1996 Dodge Ram Owner Complaints

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 ID

11627321

Incident

Nov 25, 2024

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 ID

10256570

Incident

Jan 26, 2009

Mileage

180,000 mi

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 ID

10187340

Incident

Apr 2, 2007

Mileage

9,900 mi

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 ID

10175274

Incident

Nov 28, 2006

Mileage

134,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10170146

Incident

Aug 29, 2006

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 ID

10164528

Incident

Jul 28, 2006

Mileage

116,000 mi

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 ID

10128264

Incident

Jul 11, 2005

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 ID

10113662

Incident

Jan 22, 2005

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 ID

10109663

Incident

Feb 2, 2005

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 ID

10099578

Incident

Nov 5, 2004

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE LEAKED EXCESSIVE FUEL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10097885

Incident

Aug 26, 2004

Mileage

140,000 mi

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 ID

10087158

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

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 ID

10079585

Incident

Dec 20, 2003

Mileage

65,000 mi

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 ID

10059684

Incident

Feb 17, 2004

Mileage

85,000 mi

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 ID

10057290

Mileage

77,158 mi

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 ID

10070694

Incident

Mar 15, 1999

Mileage

32,701 mi

No narrative was included with this report.

NHTSA ID

10069398

Incident

Oct 15, 2003

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 ID

10069357

Incident

Jul 15, 2003

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

NHTSA ID

10069032

Incident

Jul 15, 2003

Mileage

88,992 mi

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 ID

10068739

Incident

Jan 15, 2003

Mileage

75,000 mi

THE VEHICLE VACUUM SYSTEM BECAME CONTAMINATED WITH OIL. THIS EFFECTED THE VEHICLE'S HAV SYSTEM, BRAKE BOOSTER AND DETERIORATED ALL THE VACUUM HOSES WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. *PH A RECALL WAS INITIATED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONSUMER INSTALL AN EXTERNAL BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE AND HOSE, REPLACE VENT AND DEFROSTER ACTUATOR. THE CUSTOMER DECLINED THE REPAIRS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10056106

Incident

Dec 9, 2003

Mileage

98,449 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH A CUP OF HOT COFFEE SPILLED FROM THE CUP HOLDER, SCALDING THE CONSUMER'S LEG. CONSUMER FELT THAT THE CUP HOLDER WAS NOT DESIGNED TO HOLD SECURELY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10048742

Incident

Nov 28, 2003

Mileage

110,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE TOOK A LONG TIME TO SLOW DOWN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED. BRAKE LIGHT STAYED ON, AND OIL WAS LEAKING INTO THE VACUUM SYSTEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10044508

Incident

Sep 17, 2003

Mileage

127,000 mi

WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE RPM'S HAD GONE INTO THE RED. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE MECHANIC COULD NOT REPAIR IT BECAUSE HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER HAD VIEWED ONE OF THE CABLES IN A "U" SHAPE AND IT WAS STUCK INTO A SPRING ON THE GAS PEDAL. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10040808

Incident

Sep 26, 2003

Mileage

78,000 mi

ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10039970

Incident

Sep 14, 2003