1996 Dodge Ram 2500 Exterior lighting Problems

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

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

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. 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

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

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

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

NORMAL DRIVING. TRUCK HAS 138K MILES. HEADLIGHTS FAIL. INITIALLY THEY GO OFF, COME ON, THEN GO OFF PERMANENTLY. CAN SMELL SMOKE FROM DASH WIRING HARNESS. MANUFACTURER HAS A RECALL #819 THAT COVERS THE 3500 SERIES TRUCKS WITH IDENTICAL WIRING AND HEADLIGHT SWITCH PART NUMBERS, BUT WILL NOT COVER THE 2500 SERIES TRUCKS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE INSTANCES ON THE INTERNET OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. LEFT UNCHECKED, I'M CERTAIN THIS WILL RESULT IN A DASH FIRE, PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND POSSIBLY DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10214837

Incident

Dec 22, 2007

Mileage

136,000 mi

I DRIVE QUITE A BIT DURING THE NIGHT TIME WITH MY VEHICLE. THERE SEEMS TO BE A VERY SERIOUS ISSUSE WITH THE WIRING OVER HEATING AT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. I HAVE REPLACED 5 ... GOING TO BE 6 HEADLIGHT SWITCHES. THERE IS A DANGEROUS AMOUNT OF HEAD BEING PUT OUT AT THE SWITCH ITSELF. SO MUCH THAT IT ACTUALLY MELTS THE PIGTAIL AT THE LIGHT SWITCH CONNECTION. THE LIGHT SWITCH ITSELF IS DESTROYED. ITS BAD ESPECCIALLY WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND YOUR HEADLAMPS, MARKER LIGHTS AND DASH LIGHT ALL GO OUT. IF I DO NOT HAVE A REPLACMENT PART IN MY TRUCK AT THE TIME, I HAVE TO FIND A SPOT IN BETWEEN SWITCH POSITION JUST TO GET MY LIGHTS OPERATIONAL TO "LIMP" MY TRUCK HOME. MY CHOICE OF POSITIONS WHEN THE SWITCH FAILS IS HEADLAMPS WITH OUT MARKERS AND NO DASH LIGHTS OR FOG LAMPS MARKERS AND DASH LIGHTS. BEING DODGE HAS SUCH TERRIBLE HEADLAMPS I USE FOG LIGHTS TO DRIVE WHEN THIS HAPPENES. BELIEVE IT OR NOT HE FOG LIGHTS ARE BETTER THAN THE DRIVING LIGHTS. I RECENTLY SAW A RECALL FOR DODGE DURANGOS WITH A UNDER DASH ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I WOULD THINK THAT THIS WIRING/HEADLAMP SWITCH PROBLEM SHOULD BE A RECALL! THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

10186104

Incident

Mar 24, 2007

Mileage

72,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACTED STATED WHEN STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, A BURNING ODOR WAS NOTICED AND THE PARKING/RUNNING LIGHTS HAD FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FUSES WERE CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE GOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE MECHANIC. ON INSPECTION, THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED AS A FAILURE TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, DUE TO MELTED WIRING. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. UPDATED 12/05/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10167564

Incident

Sep 5, 2006

Mileage

160,000 mi

SUBJECT:RECALL ON DODGE RAM 2500 COMMENTS: IN 1999 YOU HAD A RECALL ON ALL DODGE RAM 3500 PICKUPS, 1994-1997 FOR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, LIGHTS MAY GO OUT, RECALL # 819. MY 1996 DODGE RAM 2500 HAS THE EXACT SAME SWITCH AND MY HEADLIGHTS DID GO OUT AND I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. WHY WAS THIS PICKUP BY-PASSED ON THIS RECALL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE LIGHTS TO GO OUT AT 65 MPH ON A DARK NIGHT. FROM NHTSA WEB SITE.

NHTSA ID

10124485

Incident

Jun 6, 2005

Mileage

188,000 mi

HEADLIGHT SWITCH KEEPS OVERHEATING DUE TO FAULTY WIRING. CONSUMER REPLACED SWITCH 4 TIMES. DODGE IS AWARE OF DEFECT, AND HAS DESIGNED NEW PART WHICH INCLUDES AN EXTRA RELAY.*AK

NHTSA ID

872695

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. AFTER THAT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HAD TO DRIVE WITH EMERGENCY FLASHERS TO GET HOME. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMP SWITCH. *AK

NHTSA ID

854783

Incident

Aug 7, 1999

LAST YEAR MY DODGE HEADLIGHT SWITCH STOPPED FUNCTIONING. I WAS ON THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ID

705128

Incident

Oct 1, 1997

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

NHTSA ID

515731