Dodge Ram Complaints (1996)

1,362 consumer complaints on file.

#10557992December 31, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE FRONT WHEEL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550921November 5, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
EARLY MORNING, DARK, SOME FOG, MOUNTAIN ROADS, 45 TO 55 SPEED LIMITS. USING HIGH BEAMS AS NEEDED BUT NOT CONSTANTLY DUE TO FOG AND SOME ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT,FLASHED BACK ON AND OFF,SEEMED TO HAPPEN A COUPLE OF TIMES AS I WAS BREAKING AND TRYING NOT TO HIT SOMETHING OR GO INTO A DITCH. HIT DIMMER SWITCH AND LOW BEAM LIGHTS CAME ON. STOPPED AT NEXT AVAILABLE SAFE PULLOUT. CHECKED TRUCK OVER,FOUND NOTHING. RESUMED TRIP. LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN,USING HIGH BEAMS,FINISHED TRIP WITH ONLY LOW BEAMS AND HAD NO OTHER PROBLEM. CHECKED OUT HEADLIGHT SWITCH,AND FOUND OVERHEATED WIRING THAT COULD RESULT IN FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10547274October 8, 2013
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH AND NOTICED A LOSS OF POWER IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES SHOOTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT SAFELY MERGED OFF THE ROADWAY AND EXITED THE BURNING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE REMAINS WERE NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10538661September 3, 2013
STEERING
WHEN I DRIVE MY 96 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 PICKUP ON HIGHWAY AT MILES BETWEEN 60 AND 70 IT STARTS SHAKING AND I AM NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL, I SOMETIMES HAVE TO STOP OR SPEED UP TO OVER 75 MILES FOR IT TO DECREASE AS I AM AFRAID THIS WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ALSO WHEN I CROSS A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD IT DOES THE SAME THING BUT THIS HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED. ONE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE STABILIZER BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED $400.00 DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO FIND THE EXACT PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10538294September 1, 2013
STEERING, SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DOING ABOUT 55MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED TO HAVE A BAD VIBRATION. IT CAUSED THE WHOLE TRUCK TO SHAKE. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER IT AND ALL AROUND IT BUT FOUND NOTHING. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT AND IT DROVE FINE. EVERY TIME IT GETS AROUND 55 IT STARTS THE SHAKING. I KEEP FINDING ONLINE THAT IT IS CALLED THE "DEATH WOBBLE" AND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE CASES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10534736August 11, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
AFTER USING HEADLIGHTS ON HIGH BEAM FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES, WENT TO SWITCH TO LOW BEAM AND LOST ALL LIGHTING. UPON EXAMINATION, HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS MELTED. THIS IS THE SECOND SWITCH THAT HAS DONE THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10513238May 23, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISING TO BOTH OF ARMS FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A CRASH NOR WAS THERE ANY IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10510595May 4, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
THE STEERING COLUMN ON THIS TRUCK HAS GOTTEN VERY HOT UNDER THE IGNITION SWITCH AREA. SO HOT IN FACT THAT THE WIRES AND PLASTIC COLUMN COVER HAVE SMOKED AND MELTED THROUGH. I FEEL THERE MAY BE A FIRE SOON. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG WITH MY MODEL YEAR BUT THE MELTED HOLE IN MY STEERING COLUMN SAYS OTHERWISE I'VE READ THERE WAS A RECALL OF THIS NATURE BUT WAS TOLD IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE HELPING ME. HELP... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504360March 25, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V023000 (AIR BAGS) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10501390March 5, 2013
STEERING, SUSPENSION
