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1996 Dodge RAM 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Dodge RAM 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 520.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
298Owner complaints

Model-year median: 520

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1996 Dodge RAM 1500

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 298 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 1 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Power Train: 52 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 46 reports
  • Structure: 35 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 32 reports
  • Suspension: 27 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    6
    1993    116
    1994    213
    1995    298
    1996    361
    1997    520
    1998    610
    1999
    Compare all RAM 1500 years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Power Train
    52    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    46    Structure
    35    Engine And Engine Cooling
    32    Suspension
    27
    All reported categories
    Electrical System
    26    Steering
    23    Fuel System, Gasoline
    19    Unknown Or Other
    16    Exterior Lighting
    12    Tires
    12    Latches/locks/linkages
    11    Vehicle Speed Control
    11    Air Bags
    10    Visibility
    9    Equipment
    7    Seats
    7    Wheels
    7    Seat Belts
    3    Engine
    2    Fuel/propulsion System
    1    Interior Lighting
    1    Trailer Hitches
    1    Visibility/wiper
    1

    Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

    When problems were reported

    Mileage at the reported incident

    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

    Exterior Lighting complaints

    12 reports
    Clear category filter
    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…

    Read full complaint

    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 · 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

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect 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.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.