DodgeRAM Pickup19945.9L L6 Diesel/dodge/ram-pickup/1994/5-9l-l6-diesel/
BR platform

1994 Dodge RAM Pickup — 5.9L L6 Diesel

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1994 RAM Pickup 5.9L L6 Diesel.

Body TRUCKEngine 5.9L L6 DieselTransmission Automatic 4-spd

Built on the BR platform, the 1994 Dodge RAM Pickup 5.9L L6 Diesel is a truck powered by a 5.9L L6 Diesel engine and a 4-speed automatic transmission requiring 5 quarts of 10W-30 API oil with filter. EPA estimates rate fuel economy at 11/15/12 mpg, while the vehicle records 710 total owner complaints and 23 recalls with service brakes and hydraulic systems as the top complaint area. This complaint volume exceeds the 1995-2002 model complaint history, where annual figures range from a low of 8 to a high of 33, indicating a higher volume of reported issues for this specific model year.

Model year19981997199619951994

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy11/15/12 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 05281090AB. Note the factory fuel filter, front wiper blades and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter05281090AB
Engine air filter53004383AC
Fuel filter04864849AB discontinued · alt 04864307
BatteryBB27F101AA alt BB34U900AA
Front wiper blades55076910AA discontinued
Serpentine belt53010286AB discontinued · alt 53010277
Thermostat52028185AC alt 53021051AB

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length220.1 in
Overall width78.3 in
Overall height73.6 in
Wheelbase135 in
Curb weight4341 lb
Track (front / rear)68.5 / 68.1 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined11 / 15 / 12 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5 qt w/ filter of 10W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity7 Pints,
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4.4 pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt w/ filter

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 6,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 12,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Water Pump (inspect)
Every 18,000 miRadiator Fan Clutch (inspect)
Every 24,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Crankshaft Vibration Damper (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (clean) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 30,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · PCV Valve (inspect)
Every 60,000 miBattery (replace) · PCV Valve (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (replace)
Every 82,500 miOxygen Sensor (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1994 Dodge RAM Pickup stands out in the federal record as an outlier year with significantly higher complaint volumes—particularly in hydraulic brakes (104 complaints), electrical systems (80), and crash-related issues (65)—compared to the sparse data available for subsequent model years in the dataset. While the years immediately following (1995–2000) show far fewer complaints (ranging from 8 to 33 annually) and no recalls until 2002, the 1994 model’s spike suggests either a batch-specific quality control lapse or the cumulative effect of early-generation teething problems not yet addressed. The absence of recalls for 1994 itself, despite its high complaint volume, implies that issues were either deemed non-safety-critical or resolved through technical service bulletins (TSBs), though the data doesn’t specify root causes. The trend across the generation reveals a mid-cycle lull in complaints (e.g., 2000’s 8 complaints) before a modest resurgence in later years, but 1994 remains the most problematic year in the dataset. Given the concentration of brake, electrical, and crash-related complaints—areas critical to safety and reliability—this year carries elevated risk unless thorough pre-purchase inspections confirm these systems are defect-free. **Concrete takeaway: The 1994 RAM Pickup is a high-risk buy unless you can verify the absence of brake, electrical, and crash-related defects through detailed records and professional diagnostics.**

23
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
97
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
15
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
710
Owner complaints
65 involved a crash · 38 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 710 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic104
Electrical System80
Power Train70
Suspension59
Steering50
Fuel System, Gasoline40
Visibility35
Air Bags33

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 22 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

08E050000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/08/2008

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF… Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 97 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
R2118796A2016-02-26Engine And Engine CoolingValve Body. These may cause over drive cycling.
90028492014-09-03EquipmentPart Description: Insulator on Lever Assy Manual Valve - Valve Body - RWD Transmission…
90026882013-02-13Engine And Engine Cooling68069384A$, R8069384A$, 68086182A$, R8027067A$, RL002012A$ - Gasket, Cylinder Head Cover…
18020022002-06-24Unknown Or OtherFLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *SLC
09004012001-05-18Engine And Engine CoolingCUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION, GREY OIL SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P2002
Diesel particulate filter efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0401
Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow insufficient
P20EE
SCR NOx catalyst efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0087
Fuel rail / system pressure too low
P0299
Turbocharger / supercharger underboost condition

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific RAM Pickup. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1994 RAM Pickup 5.9L L6 Diesel take?

5 qt w/ filter of 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1994 RAM Pickup have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 23 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 5.9L L6 Diesel get?

EPA figures are 11 city / 15 highway / 12 combined mpg.