IllustrationHEADLIGHT SWITCH OVERHEATS AND THE PLASTIC START TO MELTING
1996 Dodge RAM 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Dodge RAM 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 520.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
50–25K
225–50K
450–75K
2075–100K
29100–150K
24150K+
84 reports with mileage · 214 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
18 crash reports17 fire reports13 injury reports
Structure complaints
35 reportsON 1/27/2018 MY DASH BOARD SHATTERED WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO WIPE CLEAN IT WITH MOIST TOWEL. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED FROM DODGE DEALERSHIP IN JUNE 1998 WITH 45120 MILES. AT PRESENT IT HAS ONLY 83000 APPROX. THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME WAS STATIONARY. I HAVE THE PHOTOS, UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO UPLOAD IT.
DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING IN 2010 AND BROKE OFF INTO SHARP PIECES. I HAVE ABOUT 25% OF MY DASHBOARD LEFT. THIS WAS NOT CAUSED BY ANYTHING I DID. I KEPT A SUN REFLECTOR IN THE WINDSHIELD AND HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
TL-CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40, VEHICLE HOOD INDEPENDENTLY. THIS CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE LATCH ON THE HOOD UNDER THEIR INDEPENDENT RECALL. THE DAMAGE TO TO THE HOOD AND REPLAC…
Read full complaint
TL-CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40, VEHICLE HOOD INDEPENDENTLY. THIS CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE LATCH ON THE HOOD UNDER THEIR INDEPENDENT RECALL. THE DAMAGE TO TO THE HOOD AND REPLACEMENT OF WINDSHIELD WAS NOT DONE BY DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,458. RG.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE HOOD LATCH DETACHED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH CAUSED THE HOOD LID TO RELEASE AND CRASH INTO THE WINDSHIELD GLASS. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SHATTERED UPON IMPACT. IN ADDITION, THE HOOD LID WAS SLIGHTLY BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MA…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE HOOD LATCH DETACHED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH CAUSED THE HOOD LID TO RELEASE AND CRASH INTO THE WINDSHIELD GLASS. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SHATTERED UPON IMPACT. IN ADDITION, THE HOOD LID WAS SLIGHTLY BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HOOD FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CLOSE THE HOOD, WHICH SEEMED TO BE SECURE HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE HE REACHED 60 MPH. THE HOOD VIOLENTLY STRUCK THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED THE GLASS TO SHATTER. THE VEHI…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HOOD FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CLOSE THE HOOD, WHICH SEEMED TO BE SECURE HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE HE REACHED 60 MPH. THE HOOD VIOLENTLY STRUCK THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED THE GLASS TO SHATTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE FAILURE BUT HE BELIEVED THAT THE RECALL WAS EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 193,000.
DASH PANEL CRACKED WHICH SEEMS TO BE INDICATIVE OF DODGE PICKUP. THIS FLAW SHOULD BECOME STANDARD RECALL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. CHRYSLER, DODGE, SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE. *TR
1996 DODGE RAM 1500 SLT: I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK BRAND NEW AND APPROXIMATELY 5 YEARS AGO, THE DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING. IT HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY CRACKING INTO LITTLE PIECES AND NOW I HAVE NO DASHBOARD AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OPERABLE. *TR
MY DODGE RAM 1500'S DASHBOARD IS COMPLETELY FALLING APART. IT STARTED 5 YEARS AGO AND HAS ACCELERATED OVER THE PAST THREE, NO MATTER HOW PROTECTED THE DASH BOARD IS FROM THE SUN. IT HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS WHICH ARE CAUSING THE DASH BOARD TO COLLAPSE AND BECOME LOSE AND IS BECOMING A SAFETY HAZARD AS WELL AS VERY UNAPPEALING. I PURC…
Read full complaint
MY DODGE RAM 1500'S DASHBOARD IS COMPLETELY FALLING APART. IT STARTED 5 YEARS AGO AND HAS ACCELERATED OVER THE PAST THREE, NO MATTER HOW PROTECTED THE DASH BOARD IS FROM THE SUN. IT HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS WHICH ARE CAUSING THE DASH BOARD TO COLLAPSE AND BECOME LOSE AND IS BECOMING A SAFETY HAZARD AS WELL AS VERY UNAPPEALING. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK NEW AND HAVE TAKEN EXCESSIVELY GOOD CARE OF IT. THERE IS NO REASON THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED DUE TO MY ACTIONS. IT IS A QUALITY OF MANUFACTURE AND MATERIALS. *TR
