IllustrationMY DASH IS CRACKED ON MY 1996 DODGE RAM. *JB
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 reportsDASHBOARD CRACKING AND CHUNKS COMING OFF. *JB
I OWN A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. THE DASHBOARD HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS AND PIECES ARE STARTING TO FALL INTO DASH CAVITY. I KNOW OF OTHER DODGE OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS, AS THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A YEAR SPECIFIC PROBLEM, BUT IT DOES SEEM TO BE A DODGE SPECIFIC PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT LEARNED OF ANY OTHER PICK-UP OW…
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I OWN A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. THE DASHBOARD HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS AND PIECES ARE STARTING TO FALL INTO DASH CAVITY. I KNOW OF OTHER DODGE OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS, AS THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A YEAR SPECIFIC PROBLEM, BUT IT DOES SEEM TO BE A DODGE SPECIFIC PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT LEARNED OF ANY OTHER PICK-UP OWNERS OF OTHER MANUFACTURES WHOSE DASHES ARE CRACKING AND CAVING IN. THIS PROBLEM COULD LEAD TO OTHER SAFETY ISSUES AS DIRECT SUN LIGHT IS ABLE TO ACCESS OTHER ELECTRONICS AND WIRING SYSTEMS.
1996 DODGE RAM 1500 CAUGHT FIRE IN THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. *KB THE CAUSE OF FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE ELECTRICAL UNDER THE DASHBOARD. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *JB
TURN SIGNALS FAILED, CHECKED FUSE, REPLACED FLASHER RELAY, REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION TURN/DIMMER/WIPER SWITCH AND CHECKED ALL BULBS AND STILL NO TURN SIGNALS. HAZARD FLASHERS WORKING CORRECTLY. PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *TR
AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON FREQUENTLY. HAVE HAD SERVICE WHEN IT HAPPENS, HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DURHAM DODGE "DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, IT'S NOTHING!" IT IS NOT NORMAL FOR THIS TO OCCUR AND I FEEL UNPROTECTED WHEN THIS LIGHT IS ON. NO INJURIES YET, NO CRASH YET. DO I HAVE PEACE OF MIND THAT I CAN RELY ON MY AIR BAG ???? NO!!! *JB
CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD OF MY 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. I THOUGHT IT WAS SUN DAMAGE AND PURCHASED A DASHBOARD COVER FOR IT BUT HAVE SEEN ON TV THAT OTHER DODGE OWNERS HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR
THE REAR LEFT TIRE ON OUR PICKUP TRUCK BLEW THE TREAD LAYER OFF DOWN TO THE CORE OF THE TIRE. THE PICKUP HAD ABS BRAKES, BUT WITHOUT THE TREAD ON THE TIRE, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY LOST, AND THE TRUCK WENT HEADFIRST INTO A CONCRETE HIGHWAY DIVIDER CAUSING THE TRUCK TO BE TOTALED AND INJURIES TO BOTH THE DRIVER AND …
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THE REAR LEFT TIRE ON OUR PICKUP TRUCK BLEW THE TREAD LAYER OFF DOWN TO THE CORE OF THE TIRE. THE PICKUP HAD ABS BRAKES, BUT WITHOUT THE TREAD ON THE TIRE, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY LOST, AND THE TRUCK WENT HEADFIRST INTO A CONCRETE HIGHWAY DIVIDER CAUSING THE TRUCK TO BE TOTALED AND INJURIES TO BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED AWAY AND THE TIRE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO OBTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING ORIGIN. THE TIRES WERE 255/15 GOODYEAR RADIALS. WE DO HAVE A PHOTO OF THE TIRE, HOWEVER, AFTER TOWING THE EXPLODED TREAD IS GONE AND ONLY THE CORE REMAINS.
I HAVE A 1996 DODGE RAM THE HOOD FLEW UP AND DAMAGED THE HOOD & GRILL AND BRACKETS. THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY HOOD LATCH, ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS REPLACE THE LATCH AND THE BRACKETS IS THIS RIGHT, DON'T THEY HAVE TO FIX THE DAMAGED PARTS CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE PART? I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL BECAUSE I WAS THE 2ND OWNER A…
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I HAVE A 1996 DODGE RAM THE HOOD FLEW UP AND DAMAGED THE HOOD & GRILL AND BRACKETS. THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY HOOD LATCH, ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS REPLACE THE LATCH AND THE BRACKETS IS THIS RIGHT, DON'T THEY HAVE TO FIX THE DAMAGED PARTS CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE PART? I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL BECAUSE I WAS THE 2ND OWNER AND NEVER IN THERE SYSTEM. *TR
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON 2/5/2007 THE HOOD ON THE 1996 DODGE RAM P/U FLEW OPEN, CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. JUST MISSING A BUS, THEN COMING TO A STOP AFTER HITTING THE CURB. THE HOOD WAS DAMAGED ALONG WITH THE WINDSHIELD, ALSO, FRONT END HIT THE CURB. DODGE REFUSED TO REPAIR AND REPLACE THE HOOD LATCH…
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WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON 2/5/2007 THE HOOD ON THE 1996 DODGE RAM P/U FLEW OPEN, CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. JUST MISSING A BUS, THEN COMING TO A STOP AFTER HITTING THE CURB. THE HOOD WAS DAMAGED ALONG WITH THE WINDSHIELD, ALSO, FRONT END HIT THE CURB. DODGE REFUSED TO REPAIR AND REPLACE THE HOOD LATCH BECAUSE THEY CLAIMED THE PRIMARY LATCH WAS DEFECTIVE, THEY ONLY HAD A RECALL FOR THE SECONDARY LATCH. IN THE RECALL IT STATED THAT THE HOOD COULD OPEN IF THE PRIMARY LATCH WAS DEFECTIVE. IF THE SECONDARY LATCH WAS NOT DEFECTIVE IT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE HOOD FROM OPENING COMPLETELY. I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RECALL NOTICE FOR ANY DEFECTIVE HOOD LATCH. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND/OR KILLED OTHER INNOCENT PEOPLE IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN AFTER ENTERING I-95. DODGE SHOULD BE FORCED TO REPAIR ALL HOOD LATCHES ON THESE VEHICLES, ONE WAS NO GOOD WITHOUT THE OTHER. AFTER TAKING MY TRUCK TO A DODGE DEALER THEY LEFT THE HOOD COMPLETELY UNLATCHED, AND DID NOT REPLACE THE BUNGY CORD I HAD PLACED TO PREVENT THE HOOD FROM OPENING. WHEN WILL DODGE BE FORCED TO REPAIR THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. AFTER SOMEONE IS INJURED. DODGE WAS NEGLIGENT IN ALLOWING THESE LATCHES TO BE KEPT ON THESE VEHICLES. *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.