Total Complaints
49 filings
DODGE DODGE TRUCK · model year
49 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996DODGEDODGE TRUCK carries 49 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 2 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1996 DODGE TRUCK is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components with 5 filings, followed by seats:front assembly:head restraint (3) and tires (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 1996 DODGE TRUCK, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
49 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 5 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT | 3 |
| TIRES | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES | 3 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | 1 |
LIKE ALMOST EVERY OTHER DASH IN THE DODGE PICKUP THIS ONE AS WELL AS THE ONE IN MY 18 YEAR OLD SONS 96 1500 IS DESTROYED. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 1996 DODGE CARAVAN TO WORK ONE DAY WHEN I BEGAN TO HEAR A SOUND LIKE AN AVALANCHE OF ROCKS FALLING UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THE VAN ULTIMATELY STOPPED RUNNING. I NOTICED COOLANT ON THE STREET. I TOWED THE VAN TO A DODGE SERVICE CENTER. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT MY WATER PUMP BEARING HAD BROKEN. THE TIMING BELT DRIVES THE WATER PUMP ON THIS VEHICLE. ONCE THE BEARING BROKE, IT LOOSENED AND ULTIMATELY BROKE THE TIMING BELT WHICH I HAD REPLACED A YEAR BEFORE. I HAD TO PAY $990.00 FOR THIS REPAIR, WHICH WAS UNEXPECTED. THE FAULTY BEARING WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ME PAYING FOR A NEW WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT, THEROMOSTAT, AND OTHER PARTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TIMING BELT ASSEMBLY. SINCE THE WATER PUMP AND ITS BEARING ARE INSIDE THE TIMING BELT ASSEMBLY, I WAS NOT ABLE TO HEAR OR SEE ANYTHING THAT WOULD INDICATE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VAN. MY VAN HAD 77,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS WATER PUMP BEARING FAILED.
Mileage: 77
1996 DODGE RAM EXTENDED CAB PICK UP INVOLVED IN SEVERE FRONTAL CRASH. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DODGE'S INVESTIGATION SAID THAT THIS WAS CORRECT SINCE THE DAMAGE WAS IN THE "CRUSH" "CRUMPLE" AREAS AND ENERGY DID NOT DISIPATE ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE AIRBAGS? INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED VEHICLE DUE TO SEVERE DAMAGE. WE HAVE PICTURES OF DAMAGE. IS DODGE CORRECT OR JUST TRYING TO SWEEP THIS UNDER THE RUG SINCE OUR SON DID NOT GET INJURIED IN THIS ACCIDENT. WE HAVE OWNED TWO OTHER DODGE VEHICLES THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. I AM DRIVING ONE NOW, IS MY FAMILY SAFE?
Mileage: 72,000
AFTER PUMPING FUEL INTO VEHICLE THERE IS NO REGISTRATION ON FUEL GAUGE/NEEDLE ON DASHBOARD.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE GAS PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, ALSO GAS IDLE DOES NOT WORK. *SLC
DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE . THE BACK PART OF THE LEFT FRONT SEAT BROKE AND FELL AGAINST THE BACK SEAT. THE STEEL FRAME BROKE IN HALF THE THE JOIN T WHERE IT SWIFFERS. THE METEAL THICKNES IS LESS THAN 1-8 INCH. I WENT TO ASHEVILLE DODGE . THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRENTY AND THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT. HAVE THEY HAD THIS PROBLEM OR HAS THIER BEEN AN RECALL? AND THEY SAID NO .AND I SAID THIS IS AN DEFECT IN THE SEAT. IF I HAD BROKE IT MYSELF I WOULDN'T BE HERE. THIS IS DEFECT OF DODGE NOT MINE. SO I STARTED SENDING DODGE E MAILS. AND I HAVE COPIES IF YOU NEED TO SEE THEM .I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO GET BACK INTOUCH WITH ME ON THIS MATTER. MY E MAIL IS JACK . BABB 07 KILDARE PLACE ASHEVILLE N.C. 28806 828 254 2642 E MAIL 22607@@MSN.COM. *AK
EVERY WEEK THIS PAST MONTH I HAVE BEEN TAKING MY CAR INTO THE NELSON DODGE DEALERSHIP IN EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA IN REGARDS TO THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY "THINK" IT MAY NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT SURE. I TOOK THE VAN IN ON 10/15/01 DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND I WAS CHARGE FOR REPLACING THE THERMOSTAT AND GASKET. ON 10/23/01, MY VAN STALL WHILE DRIVING AND I TOOK IT IN AND WAS CHARGE FOR THE THROTTLE BODY SERVICE. ON 10/29/01 I NOTICE A GREEN LIQUID THAT WAS DRIPPING AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE COOLING SYSTEM, THEY CHECK IT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG, I WAS NOT CHARGED. ON 11/05/01, I TOOK IT IN AGAIN FOR THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS COMMING ON AGAIN, THEY CHECK THE VAN AND WERE NOT ABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM, THEY "THINK" IT MIGHT NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. ON 11/06/01, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON THEN IT TURNS OFF
