1988 DODGE RAM 50 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

Defect Description

THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.

Consequence

THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SUR... Read more

920,000 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: CHRYSLER CORPORATION

Complaint Statistics

10 total complaints 1 crashes 1 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY	5
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE	1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING	1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE	1
TIRES	1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING	1

Incident date: Aug 10, 2002

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. *TT

Incident date: Oct 1, 2000

TREAD COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF ON HIGHWAY( DOT NUMBER: )

ENGINE MAKING NOISE.

Incident date: Jul 31, 1997

CONSUMER WAS IN A 4 CAR PILE-UP CRASH, HER VEHICLE WAS THE FOURTH CAR. WAS DRIVING APPROX. 20-32 MPH. 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 . *A... Read more

Crash 1 injured

RECALL 95V-103003, WAITING ON PARTS. *AK

ALL THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES IN THE VEHICLE DO NOT WORK RECEIVED RECALL # 95V183000 THERE ARE NO PARTS . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

Incident date: Sep 1, 1995

#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. *SLC

Incident date: Sep 1, 1995

#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. *SLC

Incident date: Feb 28, 1992

BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS WOULDN'T LOCK LIKE SOMETHING THAT IS JAMMED INSIDE. TT

Incident date: Jan 1, 1993

MODEL #524 SEATBELT BUCKLE JAMS AND IS DIFFICULT TO RELEASE.

NHTSA Safety Investigations — DODGE RAM 50

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

EA — Closed — Model Year: 1984

STEERING OUTPUT SHAFT

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:BOTH CHRYSLER AND MITSUBISHIINDEPENDENTLY CONCLUDED THAT THE FAILURES WERE DUE TO SEVERE IMPACT LOADINGTRANSMITTED TO THE SHAFT BY THE STEERING LINKAGE SYSTEM -- IN OTHER WORDSSHAFT FAILURE IS THE RESULT, NOT THE CAUSE, OF THE ALLEGED COLLISIONCIRCUMSTANCES.M... Read more

Year	Recalls	Complaints
1991	1	2	View
1990	1	5	View
1989	1	5	View
1988 (current)	1	10
1987	1	12	View
1986	1	1	View
1985	1	1	View
1984	1	0	View

Model	Recalls	Complaints
DURANGO	234	19,190	View
CARAVAN	213	14,304	View
GRAND CARAVAN	203	18,754	View
CHARGER	200	8,152	View
RAM	176	5,521	View
DAKOTA	153	9,250	View
CHALLENGER	102	2,357	View
STRATUS	94	3,621	View

1988 DODGE RAM 50

Complaint Statistics

Top Reported Components

NHTSA Safety Investigations — DODGE RAM 50

DODGE RAM 50 — All Years Overview

DODGE RAM 50 — Year by Year

Other DODGE Models