhaust manifold. (parts affected: throttle position sensor/idle speed control motor position sensor/engine coolant temperature senser)
Rear gas tank bracket failed (rusted trhough) allowing tank to swing down and skid along pavement. Accident avoided due to low speed and rapid stop.
The roof has caved in on the van. The roof sometimes pops up and back down again and has hit a passenger on the head.the van doesn't appear to be designed strong enough to withstand a roll over. The paint is pealing off of the entire vehicle.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.