1993 Dodge Ram 3500 problems & reliability
20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1993 Dodge Ram 3500. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 25% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 | 25% |
| Steering | 4 | 20% |
| Electrical System | 3 | 15% |
| Suspension | 3 | 15% |
| Equipment | 1 | 5% |
| Seats | 1 | 5% |
| Structure | 1 | 5% |
| Wheels | 1 | 5% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Ignition system failure. The key will turn in the ignition, but wouldn't engage. Per dealership ignition switch needed replacement because it had burned out. Problem still exists. Dealership has done nothing to fix the vehicle. *ak *cb *jb”
Electrical System · filed Jul 17, 2003
“Head light switch had turned red hot & melted center connector. Was replaced at least 5 other times. The last time switch replaced, had to by pass the middle prong. Taking back to dealer to have it checked & repaired again. *ak”
Exterior Lighting · filed Aug 30, 1999
“Defective wheels cause vehicle to ride rough, tires have been balanced several times and replaced, problem continues.”
Wheels · filed Apr 6, 1999
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE
Preliminary Evaluation PE93054 · opened May 27, 1993 · closed Dec 29, 1993
Technical service bulletins
3 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 1993 Dodge Ram 3500.
Valve Body. These may cause over drive cycling.
R2118796A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 26, 2016
Part Description: Insulator on Lever Assy Manual Valve - Valve Body - RWD Transmission Issue Description: The manual valve insulator, attaching rivet and instruction sheet are now available as a kit. If the insulator…
9002849 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 3, 2014
68069384A$, R8069384A$, 68086182A$, R8027067A$, RL002012A$ - Gasket, Cylinder Head Cover Before replacing injectors for Diagnostic Trouble Codes P0201, P0202, P0203, P0204, P0205, and/or P0206, please make sure that the…
9002688 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 13, 2013
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 1993 Dodge Ram 3500 in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 1993 Dodge Ram 3500?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.