Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Dodge Ram submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 33 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.
The 25 most recent of 33, in the owner's own words
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.
No narrative was included with this report.
CYLINDER HEAD'S ARE CRACKED, CAUSING TRUCK TO DAMAGE HEAD GASKETS. OVERDRIVE ON THE TRUCK WENT OUT SO TRUCK WOULDN'T SHIFT.
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.
WHILE DRIVING, COULD HEAR NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE WICH SOUNDED LIKE SUSPENSION WAS OUT OF PLACE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE REAR PINION BEARING ON DIFFERENTIAL. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATINON.*AK
DRIVING UP HILL, STOPPED AT TOP OF HILL AND STARTED AGAIN. NOTICED TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR, PULLED OVER TO SIDE OBSERVED TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM DISCONNECTED LINES, RECALL 97V084000 DOES NOT RELATE TO THE DEISELS VEHICLES
REAR AXLE SEALS LEAKING AND TRANSFER CASE LEAKING. NLM
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A NUT FELL OFF FROM CENTER OF REAREND THAT HOLDS YOLK, THIS CAUSED DRIVESHAFT TO FALL OUT OF VEHICLE, AND REAR END TO LOCK UP. *AK *SLC
REAR AXLE RECENTLY STARTED MAKING AN AUDIBLE GEAR WHINE/MOAN WHEN GOING ANY SPEED. THE TRUCK HAS 68,000 MILES CURRENTLY. I HAVE ACCOUNTS OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE OWNED '96 RAM 1500 TRUCKS THAT HAVE HAD SIMILAR, IF NOT THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFTEY AND THE SAFTEY OF OTHERS IF THIS DIFFERENTIAL DECIDES TO FAIL AND LOCKUP. MY WARRANTY IS UP AND THIS WILL BE A COSTLY FIX. YOUR ATTENTION AND RESPONSE WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED.
THERE IS AN OIL LEAK FROM REAR AXLE BECAUSE OF POOR MACHINERY OF METAL THAT ALLOWED BRAKE LINE TO BECOME CONTAMINATED WITH OIL ON THE LEFT REAR WHEEL.*AK
DURING FAILURE ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS FLASH THE TRANSMISSION GOES HAYWIRE AND THE TACHOMETER GOES HAYWIRE. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN AT THREE DIFFERENT SHOPS, WE HAVE CHANGED OUT THE TRANSMISSION RELAY, THE HEADLIGHT LAMP, SERVICED THE TRANSMISISON AND STILL CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE REPLACE A RADIO WHICH HAS SHORTED OUT AND THE FUEL INDICATOR DOESN'T WORK. BOTH OF WHICH FAILED BEFORE THE TRUCK WAS THREE YEARS OLD, UNFORTUNEATELY JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK
THE THROTTLE CABLE UNRAVELED, FRONT DIFFERENTIAL SEALS LEAK OIL, TRANSMISSION PLASTIC CONNECTIONS LEAKED, AND AN ALIGNMENT NEEDED T OFFSET BUSHING. *AK
DOG ELECTROCUTED DUE TO POSSIBLE FAULTY WIRING HARNESS, NOTICE RECEIVED AFTER INCIDENT ABOUT POTENTIAL HAZARD. *MJS
THE TIRE, RIM, BRAKE DRUM AND AXLE SHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE AXLE HOUSING. THE ASSEMBLY WEDGED UNDER VEHICLE. WHEN IT POPPED OUT, IT FLEW UP AND LANDED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN THE ASSEMBLY SEPARATED, APPARENTLY THE OTHER (REMAINING) DRIVE WHEEL BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE ENGINE; OUR EXHAUST BRAKE COULD NOT SLOW US DOWN. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKES WERE SPONGY, AND APPARENTLY NOT WORKING. WE SLID TO A STOP ON WHAT REMAINED OF THE AXLE HOUSING. WHEN WE EXITED THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A FLAME SHOOTING FROM THE END OF THE AXLE HOUSING, WHERE THE AXLE SHAFT WOULD NORMALLY BE. THIS FLAME WAS APPROX. 1.5-2 FEET FROM THE FUEL FILLER TUBE. IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THERE WAS A VERY LOUD SCREETCH SOUND. WITHIN A MINUTE, THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAME APART. AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE, THE SAME AXLE PROBLEMS REAPPEARED.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE DRIVESHAFT FELL OUT OF VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. DEALER HAS SEEN AND REPLACED THE DRIVESHAFT AT CONSUMERS EXPENSE. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE HAS NO POWER. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PUT VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL, AND REV THE ENGINE. TOOK SIX MONTHS TO GET PART AFTER REPEATED CALLS. FRONT BRAKES WEARING OUT PREMATURELY BECAUSE REAR BRAKES ARE NOT SELF ADJUSTING. VERY UNSAFE WHEN BRAKING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *YC THE LEFT REAR AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING. WATER COLLECTS NEAR THE PASSENGER DOOR UNDERNEATH THE CARPET. *YH
THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN REPAIRED BY SANDUSKY CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP, SANDUSKY, OH, FOR THE PREVIOUS AXLE FAILURE. TRAVELING EAST ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWED, LIKE SOMEONE JUST JAMMED-ON MY BRAKES. WITHIN A MINUTE, THERE WERE TWO VERY LOUD SCREETCHES. MY WIFE, TRAVELING IN A RENTAL VEHICLE BEHIND ME, EVEN HEAR THE SCREETCHES. GIVEN OUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE, I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHILE TRYING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED, WE WERE INFORMED BY CONSTRUCTION CREWS THAT WE COULD NOT STAY, THERE, ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THEY DIRECTED US A COUPLE MILES UP THE ROAD, TO THE NEXT EXIT. ONCE OFF THE HIGHWAY, WE STOPPED TO FIND THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL STICKING OUT FROM THE FENDER BY A COUPLE INCHES. ON CLOSER INSPECTION, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND THE BACKING PLATE. THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS STARTING TO SEPARATE FROM THE AXLE HOUSING, AGAIN. WE CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK, TO RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIRING DEALERSHIP. UPON THEIR INSPECTION, THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE AGAIN BURNED. AND, YES, THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND AXLE SHAFT WERE LEAVING THE VEHICLE.
WHINNING NOISE WHILE TRAVELING, NOISE INCREASES AS SPEED INCREASES
TRIP ODOMETER FAILED. QCAW
FRONT END MISALIGNMENT. IN ADDITION, REAR AXLE SEALS/AXLE BEARINGS/STEERING DRAG:LINK/FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS/ROTORS AND PADS/REAR BRAKE SHOES AND DRUMS AND REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS AND BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER FAILED/REPLACED.
BRAKES HAVE BEEN A CONTINUED PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE, SEVERAL REPAIRS MADE HOWEVER CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS.
PREMATURE WEAR AND FAILURE OF REAR BRAKE SHOES. BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY REPAIRED; PROBLEM STILL EXIST.
DRIVE SHAFT CENTER SUPPORT CAME LOOSE FROM ITS MOUNTING BRACKET.
REAR AXLE SEAL FAILED.
REAR AXLE SEAL LEAKS FLUID ONTO BRAKES. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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