STEERING WOBBLES/SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN DRIVING. OFTEN INITIATED BY A MINOR IRREGULARITY IN ROAD PAVEMENT. REQUIRES COMING TO A FULL STOP TO ELIMINATE THE WOBBLE. RECURS OFTEN. DIFFICULT TO EXCEED 30MPH IN ORDER TO AVOID SHAKING. NO NOTICEABLY BAD OR BROKEN SUSPENSION PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10491817January 8, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, A THERMAL EVENT STARTED IN THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ABOVE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V024000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10491750January 7, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE DASH IS A BIG PILE OF JUNK! HARD PLASTIC WITH A VIBRATING DIESEL? TURNS TO PIECES AND FALLS INTO DEFROSTER DUCTS, FLOOR, ALL IN CAB OF TRUCK! THIS IS WHY YOU DON'T BUY DODGE OR YOU BUY IT FOR ONLY CUMMINS DIESEL POWER! THATS ONE OF THE ONLY THINGS THAT SELDOM BREAKS AND NEEDS FIXING! TAKE THE POWER TRAIN AWAY AND YOU WOULD NOT SELL ANOTHER! BOOO! NO GOOD DASH! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10491752January 7, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
TRUCK WOULD NOT QUIT LEAKING INSIDE TRUCK NO WINDOWS DOWN OR DOORS OPEN AFTER RAIN? FOUND THROUGH A BOROSCOPE INVESTIGATION THAT TRUCK WELDED SEAMS WERE NOT PROPERLY SEALED AFTER THE WELDING TOOK PLACE. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTORS REMOVED AND IN BETWEEN CAB UNDER WINDOW MOTOR NUMEROUS WELDS WERE FOUND TO BE LEAKING. LABOR INTENSIVE TO RESEAL. COST $1,900 TO RESEAL FAULTY WELDS FROM MEXICO! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10491747January 7, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SEVERAL YEARS BACK IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED FOR BURNING UP. AT THAT TIME HAD REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH TWICE PREVIOUSLY. DODGE PAID FOR THE SWITCHES AND LABOR AND REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH WITH NEW AND IMPROVED IGNITION SWITCH. NOW APPROX. 5 TO 7 YEARS LATER IGNITION SWITCH BURNING UP AGAIN TAKING OUT DOOR LOCK, WINDOWS, AIR BAG, AND ABB LIGHTS ARE ALL ON AND YOU CANNOT OPERATE EITHER WINDOW OR DOOR LOCK. TOOK INTO SHOP IN SPRING, TEXAS CALLED RILEYS OF RAYFORD ROAD IN SPRING, TEXAS WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS AND NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN! CALLED DEMONTRON DODGE IN CONROE, TEXAS TO SEE ABOUT SWITCH REPLACEMENT. NOTHING YET! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10491744January 7, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
NUMEROUS HEADLIGHT SWITCHES REPLACED DUE TO THEM BURNING UP TO INCLUDE SEVERAL INCHES OF THE EXISTING WIRING HARNESS TO SWITCH. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS TYPE OF SAFETY ISSUE IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED. YOU DAM SURE HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE THE AFTERMARKET AUTO PARTS O REILYS ETC. CARRY THE SWITCH OR SWITCH WITH WIRING HARNESS AS AN OPTION. AFTER READING HERE ALL SWITCHES GO OUT ABOUT THE SAME... THE HEADLIGHTS START GOING ON AND OFF THEN LOOK FOR SMOKE COMING FROM AROUND DASH WHERE SWITCH MOUNTED. YOU CAN FEEL THE HEAT FROM UNDER WHEN SWITCH IS BURNING UP. NEED A SIMPLE RELAY TO STOP THIS SHOW HOW MUCH DODGE LOVES ITS CUSTOMERS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481167October 19, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE HOOD LATCH DETACHED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH CAUSED THE HOOD LID TO RELEASE AND CRASH INTO THE WINDSHIELD GLASS. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SHATTERED UPON IMPACT. IN ADDITION, THE HOOD LID WAS SLIGHTLY BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469064August 3, 2012
SUSPENSION
