IllustrationREAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED ON NARROW COUNTRY ROAD WITHOUT SHOULDER TO PULL OFF. THE SEPARATED TREAD DAMAGED REAR QUARTER PANEL, WHEEL WELL AND UNDER FRAME CAUSING TAILGATE ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. TREAD WRAPPED AROUND AXIL.GOODYEAR BLAMES UNDERINFLATED TIRE. TIRES WERE CHECKED PREVIOUS TO DEPARTURE ON THIS EXTENDED TRIP.*AK
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
What owners actually said
298 reportsTHE VEHICLE SUFFERED TIRE BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.*MR CONSUMER DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING THE TREAD JUST SEPARATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT REAR. *PH *NLM
PAINT IS STARTING TO PEEL OFF IN SHEETS ON THE HOOD AND OTHER PARTS OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE IS ON FOURTH ENGINE AND ONLY 44,000 MILES ON PRESENT ENGINE. DEALER SAYS ENGINE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. EXCESSIVE BLOW BY FROM ENGINE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. ALSO THE TRUCK WANDERS ON THE ROAD, AND HAS A RUMBLING RATTLE NOISE ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE THAT SOUNDS LIKE…
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VEHICLE IS ON FOURTH ENGINE AND ONLY 44,000 MILES ON PRESENT ENGINE. DEALER SAYS ENGINE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. EXCESSIVE BLOW BY FROM ENGINE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. ALSO THE TRUCK WANDERS ON THE ROAD, AND HAS A RUMBLING RATTLE NOISE ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE THAT SOUNDS LIKE ITS COMING FROM THE SHOCKS AREA. BUT MY MECHANIC SAYS SHOCKS ARE OK. THE DEALER DID NOT CHECK INTO PROBLEM WHEN I PURCHASED THE TRUCK BUT IT IS LISTED AS COMPLAINT WHEN THE FIRST ENGINE WAS REPLACED. HAVE REPLACED TRACKING BAR, U-JOINTS, REAR SPRINGS, STABILIZER SHOCK & TIRES. WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE JERKS THE STEERING WHEEL TO SIDE RAIL FAST GIVING A FISHTAIL EFFECT. DRIVE SHAFT HAS ALSO BEEN REPLACED. *LA
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HEADLIGHT SWITCH PROBLEMS. CONSUMER WAS AWARE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE RAM 3500 SERIES, BUT NOT ON THE RAM 1500, WHICH WAS THE ONE HE HAD. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND SOLD THE CONSUMER A REPLACEMENT SWITCH. HE COMPARED THE NEW SWITCH TO THE ONE ON THE 3500 SERIES, AND STATED THAT THEY WER…
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CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HEADLIGHT SWITCH PROBLEMS. CONSUMER WAS AWARE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE RAM 3500 SERIES, BUT NOT ON THE RAM 1500, WHICH WAS THE ONE HE HAD. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND SOLD THE CONSUMER A REPLACEMENT SWITCH. HE COMPARED THE NEW SWITCH TO THE ONE ON THE 3500 SERIES, AND STATED THAT THEY WERE IDENTICAL.*AK WHILE DRIVING HOME CONSUMER SMELT WIRES BURNING AND THE HEADLIGHT CUT OFF THEN CAME BACK ON. CONSUMER STATED IF THE SWITCH WAS THE PROBLEM ON THE OLDER MODEL RAM'S, THEN THEY ARE A PROBLEM WITH HIS LATER MODEL. *PH *NLM
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK SUDDENLY RECLINED BACKWARDS. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE SEAT BACK BOLTS SHEARED OFF. *AK
CUP HOLDERS IN MY 1996 DODGE PU ARE NOT SAFE. DRINKING CUP OR CUPS HAVE TIPPED OVER WHEN CORNERING OR TURNING AND HAVE RESULTED IN VERY HOT SPILLS ON MY LOWER LEG. *LA
PAINT IS POPPING OFF TOP OF CAB IN BIG PATCHES, NOW IS BEGINNING TO SPREAD TO HOOD AND OTHER PARTS.
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING SOUND, AND NOTICED FROM THE REARVIEW MIRROR A FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE, SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS MINIMAL DAMAGE DONE TO VEHICLE. AN INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATOR CONCLUDED THAT THE ROLLOVER VALVE WAS THE CAUSE OF…
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WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING SOUND, AND NOTICED FROM THE REARVIEW MIRROR A FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE, SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS MINIMAL DAMAGE DONE TO VEHICLE. AN INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATOR CONCLUDED THAT THE ROLLOVER VALVE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.*AK *PH *JB
THE METAL HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND DISINTEGRATED. THIS RESULTED IN BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. *AK *SCC *JB
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.