IllustrationTHE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THE RADIO WERE REPALCED WITH NO PROBLEMS FROM THE DEALER, THE BRAKE SYSTEM I REPLACED MYSELF, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP WITH A $100 DEDUCTABLE AFTER CONTACTING CHYSLER, THE PITMAN AND IDLER ARM HAVE NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED, I AM NOT DRIVING THE VECHICLE
1996 Dodge RAM 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Dodge RAM 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 520.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
50–25K
225–50K
450–75K
2075–100K
29100–150K
24150K+
84 reports with mileage · 214 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
18 crash reports17 fire reports13 injury reports
Power Train complaints
52 reportsTHIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT MY TRANS HAS FAILED SINCE I PURCHASED IT. FIRST TIME THE DEALERSHIP REBUILT IT UNDER WARRANTY. THIS TIME IT IS JUST ?!@#$% I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH A VEHICLES POWERTRAIN AS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS ONE. I' M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THIS PROBLEM EITHER. I'M WORRIED THAT THE NEXT TIME IT GOE…
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THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT MY TRANS HAS FAILED SINCE I PURCHASED IT. FIRST TIME THE DEALERSHIP REBUILT IT UNDER WARRANTY. THIS TIME IT IS JUST ?!@#$% I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH A VEHICLES POWERTRAIN AS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS ONE. I' M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THIS PROBLEM EITHER. I'M WORRIED THAT THE NEXT TIME IT GOES OUT IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR OR OVERDRIVE AT SPEED BETWEEN 40-45 MPH, VEHICLE WILL EITHER NOT SHIFT AND STAY IN 2ND GEARSO RPMS CONTINUE TO RISE OR WILL ACT AS IF IN NEUTRAL AND NOT SHIFT OR RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL, ONLY RESULTING IN HIGH RPMS. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER MAKING KNOCKING NOISE WHICH GOT PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL MONTHS. A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED AND NOW THAT TRANSMISSION IS MAKING THE SAME NOISE AFTER ONLY A FEW DAYS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS MODEL OF TRANSMISSION MAY BE DEFECTIVE AS IT FAILED AFTER ONLY 58,000 MILES AND NOW THE NEW…
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TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER MAKING KNOCKING NOISE WHICH GOT PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL MONTHS. A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED AND NOW THAT TRANSMISSION IS MAKING THE SAME NOISE AFTER ONLY A FEW DAYS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS MODEL OF TRANSMISSION MAY BE DEFECTIVE AS IT FAILED AFTER ONLY 58,000 MILES AND NOW THE NEW ONE IS MAKING THE SAME NOISE THAT THE OLD ONE STARTED OUT MAKING. *AK
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. IT WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR WHEN SHIFTING. ALSIO, ENGINE WAS RACING WHEN CHANGING GEARS. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
WAS SHIFTING INTO DRIVE & VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. ACTED LIKE IT WAS STILL IN PARK POSITION. HAD TO GUN MOTOR TO SHIFT & VEHICLE WOULD JERK FORWARD QUICKLY. WOULD HAVE TO KEEP FOOT ON BRAKES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED & NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK
THE PASSENGER'S WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM MOTOR BROKE, WHICH MAY CAUSE VISUAL DIFFICULTY. ALSO, THE STEERING SYSTEM IS VERY LOOSE, AND DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT. PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. PRESENTLY, DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AND OTHER PARTS. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION AND…
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THE PASSENGER'S WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM MOTOR BROKE, WHICH MAY CAUSE VISUAL DIFFICULTY. ALSO, THE STEERING SYSTEM IS VERY LOOSE, AND DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT. PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. PRESENTLY, DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AND OTHER PARTS. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE WHICH HAS BEEN REPLACE 3 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ALSO PREMATURE WEAR OF BRAKES AND ALWAYS PULL TO THE LEFT.
WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK ONTO THE MANIFOLD, RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY DETAILS. *AK
Official recalls
0No 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
1DP03006 · 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.