Complaints
27
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Injuries
1
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1988 Dodge Ram Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#13 complaints
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
#22 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Fires:1
#32 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1988 Dodge Ram.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Mechanical:Carrier/Rack | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion) | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Arm | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages | 1 | — | — | — |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Mechanical:Carrier/Rack
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Arm
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1988 Dodge Ram. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Dodge Ram Years
1988 Dodge Ram — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1988 Dodge Ram reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1988 Dodge Ram has 27 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly with 3 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1988 Dodge Ram?
Top reported problems: Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly (3 complaints); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline (2 complaints); Automatic Transmission (2 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1988 Dodge Ram?
NHTSA complaints for the 1988 Dodge Ram include 4 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 1 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1988 Dodge Ram have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1988 Dodge Ram as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1988 Dodge Ram?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Dodge Ram reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1988 Dodge Ram
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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