RoadVitals

1996 Dodge Ram 2500 Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints 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.
14
Latest Apr 12, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 291 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Dodge Ram 2500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structure
Filed Apr 12, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD DISINTEGRATED TO THE POINT THAT THE WIRES UNDERNEATH WERE VISIBLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

NHTSA ID
10855158
Incident
May 1, 2014
Mileage
200,000 mi
Body & structureExterior lighting
Filed Jun 27, 2014

ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON HEADLIGHTS. HEADLIGHT SWITCH PULLED OUT FROM DIS-INTEGRATED INSTRUMENT PANEL PLASTIC. HAD TO RELEASE STEERING WHEEL AND HOLD BODY OF HEADLIGHT SWITCH WITH ONE HAND WHILE OPERATING SWITCH CONTROL WITH OTHER HAND. THIS DODGE RAM'S DASH COVER HAS COMPLETELY CRACKED AWAY SEVERAL YEARS AGO. NOW, THE ACTUAL INSTRUMENT PANEL IS DIS-INTEGRATING. CURRENTLY THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, THE OVERDRIVE SWITCH AND AUXILIARY POWER OUTLET ARE HANGING BY WIRES. THE DRINK HOLDER AND RADIO ARE REMOVED AS THEIR MOUNTING SUPPORT IS GONE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10606531
Incident
Jun 16, 2014
Mileage
291,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 7, 2013

TRUCK WOULD NOT QUIT LEAKING INSIDE TRUCK NO WINDOWS DOWN OR DOORS OPEN AFTER RAIN? FOUND THROUGH A BOROSCOPE INVESTIGATION THAT TRUCK WELDED SEAMS WERE NOT PROPERLY SEALED AFTER THE WELDING TOOK PLACE. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTORS REMOVED AND IN BETWEEN CAB UNDER WINDOW MOTOR NUMEROUS WELDS WERE FOUND TO BE LEAKING. LABOR INTENSIVE TO RESEAL. COST $1,900 TO RESEAL FAULTY WELDS FROM MEXICO! *TR

NHTSA ID
10491752
Incident
Aug 8, 2011
Mileage
200,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 7, 2013

THE DASH IS A BIG PILE OF JUNK! HARD PLASTIC WITH A VIBRATING DIESEL? TURNS TO PIECES AND FALLS INTO DEFROSTER DUCTS, FLOOR, ALL IN CAB OF TRUCK! THIS IS WHY YOU DON'T BUY DODGE OR YOU BUY IT FOR ONLY CUMMINS DIESEL POWER! THATS ONE OF THE ONLY THINGS THAT SELDOM BREAKS AND NEEDS FIXING! TAKE THE POWER TRAIN AWAY AND YOU WOULD NOT SELL ANOTHER! BOOO! NO GOOD DASH! *TR

NHTSA ID
10491750
Incident
Nov 16, 2009
Mileage
196,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 9, 2011

THE PAINT IS COMING OFF IN BIG SPOTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10381351
Incident
Jan 18, 2000
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 21, 2010

DASHBOARD FOR 1996 DODGE RAM TRUCK. CRACKED UNTIL NOTHING BUT PIECES OF SHARP EDGES AND EXPOSED WIRING AND METAL SUPPORT BELOW . *TR

NHTSA ID
10366981
Incident
Nov 14, 2009
Mileage
150,000 mi
Body & structureOther / unspecified
Filed Jan 12, 2010

DODGE RAM 2500 PICK UP TRUCK: DASHBOARD HAS BEEN SLOWLY DISINTEGRATING TO THE POINT WHERE CERTAINLY ELEMENTS ARE HOLDING ONLY BY ONE SCREW ' AIR-CONDITION VENTS ARE FALLING OUT. TOP OF DASHBOARD IS 50% GONE, BROKEN IN TO SMALL PIECES AND EXPOSING ELECTRICAL WIRES TO THE HARSH SUNLIGHT. SOME CONTROLS SUCH AS DRIVER SEAT ELECTRICAL WINDOW IS NO LONGER OPENING, RPM METER IS ONLY WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. THE UNDERSIDE, EXPOSING ALL WIRES AND CONTROLS IS MISSING COVER (DISINTEGRATED). DODGE IS NO LONGER SELLING THE DASHBOARD REPLACEMENT ' WOULD BE WILLING TO PURCHASE AT ALMOST ANY PRICE. THE RIST CARKS SHOWEDUP ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO - SO FAR THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN INCIDENT, BUT I AM AFRAID,ONE DAY THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WILL FALL DOWN, WHILE DRIVING - WHICH WILL BE VERY SERIOUS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10299079
Incident
Jan 1, 2007
Mileage
50,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 19, 2009

DASH ON MY DODGE TRUCK CRACKING UP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10277334
Incident
May 1, 1998
Mileage
90,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 5, 2009

HOOD HINGES ON EARLY MODELS FULL SIZE DODGE TRUCKS CAN SLIDE OUT OF SLOT THUS RELEASING SPRING. SHOULD ANY ONE BE IN THE AREA THEY COULD RECEIVE A SERIOUS INJURY. LATER MODELS PUT A RETAINER PREVENTING SPRING FROM SLIDING OUT OF SLOT AND RELEASING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10275807
Incident
Jun 10, 2009
Mileage
210,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 20, 2007

1996 DODGE RAM 2500 CRACKED DASH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10191256
Incident
Aug 15, 2003
Mileage
80,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 3, 2002

CONSUMER STATES WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR SWUNG OPEN. CONSUMER STATES IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE SEATBELT SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE METAL IN DOOR HAS FATIGUE.*AK.*JG

NHTSA ID
8013289
Incident
Jun 3, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Aug 14, 2001

THERE IS A CRACK ACROSS THE WHOLE SHORT SIDE OF BED OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN USED TO HAUL ANYTHING.*AK *JB

NHTSA ID
894299
Incident
Aug 11, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Jan 13, 1998

WELD FAILURE IN THE AREA WHERE THE SHEET METAL IS HELD TOGETHER/ATTACHES THE PIVOT PINS TO THE TRUCK BED, THE WELD FAILURED CAUSES PREVENTS THE TAILGATE FROM STAYING IN POSITION.

NHTSA ID
528124
Incident
Sep 1, 1997
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+5 more
Filed Jul 20, 1997

PREMATURE WEAR AND FAILURE OF REAR BRAKE SHOES. BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY REPAIRED; PROBLEM STILL EXIST.

NHTSA ID
515731

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .