IllustrationTHE DASHBOARD WAS DEVOLOPING CRACKS THROUGHOUT. THE CRACKS WERE DEVELOPING INTO HOLES. THERE WAS NO CRASH OR INCIDENT.*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 DASHBOARD IN THE DODGE RAMWAS CRACKED AND CAVED IN. THIS CREATED A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT EXPOSED ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS TO DAMAGE.*AK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. SEVEN YEARS AGO, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD BEGINNING TO CRACK AT APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES. THE DASHBOARD WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT PUT A PADDING DOWN TO PROTECT IT FROM THE SUN. THE DASHBOARD IS STILL CRACKING. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE CURRENT MILEAG…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. SEVEN YEARS AGO, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD BEGINNING TO CRACK AT APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES. THE DASHBOARD WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT PUT A PADDING DOWN TO PROTECT IT FROM THE SUN. THE DASHBOARD IS STILL CRACKING. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 73,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
DASHBOARD FALLING APART,CRACKING AND LARGE HOLES EXPOSING WIRES AND DASHBOARD ELECTRONICS. *JB
DASH BOARD CRACKED AND FELL APART ON A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK. *TR
I BOUGHT THE DODGE RAM USED A (1996) I LOVE THE TRUCK, EXCEPT FOR THE DASHBOARD. IT STARTED AS ONE SMALL CRACK, AND IS FROM THE WINDSHIELD ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE GAUGE CLUSTER. AND NOW THERE ARE MORE CRACKS STARTING ! I KNOW IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I TOO HAVE A CAVED IN DASHBOARD! *TR
19960 DODGE RAM 1500. CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE HOOD UNLATCHED. THE HOOD BENT BACKWARDS AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. *MC OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. THE EIGHTH CYLINDER ON THE ENGINE IS FAILING AND THE ENGINE HEAD IS ALSO CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT PAID $700 FOR THE PREVIOUS REPAIRS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT IS AWAR…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. THE EIGHTH CYLINDER ON THE ENGINE IS FAILING AND THE ENGINE HEAD IS ALSO CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT PAID $700 FOR THE PREVIOUS REPAIRS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 114,000. THE VIN IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.
THE HOOD FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING HOME, CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND HITTING THE CURB TO STOP THE TRUCK. DODGE REUSED TO REPAIR DAMAGE OR SUPPLY ME WITH A NEW LATCH, THEY STATED THE PRIMARY LATCH GAVE WAY, CAUSING THE HOOD TO OPEN. DODGE DEALER STATED THE MAIN LATCH WAS BAD, IF THE SECONDARY LATCH WAS OPERATING AS IT W…
Read full complaint
THE HOOD FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING HOME, CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND HITTING THE CURB TO STOP THE TRUCK. DODGE REUSED TO REPAIR DAMAGE OR SUPPLY ME WITH A NEW LATCH, THEY STATED THE PRIMARY LATCH GAVE WAY, CAUSING THE HOOD TO OPEN. DODGE DEALER STATED THE MAIN LATCH WAS BAD, IF THE SECONDARY LATCH WAS OPERATING AS IT WAS MEANT TO THE HOOD COUND NOT HAVE OPENED, DODGE WAS AT FAULT. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY TRUCK, BUT IT WAS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION.*AK
PEELING PAINT OFF OF CAB OF TRUCK. EXTENSIVE IN AREA OF CENTER TO DRIVERS SIDE. APPEARS THAT PAINT HAS BLISTERED AND EXPOSED UNDER COATING. OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THAT DODGE RAM TRUCK MODELS 1500,2500 &3500 FOR YEARS 1994,1995,1996 & 1997 AFFECTED. AVERAGE ESTIMATE TO REPAIR RANGES FROM $700.00 TO $1500.00. *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.