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1996 Dodge Dodge Truck

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 2 of 35 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. 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.

1 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

35 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2011
Structure

LIKE ALMOST EVERY OTHER DASH IN THE DODGE PICKUP THIS ONE AS WELL AS THE ONE IN MY 18 YEAR OLD SONS 96 1500 IS DESTROYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424000

77 miles · Jan 12, 2003
Unknown Or Other

I WAS DRIVING MY 1996 DODGE CARAVAN TO WORK ONE DAY WHEN I BEGAN TO HEAR A SOUND LIKE AN AVALANCHE OF ROCKS FALLING UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THE VAN ULTIMATELY STOPPED RUNNING. I NOTICED COOLANT ON THE STREET. I TOWED THE VAN TO A DODGE SERVICE CENTER. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT MY WATER PUMP BEARING HAD BROKEN. THE TIMING BELT DRIVE…

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I WAS DRIVING MY 1996 DODGE CARAVAN TO WORK ONE DAY WHEN I BEGAN TO HEAR A SOUND LIKE AN AVALANCHE OF ROCKS FALLING UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THE VAN ULTIMATELY STOPPED RUNNING. I NOTICED COOLANT ON THE STREET. I TOWED THE VAN TO A DODGE SERVICE CENTER. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT MY WATER PUMP BEARING HAD BROKEN. THE TIMING BELT DRIVES THE WATER PUMP ON THIS VEHICLE. ONCE THE BEARING BROKE, IT LOOSENED AND ULTIMATELY BROKE THE TIMING BELT WHICH I HAD REPLACED A YEAR BEFORE. I HAD TO PAY $990.00 FOR THIS REPAIR, WHICH WAS UNEXPECTED. THE FAULTY BEARING WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ME PAYING FOR A NEW WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT, THEROMOSTAT, AND OTHER PARTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TIMING BELT ASSEMBLY. SINCE THE WATER PUMP AND ITS BEARING ARE INSIDE THE TIMING BELT ASSEMBLY, I WAS NOT ABLE TO HEAR OR SEE ANYTHING THAT WOULD INDICATE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VAN. MY VAN HAD 77,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS WATER PUMP BEARING FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #10000983

72,000 miles · Dec 17, 2002
Air BagsCrash

1996 DODGE RAM EXTENDED CAB PICK UP INVOLVED IN SEVERE FRONTAL CRASH. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DODGE'S INVESTIGATION SAID THAT THIS WAS CORRECT SINCE THE DAMAGE WAS IN THE "CRUSH" "CRUMPLE" AREAS AND ENERGY DID NOT DISIPATE ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE AIRBAGS? INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED VEHICLE DUE TO SEVERE DAMAGE. WE HAVE PICTURES OF …

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1996 DODGE RAM EXTENDED CAB PICK UP INVOLVED IN SEVERE FRONTAL CRASH. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DODGE'S INVESTIGATION SAID THAT THIS WAS CORRECT SINCE THE DAMAGE WAS IN THE "CRUSH" "CRUMPLE" AREAS AND ENERGY DID NOT DISIPATE ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE AIRBAGS? INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED VEHICLE DUE TO SEVERE DAMAGE. WE HAVE PICTURES OF DAMAGE. IS DODGE CORRECT OR JUST TRYING TO SWEEP THIS UNDER THE RUG SINCE OUR SON DID NOT GET INJURIED IN THIS ACCIDENT. WE HAVE OWNED TWO OTHER DODGE VEHICLES THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. I AM DRIVING ONE NOW, IS MY FAMILY SAFE?

NHTSA ODI #10000155

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

AFTER PUMPING FUEL INTO VEHICLE THERE IS NO REGISTRATION ON FUEL GAUGE/NEEDLE ON DASHBOARD.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE GAS PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, ALSO GAS IDLE DOES NOT WORK. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #8004725

Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 2001
Seats

DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE . THE BACK PART OF THE LEFT FRONT SEAT BROKE AND FELL AGAINST THE BACK SEAT. THE STEEL FRAME BROKE IN HALF THE THE JOIN T WHERE IT SWIFFERS. THE METEAL THICKNES IS LESS THAN 1-8 INCH. I WENT TO ASHEVILLE DODGE . THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRENTY AND THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT. HAVE THEY HAD THIS PRO…

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DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE . THE BACK PART OF THE LEFT FRONT SEAT BROKE AND FELL AGAINST THE BACK SEAT. THE STEEL FRAME BROKE IN HALF THE THE JOIN T WHERE IT SWIFFERS. THE METEAL THICKNES IS LESS THAN 1-8 INCH. I WENT TO ASHEVILLE DODGE . THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRENTY AND THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT. HAVE THEY HAD THIS PROBLEM OR HAS THIER BEEN AN RECALL? AND THEY SAID NO .AND I SAID THIS IS AN DEFECT IN THE SEAT. IF I HAD BROKE IT MYSELF I WOULDN'T BE HERE. THIS IS DEFECT OF DODGE NOT MINE. SO I STARTED SENDING DODGE E MAILS. AND I HAVE COPIES IF YOU NEED TO SEE THEM .I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO GET BACK INTOUCH WITH ME ON THIS MATTER. MY E MAIL IS JACK . BABB 07 KILDARE PLACE ASHEVILLE N.C. 28806 828 254 2642 E MAIL 22607@@MSN.COM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #756039

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainUnknown Or Other

EVERY WEEK THIS PAST MONTH I HAVE BEEN TAKING MY CAR INTO THE NELSON DODGE DEALERSHIP IN EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA IN REGARDS TO THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY "THINK" IT MAY NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT SURE. I TOOK T…

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EVERY WEEK THIS PAST MONTH I HAVE BEEN TAKING MY CAR INTO THE NELSON DODGE DEALERSHIP IN EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA IN REGARDS TO THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY "THINK" IT MAY NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT SURE. I TOOK THE VAN IN ON 10/15/01 DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND I WAS CHARGE FOR REPLACING THE THERMOSTAT AND GASKET. ON 10/23/01, MY VAN STALL WHILE DRIVING AND I TOOK IT IN AND WAS CHARGE FOR THE THROTTLE BODY SERVICE. ON 10/29/01 I NOTICE A GREEN LIQUID THAT WAS DRIPPING AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE COOLING SYSTEM, THEY CHECK IT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG, I WAS NOT CHARGED. ON 11/05/01, I TOOK IT IN AGAIN FOR THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS COMMING ON AGAIN, THEY CHECK THE VAN AND WERE NOT ABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM, THEY "THINK" IT MIGHT NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. ON 11/06/01, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON THEN IT TURNS OFF, I HAVE IT IN THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, WAITING TO RECEIVE A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP AS TO WHAT THEY "THINK" MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM, THAT'S IF THEY DETECT A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #754149

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2000
Electrical System

OUR BATTERIES BOTH DIED TOGETHER ON THE DAY BEFORE OUR RECALL APPT. IN CONSEQUENCE, TO RETURN HOME, WE HAD TO BUY TWO(2) NEW BATTERIES. WE ARE WONDERING IF THERE IS SOME FORM OF REMUNERATION FOR THIS UNFORESEEN AND COSTLY FAILURE?

NHTSA ODI #729854

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2000
Electrical System

DEALER PERFORMED RECALL 875 OF THE STEERING COLUMN WIRING, HOWEVER THE REPAIR DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. NLM

NHTSA ODI #554087

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2000
Tires

OUT OF A SET OF 4 TIRES, 3 OF THE TIRES FAILED. ONE WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205-75R-14 )

NHTSA ODI #729162

Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2000
Equipment

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #728910

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.