In a hard rain or even washing up underneath the truck the 4wd service light comes on and it will say it's trying to transfer over to 4wd and when it tried with me I was running around 55 MPH! It jerks the [xxx] out of the truck with a loud hammer noise! It will cause a person to wreck if you are not expecting it ! It was bought new in 2019 and started the 4wd crap at 4,500 miles not to mention the trailer brake controller doesn't work either now, found that out the hard way with 22 rolls of hay and no it's not the trailer my ford truck has trailer brakes, same trailer. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
The worst 1994 Dodge RAM 3500 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes18
- Electrical14
- Suspension11
- Transmission10
- Fuel system7
- Steering7
- Lights5
- Body4
- Acceleration3
- Engine3
- Seat belts3
- Visibility3
- Airbags2
- Driver assistance1
- Locks1
- Tires1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1994 Dodge RAM 3500
Recalls 1
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: model 3500 light duty trucks only. Operation of the headlamps over an extended period of time can result in headlamp switch failure, causing the headlamps or park lamps to go out.
- Risk
- If the lights fail, a visibility problem could occur, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the headlamp switch including a relay in the park lamp wiring circuit.
Recall number 99V024000 · Recall details
See all 1 recalls for the 1994 Dodge RAM 3500
Defect investigations
Seat back failure
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 the federal safety agency 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 federal safety agency'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.
DP03006
Steering column separation
Mr. Larry a. Sackey submitted a petition to the federal safety agency by letter dated april 18, 2003, requesting that agencyfurther investigate the defective collapsible steering shaft system on 1987-1995 vehicles manufactured by the daimlerchrysler corporation.in part because of 49 cfr ? 30120(g), the federal safety agency 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.
DP03002
Loss of throttle control
Alleged that the throttle cable can fray or sever during normal use resulting in the throttle not returning to idle or an inability to accelerate.
PE00048
Front suspension spring/shock absorber
Allege failure of the coil spring/shock absorber bracket at its attachment to the vehicle frame may allow collapse of the front suspension, and potentially affect steering or braking system performance
PE99026
Headlight circuit
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 federal safety agency 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.
EA98010
Headlight circuit failure
There is no summary currently available
PE98002
Trans hose separation
There is no summary currently available
PE94072
Technical service bulletins for the 1994 Dodge RAM 3500 6
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This SKU is an Automatic Transmission Oil Cooler Line
- This SKU is a front upper ball joint
- Valve Body
- Part Description: Insulator on Lever Assy Manual Valve
- 68069384A$, R8069384A$, 68086182A$, R8027067A$, RL002012A$
- Some customers may experience a situation in which the rear of the vehicle sits too high to attach their...
What 1994 Dodge RAM 3500 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
2 out of the 3 main transpiration and delivery service vehicles that I personally used to get to the job site and to deliver heavy metal structures are in very bad shape, particularly dodge rum 1994 plate number (74r 300). The main problems on this truck are the bad brakes, especially when carrying heavy metal materials. Abs light on, no horn, broken speedometer, air bag light on, broken turning signals, specks of red paint on the windshield, windshield wiper fluid not working, no A/C, turning signals not all working, wear out tires, etc. Even though I point out to them that the breaks were not good, they still never paid any attention to what I said. They probably did not pay much attention to me because they never experienced any vehicle related accidents. But knowing that they area always caring heavy metals, they should be a little more concern about the safety of their workers in general but clearly they do not care a bit and that really bothered me very much. In this email, I am mostly pointing out the dodge rum 1994 plate number (74r-300), unfortunately I don't have the exact plate number of the other 2 vehicles. I am sure that if someone who knows about truck safety and mechanics takes a look at all 3 vehicles, they will se that what I am saying is true. I am also attaching a few images to backup my statement.
Tl-contact owns a 1994 dodge ram pickup truck.... Inquired about general recalls... Contact had vehicle towed to dodge dealership after catching fire due to recall... Dashboard caught on fire while driving... Dealership had investigations team come out to inspect truck after fire... Truck had been repaired after fire... Dealershiphas dead engine cable ... Throttle of truck is failing... Dealership is refusing to fix recall due to truck being repaired after fire.... Dealership stated inspection needs to be done before throttle can be fixed.... Contact was given number to federal trade commission at 202‑366‑2222 may 10,2000 manufacturer recall number875 the federal safety agency recall number00v-135 recall statusrecall incomplete summarythe affected vehicles were built with an ignition switch and wiring that could overheat. 853-1403. Please have your VIN ready when calling.the federal safety agency. You can prove the repairs were made.) however, if the court ultimately rules the defect is not safety-related, federal law does not require that the manufacturer reimburse you for the repair workchapter 301 of title 49 of the united states code (u.s.c.) requires a manufacturer of motor vehicles or items of motor vehicle equipment that contain a defect relating to motor vehicle safety to remedy the defect without charge.
Pulling into traffic vehicle suddenly has no power and will not accelerate nearly caused a accident. Throttle becomes unresponsive. Brought vehicle to dodge dealer. Dodge says this is due to a throttle position sensor which has been on back-order since may. We receive a e-mail from dodge corporate representative approximately every 2 weeks saying thanks for you patience but there still is no delivery date for this part. This vehicle has been parked since may because it is unsafe to drive. I feel this is unacceptable to expect a vehicle to be parked for 4 months with no solution from dealer for a repair part.
Tla* the contact owns a 1994 dodge ram 3500. The contact stated that the seat belt retracted, but failed to stop when pulled forcefully. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the three point seat belt system in the floorboard was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer stated that the parts needed to repair the vehicle were no longer produced. The vehicle could not be repaired. The failure mileage was 120,000. Updated 7/16/15*cn the consumer stated the seat belt would not lock and the tension spring had become very weak. . Updated 07/28/15
Tl* the contact owns a 1994 dodge ram 3500. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the blower motor and wiring harness melted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 00v135000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 148,639. Updated 6/18/15*cn updated 10/05/2017
Tl* the contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the front end of the vehicle started to shake. As a result of the failure, the transfer case failed . The contact stated he had to apply the breaks and turn the engine off in order to stop the vehicle from shaking . The manufacturer was notified many times.. Updated 05/12/2014
Brake line rusted into between fuel tank and frame.
Tl*the contact owns a 1994 dodge ram 3500. The contact stated that the vehicle's dashboard has cracked and fallen apart. He stated that the dashboard is no longer a cosmetic issue, but a safety issue. While driving, the dashboard fell down in the area where the accelerator and brake pedals are located. The contact stated that plastic pieces of the dashboard have fallen out. The hands on the dashboard that indicate the vehicle speed are loose. The # of cylinders is unknown. The current and failure mileages were 200,014.
Dt*: the contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle hit a bump, which started a violent shaking or "death wobble" in the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a service dealer, where the dealer reinforced the shock tower, and determined that the track bar was loose. There is a the federal safety agency recall # 94v097000 which pertains to the front suspension. The vehicle was not included in the recall due to the VIN.
Compare the 1994 Dodge RAM 3500
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Questions about the 1994 Dodge RAM 3500
Is the 1994 Dodge RAM 3500 reliable?
Owners have filed 70 complaints about the 1994 Dodge RAM 3500, fewer than a typical RAM 3500 model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1994 Dodge RAM 3500?
Brakes, with 18 complaints. Next is electrical (14).
How many recalls does the 1994 Dodge RAM 3500 have?
1 recall, covering exterior lighting.
What year does the Dodge RAM 3500 have bad brakes?
The Dodge RAM 3500 model years with the most brakes complaints are 1996 (38 complaints), 1995 (28 complaints) and 1998 (20 complaints).
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