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 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 1999
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED DUE TO OVERHEATING WHICH CAUSED HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT WHILE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT 65MPH. DEALER SOLD ME A NEW SWITCH/KIT AND PROVIDED INSTALLLATION INFORMATION FOR THEIR SAFETY RECALL 819 (WHICH THEY SAID DID NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE). INSTRUCTIONS TALK ABOUT LOOKING FOR A MELTED CONNE…
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HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED DUE TO OVERHEATING WHICH CAUSED HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT WHILE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT 65MPH. DEALER SOLD ME A NEW SWITCH/KIT AND PROVIDED INSTALLLATION INFORMATION FOR THEIR SAFETY RECALL 819 (WHICH THEY SAID DID NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE). INSTRUCTIONS TALK ABOUT LOOKING FOR A MELTED CONNECTOR WHICH INDEED MY SWITCH DOES HAVE. NEW WIRING HARNESS PROVIDES A RESISTOR OR SOMETHING WHICH MY MECHANIC TELLS ME IS TO DISSIPATE HEAT! DEALER AND CHRYSLER CAN NOT EXPLAIN WHY THIS HAPPENED AND OFFER NO RELIEF BUT I STILL FEEL IF THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND ARE MAKING MODIFICATIONS TO SOME OF THE VEHICLES WHY THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO MAKE THEM ON ALL OF THEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND YOU ARE LEFT WITHOUT LIGHTS! FORTUANTELY I HAD FOG LIGHTS AND THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO TURN THEM ON! THANK YOU. *AK
NHTSA ODI #714804
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1999
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. IT WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR WHEN SHIFTING. ALSIO, ENGINE WAS RACING WHEN CHANGING GEARS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #851811
Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 1999
Power Train
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #713582
Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 1999
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicCrash
IF DRIVING WITH AIR CONDITIONING ON HIGH, INGNITION SWITCH GETS SO HOT IT WILL BURN YOUR HAND IF YOU TOUCH THE BOTTOM OF COLLUM, ALSO YOU LOOSE THE ENGINE IN TRAFFIC. BRAKES ON REAR NOT STRONG ENOUGH WITH LOAD
NHTSA ODI #712715
Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 1999
Suspension
WHEN DRIVING AT 45MPH THE VEHICLE SHIMMIES, MAKING IT UNCONTROLABLE. DEALER SAYS THE TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED. GOODYEAR SAYS ITS THE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #848810
Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, ONE OR MORE LIFTERS BEGIN TO TICK. THE TICKING REMAINS THROUGHOUT THE TIME THE TRUCK RUNS. IF THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THE ENGINE COOLS, THE TICKING IS NOT PRESENT ON START-UP BUT BEGINS AGAIN IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES. THE OIL IS CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES OR 3 MONTHS AND THE TRUCK O…
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AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, ONE OR MORE LIFTERS BEGIN TO TICK. THE TICKING REMAINS THROUGHOUT THE TIME THE TRUCK RUNS. IF THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THE ENGINE COOLS, THE TICKING IS NOT PRESENT ON START-UP BUT BEGINS AGAIN IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES. THE OIL IS CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES OR 3 MONTHS AND THE TRUCK ONLY SEES VERY LIGHT DUTY.
NHTSA ODI #712189
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 1999
Exterior LightingFire
HEADLIGHT SWITCH OVERHEATS AND CATCHES ON FIRE. ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH WILL GO OUT. ALSO. DEALER HAS SENT AN UPDATED OWNERS MANUEL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #847620
Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 1999
Visibility
LEFT OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR AND INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR VIBRATES CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY AT NIGHT CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO BE A BLUR. NLM
NHTSA ODI #548300
Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicUnknown Or Other
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT/BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULDN'T GO OFF. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT, AND ALMOST WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #846226
Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 1999
Steering
WHEN DRIIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THERE IS SHAKING WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO PITMAN AND THE IDLER ARM MALFUNCTIONING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #845720
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.
1996 Dodge RAM 1500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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