Total Complaints
8 filings
DODGE RAM WAGON · model year
1996 DODGE RAM WAGON
8 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996DODGERAM WAGON carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, 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 RAM WAGON is power train:clutch assembly with 1 filings, followed by parking brake (1) and power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl) (1). 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 WAGON, 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.
8
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| PARKING BRAKE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20240302SUSPENSION
Upper control arm... Rusted through see attached pictures
20240302WHEELS
Upper control arm... Rusted through see attached pictures
20240302SERVICE BRAKES
Upper control arm... Rusted through see attached pictures
20070212ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
TL*- THE CONTACT'S 1996 DODGE VAN HAD BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL INVOLVING A CATALYTIC CONVERTERS USED IN DODGE VAN OF THAT YEAR AND IT FAILED TO PASS SMOG TEST DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE DEALER DECLINED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIRS, AND A FOLLOW UP CALL TO THE MANUFACTURER WAS PLACED, AND THEY WERE ALSO NOT HELPING. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THEY EXCLUDED THE VAN FROM THE RECALL BECAUSE THEY HAD A VERY LIMITED NUMBER OF ELECTRICAL HIGH POWERED VANS. EVEN THOUGH THE PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE DODGE DECLINED TO FIX IT.*AK UPDATED 04/12/07/. *JB
Mileage: 110,000
19990301POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
VEHICLES TRANSMISSION COOLER QUICK CONNECT RECALLED, BUT REPAIRS NOT MADE DUE TO DEALER PROBLEM.
19981118PARKING BRAKE
BRAKE RELEASE HANDLE FAILED.
19981118POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
TRANSMISSION INDICATOR FAILED.
19980429POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
FAN CLUTCH FAILED.
Compare 1996DODGERAM WAGON to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1996 DODGE RAM WAGON have?▼
The 1996 DODGE RAM WAGON has 8 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 DODGE RAM WAGON?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 DODGE RAM WAGON is POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include PARKING BRAKE and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL).
Is the 1996 DODGE RAM WAGON safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
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.