1996 Dodge Ram 2500 Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the air bag warning light suddenly activated, and moments later the front driver’s side air bag erroneously deployed. During the failure, the driver sustained various facial injuries and injuries to the nose. The contact also sustained an injury to the right arm which required medical attention. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 330,000.

NHTSA ID

11527189

Incident

Jun 13, 2023

Mileage

330,000 mi

The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at night with the high beam on, a strong burning odor was detected inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that he thought the burning odor was coming from outside not the vehicle as no warning lights were illuminated and the vehicle was functioning normally. The contact stated that the next morning the headlight switch did not feel normal as the switch was easily pulled out. The contact stated he removed the instrument panel and noticed that wires and connectors were melted. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for a diagnosis or repairs. The contact stated that he ordered the parts himself and would do the repairs. The contact stated that he found manufacturer recall number: 918 for the 1994-1997 Dodge Ram 3500 online, however, his vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The approximate failure mileage was 54,900.

NHTSA ID

11439726

Incident

Nov 2, 2021

Mileage

54,900 mi

THE PEALING (DEFECTIVE) PAINT THAT DODGE REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT HAS NOW PEALED AROUND THE WINDSHIELD FRAME. THE WINDSHIELD IS STUCK TO THE PAINT, BUT SINCE THE PAINT HAS TURNED LOOSE FROM THE WINDSHIELD FRAME IT'S JUST SORT OF SITTING THERE. I GUESS THE GOOD NEWS IS NOW UPON IMPACT THE WINDSHIELD WILL QUICKLY EXIT THE VEHICLE ALLOWING THE SHARP PLASTIC SHARDS FROM THE BROKEN DASH TO ALSO LEAVE THE VEHICLE RATHER THAN IMPALING THE OCCUPANT'S. THIS JUST WEEKS AFTER HAVING TO WELD A BROKEN LOWER A FRAME BRACKET BACK IN PLACE, YET ANOTHER DEFECT IN THESE TRUCKS.

NHTSA ID

11365274

Incident

Oct 19, 2020

Mileage

250,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45-55 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE FRONT END SHAKES AND VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING OVER GROOVED PAVEMENT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER URNESS MOTORS (505 CHERRY HEIGHTS ROAD, THE DALLES, OR. 97058) AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,000. *DT*JB*DT CONSUMER ASKS FOR SAFETY RECALL AND STATED HE COULD NOT DRIVE ON OPEN FREEWAY.*JB

NHTSA ID

11308269

Incident

Feb 1, 2020

Mileage

176,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AT NIGHT TIME. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF AFTER TEN MINUTES AND THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED PERIODICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300,000.

NHTSA ID

11255356

Incident

Aug 1, 2016

Mileage

300,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, I LOST MY POWER STEERING, CAUSING ME TO ALMOST HAVE A REAR END COLLISION WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD MY TRUCK TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP, THEY FOUND MY BRAKE SYSTEM TO BE CONTAMINATED AND TOLD ME THAT ALL PARTS OF THE SYSTEM WITH RUBBER IN THEM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF, I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULD FIND ALL THE PARTS EXCEPT ONE, THE COMBINATION OR PROPORTIONING VALVE. I PAID FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS TEST AND HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO ANOTHER LOCAL DEALER-I NEEDED A SECOND OPINION, NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY A DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIX MY TRUCK. I TOLD THE SECOND DEALERSHIP MY STORY, THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST OF THEIR OWN AND CAME UP WITH THE SAME EXACT CONCLUSION, INCLUDING THE FACT THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE COMBINATION VALVE. I BOUGHT ANOTHER CAR AND WAS PLANNING ON SELLING THE TRUCK, BUT NOW AM UNABLE TO DO THAT, AS IT HAS NO BRAKES AND THEY CAN'T BE FIXED. I'M WRITING THIS IN HOPES THAT SOMEONE ELSE THAT IS LOOKING TO BUY A TRUCK LIKE THIS UNDERSTANDS THE SITUATION IF THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS TO THEM.

NHTSA ID

11208414

Incident

Apr 24, 2019

Mileage

175,000 mi

DEATH WOBBLE

NHTSA ID

10883372

Incident

Jul 6, 2016

Mileage

254,762 mi

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, A BURNING ODOR AND SMOKE EMITTED INSIDE THE CABIN. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IGNITED INTO SMALL FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A FIRE AND POLICE REPORT WERE NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A FAULTY HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. THE VIN WAS UNVAILALBE.

