IllustrationWHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT ANY MPH AND WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP, VEHICLE WANDERS FROM SIDE TO SIDE ON THE ROAD. CONSUMER TRIED TO KEEP CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND KEEP FOCUSED ON THE ROAD. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED.*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 reportsWHILE DRIVING THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE ENGINE CUT COMPLETELY OFF. ENGINE HAS TO BE RPLACED. *AK
EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST CAUSED PULLING OF RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WHEN BRAKING.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ALSO PREMATURE WEAR OF BRAKES AND ALWAYS PULL TO THE LEFT.
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH RIGHT KNUCKLE ARM BROKE, CAUSING SAFETY PROBLEMS. CONSUMER NOTES VEHICLE DID NOT HIT A POTHOLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
CLAMP HOLDING STEERING LINKAGE TO STEERING BOX FELL OFF CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING. VEHICLE WAS GOING 5 MPH AND RAN OVER CURB.
ALUMINUM INSTRUMENT PANEL CARRIER BROKEN. VEHICLE INVOLVED IN SOLO COLOSION DUE PARTIALLY TO TIRE TREAD ON ONE TIRE SEPARATING FROM TIRE CASING. DRIVER LOST CONTROL VEHICLE ROLLED ONTO RIGHT SIDE. DAMAGE TO FRONT END DID NOT APPEAR SERIOUS ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CARRIER TO FRACTURE AND SEPARATE FROM ITS ORIGINAL …
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ALUMINUM INSTRUMENT PANEL CARRIER BROKEN. VEHICLE INVOLVED IN SOLO COLOSION DUE PARTIALLY TO TIRE TREAD ON ONE TIRE SEPARATING FROM TIRE CASING. DRIVER LOST CONTROL VEHICLE ROLLED ONTO RIGHT SIDE. DAMAGE TO FRONT END DID NOT APPEAR SERIOUS ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CARRIER TO FRACTURE AND SEPARATE FROM ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION.
AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. AFTER TRAVELING 65MPH & HITTING A SMALL VEHICLE THAT PULLED IN FRONT OF HER. *AK A REPRESENTATIVE FROM CHRYSLER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND STATED IT WAS TWISTED AND BADLY DAMAGED, HOWEVER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DUE TO THE SITE OF IMPACT. *SLC
DRIVER'S REARVIEW MIRROR FAILED. QCAW
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE DEALERSHIP ON 3-17-98 FOR REPAIRS ON BRAKES. DEALERSHIP SAID BRAKES WERE FINE. SECOND TIME DEALERSHIP SAID THEY ADJUSTED THE BRAKES. BUT CONSUMER MARKED NUT ON WHEEL TO SEE IF DEALER WAS REPAIRING VEHICLE, AND THE MARKS LINED UP STILL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP A THIRD TIME, DEALER SAID THEY R…
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CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE DEALERSHIP ON 3-17-98 FOR REPAIRS ON BRAKES. DEALERSHIP SAID BRAKES WERE FINE. SECOND TIME DEALERSHIP SAID THEY ADJUSTED THE BRAKES. BUT CONSUMER MARKED NUT ON WHEEL TO SEE IF DEALER WAS REPAIRING VEHICLE, AND THE MARKS LINED UP STILL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP A THIRD TIME, DEALER SAID THEY REPLACED BRAKE PADS AND SHOES, AND TURNED THE ROTORS. WHEN DRIVING AND BRAKING VEHICLE PULLS LEFT REAL HARD, ALMOST SIDEWAYS. AT THE MEDIATION BOARD HEARING WITH NCFDS THE BOARD DECIDED THAT THE TRUCK WAS UNSAFE . THE CLAIM NUMBER FOR HIS CASE IS 66985167FL AGAINST CHHRYSLER. *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.