IllustrationTHE ENTIRE DASHBOARD IS CRUMBLING LEAVING SHARP PLASTIC FLING AROND AND OPEN WIRES IN THE DASH NET ISSUE THE DASH IS ACTUALLY DISINTEGRATING TO DUST CALLED NO HELP OUT OF WARRANTY WE HAVE OTHER CARS THAT ARE OLDER AND NO SUCH PROBLEM HAS EVER MAKE OUR DASH TURN TO DUST .
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
16 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.
WHEN APPLYING THE TURN SIGNAL, THE SIGNAL DOES NOT ILLUMINATE OR IS ERRATIC OR DOES ALTERNATE OF WHAT IS CHOSEN.
THE DASH ON MY 1996 DODGE BEGAN TO CRACK AFTER MULTIPLE MONTHS THE DASH BEGAN TO COLLAPSE IN ON ITSELF. IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SERIOUS ELECTRICAL FAILURE DUE TO SHARP PIECES CUTTING WIRES AND VACUUM HOSES WHEN THEY FALL IN. HOWEVER THE MAJOR PROBLEM IS THE DAMAGE MAY NOT BE NOTICEABLE UNTIL THE EQUIPMENT IS NEEDED TO BE …
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THE DASH ON MY 1996 DODGE BEGAN TO CRACK AFTER MULTIPLE MONTHS THE DASH BEGAN TO COLLAPSE IN ON ITSELF. IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SERIOUS ELECTRICAL FAILURE DUE TO SHARP PIECES CUTTING WIRES AND VACUUM HOSES WHEN THEY FALL IN. HOWEVER THE MAJOR PROBLEM IS THE DAMAGE MAY NOT BE NOTICEABLE UNTIL THE EQUIPMENT IS NEEDED TO BE USED I.E. AIRBAGS, TURN SIGNALS, REVERSE LIGHTS, ETC. *TR
MY DASH IS CRACKED ON MY 1996 DODGE RAM. *JB
I OWN A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. THE DASHBOARD HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS AND PIECES ARE STARTING TO FALL INTO DASH CAVITY. I KNOW OF OTHER DODGE OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS, AS THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A YEAR SPECIFIC PROBLEM, BUT IT DOES SEEM TO BE A DODGE SPECIFIC PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT LEARNED OF ANY OTHER PICK-UP OW…
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I OWN A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. THE DASHBOARD HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS AND PIECES ARE STARTING TO FALL INTO DASH CAVITY. I KNOW OF OTHER DODGE OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS, AS THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A YEAR SPECIFIC PROBLEM, BUT IT DOES SEEM TO BE A DODGE SPECIFIC PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT LEARNED OF ANY OTHER PICK-UP OWNERS OF OTHER MANUFACTURES WHOSE DASHES ARE CRACKING AND CAVING IN. THIS PROBLEM COULD LEAD TO OTHER SAFETY ISSUES AS DIRECT SUN LIGHT IS ABLE TO ACCESS OTHER ELECTRONICS AND WIRING SYSTEMS.
DASHBOARD FALLING APART,CRACKING AND LARGE HOLES EXPOSING WIRES AND DASHBOARD ELECTRONICS. *JB
PEELING PAINT OFF OF CAB OF TRUCK. EXTENSIVE IN AREA OF CENTER TO DRIVERS SIDE. APPEARS THAT PAINT HAS BLISTERED AND EXPOSED UNDER COATING. OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THAT DODGE RAM TRUCK MODELS 1500,2500 &3500 FOR YEARS 1994,1995,1996 & 1997 AFFECTED. AVERAGE ESTIMATE TO REPAIR RANGES FROM $700.00 TO $1500.00. *JB
PAINT STARTED PEELING OFF IN 2000, AND BY 2003..IT WAS PEELING OFF IN CHUNKS WEEKLY. NOW IN 2004, THERE IS HARDLY ANY PAINT ON THE HOOD OR THE TOP OF THE CAB WITH OTHER PEELING ON THE OTHER PARTS AS WELL. THE ROCKWALL, TX DODGE DEALERSHIP'S REP SAID HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE DEFECTIVE PAINT JOB, AND WE'D PAY $700 TOWARD THE PA…
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PAINT STARTED PEELING OFF IN 2000, AND BY 2003..IT WAS PEELING OFF IN CHUNKS WEEKLY. NOW IN 2004, THERE IS HARDLY ANY PAINT ON THE HOOD OR THE TOP OF THE CAB WITH OTHER PEELING ON THE OTHER PARTS AS WELL. THE ROCKWALL, TX DODGE DEALERSHIP'S REP SAID HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE DEFECTIVE PAINT JOB, AND WE'D PAY $700 TOWARD THE PAINT JOB. AFTER THAT ESTIMATE, WE HELD OFF GETTING IT PAINTED BECAUSE OF MOVING TO MISSISSIPPI, SO I WENT TO THE HOWARD WILSON DODGE DEALER IN FLOWOOD, MS. THAT DEALERSHIP'S REP WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING-0. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. WHY WOULD THE TEXAS CRYSLER REP SAY YES, THAT THE PAINT PEELING OFF IN CHUNKS WAS AN INFERIOR PAINT JOB, BUT THE MISSISSIPPI CRYSLER REP SAYS HE WILL DO NOTHING. I WOULD NOT NEED TO BE PAINTING IT AT ALL, IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE DEFECTIVE PAINT JOB. *NM
CUP HOLDERS IN MY 1996 DODGE PU ARE NOT SAFE. DRINKING CUP OR CUPS HAVE TIPPED OVER WHEN CORNERING OR TURNING AND HAVE RESULTED IN VERY HOT SPILLS ON MY LOWER LEG. *LA
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.