NHTSA ID

10693951

Incident

Feb 28, 2015

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHOULDER, ARM, JAW, AND HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 291,000.

NHTSA ID

10670912

Incident

Jan 5, 2015

Mileage

291,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OVERHEATED AND MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ID

10658640

Incident

Nov 10, 2014

Mileage

68,000 mi

WHEN TOWING A TRAILER THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF FOR A FEW MIN. THEN COME BACK ON. WITH THE BRIGHTS ON THE SHUT OFFS HAPPEN EARLIER IN THE DRIVE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. DODGE DID A RECALL ON THE 3500 TRUCKS WITH THE SAME HEADLIGHT SYSTEM, BUT THEY DID NOT RECALL THE 2500 TRUCKS. ALL THE ELECTRICAL POWER FOR THE HEADLIGHTS IS ROUTED THREW THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE SWITCH HEATS UP AND THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SHUT OFF OR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MELTS FROM THE HEAT AND THEY NEVER COME BACK ON. DODGE EVEN SELLS A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM WHICH USES RELAYS, WHICH THEY SHOULD HAVE USED WHEN THEY BUILT THE TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10637650

Incident

Sep 12, 2014

Mileage

148,000 mi

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

ON A BUSY STREET, IN DAYLIGHT, IN GOOD WEATHER, TRAVELING AT SLOW SPEED....THE SPARE TIRE JUST FELL OFF INTO THE ROAD. INSPECTION BY OWNER SHOWS THE CABLE THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE BROKE. THANKFUL NOT TO BE AT HIGH SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10588595

Incident

May 15, 2014

Mileage

71,300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, FUEL WAS SMELLED IN THE CABIN AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK IN THE FUEL LINE. THE CONTACT WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND PERSONALLY REPLACED THE NUMBER FOUR FUEL INJECTOR LINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10584587

Incident

Dec 13, 2013

Mileage

150,000 mi

EARLY MORNING, DARK, SOME FOG, MOUNTAIN ROADS, 45 TO 55 SPEED LIMITS. USING HIGH BEAMS AS NEEDED BUT NOT CONSTANTLY DUE TO FOG AND SOME ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT,FLASHED BACK ON AND OFF,SEEMED TO HAPPEN A COUPLE OF TIMES AS I WAS BREAKING AND TRYING NOT TO HIT SOMETHING OR GO INTO A DITCH. HIT DIMMER SWITCH AND LOW BEAM LIGHTS CAME ON. STOPPED AT NEXT AVAILABLE SAFE PULLOUT. CHECKED TRUCK OVER,FOUND NOTHING. RESUMED TRIP. LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN,USING HIGH BEAMS,FINISHED TRIP WITH ONLY LOW BEAMS AND HAD NO OTHER PROBLEM. CHECKED OUT HEADLIGHT SWITCH,AND FOUND OVERHEATED WIRING THAT COULD RESULT IN FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10550921

Incident

Oct 2, 2013

Mileage

185,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DOING ABOUT 55MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED TO HAVE A BAD VIBRATION. IT CAUSED THE WHOLE TRUCK TO SHAKE. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER IT AND ALL AROUND IT BUT FOUND NOTHING. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT AND IT DROVE FINE. EVERY TIME IT GETS AROUND 55 IT STARTS THE SHAKING. I KEEP FINDING ONLINE THAT IT IS CALLED THE "DEATH WOBBLE" AND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE CASES.

NHTSA ID

10538294

Incident

Aug 9, 2013

Mileage

203,000 mi

AFTER USING HEADLIGHTS ON HIGH BEAM FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES, WENT TO SWITCH TO LOW BEAM AND LOST ALL LIGHTING. UPON EXAMINATION, HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS MELTED. THIS IS THE SECOND SWITCH THAT HAS DONE THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10534736

Incident

Aug 11, 2013

Mileage

205,000 mi

THE STEERING COLUMN ON THIS TRUCK HAS GOTTEN VERY HOT UNDER THE IGNITION SWITCH AREA. SO HOT IN FACT THAT THE WIRES AND PLASTIC COLUMN COVER HAVE SMOKED AND MELTED THROUGH. I FEEL THERE MAY BE A FIRE SOON. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG WITH MY MODEL YEAR BUT THE MELTED HOLE IN MY STEERING COLUMN SAYS OTHERWISE I'VE READ THERE WAS A RECALL OF THIS NATURE BUT WAS TOLD IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE HELPING ME. HELP... *TR

