Dodge Ram Complaints (1996)

1,362 consumer complaints on file.

#10174314November 9, 2006
STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
1996 RAM 1500 SWAY BAR ATTACHMENT FAILED. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE SWAY BAR FELL TO THE GROUND, IT CAUSED THE FRONT WHEELS TO RAPIDLY GO FROM FULL-LEFT TO FULL RIGHT AT THE RATE OF SEVERAL TIMES PER SECOND. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE SWAY BAR PLATE HAD NEVER BEEN MACHINE WELDED TO THE FRAME AND FOR SEVERAL YEARS HAD BEEN HELD ON ONLY BY THREE SMALL SPOT WELDS, MEANT TO HOLD THE PLATE IN PLACE FOR THE MACHINE WELDER. THE MACHINE WELD APPEARED TO BE ABOUT AN EIGHTH TO A SIXTEENTH OF AN INCH OFF, MISSING THE ENTIRE PLATE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173260October 30, 2006
STRUCTURE
1996 DODGE RAM 1500'S SWAY BAR LINK BROKE WHILE DRIVING. *TS PRIOR TO THE SWAY BAR BREAKING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF THE TRUCK SHOWED THAT THE SWAY BAR PLATE HAD NEVER BEEN MACHINE WELDED TO THE FRAME AND HAD BEEN HELD ON ONLY BY THREE SPOT WELDS. THE PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169729October 2, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY, J. TURNER BUTLER BLVD. TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH WHEN THE HOOD OF MY TRUCK RELEASED AND CRASHED INTO MY WINDSHIELD BLINDING ME. I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP AND PULL OFF THE ROADWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. AFTERWARDS I DID RESEARCH TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS AND FOUND NHTSA 01V040000 FOR DODGE RAM 1500 PUS FOR YEARS 1994-1999 WHICH INDICATED CORROSION OF THE SPRING ON THE SECONDARY LATCH COULD CAUSE IT TO BIND IN THE RELEASE POSITION. I BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY TRUCK. THE RECALL HOWEVER WAS ONLY FOR TRUCKS SOLD OR REGISTERED IN THE SALT BELT STATES IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTRY. I RESIDE IN A COASTAL AREA OF FLORIDA AND PURCHASED THIS TRUCK USED. IT WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD ON THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA AND I AM A RESIDENT OF JACKSONVILLE BEACH, BUT IT WAS USED IN COASTAL FLORIDA SINCE IT WAS SOLD. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING IT REPAIRED, AND I WILL BEAR THE COST SINCE I JUST CANCELLED MY COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE (THOUGHT IT WAS TOO COSTLY FOR A 10 YEAR OLD TRUCK). I WAS JUST WONDERING WHY COASTAL REGIONS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OR IF THAT NEEDED MORE RESEARCH? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170146September 21, 2006
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS, TIRES
1996 DODGE RAM LEFT REAR TIRE CAME OFF OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *TS *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167911September 11, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
I WENT TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND THE BRAKE PETAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I REAR ENDED AN SUV. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP TO FIND THAT THREE OF THE FOUR BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT AND THE ONE THAT STAYED INTACT WAS LEAKING. I DID HEAVY DAMAGE TO THE SUV AS WELL AS PUSHED IN MY BUMPER AND DAMAGED THE HOOD. ALSO THE APPLICATION OF THE EMEREGENCY BRAKE DID NOTHING. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167564September 7, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACTED STATED WHEN STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, A BURNING ODOR WAS NOTICED AND THE PARKING/RUNNING LIGHTS HAD FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FUSES WERE CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE GOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE MECHANIC. ON INSPECTION, THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED AS A FAILURE TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, DUE TO MELTED WIRING. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. UPDATED 12/05/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164528August 4, 2006
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON DRY HIGHWAY PAVEMENT THE REAR DRIVER TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND THE TIRE WAS CHANGED. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE INSPECTED THE OTHER THREEE TIRES AND NOTICTED THE SAME DEFECTS. UPDATED 08/21/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164031July 31, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL CABLE (TWISTED FINE WIRE) BECOME FRAYED, CAUSING CABLE TO BECOME JAMMED IN HOUSING, CAUSING THE CRUISE CONTROL TO NOT GO OFF WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163288July 24, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A STRONG SMELL OF GAS WAS IN THE VEHICLE AND A LEAK WAS FOUND IN THE PLASTIC PIPE FROM THE FUEL PUMP. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160683June 25, 2006
STRUCTURE
I HAVE A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK AND THE DASH BOARD IS FALLING APART. IT STARTED AS SMALL CRACKS AROUND THE VENTS AND SOON SPEED ALL OVER THE DASH. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE FUNCTION OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER DODGE TRUCK OWNERS AND THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I THINK IT MUST BE BAD MATERIAL THE DODGE USED IN THE DASHES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159760June 13, 2006
