IllustrationTHE FRONT GRILL ON THE HOOD HAS PLASTIC FASTENERS THAT HOLD THE GRILL ONTO THE HOOD. THESE FASTNERS ARE BREAKING AS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. DODGE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT. A POTENTIAL DEADLY HAZARD CONSIDERING THE LOCATION OF THE DEFECT. *AK
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
What owners actually said
298 reportsTRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING WHEN ACCELERATING, DEALER STATED TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REBUILT. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT, AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *SCC
VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. MECHANIC REPLACED ONE OF THE FUEL INJECTORS. ALSO, SAID ENGINE HEAD WAS MOST LIKELY CRACKED.
WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH PASSENGER'S FRONT WHEEL DISCONNECTED FOM VEHICLE. MECHANIC DETERMINED BOLTS HAD SHEARED OFF.*AK
HEADLIGHT SWITCH WOULD OVERHEAT WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA RECALL 01 V 037 000 MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 970 CONCERNING /THROTTLE CABLE: WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ENGINE STARTED TO ACCELERATE UP TO 77 MPH BEFORE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE NOT COVER UNDER THAT RECALL DUE TO VIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOR…
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NHTSA RECALL 01 V 037 000 MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 970 CONCERNING /THROTTLE CABLE: WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ENGINE STARTED TO ACCELERATE UP TO 77 MPH BEFORE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE NOT COVER UNDER THAT RECALL DUE TO VIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORAMTION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING BRAKE LINE WENT COMPLETELY OUT.*AK
TRAVELING ON I-81 APPROX. 65MPH, IN PASSING LANE HEARD NOISE IN FRONT END, MOVED TO THE RIGHT LANE, NOISE SORT OF SUBSIDED THEN BECAME VERY LOUD AND HARD TO CONTROL STEERING, STARTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND SIGNALED TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY THEN A VERY LOUD BOOM , DOUBLE SLAM , TIRE AND WHEEL FLEW AND ROLLED FORWARD OFF THE ROAD.…
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TRAVELING ON I-81 APPROX. 65MPH, IN PASSING LANE HEARD NOISE IN FRONT END, MOVED TO THE RIGHT LANE, NOISE SORT OF SUBSIDED THEN BECAME VERY LOUD AND HARD TO CONTROL STEERING, STARTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND SIGNALED TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY THEN A VERY LOUD BOOM , DOUBLE SLAM , TIRE AND WHEEL FLEW AND ROLLED FORWARD OFF THE ROAD. NOTIFIED BY A RELATIVE THE NEXT DAY THAT A LUG WAS FOUND INTACT OUTSIDE IN-LAWS RESIDENCE.*AK
CATALYTIC CONVERTER BROKE UP AND PLUGGED EXHUAST, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER,CAN BE DANGEROUS ALL POWER TO BRAKES WENT OUT & POWER STEERING. GAS TANK COULD HAVE BLOWN UP IF A HOLE WHERE TO EXIST LUCKLY THIS WAS NOT THE CASE.
DISSIMLAR METAL CONTACTS RE. TAILIGHT SOCKETS AND TYPE 3157 BULBS. BRAKE/TURN/EMERGENCY FLASHER SIGNAL LIGHTS FAIL TO LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY (BOTH SIDES). (DASHBOARD FLASHER LIGHTS INDICATE NORMAL OPERATION.) TWICE REPLACED BULBS, BUT WITH LATER FAILURE IT WAS NOTED THAT MOVING UNLIT BULB OR WIGGLING IT CAUSES IT TO WORK. INSPE…
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DISSIMLAR METAL CONTACTS RE. TAILIGHT SOCKETS AND TYPE 3157 BULBS. BRAKE/TURN/EMERGENCY FLASHER SIGNAL LIGHTS FAIL TO LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY (BOTH SIDES). (DASHBOARD FLASHER LIGHTS INDICATE NORMAL OPERATION.) TWICE REPLACED BULBS, BUT WITH LATER FAILURE IT WAS NOTED THAT MOVING UNLIT BULB OR WIGGLING IT CAUSES IT TO WORK. INSPECTING BULB SHOWS CORROSION/ARCING AT CONTACT POINT(S). I NOW CARRY AN EMORY BOARD TO CLEAN CORROSION FROM CONTACT POINTS WHEN FAILURE NOTED/REPORTED. (3-7 MOS MTBF) I INTEND TO REPORT THIS TO THE UNDERWRITERS LAB AND TO "SYLVANIA" AS AN INCOMPATIBILITY/DESIGN ELECTRICAL DEFECT.
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.