← New search

1996 Dodge RAM Van

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all RAM Van 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

Limited mileage data: 1 of 18 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

18 reports
31,365 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Power Train

WE SUBMITTED A LETTER TO CHRYSLER ASKING FOR A "GOODWILL REPAIR REFUND" AND HAD A PHONE CALL FROM THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER, AL WILLIAMS, STATING THAT THE THREE (3)YEAR WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. WE HAD EXPLAINED THAT OUR LEISURE TRAVEL VAN WITH A DODGE V8 360 ENGINE ONLY ON 31,365 ON THE TRANSMISSION. HE SAID IT DID NOT …

Read full complaint

WE SUBMITTED A LETTER TO CHRYSLER ASKING FOR A "GOODWILL REPAIR REFUND" AND HAD A PHONE CALL FROM THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER, AL WILLIAMS, STATING THAT THE THREE (3)YEAR WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. WE HAD EXPLAINED THAT OUR LEISURE TRAVEL VAN WITH A DODGE V8 360 ENGINE ONLY ON 31,365 ON THE TRANSMISSION. HE SAID IT DID NOT MATTER. THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP THAT REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION FROM CHRYSLER STATED THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN A TRANSMISSION "CHEWED UP" LIKE OURS. WE HAVE MADE SEVERAL PHONE CALLS TO CHRYSLER ASKING FOR A LETTER STATING EXACTLY WHY THEY WERE DENYING OUR REQUEST FOR A "GOODWILL REPAIR REFUND". WE HAVE HAD NO CALLS RETURNED AND CAN NOT REACH THEIR CUSTOMER NUMBER BECAUSE IT IS ALWAYS BUSY. ON LINE "ASK" QUESTIONS NEVER RESPOND TO A QUESTION.

NHTSA ODI #10070599

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2002
Tires

DUNLOP, AT, P255/70R15, DOT DBM2GA2428, REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT WITH 1000 MILES ON A 1996 RAM 250 VAN. DRIVER REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION AT 65 MPH. ON 6, AUGUST 2002 PASSENGER REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION AT 65 MPH, MILEAGE WAS 6000 MILES. *AK ALL THE TIRES NOW HAVE TREAD SEPERATION AND THE DEALER SENT THEM BACK TO DUNLO…

Read full complaint

DUNLOP, AT, P255/70R15, DOT DBM2GA2428, REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT WITH 1000 MILES ON A 1996 RAM 250 VAN. DRIVER REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION AT 65 MPH. ON 6, AUGUST 2002 PASSENGER REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION AT 65 MPH, MILEAGE WAS 6000 MILES. *AK ALL THE TIRES NOW HAVE TREAD SEPERATION AND THE DEALER SENT THEM BACK TO DUNLOP WHICH ONLY PRO-RATED THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. CONSUMER FEELS THAT DUNLOP SHOULD REPLACE THE TIRES AT EQUAL VALUE BECAUSE HE COULD HAVE LOST HIS LIFE OR BEEN INJURED DUE TO THE DEFECT. *SCC

NHTSA ODI #8016172

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2002
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER DRIVEABLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8004962

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2002
Structure

VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A THREE QUATER TONE VEHICLE, BUT AFTER FURTHER REVIEW CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT VEHICLE WAS HALF TONE. WHEN CONTACTING DEALER, DEALER NOTED THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT IT. IT WAS MANUFACTURED THAT WAY BECAUSE OF BETTER HANDLING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8004960

Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 2001
Visibility

MOVEABLE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS SLIP WITH SHUTTING DOORS AND WITH TRAVEL AT HIGHWAY SPEED (>45 MPH). I (OWNER) ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR INITIAL SLIPPAGE BY TIGHTENING SCREWS. MIRRORS SOON BEGAN SLIPPING AGAIN, AND VEHICLE WAS PAST 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. SCREW THREADS ARE NOW STRIPPED, MIRRORS WON'T MAINTAIN POSITION. DEALER RECOMMENDS …

Read full complaint

MOVEABLE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS SLIP WITH SHUTTING DOORS AND WITH TRAVEL AT HIGHWAY SPEED (>45 MPH). I (OWNER) ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR INITIAL SLIPPAGE BY TIGHTENING SCREWS. MIRRORS SOON BEGAN SLIPPING AGAIN, AND VEHICLE WAS PAST 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. SCREW THREADS ARE NOW STRIPPED, MIRRORS WON'T MAINTAIN POSITION. DEALER RECOMMENDS PURCHASING TWO NEW MIRROR ASSEMBLIES (EXACT SAME STYLE) FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. MANUFACTURER REJECTED REQUEST TO PAY FOR INSTALLATION OF REPLACEMENT MIRRORS FROM ALTERNATE SOURCE. NOTE: I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1987 DODGE VAN WHICH SUFFERED THE SAME PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH NOT QUITE AS SEVERELY. THE PROBLEM IS CLEARLY DUE TO A LONG-TERM FAILURE OF CHRYSLER TO ADDRESS AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE DESIGN. ABSENCE OF WORKING SIDE VIEW MIRRORS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD, ALTHOUGH IN THIS CASE NO ACCIDENT HAS YET RESULTED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #752901

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2001
Tires

REPLACEMENT TIRES ON A DODGE, RAM VAN, 3500 1996, TIRE SIZE LT22575R16, AND TIRE MILEAGE 15,000. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY TREAD SEPARATED ON LEFT REAR TIRE. NO COLLISON OR INJURIES OCCURRED. *AK DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL, FIRESTONE STEELTEX, DOT NUMBER VD1L1XD419. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #892586

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2001
Steering

STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN IS EXTREMELY LOOSE WHICH HAS RESULTED IN SEVERE PROBLEMS MANEUVERING VEHICLE. PROBLEM BECOMES MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN ,CAUSE HAS NOT YET TO BE DETERMINED. NO COLLISIONS OR INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL REGARD…

Read full complaint

STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN IS EXTREMELY LOOSE WHICH HAS RESULTED IN SEVERE PROBLEMS MANEUVERING VEHICLE. PROBLEM BECOMES MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN ,CAUSE HAS NOT YET TO BE DETERMINED. NO COLLISIONS OR INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL REGARDING THE DODGE MINIVANS STEERING PROBLEMS, HOWEVER CONSUMERS VEHICLE DID NOT FIT RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS A FULL SIZE VAN. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #890292

Mileage unknown · May 16, 2001
Power Train

CONSUMER STATES THAT IN OWNERS MANUAL VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM WHICH WOULD PREVENT VEHICLE FROM BEING REMOVED FROM PARK WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES. CONSUMER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT VEHICLE, IN FACT, IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH THIS SAFETY FEATURE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #888357

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2001
Power Train

TRANSMISSION LINES THAT CONNECTED TO RADIATOR WERE LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE HAZARD. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, UNKNOWN CAMPAIGN NUMBER, REGARDING THIS ISSUE. PREVIOUSLY HAD REPAIR WORK PERFORMED. *AK TRANSMISSION COOLER CONNECTOR WAS REPAIRED ON RECALL. *YH

NHTSA ODI #888256

Mileage unknown · May 13, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

EXHAUST PIPE CRACKED COMPLETELY AROUND WEAK POINT IN PIPE CAUSED BY OXYGEN SENSOR MOUNT

NHTSA ODI #722621

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

PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate

Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.