Complaints
35
Crashes
6
Fires
2
Injuries
1
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1989 Dodge Ram Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#17 complaints
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
#23 complaints
Tire Defects
Crash-related:1
#32 complaints
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1989 Dodge Ram.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion) | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering:Gear Box:Shaft Sector | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices | 1 | — | — | — |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Webbing
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Gear Box:Shaft Sector
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1989 Dodge Ram. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Dodge Ram Years
1989 Dodge Ram — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1989 Dodge Ram reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1989 Dodge Ram has 35 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly with 7 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1989 Dodge Ram?
Top reported problems: Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly (7 complaints); Tire Defects (3 complaints); Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System (2 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1989 Dodge Ram?
NHTSA complaints for the 1989 Dodge Ram include 6 crash-related reports, 2 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 1989 Dodge Ram have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1989 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 1989 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 1989 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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