Total Complaints
905 filings
DODGE RAM · model year
905 NHTSA complaints, 84 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996DODGERAM carries 905 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 84 crashes, 26 fires, 53 injuries, and 2 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 RAM is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 92 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (76) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (32). 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 RAM, 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
905 filings
Crashes Reported
84 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 92 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 76 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 32 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 27 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 24 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 24 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 23 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 21 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 18 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES | 16 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 16 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 16 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 16 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 14 |
| TIRES | 14 |
The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 97V068000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), 01V037000 (Vehicle Speed Control), and 00V135000 (Electrical System); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 97V068000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), 01V037000 (Vehicle Speed Control), and 00V135000 (Electrical System); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 97V068000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), 01V037000 (Vehicle Speed Control), and 00V135000 (Electrical System); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CHEMICAL ODOR COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD AND THE HEATER. THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING SUDDENLY DIMMED. THE HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY DIM. THE CONTACT TURNED EVERYTHING BACK ON, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS ONLY ILLUMINATED FOR A FEW MINUTES. AFTER DRIVING WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS, HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. HE PULLED INTO HIS RESIDENCE AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SMOKE FILLED THE VEHICLE AND PRODUCED AN AWFUL ODOR. HE REMOVED THE LAMP FUSE, BUT THE BUZZING NOISE STILL INDICATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. HE REINSERTED THE FUSE AND THE BUZZING SOUND CONTINUED. HE NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND IS PARKED AT HIS RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 180,000.
Mileage: 180,000
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM PICKUP. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHILE IT COOLED OFF, AND AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES, THE VEHICLES LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE FAILURE CAUSED THE WIRING HARNESS TO MELT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS FAILURE OCCURRED TOO FREQUENTLY . IT BEGAN TO OCCUR 1 YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, AND HE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCHES OVER 12 TIMES. DAIMLER/CHRYSLER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TOO MANY MILES ON IT AND THAT IT WAS NOT RELATED TO RECALL #99V024000 DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,900 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 177,000. *AK
Mileage: 9,900
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED EACH TIME. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 99V024000, REGARDING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
Mileage: 134,000
1996 DODGE RAM LEFT REAR TIRE CAME OFF OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *TS *JB
1996 DODGE RAM LEFT REAR TIRE CAME OFF OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *TS *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON DRY HIGHWAY PAVEMENT THE REAR DRIVER TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND THE TIRE WAS CHANGED. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE INSPECTED THE OTHER THREEE TIRES AND NOTICTED THE SAME DEFECTS. UPDATED 08/21/06. *JB
Mileage: 116,000
DT: CONSUMER STATES: THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH KEEPS BURNING UP IN HIS 1996 DODGE RAM TRUCK. IT IS BURNING THE WIRE HARNESS THAT GOES TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. IT COULD GO OUT AT ANY TIME. HE HAD IT REPLACED ABOUT 3-4 MONTHS AGO AND IT IS OUT AGAIN. HE HAS TALKED TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE MADE A SPECIAL WIRE HARNESS TO SPLICE INTO THE WIRING ON THE TRUCK. THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS SAME THING. THE DEALER SAID CHRYSLER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. HE CAN BE GOING DOWN THE ROAD, AND THE LIGHTS WILL JUST GO OUT. YOU CAN PARK IT FOR A WHILE, WHEN YOU COME BACK TO START THE CAR AND SWITCH ON THE HEADLIGHTS THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. THE LAST TIME HE HAD IT REPLACED, THE WIRING HAD MELTED THE INSULATION. *NM
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL, AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK... THE OTHER DRIVER, A LADY WAS CITED FOR IMPROPER BACKING OUT. CONSUMER'S GRAND SON FIRST HIT HER, THEN WENT THROUGH A YARD, HITTING A TREE. *AK
THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, AND PULLED OVER. DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE. GOODYEAR WRANGLER AT, 265/75R16, #DOT PD73MFHR2403.*AK
THE VEHICLE VACUUM SYSTEM BECAME CONTAMINATED WITH OIL. THIS EFFECTED THE VEHICLE'S HAV SYSTEM, BRAKE BOOSTER AND DETERIORATED ALL THE VACUUM HOSES WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. *PH A RECALL WAS INITIATED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONSUMER INSTALL AN EXTERNAL BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE AND HOSE, REPLACE VENT AND DEFROSTER ACTUATOR. THE CUSTOMER DECLINED THE REPAIRS. *NM
Mileage: 98,449
CONSUMER WAS CHANGING THE ALTERANTER AND HAEARD A SQUEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHILCE. CONSUMER LOOKED DOWN AND FOUND THAT IT WAS A CRACKED FRAME ABOVE THE COIL SPRING HOUSING. CONSUMER CONTACED THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION. HOWEVER, CONSMER WAS TOLD THAT THERY WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE LEAKED EXCESSIVE FUEL. *AK
Mileage: 140,000
WHILE INSPECTING THE TIRES CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THEY DRY ROTTED AND SEPARATED AT THE BASE WHERE THE TREAD WAS CONNECTED . DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE TIRES, AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAILURE. BUT DID NOT PROVIDE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, INSTEAD OFFERED CONSUMER 50% OFF A NEW SET OF TIRES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION FAILED TO GO FROM SECOND TO THID GEAR. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE THIRD GEAR LIP SEAL FAILED. THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THESE VEHICLES. *AK
Mileage: 65,000
PAINT IS COMING OFF IN HUGE SPOTS. STARTS AS A SMALL FADED AREA THEN STARTS PEELING. TRANSMISSION STALLS IN SECOND GEAR AND TAKES A WHILE TO SHIFT TO THIRD.
Mileage: 75,000
PAINT IS COMING OFF IN HUGE SPOTS. STARTS AS A SMALL FADED AREA THEN STARTS PEELING. TRANSMISSION STALLS IN SECOND GEAR AND TAKES A WHILE TO SHIFT TO THIRD.
Mileage: 75,000
CYLINDER HEAD'S ARE CRACKED, CAUSING TRUCK TO DAMAGE HEAD GASKETS. OVERDRIVE ON THE TRUCK WENT OUT SO TRUCK WOULDN'T SHIFT.
Mileage: 88,992
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.