1996 Dodge RAM

625 complaints on file, page 1 of 32.

1. Filed Nov 25, 2024Failure Nov 25, 2024Adelanto, CAElectrical system, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control

   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.

   NHTSA complaint 11627321
2. Filed Jan 28, 2009Failure Jan 26, 2009180,000 milesWatertown, WIElectrical systemFire

   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.

   NHTSA complaint 10256570
3. Filed Apr 9, 2007Failure Apr 2, 20079,900 milesStoneborough, PASwitch

   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

   NHTSA complaint 10187340
4. Filed Dec 6, 2006Failure Nov 28, 2006134,000 milesIron, MNSwitch

   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.

   NHTSA complaint 10175274
5. Filed Sep 21, 2006Failure Aug 29, 2006West Mifflin, PATires, Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

   1996 DODGE RAM LEFT REAR TIRE CAME OFF OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *TS *JB

   NHTSA complaint 10170146
6. Filed Aug 4, 2006Failure Jul 28, 2006116,000 milesPerryville, MDTread/belt

   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

   NHTSA complaint 10164528
7. Filed Jul 11, 2005Failure Jul 11, 2005Monroe, NCHeadlights

   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

   NHTSA complaint 10128264
8. Filed Mar 8, 2005Failure Jan 22, 2005Mansfield, OHFrontalCrash1 injured

   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

   NHTSA complaint 10113662
9. Filed Feb 2, 2005Failure Feb 2, 2005Vero Beach, FLTread/belt

   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

   NHTSA complaint 10109663
10. Filed Nov 8, 2004Failure Nov 5, 2004Arlington, TXUnderbody shields

    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

    NHTSA complaint 10099578
11. Filed Oct 27, 2004Failure Aug 26, 2004140,000 milesSoldotna, AKFuel system, Hoses, Lines/piping, And fittings

    CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE LEAKED EXCESSIVE FUEL. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 10097885
12. Filed Aug 4, 2004Failure Jun 1, 2004Philadelphia, PATires

    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

    NHTSA complaint 10087158
13. Filed Jun 21, 2004Failure Dec 20, 200365,000 milesGardnerville, NVAutomatic transmission

    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

    NHTSA complaint 10079585
14. Filed Feb 24, 2004Failure Feb 17, 200485,000 milesWenatchee, WAFuel system, Tank assembly, Fuel pump

    WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH VEHICLE WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGHLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO FOUND THAT FUEL TANK AND FUEL PUMP WERE CONTAMINATED. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 10059684
15. Filed Jan 22, 200477,158 milesBinghamton, NYAutomatic transmission

    MANUFACTURER DEFECT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR EVEN HARM. *PH PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND THE HIGH CLUTCH DRUM WAS REPLACED. *MR *JB *SC

    NHTSA complaint 10057290
16. Filed Jan 15, 2004Failure Mar 15, 199932,701 milesLake Orion, MIElectrical, Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train

    MY MAIN COMPLAINT IS THE TRANSMISSION. THE PRESSURE SEAL FOR SECOND GEAR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. IT LASTS FOR ABOUT 30,000 MILES AND THEN GOES. I'VE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR 2 OUT OF 3 TIMES. APPROX 1400.00.. THE LAST TIME I HAD PARTS PUT IN THAT WERE NOT CHRYSLER PRODUCTS.

    NHTSA complaint 10070694
17. Filed Jan 15, 2004Failure Oct 15, 2003Clemmons, NCPower train

    No description was published.

    NHTSA complaint 10069398
18. Filed Jan 15, 2004Failure Jul 15, 2003Spring Hill, FLEngine and engine cooling, Unknown or other

    AIR CONDITION WORKS OFF AND ON THE PAINT ON THE TRUCK IS BLUE .IT HAS BEEN COMING OFF FOR SOME TIME .FIRST IN SMALL AREAS AND NOW LONGER. LOOKS LIKE A BAD SUN BURN.DON'T THINK IT WAS DONE RIGHT AT THE MANUFACTORS.

    NHTSA complaint 10069357
19. Filed Jan 15, 2004Failure Jul 15, 200388,992 milesSAN Dimas, CAEngine and engine cooling, Power train, Unknown or other

    CYLINDER HEAD'S ARE CRACKED, CAUSING TRUCK TO DAMAGE HEAD GASKETS. OVERDRIVE ON THE TRUCK WENT OUT SO TRUCK WOULDN'T SHIFT.

    NHTSA complaint 10069032
20. Filed Jan 15, 2004Failure Jan 15, 200375,000 milesBartlett, TNPower train, Unknown or other

    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.

    NHTSA complaint 10068739