EVERY WEEK THIS PAST MONTH I HAVE BEEN TAKING MY CAR INTO THE NELSON DODGE DEALERSHIP IN EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA IN REGARDS TO THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY "THINK" IT MAY NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT SURE. I TOOK THE VAN IN ON 10/15/01 DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND I WAS CHARGE FOR REPLACING THE THERMOSTAT AND GASKET. ON 10/23/01, MY VAN STALL WHILE DRIVING AND I TOOK IT IN AND WAS CHARGE FOR THE THROTTLE BODY SERVICE. ON 10/29/01 I NOTICE A GREEN LIQUID THAT WAS DRIPPING AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE COOLING SYSTEM, THEY CHECK IT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG, I WAS NOT CHARGED. ON 11/05/01, I TOOK IT IN AGAIN FOR THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS COMMING ON AGAIN, THEY CHECK THE VAN AND WERE NOT ABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM, THEY "THINK" IT MIGHT NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. ON 11/06/01, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON THEN IT TURNS OFF
EVERY WEEK THIS PAST MONTH I HAVE BEEN TAKING MY CAR INTO THE NELSON DODGE DEALERSHIP IN EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA IN REGARDS TO THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY "THINK" IT MAY NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT SURE. I TOOK THE VAN IN ON 10/15/01 DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND I WAS CHARGE FOR REPLACING THE THERMOSTAT AND GASKET. ON 10/23/01, MY VAN STALL WHILE DRIVING AND I TOOK IT IN AND WAS CHARGE FOR THE THROTTLE BODY SERVICE. ON 10/29/01 I NOTICE A GREEN LIQUID THAT WAS DRIPPING AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE COOLING SYSTEM, THEY CHECK IT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG, I WAS NOT CHARGED. ON 11/05/01, I TOOK IT IN AGAIN FOR THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS COMMING ON AGAIN, THEY CHECK THE VAN AND WERE NOT ABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM, THEY "THINK" IT MIGHT NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. ON 11/06/01, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON THEN IT TURNS OFF
EVERY WEEK THIS PAST MONTH I HAVE BEEN TAKING MY CAR INTO THE NELSON DODGE DEALERSHIP IN EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA IN REGARDS TO THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY "THINK" IT MAY NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT SURE. I TOOK THE VAN IN ON 10/15/01 DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND I WAS CHARGE FOR REPLACING THE THERMOSTAT AND GASKET. ON 10/23/01, MY VAN STALL WHILE DRIVING AND I TOOK IT IN AND WAS CHARGE FOR THE THROTTLE BODY SERVICE. ON 10/29/01 I NOTICE A GREEN LIQUID THAT WAS DRIPPING AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE COOLING SYSTEM, THEY CHECK IT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG, I WAS NOT CHARGED. ON 11/05/01, I TOOK IT IN AGAIN FOR THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS COMMING ON AGAIN, THEY CHECK THE VAN AND WERE NOT ABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM, THEY "THINK" IT MIGHT NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. ON 11/06/01, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON THEN IT TURNS OFF
EVERY WEEK THIS PAST MONTH I HAVE BEEN TAKING MY CAR INTO THE NELSON DODGE DEALERSHIP IN EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA IN REGARDS TO THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY "THINK" IT MAY NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT SURE. I TOOK THE VAN IN ON 10/15/01 DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND I WAS CHARGE FOR REPLACING THE THERMOSTAT AND GASKET. ON 10/23/01, MY VAN STALL WHILE DRIVING AND I TOOK IT IN AND WAS CHARGE FOR THE THROTTLE BODY SERVICE. ON 10/29/01 I NOTICE A GREEN LIQUID THAT WAS DRIPPING AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE COOLING SYSTEM, THEY CHECK IT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG, I WAS NOT CHARGED. ON 11/05/01, I TOOK IT IN AGAIN FOR THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS COMMING ON AGAIN, THEY CHECK THE VAN AND WERE NOT ABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM, THEY "THINK" IT MIGHT NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. ON 11/06/01, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON THEN IT TURNS OFF
EVERY WEEK THIS PAST MONTH I HAVE BEEN TAKING MY CAR INTO THE NELSON DODGE DEALERSHIP IN EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA IN REGARDS TO THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY "THINK" IT MAY NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT SURE. I TOOK THE VAN IN ON 10/15/01 DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND I WAS CHARGE FOR REPLACING THE THERMOSTAT AND GASKET. ON 10/23/01, MY VAN STALL WHILE DRIVING AND I TOOK IT IN AND WAS CHARGE FOR THE THROTTLE BODY SERVICE. ON 10/29/01 I NOTICE A GREEN LIQUID THAT WAS DRIPPING AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE COOLING SYSTEM, THEY CHECK IT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG, I WAS NOT CHARGED. ON 11/05/01, I TOOK IT IN AGAIN FOR THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS COMMING ON AGAIN, THEY CHECK THE VAN AND WERE NOT ABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM, THEY "THINK" IT MIGHT NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. ON 11/06/01, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON THEN IT TURNS OFF
