Dodge Ram 1500 1994–2001
2nd generation (BR/BE)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20264,721 complaints, 2,303 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 50,216 and 118,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 81 complaints (3.5%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 32,200
- 25%
- 50,216
- Median
- 83,000
- 75%
- 118,000
- 90%
- 159,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 50 | 2.2% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 15 | 0.7% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 32 | 1.4% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 19 | 0.8% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 40 | 1.7% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 37 | 1.6% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 53 | 2.3% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 93 | 4.0% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 79 | 3.4% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 83 | 3.6% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 115 | 5.0% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 92 | 4.0% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 114 | 5.0% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 78 | 3.4% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 90 | 3.9% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 87 | 3.8% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 105 | 4.6% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 97 | 4.2% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 100 | 4.3% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 106 | 4.6% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 105 | 4.6% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 61 | 2.6% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 60 | 2.6% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 30 | 1.3% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 69 | 3.0% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 36 | 1.6% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 56 | 2.4% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 43 | 1.9% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 54 | 2.3% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 20 | 0.9% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 41 | 1.8% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 16 | 0.7% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 38 | 1.7% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 23 | 1.0% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 19 | 0.8% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 15 | 0.7% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 16 | 0.7% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 9 | 0.4% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 12 | 0.5% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 14 | 0.6% |
| 200,000+ | 81 | 3.5% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 4,721 complaints with NHTSA about the 1994–2001 Dodge Ram 1500, and 2,303 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 50,216 and 118,000 miles. The median is 83,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are body structure (27.3% of complaints, typically around 80,000 miles), the transmission and driveline (9.7% of complaints, typically around 64,000 miles), the hydraulic brake circuit (7.3% of complaints, typically around 74,000 miles).
What fails, and when
- Body structure80,000median 80,350 miles, middle half 55,000 to 107,000
- Transmission and driveline64,000median 64,437 miles, middle half 50,000 to 100,000
- Hydraulic brake circuit74,000median 74,000 miles, middle half 47,000 to 107,000
- Airbag system89,000median 89,000 miles, middle half 50,000 to 118,000
- Electrical system95,000median 95,000 miles, middle half 60,000 to 130,000
- Problems owners could not categorise79,000median 79,315 miles, middle half 50,000 to 110,000
- Suspension55,000median 55,000 miles, middle half 39,000 to 98,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 1,290 | 27.3% | 80,000 | 55,000–107,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 456 | 9.7% | 64,000 | 50,000–100,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 345 | 7.3% | 74,000 | 47,000–107,000 |
| Airbag system | 310 | 6.6% | 89,000 | 50,000–118,000 |
| Electrical system | 304 | 6.4% | 95,000 | 60,000–130,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 286 | 6.1% | 79,000 | 50,000–110,000 |
| Suspension | 277 | 5.9% | 55,000 | 39,000–98,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 253 | 5.4% | 65,000 | 36,000–91,000 |
| Steering | 221 | 4.7% | 80,000 | 45,000–120,000 |
| Tyres | 140 | 3.0% | 93,000 | 54,000–136,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 83,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
Body structure accounts for 27.3% of complaints (1,290 reports, 848 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,350 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 55,387 and 107,000 miles.
A single system taking 27.3% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 9.7% of complaints (456 reports, 183 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 64,437 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 100,000 miles.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 7.3% of complaints (345 reports, 87 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 74,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 47,000 and 107,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 6.6% of complaints (310 reports, 132 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 89,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 118,400 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 6.4% of complaints (304 reports, 146 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 95,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 60,000 and 130,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 6.1% of complaints (286 reports, 166 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 79,315 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 110,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2001 model year drew the most — 1,370 complaints — while 1994 drew the fewest at 148. The median year sits at 554.
That makes 2001 an outlier: roughly 2.5 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
No recall campaigns covering this generation appear in NHTSA's post-2010 recall file. That is not the same as an absence of problems — recalls address safety defects specifically, and many of the complaints above concern faults that are expensive or annoying without meeting that threshold.
Reported severity
Of the 4,721 complaints filed against this generation, 384 reported a crash; 182 reported a fire; 379 reported an injury; 26 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 8.1% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 50,216 and 118,000 miles, with a median of 83,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, body structure and the transmission and driveline are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The transmission and driveline in particular shows a median failure mileage of 64,437, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Transmission (46re/46rh) 1994–2001
Widespread failures: governor pressure solenoid and transducer failure causing erratic or 2nd-gear-start shifting, overdrive clutch burnup and slipping. The single largest complaint category for the generation.
Interior 1994–2001
Dashboard top-pad cracking and splitting into sharp fragments, exposing wiring.
Front Suspension / Driveline 1994–2001
Ball joint wear on 4WD models and vacuum-actuated front axle disconnect failures preventing 4WD engagement.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 148 | 36 |
| 1995 | 273 | 68 |
| 1996 | 407 | 108 |
| 1997 | 468 | 189 |
| 1998 | 645 | 254 |
| 1999 | 769 | 410 |
| 2000 | 641 | 356 |
| 2001 | 1,370 | 882 |
What owners reported
Tl*the contact owns a 1994 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle vibrated and produced a grinding noise when turning the vehicle. The noise was heard the most when making left turns. The vehicle was brought to the dealer who stated that the suspension and ball joints needed to be replaced. The…
1994 · 48,000 miles · Suspension
Traumatic injuries to arm and abdomen; faint sound briefly was noticeable from clockspring area prior to airbag explosion; vehicle moving at 5 MPH, slightly turning right; never a collision or maintenance performed on steering column; with airbag removed the particular sounds are much more pronounced. Therefore, i…
1994 · 64,000 miles · Airbag system
I was driving along at about 50-55 MPH when suddenly the rear of the truck is violently propelled upwards, lifting the rear wheels up off the pavement. I look up in the rear view mirror trying to make sense of what just happened and i see my spare tire standing straight up in the middle of the road and other vehicles…
1994 · 97,000 miles · Wheels
Built from 2,303 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page