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SYMPTOMS: AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATES RANDOMLY, HORN SOUNDS INTERMITTENTLY, CRUISE CONTROL HAS STOPPED WORKING. A CASUAL SEARCH OF THE INTERNET SHOWS THESE THREE SYMPTOMS OCCUR QUITE FREQUENTLY ON CHRYSLER/DODGE AND PLYMOUTH VEHICLES. THE CAUSE IS A FAULTY CLOCKSPRING. THE RISK IS HAVING THE AIRBAG DISENGAGE, I.E. WILL NOT DEPLOY. CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED RECALLS FOR A NUMBER OF VEHICLES FOR THIS DEFECT, THE PROBLEM IS THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR MANY MORE VEHICLES THAT HAVE THIS SAFETY DEFECT. CHRYSLER CLAIMS A BAD INSTALLATION AT CERTAIN PLANTS, PROBLEM IS THE DEFECT OCCURS ON MANY MORE VEHICLES THEN RECALLED MADE AT OTHER PLANTS. COST IS IN THE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR. USER REPAIR IS NOT ADVISED SINCE THE AIRBAG MUST BE REMOVED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155734April 20, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
OIL PRESSURE GAUGE JUMPING FROM WITH THE UNIT IN DRIVE OR ON THE ROAD. WANT TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154148March 30, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRUCK PURCHASED USED AT DEALERSHIP IN 2000. TRANSMISSION REBUILT IN 2002. TRANSMISSION FAILED IN 2006. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153909March 28, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45MPH, THE HOOD SAFETY LATCH FAILED ALLOWING THE HOOD TO FLY UPWARD INTO THE AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE LATCH WAS REPLACED UNDER A RECALL, HOWEVER THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE HINGES OR HOOD. THE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID# IS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152904March 16, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
ON 3/9/06 MY HOOD ON MY 1996 DODGE RAM 1500 BLEW OPEN ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE HOOD AND THE HOOD HIDGES. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HOOD LATCH #01V04000. I CONTACTED DODGE ABOUT THIS, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE LATCH BUT NOT THE DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK. THEY SHOULD REPAIR THE DAMAGE ALSO, SINCE I DID NOT RECEIVE THE RECALL NOTICE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152432March 10, 2006
STRUCTURE
THE TOP SIDE OF THE INTERIOR DASH STARTED CRACKING APPROXIMATELY 9 MONTHS AGO AND WITHIN VERY SHORT TIME FRAME, IT NOW HAS VERY LARGE, MULTIPLE CRACKS. SEEM TO HAVE STARTED AROUND THE VENT AREAS. IT ALSO HAS A PROBLEM WITH SURGING WHEN DRIVING AT A LOWER STEADY SPEED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150101February 13, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PLASTIC TRANSMISSION COOLER FITTINGS MELTED CAUSING ALL OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK OUT VERY QUICKLY. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 97V084000, REGARDING THE POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: COOLING UNIT AND LINES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149109January 31, 2006
SUSPENSION
I HAVE A 1996 DODGE RAM 2500 4X4 WITH 5.9L TURBO DIESEL. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SPRING/SHOCK TOWER IS RIPPING FROM THE FRAME, DRIVER SIDE IS CRACKED. DODGE WILL DO NOTHING BE CAUSE IT DOESN'T FALL WITHIN THEIR RECALL DATES. SAFETY RECALL NO.835. THIS AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED MEANS NOTHING, MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT EARLY SUMMER OF 1995, NOT SURE EXACTLY. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE. CHRYSLER TOLD ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT, AND SO I AM. [XXX]. THANKS, [XXX]. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147456January 11, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED THE TRUCK IN 1996 NEW FROM PARKS MOTORS IN AUGUSTA, SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILD 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1 OR 2 GEAR OR IF IT DOES IT TAKES HIGH RPMS TO DO IT. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A SEAL IN THE UPPER HALF OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY FROM THE FACTORY. THE FIRST TIME I HAD THIS REBUILT I COVERED THE COST MYSELF BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILEAGE WARRANTY THE SECOND TIME I HAD THIS REBUILT CHRYSLER AGREED TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY KNEW IT HAD BEEN REBUILT ONCE BEFORE AND FAILED A 2ND TIME, THE THIRD TIME I PAID TO HAVE IT REBUILT OUT OF POCKET, I AM NOW AT THE POINT OF NEEDING IT REBUILT FOR A 4TH TIME MY TRUCK HAS 120,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND I HAVE YET TO SEE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM I HAVE TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE ALSO BEEN TO MANY WEB SITES DESCRIBING THE SAME PROBLEMS I AM HAVING, THE TRANSMISSION ALSO HAS A 5 MILE AN HOUR DIFFERENCE THAN WHAT IT SHOULD BE. MY INCIDENT DATE IS NOT EXACT AS THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES NOW OVER A 10 YEAR PERIOD, I HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS BEFORE BUT NEVER HAD ANY LETTERS OR HAVE BEEN INFORMED AS TO WHAT WAS GOING ON FROM THE DOT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148633January 11, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1996 DODGE 1500 BRAKES FAILED. *TS WHILE BRAKING AT A TOLL BOOTH THE VEHICLE BRAKES FAILED AND RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE HITTING THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO IT'S FRONT GRILL, FRONT BUMPER, THE HOOD WAS PUSHED BACK, THE RADIATOR WAS DAMAGED AND POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT HIS BACK AND NECK FELT TIGHT AFTER THE CRASH. THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED HEAVY REAR END DAMAGE. THAT VEHICLES OCCUPANT STATED THAT HIS HEAD AND LEGS HURT. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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