I HAVE A 1996 DODGE RAM AND LIKE JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER RAM OWNER MY DASH IS CRACKED ALL TO PIECES.ALL THE OTHER PICTURES OF DODGE RAMS THAT HAVE CRACKED DASHES THE CRACKS ARE IN THE SAME PLACE AS MINE THIS IS A DEFECT AND DODGE KNOWS IT BUT REFUSES TO FIX IT THEY WOULD RATHER ME PAY 600.00 TO HAVE IT REPLACED THIS IS COMPLETE '…
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 1996 DODGE RAM AND LIKE JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER RAM OWNER MY DASH IS CRACKED ALL TO PIECES.ALL THE OTHER PICTURES OF DODGE RAMS THAT HAVE CRACKED DASHES THE CRACKS ARE IN THE SAME PLACE AS MINE THIS IS A DEFECT AND DODGE KNOWS IT BUT REFUSES TO FIX IT THEY WOULD RATHER ME PAY 600.00 TO HAVE IT REPLACED THIS IS COMPLETE '!@#$%SOMEONE NEEDS TO STEP IN AND ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP03006 · Seat Back Failure
Opened Sep 23, 2003 · Closed Apr 8, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats; Seats:front Assembly:recliner
ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 30 INCIDENTS WHERE IT IS ALLEGED THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED IN A REAR IMPACT CRASH.THESE INCIDENTS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO 23 INJURIES AND TWO DEATHS.THE DATA PRESENTED TO ODI SHOW THAT THE SEAT BACK STRENGTH OF THE FRONT SEATS COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207. SEATING SYSTEM.ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYLSER THE FRONT SEATS WERE DESIGNED TO COLLAPSE REARWARD IN REAR IMPACT CRASHES AS PART OF THE ENERGY ABSORPTIONCAPABILITIES OF THE SEATING SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.RATES OF OCCURANCE WERE COMPARED TO PEER VEHICLES, AND IT WAS SHOWN THAT THE PERFORMACE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS COMPARABLE TO THOSE VEHICLES.IN VIEW OF THE FORGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION REMEDY OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS DEFINED BY THE PETITIONER AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THERFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE THE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR FURTHER DETAILS, REFER TO ODI'S RESPONSE TO THE PETITION PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER VOL.69, NO. 60 , DATED MARCH 29, 2004.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Seats
ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 30 INCIDENTS WHERE IT IS ALLEGED THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED IN A REAR IMPACT CRASH.THESE INCIDENTS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO 23 INJURIES AND TWO DEATHS.THE DATA PRESENTED TO ODI SHOW THAT THE SEAT BACK STRENGTH OF THE FRONT SEATS COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207. SEATING SYSTEM.ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYLSER THE FRONT SEATS WERE DESIGNED TO COLLAPSE REARWARD IN REAR IMPACT CRASHES AS PART OF THE ENERGY ABSORPTIONCAPABILITIES OF THE SEATING SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.RATES OF OCCURANCE WERE COMPARED TO PEER VEHICLES, AND IT WAS SHOWN THAT THE PERFORMACE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS COMPARABLE TO THOSE VEHICLES.IN VIEW OF THE FORGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION REMEDY OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS DEFINED BY THE PETITIONER AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THERFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE THE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR FURTHER DETAILS, REFER TO ODI'S RESPONSE TO THE PETITION PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER VOL.69, NO. 60 , DATED MARCH 29, 2004.
Seats:front Assembly:recliner
ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 30 INCIDENTS WHERE IT IS ALLEGED THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED IN A REAR IMPACT CRASH.THESE INCIDENTS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO 23 INJURIES AND TWO DEATHS.THE DATA PRESENTED TO ODI SHOW THAT THE SEAT BACK STRENGTH OF THE FRONT SEATS COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207. SEATING SYSTEM.ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYLSER THE FRONT SEATS WERE DESIGNED TO COLLAPSE REARWARD IN REAR IMPACT CRASHES AS PART OF THE ENERGY ABSORPTIONCAPABILITIES OF THE SEATING SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.RATES OF OCCURANCE WERE COMPARED TO PEER VEHICLES, AND IT WAS SHOWN THAT THE PERFORMACE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS COMPARABLE TO THOSE VEHICLES.IN VIEW OF THE FORGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION REMEDY OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS DEFINED BY THE PETITIONER AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THERFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE THE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR FURTHER DETAILS, REFER TO ODI'S RESPONSE TO THE PETITION PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER VOL.69, NO. 60 , DATED MARCH 29, 2004.