1981 Dodge Ram Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 1981 Dodge Ram.

< older1983
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0

Worst 1981 Dodge Ram Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#11 complaints

Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System

Fires:1
#21 complaints

Tire Defects

Considering a 1981 Dodge Ram?

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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1981 Dodge Ram.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1981 Dodge Ram. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Other Dodge Ram Years

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1981 Dodge Ram — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 1981 Dodge Ram reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1981 Dodge Ram has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System with 1 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1981 Dodge Ram?
Top reported problems: Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System (1 complaints); Tire Defects (1 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
Does the 1981 Dodge Ram have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1981 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 1981 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 1981 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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