AI Damage1988 Dodge RAM 50: common problems
Owners of the 1988 Dodge RAM 50 filed 9 complaints with NHTSA, most often about seat belts and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 9
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Seat belts 67% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 11% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel system 11% of all complaints
- 4 Tires 11% of all complaints
- Seat belts: 6 complaints (67% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (11% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (11% of all).
- Tires: 1 complaints (11% 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
- 2.6 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 9 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 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 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 .
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.
All the seat belt buckles in the vehicle do not work received recall # 95v183000 there are no parts . Please describe .
#95v103003 the driver side seat belt buckle will not unlatch . Tt consumer states the plastic looks like it has broken and lodged in mechanism causing to not to unlatch.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 11,368 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 31% most complained about).
On average one model year of the RAM 50 has 4 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 9, above average.
What to check before buying
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1988 Dodge RAM 50?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: seat belts, engine and cooling, fuel system. Total complaints: 9. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (56%), rust, corrosion (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1988 Dodge RAM 50?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1988 Dodge RAM 50 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1988 models
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 2026-11-06.