I HAVE A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4. MY MILEAGE IS AT 85,020. I HAVE TAKEN REAL GOOD CARE OF THIS TRUCK AND I USE IT TO DRIVE IN THE SNOW WHEN I NEED THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. I WAS DOING A OIL CHANGE AND I NOTICED THE PASSINGER SIDE TRAILING ARMS AND COIL SPRING BRACKET WELDS ARE PULLING AWAY FROM THE AXLE. I LOOKED OVER TO DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE TRAILING ARM WELDS ON THE FRONT AXLE ARE CRACKED. I HAVE A DANA 3.5 AXLE RATIO. THE TAG UNDER THE HOOD NUMBERS ARE 3850 FRONT AXLE DANA 4. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK THINKING THE FRAME AND AXLES WOULD LAST THE LIFE TIME OF THE TRUCK. I'AM A NAVY VETERAN AND A MECHANIC AND I CAN REPAIR MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD NOT OF HAPPEN AND I WOULD LIKE DODGE TO HELP OUT IN THIS MATTER. I ALSO WHAT TO MAKE OTHER DODGE PEOPLE AWEAR OF THIS PROBLEM. I'M JUST GLAD THAT I NOTICED THIS BEFORE WINTER AND I WAS NOT DRIVING AT THE TIME. IF THE WELDS WOULD HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE AXLE AND TRAILING ARMS IT COULD OF BEEM FATAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465932July 17, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
IN THE 1994-2001 MODEL YEAR DODGE RAM 1500, 2500 AND 3500 TRUCKS THERE IS NO RELAY IN THE WIRING CIRCUITRY USE FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. WHEN THE RAM WAS REDESIGNED IN 1994, THE ENGINEERS DID NOT FIND IT NECESSARY TO CHANGE THE 40-YEAR OLD DESIGN FOR THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM; FEELING ONLY THE NEED TO USE A LARGER GAUGE WIRE TO HANDLE THE EXCESSIVE HEAT OF THE HALOGEN BULBS. UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER THE WIRES NOR THE SWITCH OR INTERNAL RHEOSTAT (FOR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING) COULD HANDLE THIS LOAD AND THE FOLLOWING NEAR TRAGIC EVEN HAS BEEN AN ALL TOO COMMON OCCURRENCE. A RECALL (OR AT THE VERY LEAST A TSB HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE 3500 MODEL DODGE RAMS, WHICH ARE COMPRISED OF THE EXACT SAME SWITCH AND WIRING, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN NOTED ABOUT THE 1500 OR 2500 MODELS. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND THIS, AND THIS IS THE VERY REASON I FEEL COMPELLED TO BE WRITING THIS COMPLAINT IN THE FIRST PLACE. ONE NIGHT I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 55-MPH WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, RELAY AND CONNECTED WIRING ALL BECAME OVERHEATED, CAUSING THEM TO MELT. BECOMING FRANTIC, I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY WIGGLE THE DIMMER SWITCH (COMBINATION/TURN SIGNAL SWITCH), THEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH UNTIL I GOT THEM TO COME BACK ON. DURING THAT EPISODE I HAD THEM GO OUT ON ME ABOUT 4 TIMES THAT I RECALL. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE REMAINS UNFIXED AND IS NOT DRIVABLE AT NIGHT. BEING A MECHANIC, MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS TO CHECK THE RELAYS AND FUSES TO SEE IF THEY WERE BLOWN OR BAD. TO MY DISMAY, I COULD NOT FIND ANY RELAYS! THIS WAS HOW I DISCOVERED, THROUGH SOME ONLINE RESEARCH, ABOUT THE RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH- HOW I WAS NOT ALONE IN THIS SITUATION AND THE REST OF THE AFOREMENTIONED PARAGRAPH. I WILL GLADLY BE AVAILABLE FOR PHONE CALLS, QUESTIONS, AND TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE PARTS IN QUESTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464315July 5, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HOOD FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CLOSE THE HOOD, WHICH SEEMED TO BE SECURE HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE HE REACHED 60 MPH. THE HOOD VIOLENTLY STRUCK THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED THE GLASS TO SHATTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE FAILURE BUT HE BELIEVED THAT THE RECALL WAS EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 193,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444959January 23, 2012
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN
AFTER OPERATING VEHICLE UNDER HEAVY LOAD (SNOWPLOWING), THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE RUPTURED WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED AND THE HYDRAULIC FLUID IGNITED ON THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM. NOTE: THERE WAS A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99V115000 ) ISSUED FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR TRUCK WITH A V10 ENGINE VERSES THE V8. THE HEAT FROM THE NEARBY EXHAUST PIPE EXCEEDED THE TEMPERATURE RATING OF THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE MATERIAL CAUSING IT TO RUPTURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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