U.S. public vehicle records

Dodge MINI RAM VAN problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

20 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

37,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1984 to 1999 model years. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 20 complaints (10.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Electrical and battery issues	3	15.0%
Engine operation	1	5.0%
Steering behavior	1	5.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hatchback/Liftgate:Lock

Tires:Tread/Belt

Electrical System:Horn

Electrical System:Wiring

Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery	2
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hatchback/Liftgate:Lock	2
Tires:Tread/Belt	2
Electrical System:Horn	1
Electrical System:Wiring	1
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash	1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	1

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 2; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hatchback/Liftgate:Lock: 2; Tires:Tread/Belt: 2; Electrical System:Horn: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 19 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995

1996

1997

2001

2002

2003

2005

2016

1995: 7; 1996: 2; 1997: 2; 2001: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 3; 2005: 2; 2016: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 808315 · 1997-01-29 (January 29, 1997)

STARTED SMOKING AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE DASH IN THE HEATER OR HEATER WIRING AFTER IDLING FOR 3 HRS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 808315 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 487731 · 1995-11-09 (November 9, 1995)

BATTERY EXPLODED INTO PIECES, UPON ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487731 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 505689 · 1996-06-18 (June 18, 1996)

RUBBER INNER FENDER SHIELD LEFT OFF AT FACTORY, ALLOWING MUD/WATER TO GET INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *DH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505689 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10916786 · 2016-10-18 (October 18, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE MINI RAM VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER TO THE SIDES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS DISCONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000...UPDATED 11/17/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE REPAIRED THE STEERING HIMSELF BY REMOVING THE STEERING SHAFT AND REP…

Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10916786 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1984

1985

1988

1989

1991

1992

1993

1995

1996

1997

1999

1984: 2; 1985: 2; 1988: 2; 1989: 0; 1991: 0; 1992: 0; 1993: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1999: 0

First model yearSecond model year

Year-by-year records

Dodge MINI RAM VAN model-year comparison
Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Change in recalls
1984	3	2	Not available
1985	1	2	0
1988	1	2	Not available
1989	1	0	-2
1991	1	0	Not available
1992	2	0	0
1993	2	0	0
1995	1	0	Not available
1996	5	0	0
1997	2	0	0
1999	1	0	Not available

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

20 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

5.0%Usable mileage1 / 20 records

100.0%Valid incident date20 / 20 records

100.0%Valid filing date20 / 20 records

95.0%Ordered incident and filing dates19 / 20 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1985	1988	1989	1991	1992	1993	1995	1996	1997	1999
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 481574 SHOCK ABSORBERS REPLACED. Look up ODI 481574 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 487731 BATTERY EXPLODED INTO PIECES, UPON ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE. *SD Look up ODI 487731 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hatchback/Liftgate:Lock	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 482404 DEFECTIVE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH. *AW Look up ODI 482404 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 484904 REAR LATCH RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO PART UNAVAILABILITY. (OTHER VEHICLE ON 479690) *SKD Look up ODI 484904 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Tires:Tread/Belt	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	120.0% ODI 10111912 I HAVE HAD TO EITHER REPLACE OR REPAIR TWO OF MY HANKOOK MILAGE PLUS TIRES SINCE I PURCHASED THEM SIX MONTHS AGO. THE LATEST INCIDENT OCCURING ON 2/21/05. I HAVE BOTH TIRES THE ONE THAT WAS REPLACED AND THE I HAD TO HAVE REPAIRED. Look up ODI 10111912 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Horn	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 8023072 CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE HORN WILL OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY DURING WINTER WEATHER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS Look up ODI 8023072 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Wiring	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 480907 CONTINUOUS ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEMS, RESULTED IN FIRE. *SKD Look up ODI 480907 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 481574 SHOCK ABSORBERS REPLACED. Look up ODI 481574 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	120.0% ODI 894799 ENGINE FAILURE, ENGINE WAS REPLACED FOR FOUR TIMES BY DEALER. REASON FOR FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK Look up ODI 894799 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
No usable records for this analysis.

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

1997: 0 complaints · 1999: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1997	0	0	0
1999	0	0	0

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1997	2	0	0
1999	1	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery	Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hatchback/Liftgate:Lock	Tires:Tread/Belt	Electrical System:Horn	Electrical System:Wiring	Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery	—	0	0	0	0	0	1 ODI 481574 SHOCK ABSORBERS REPLACED. Look up ODI 481574 at NHTSA ↗	0
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hatchback/Liftgate:Lock	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Tires:Tread/Belt	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Electrical System:Horn	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Electrical System:Wiring	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	1 ODI 481574 SHOCK ABSORBERS REPLACED. Look up ODI 481574 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

1 patterns with matching reports.

Stalling or loss of power

1 mentions · 5.0% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 505689

RUBBER INNER FENDER SHIELD LEFT OFF AT FACTORY, ALLOWING MUD/WATER TO GET INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *DH

Look up ODI 505689 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b