EVERY WEEK THIS PAST MONTH I HAVE BEEN TAKING MY CAR INTO THE NELSON DODGE DEALERSHIP IN EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA IN REGARDS TO THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY "THINK" IT MAY NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT SURE. I TOOK THE VAN IN ON 10/15/01 DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND I WAS CHARGE FOR REPLACING THE THERMOSTAT AND GASKET. ON 10/23/01, MY VAN STALL WHILE DRIVING AND I TOOK IT IN AND WAS CHARGE FOR THE THROTTLE BODY SERVICE. ON 10/29/01 I NOTICE A GREEN LIQUID THAT WAS DRIPPING AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE COOLING SYSTEM, THEY CHECK IT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG, I WAS NOT CHARGED. ON 11/05/01, I TOOK IT IN AGAIN FOR THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS COMMING ON AGAIN, THEY CHECK THE VAN AND WERE NOT ABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM, THEY "THINK" IT MIGHT NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. ON 11/06/01, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON THEN IT TURNS OFF
EVERY WEEK THIS PAST MONTH I HAVE BEEN TAKING MY CAR INTO THE NELSON DODGE DEALERSHIP IN EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA IN REGARDS TO THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY "THINK" IT MAY NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT SURE. I TOOK THE VAN IN ON 10/15/01 DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND I WAS CHARGE FOR REPLACING THE THERMOSTAT AND GASKET. ON 10/23/01, MY VAN STALL WHILE DRIVING AND I TOOK IT IN AND WAS CHARGE FOR THE THROTTLE BODY SERVICE. ON 10/29/01 I NOTICE A GREEN LIQUID THAT WAS DRIPPING AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE COOLING SYSTEM, THEY CHECK IT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG, I WAS NOT CHARGED. ON 11/05/01, I TOOK IT IN AGAIN FOR THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS COMMING ON AGAIN, THEY CHECK THE VAN AND WERE NOT ABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM, THEY "THINK" IT MIGHT NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. ON 11/06/01, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON THEN IT TURNS OFF
EVERY WEEK THIS PAST MONTH I HAVE BEEN TAKING MY CAR INTO THE NELSON DODGE DEALERSHIP IN EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA IN REGARDS TO THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY "THINK" IT MAY NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT SURE. I TOOK THE VAN IN ON 10/15/01 DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND I WAS CHARGE FOR REPLACING THE THERMOSTAT AND GASKET. ON 10/23/01, MY VAN STALL WHILE DRIVING AND I TOOK IT IN AND WAS CHARGE FOR THE THROTTLE BODY SERVICE. ON 10/29/01 I NOTICE A GREEN LIQUID THAT WAS DRIPPING AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE COOLING SYSTEM, THEY CHECK IT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG, I WAS NOT CHARGED. ON 11/05/01, I TOOK IT IN AGAIN FOR THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS COMMING ON AGAIN, THEY CHECK THE VAN AND WERE NOT ABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM, THEY "THINK" IT MIGHT NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. ON 11/06/01, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON THEN IT TURNS OFF
EVERY WEEK THIS PAST MONTH I HAVE BEEN TAKING MY CAR INTO THE NELSON DODGE DEALERSHIP IN EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA IN REGARDS TO THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY "THINK" IT MAY NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT SURE. I TOOK THE VAN IN ON 10/15/01 DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND I WAS CHARGE FOR REPLACING THE THERMOSTAT AND GASKET. ON 10/23/01, MY VAN STALL WHILE DRIVING AND I TOOK IT IN AND WAS CHARGE FOR THE THROTTLE BODY SERVICE. ON 10/29/01 I NOTICE A GREEN LIQUID THAT WAS DRIPPING AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE COOLING SYSTEM, THEY CHECK IT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG, I WAS NOT CHARGED. ON 11/05/01, I TOOK IT IN AGAIN FOR THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS COMMING ON AGAIN, THEY CHECK THE VAN AND WERE NOT ABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM, THEY "THINK" IT MIGHT NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. ON 11/06/01, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON THEN IT TURNS OFF
DEALER PERFORMED RECALL 875 OF THE STEERING COLUMN WIRING, HOWEVER THE REPAIR DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. NLM
OUR BATTERIES BOTH DIED TOGETHER ON THE DAY BEFORE OUR RECALL APPT. IN CONSEQUENCE, TO RETURN HOME, WE HAD TO BUY TWO(2) NEW BATTERIES. WE ARE WONDERING IF THERE IS SOME FORM OF REMUNERATION FOR THIS UNFORESEEN AND COSTLY FAILURE?
NO SUMMARY
OUT OF A SET OF 4 TIRES, 3 OF THE TIRES FAILED. ONE WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205-75R-14 )
WENT TO START, NOTHING IT BLEW 2 FUSES,LOCAL DEALER SAID NO RECALL ON THIS ONE. *AK
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.