RoadVitals

1996 Dodge Dodge Truck

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
35
Latest Sep 6, 2011
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 35 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Dodge Dodge Truck, most frequently naming the brakes, transmission and electrical categories. 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes925.0%
  • Transmission411.1%
  • Electrical38.3%
  • Engine38.3%
  • Tires & wheels38.3%
  • Airbags25.6%
  • Heating & air conditioning25.6%
  • Fuel system25.6%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Body & structure
Filed Sep 6, 2011

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

NHTSA ID
10424000
Incident
Aug 6, 2011
Filed Jan 12, 2003

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.

NHTSA ID
10000983
Incident
Dec 20, 2002
Mileage
77 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 17, 2002
Crash reported

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?

NHTSA ID
10000155
Incident
Nov 26, 2002
Mileage
72,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 28, 2002

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

NHTSA ID
8004725
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 26, 2001

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

NHTSA ID
756039
Incident
Aug 24, 2001
EngineTransmission
Filed Nov 6, 2001

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, I HAVE IT IN THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, WAITING TO RECEIVE A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP AS TO WHAT THEY "THINK" MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM, THAT'S IF THEY DETECT A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
754149
Electrical
Filed Sep 1, 2000

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?

NHTSA ID
729854
Incident
Aug 30, 2000
Electrical
Filed Aug 28, 2000

DEALER PERFORMED RECALL 875 OF THE STEERING COLUMN WIRING, HOWEVER THE REPAIR DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. NLM

NHTSA ID
554087
Incident
Jul 31, 2000

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SP696

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

SUBJECT ON PARKING LAMP CIRCUIT OVERLOAD ON 1994 AND LATER FULL-SIZED TRUCKS. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Dodge Dodge Truck by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003150039.0
2002220037.6
2001390034.4
2000200038.5
1999510036.8
1998280038.4
1997180036.0
1996Viewing350037.2
1995160036.6
1994190035.7
1993601
1992140144.1
1991100131.1
1990501
1989201
1988400
1987401
1986301
1985002
1984102
1981100
1980100
1979000
1977010
1976110
1973100
1972010
1971030
1970030
1969030
1968010
1967010

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.