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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

298 reports
87,424 miles · Feb 6, 2003
Visibility

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON IN JUNE 02. IT HAD RECENTLY PROGRESSED THE FULL LENGHT OF THE WINDSHILED OBSTRUCTING DRIVERS VIEW. DURING WINSHIELD REPLACEMENT TECHNICIAN FOUND WINDSHIELD WAS SEPERATED FROM POLYURETHANE BEDDING AND WAS LOOSE. THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE WINDSHIELD IN WAS THE MOULDING AROUND THE WINDS…

Read full complaint

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON IN JUNE 02. IT HAD RECENTLY PROGRESSED THE FULL LENGHT OF THE WINDSHILED OBSTRUCTING DRIVERS VIEW. DURING WINSHIELD REPLACEMENT TECHNICIAN FOUND WINDSHIELD WAS SEPERATED FROM POLYURETHANE BEDDING AND WAS LOOSE. THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE WINDSHIELD IN WAS THE MOULDING AROUND THE WINDSHIELD. TECHNICIAN SAID THE WINDSHIELD WAS EITHER PREPARED INCORRECTLY OR NOT PREPARED AT ALL DURING FACTORY INSTALLATION.

NHTSA ODI #10005415

24,150 miles · Jan 17, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS TIMING CHAIN MAKES LOUD NOISES. *TS

NHTSA ODI #10004174

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2003
Power Train

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS NOTIFIED DEALER REPAIRED 40,000 MILES LATER PROBLEM REOCCURED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ODI #10003753

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2002
Unknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING, THE INTERIOR LIGHT FELL ON CONSUMER ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PH

NHTSA ODI #8023945

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2002
Power Train

DEALER REPLACE ONLY SOLENOIDS AND FILTER ON FIRST FAILER. THE 2ND FAILER REQUIRES A TOTAL REBUILD. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID THE TRANSMISSION LINE SHOULD HAVE REPLACED AT THE DEALER. DT

NHTSA ODI #769121

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

CONSUMER STATES WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF FOR 30 MINUTES A FIRE BROKE OUT UNDER THE HOOD. MR

NHTSA ODI #8020519

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY RUBBED, THROWING DRIVER FORWARD. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8018039

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2002
Electrical System

WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON THERE IS A BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE COMING FROM DASH NEAR WINDSHIELD. ONCE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF THE SMOKE STOPS. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8017958

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2002
Power Train

WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE INTO REVERSE THERE WAS A DELAY. DELAY BECAME LONGER AND LONGER, AND EVENTUALLY WOULD NOT REVERSE. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8017862

Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2002
Power Train

SPEEDOMETER IS OVER 7 M.P.H. OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #766088

Official recalls

0

No 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

1

DP03006 · 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.