Common problems · 1974–80
1st Gen Dodge Ramcharger problems: 8 things to check
The problems owners and specialists flag most on the Dodge Ramcharger (first generation), the repairs they end up doing and what those cost, plus the years and recalls to watch. Sourced, not scraped.
1st Gen Dodge Ramcharger problems to check before you buy
- Rust: wheel wells, floors and the radiator supportRamcharger Central members list the rear wheel wells, lower sills and fenders, the bottom of the radiator support, the floors (especially the driver's side and the rear floor), the rain gutters and the windshield surround. Also look under the battery and at the bottoms of the doors. One desert truck still needed metal in the core support. Bring a magnet.
- Find out which 4WD system it really hasFrom 1974 to 1979 the truck should have a full-time NP203 and a front axle with no hubs. If you see locking hubs, a part-time conversion kit or a different transfer case, ask what was changed. Ramcharger Central's SuperBurban warns that the NP203's park pawl only holds when the front axle is engaged or the case is in Loc. A converted truck with unlocked hubs can roll away in Park.
- Shake the front wheelsOn a forum thread about a full-time 1978 Dodge, one experienced owner calls the full-time front hub bearings 'the weak spot in these trucks from day one'. They were sealed for life until a grease fitting was added in 1976, and few owners ever greased them. Jack up each front wheel and rock it top to bottom. You want zero play. Wide tires on big-offset wheels wear these bearings faster.
- Steering box mount and wanderRamcharger Central members say the stock steering box mounting plate is prone to cracking. Dodge made the plate thicker in 1988, and members recommend the 1977–93 box design as an upgrade for earlier trucks. Check for cracks around the box and the frame rail, and for wandering steering. NHTSA's 1978 recalls covered the intermediate shaft's pot coupling and a misindexed lower shaft, so ask whether the recall work was done.
- Is the engine the one it was born with?These trucks get re-engined constantly. Bring a Trailer has sold first-gen trucks with 340, 383 and 408 V8s, a Cummins 6BT and even a 1974 Trail Duster body on a 1992 Ramcharger chassis. A window sticker or build sheet is gold. The 440 was 4x4-only, the six wasn't sold in California, and the big-blocks were gone after 1978.
- Big-block heatA 440 in a short truck runs hot. The seller of a 1976 Ramcharger on BaT reported overheating at idle in hot weather. A Ramcharger Central member with a 440 trail truck fought constant overheating and low oil pressure at high rpm until he pulled the engine. Look for an upgraded radiator, a working fan shroud and a temperature gauge that stays put in traffic.
- The roof, the doors and their sealsMake sure a removable hardtop is actually there and fits. A truck built before June 10, 1974 with half doors needs its matching roof, because the door pillars are part of it. Hardtop rear-glass weatherstrip is a known chore. Ramcharger Central members use the factory rope trick or work it in with stiff plastic.
- Odometers and titlesFive-digit odometers roll over, and many BaT listings describe true mileage as unknown. Read the title too. Listings have shown Classic and 'Exceeds Limits' brands, and liens. Service records and original paperwork are worth real money in this market.
The repairs 1st Gen Dodge Ramcharger owners end up doing
| REPAIR | SYMPTOMS | DIFFICULTY | TIME | COST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grease the full-time front hub bearings | Play when you rock a raised front wheel top to bottom, or noise from the front hubs. Neglect is the main cause: from 1976 the bearings have a grease fitting that most owners never found. | 1 / 5 | ≈ 30 minutes | A tube of grease |
| Service and reseal the NP203 transfer case | Oil dripping from the case or the output seals, a low fluid level, or a chain that has worn noisy. One forum veteran says the 203 is 'perfectly adequate and strong if the chain and sprockets are not worn out'. | 3 / 5 | ≈ 1 hour for a fluid change; a reseal takes much longer | Torque King's NP203 gasket and seal kit is $59.98 |
| Convert the NP203 to part-time | Not a fault, just a choice. Owners convert for less driveline drag and wear on the road. Ramcharger Central is split: some say the fuel savings don't justify it, and others just leave the case in High Loc. | 3 / 5 | ≈ a day, including case removal | Parts plus labor |
| Reinforce the steering box mount | Wandering steering, a steering box that moves when someone turns the wheel with the engine running, or cracks around the box mounting plate or the frame rail. | 3 / 5 | ≈ half a day | Parts plus labor |
| Replace the Dana 44 inner axle seals | A front differential that keeps running low, or gear oil working its way out toward the steering knuckles. | 4 / 5 | ≈ a day | Torque King's seal kits with installer are $189.50–194.50 |
| Sort out a hot-running big-block | The temperature climbs at idle or in traffic on hot days. One BaT seller and one Ramcharger Central member both reported it on 440 trucks. | 2 / 5 | ≈ 2–4 hours | Parts plus labor |
| Patch rust at the quarters, floors and core support | Bubbles in the rear wheel arches and rockers, soft floors, a wet driver's door sill after rain, or a radiator support crumbling at the bottom. | 4 / 5 | Days, not hours | Mill Supply's 1974 lower rear quarter kit is $178.28 |
Each repair links to a step-by-step guide with tools, part numbers and where to buy the parts.
Years with known problems
| YEARS | FLAG | WHAT TO KNOW |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Recall | Two steering recalls: a misindexed steering column (77V176) and an intermediate-shaft pot coupling that might not tighten (78V038). |
| 1980 | Recall | NHTSA campaign 84V115 adds a fuel-tank skid plate because the rear step bumper failed the FMVSS 301 impact test. |
1st Gen Dodge Ramcharger recalls and service bulletins
- Steering column misassembled, steering wheel indexed 180° off ↗ 1978 · NHTSA 77V176000The master serration could be 180 degrees out, and tie-rod adjustments made to compensate could leave too little thread engagement. Dealers replaced the lower steering shaft and checked the tie rods.
- Intermediate steering shaft pot coupling may not tighten ↗ 1978 · NHTSA 78V038000A mismatched coupling with an oversized serration might not clamp properly onto the gear or shaft splines. Dealers inspected it and replaced the coupling if necessary.
- Rear step bumper may not protect the fuel tank in a rear impact ↗ 1980 · NHTSA 84V115000Trucks didn't meet the FMVSS 301 fuel-system integrity impact test, so fuel could leak in a rear collision. The remedy was a free fuel-tank skid plate.
Check any VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls ↗, or see the recall tracker.
Owner questions about 1st Gen Dodge Ramcharger reliability
Is the full-time NP203 a problem?
Opinions differ. Torque King calls it 'troublesome', and many trucks were converted to part-time. Ramcharger Central members mostly defend it. They say it's heavy but durable, with a usable low range, and one argues that its poor fuel-economy reputation really comes from the weak late-1970s engines it was paired with. Keep the chain and fluid healthy and grease the front hubs. Mile Marker's PN 501 kit converts it to part-time if you'd rather.
SOURCE · TORQUE KING · RAMCHARGER CENTRAL · MILE MARKERTake the printable 1st Gen Dodge Ramcharger inspection checklist: every check on this page plus the model-specific ones, on one sheet. Get the checklist →
Sourced from owners, specialists and factory documents; full sources are on the 1st Gen Dodge Ramcharger guide. Verify torque figures and procedures against the factory service manual (disclaimer).