Selling a dead or junk Dodge Ramcharger
All three Ramcharger recalls on NHTSA's list date from 1984 and 1985, and two of them concern the front brakes. After that the record goes quiet: 20 owner complaints across ten model years, and no year with more than 4.
- Model years in EPA data
- 1984-1993
- Generation
- Second (1981-1993)
- Engine and gearbox (Wikipedia)
- 318 cu in V8, 3-speed automatic
- Complaints to NHTSA
- 20
- Most in one year
- 4 (1985, 1987, 1991)
- Recall campaigns
- 3, all 1984-1985
- Replaced by
- Dodge Durango
So a dead Ramcharger is usually just an old truck worn out, not one with a known defect. We buy whole non-running and junk cars. You can sell the whole car as it sits, with free pickup anywhere in the US.
The second generation, 1984-1993
Every year in the EPA data falls inside Wikipedia's second generation, which ran from 1981 to 1993. Wikipedia lists the 318 cu in (5.2 L) V8 with a 3-speed automatic and a 106-inch wheelbase. The EPA names 2WD and 4WD versions, including the AD100/AD150 and AW100/AW150. The Ramcharger was dropped after the 1993 model year in North America. A third generation built in Saltillo, Mexico, from 1998 to 2001 is not in the EPA data.
1984-1985: brakes and the rear bumper
- 84V047 (1984): the front brakes could cut in and out if a seal on the master cylinder piston leaked. 1,800 vehicles in the campaign.
- 84V117 (1985): the front brake hose may have been twisted at install, letting it loop and rub. 682 vehicles.
- 84V115 (1984-1985): the rear step bumper might not hold up in a rear crash as the federal fuel system integrity standard requires. The fix was a skid plate to protect the fuel tank. 8,800 vehicles.
The 1985 has 4 complaints, 2 of them about tires.
1986-1993: scattered complaints
Complaints after 1985 are thin and spread out. Brakes come up again on the 1986 and twice on the 1991. Structure shows up on the 1986, 1987 and 1989. The 1987 has the model's one fire complaint. The 1992 and 1993 have none on file.
Complaints and recalls by model year
NHTSA owner-complaint counts as of October 10, 2026. Younger trucks in this run have had fewer years for owners to file.
| Year | Complaints | Fires | Injured | Recall campaigns | Named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | none on file |
| 1985 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Tires 2, seats, visibility |
| 1986 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Brakes, structure |
| 1987 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Suspension, fuel system, structure |
| 1988 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Seats, steering, speed control |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Structure |
| 1990 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Tires, seats |
| 1991 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Brakes 2, power train, tires |
| 1992-1993 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | none on file |
The 1984 recall count comes from the two campaigns that list that year; the 1985 count includes 84V115, which covers both.
Repair it or let it go?
Put the VIN into NHTSA's lookup first. On a 1984 or 1985, ask whether the brake and skid plate work was ever done. If the brakes are the main fault, our bad brakes guide helps you size it up. If the frame, engine and brakes all need work, a whole-truck sale is often simpler; see junk truck or SUV.
Selling a Ramcharger whole
- Have the VIN, mileage, drive type and the faults ready.
- Request an offer online or call (877) 421-6008.
- Tell us where it is: a barn, a yard, a driveway. Mention flat tires so the right truck comes.
- Keep it complete. Say if anything is already gone.
- Hand over the title at pickup. No title? See selling with no title.
More Dodge trucks: the Durango, D/W Pickup, Raider, or every Dodge.
Questions people ask
- Which Ramcharger years were recalled?
- Only the 1984 and 1985 appear in NHTSA's recall list for this model: a master cylinder seal that could cost front braking, a front brake hose that could be installed twisted, and a rear step bumper that failed a federal fuel-system crash test. Each campaign's vehicle count covers every model in it.
- Which Ramcharger model year has the most complaints?
- No year stands out. The 1985, 1987 and 1991 have 4 each as of October 10, 2026, and the total across 1984-1993 is 20.
- Will you take a Ramcharger with a dead V8?
- Yes. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US. Tell us if it's 2WD or 4WD and where it sits.
- Should I strip it before selling?
- No. Sell the whole car as it sits, and mention anything already removed.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from one of these. Checked October 11, 2026.
- EPA fuel economy data (model years and variants) fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA complaints flat file (FLAT_CMPL.zip), downloaded October 10, 2026 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 84V047: master cylinder seal, 1984 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 84V115: rear step bumper and fuel tank skid plate, 1984-1985 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 84V117: twisted front brake hose, 1985 nhtsa.gov
- Wikipedia: Dodge Ramcharger (generations, engine, end of production) en.wikipedia.org