NHTSA ID

10510595

Incident

May 14, 2008

Mileage

225,000 mi

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

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

SEVERAL YEARS BACK IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED FOR BURNING UP. AT THAT TIME HAD REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH TWICE PREVIOUSLY. DODGE PAID FOR THE SWITCHES AND LABOR AND REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH WITH NEW AND IMPROVED IGNITION SWITCH. NOW APPROX. 5 TO 7 YEARS LATER IGNITION SWITCH BURNING UP AGAIN TAKING OUT DOOR LOCK, WINDOWS, AIR BAG, AND ABB LIGHTS ARE ALL ON AND YOU CANNOT OPERATE EITHER WINDOW OR DOOR LOCK. TOOK INTO SHOP IN SPRING, TEXAS CALLED RILEYS OF RAYFORD ROAD IN SPRING, TEXAS WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS AND NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN! CALLED DEMONTRON DODGE IN CONROE, TEXAS TO SEE ABOUT SWITCH REPLACEMENT. NOTHING YET! *TR

NHTSA ID

10491747

Incident

Dec 10, 2012

Mileage

322,000 mi

NUMEROUS HEADLIGHT SWITCHES REPLACED DUE TO THEM BURNING UP TO INCLUDE SEVERAL INCHES OF THE EXISTING WIRING HARNESS TO SWITCH. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS TYPE OF SAFETY ISSUE IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED. YOU DAM SURE HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE THE AFTERMARKET AUTO PARTS O REILYS ETC. CARRY THE SWITCH OR SWITCH WITH WIRING HARNESS AS AN OPTION. AFTER READING HERE ALL SWITCHES GO OUT ABOUT THE SAME... THE HEADLIGHTS START GOING ON AND OFF THEN LOOK FOR SMOKE COMING FROM AROUND DASH WHERE SWITCH MOUNTED. YOU CAN FEEL THE HEAT FROM UNDER WHEN SWITCH IS BURNING UP. NEED A SIMPLE RELAY TO STOP THIS SHOW HOW MUCH DODGE LOVES ITS CUSTOMERS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10491744

Incident

Dec 4, 2012

Mileage

226,000 mi

AFTER OPERATING VEHICLE UNDER HEAVY LOAD (SNOWPLOWING), THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE RUPTURED WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED AND THE HYDRAULIC FLUID IGNITED ON THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM. NOTE: THERE WAS A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99V115000 ) ISSUED FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR TRUCK WITH A V10 ENGINE VERSES THE V8. THE HEAT FROM THE NEARBY EXHAUST PIPE EXCEEDED THE TEMPERATURE RATING OF THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE MATERIAL CAUSING IT TO RUPTURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10444959

Incident

Jan 20, 2012

Mileage

96,998 mi

THIS REPORT IS REGARDING THE FAILURE OF A GOODYEAR WRANGLER ATS TIRE, LOAD RANGE D, SIZE 305/70R16. FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A MILD TO MODERATE TIRE SHAKE OR IN-BALANCE. A GOODYEAR DEALER RE-BALANCED THE TIRES, BUT THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE SHAKE. WE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE SAME DEALER WHO THEN STATED THE TIRES WERE OUT OF ROUND AND COULDN'T BE BALANCED. THEY DID NOT ADVISE US TO REPLACE THE TIRES OR TO STOP USING THE VEHICLE. TWO MONTHS LATER, AFTER AN HOUR AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE TIRE SUDDENLY DELAMINATED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED OVER $3,000 IN DAMAGE FROM THE TIRE EXPLOSION. CONTROL WAS NOT LOST. LOOKING AT THE TIRE, IT'S VERY OBVIOUS THIS WAS THE RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. HALF OF THE STEEL BELTS ARE COVERED WITH A LAYER OF BONDED RUBBER. THE OTHER HALF OF THE BELTS ARE EXPOSED. THE SEPARATING LINE IS RIGHT DOWN THE CENTER OF THE TIRE. THE SMALL PORTION OF TREAD THAT REMAINS IS SEPARATED FROM THE BELTS, BUT IS STILL BONDED ON THE OTHER SIDE. IT APPEARS TWO STRIPS OF RUBBER WERE PLACED LATERALLY ON THE FACE OF THE TIRE AND ONE OF THEM DID NOT BOND PROPERLY. I DON'T SEE ANY SIGNS OF PATCHES. ALTHOUGH NOW RUSTED, THE STEEL BELTS WERE BRIGHT WHEN THE TIRE FIRST SEPARATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10424689

Incident

Sep 2, 2011

Mileage

181,000 mi