1996 Dodge RAM 1500

1996 RAM 1500 SWAY BAR ATTACHMENT FAILED. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE SWAY BAR FELL TO THE GROUND, IT CAUSED THE FRONT WHEELS TO RAPIDLY GO FROM FULL-LEFT TO FULL RIGHT AT THE RATE OF SEVERAL TIMES PER SECOND. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE SWAY BAR PLATE HAD NEVER BEEN MACHINE WELDED TO THE FRAME AND FOR SEVERAL YEARS HAD BEEN HELD ON ONLY BY THREE SMALL SPOT WELDS, MEANT TO HOLD THE PLATE IN PLACE FOR THE MACHINE WELDER. THE MACHINE WELD APPEARED TO BE ABOUT AN EIGHTH TO A SIXTEENTH OF AN INCH OFF, MISSING THE ENTIRE PLATE. *JB

1996 DODGE RAM 1500'S SWAY BAR LINK BROKE WHILE DRIVING. *TS PRIOR TO THE SWAY BAR BREAKING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF THE TRUCK SHOWED THAT THE SWAY BAR PLATE HAD NEVER BEEN MACHINE WELDED TO THE FRAME AND HAD BEEN HELD ON ONLY BY THREE SPOT WELDS. THE PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. *NM

I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY, J. TURNER BUTLER BLVD. TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH WHEN THE HOOD OF MY TRUCK RELEASED AND CRASHED INTO MY WINDSHIELD BLINDING ME. I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP AND PULL OFF THE ROADWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. AFTERWARDS I DID RESEARCH TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS AND FOUND NHTSA 01V040000 FOR DODGE RAM 1500 PUS FOR YEARS 1994-1999 WHICH INDICATED CORROSION OF THE SPRING ON THE SECONDARY LATCH COULD CAUSE IT TO BIND IN THE RELEASE POSITION. I BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY TRUCK. THE RECALL HOWEVER WAS ONLY FOR TRUCKS SOLD OR REGISTERED IN THE SALT BELT STATES IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTRY. I RESIDE IN A COASTAL AREA OF FLORIDA AND PURCHASED THIS TRUCK USED. IT WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD ON THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA AND I AM A RESIDENT OF JACKSONVILLE BEACH, BUT IT WAS USED IN COASTAL FLORIDA SINCE IT WAS SOLD. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING IT REPAIRED, AND I WILL BEAR THE COST SINCE I JUST CANCELLED MY COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE (THOUGHT IT WAS TOO COSTLY FOR A 10 YEAR OLD TRUCK). I WAS JUST WONDERING WHY COASTAL REGIONS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OR IF THAT NEEDED MORE RESEARCH? *NM

I HAVE A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK AND THE DASH BOARD IS FALLING APART. IT STARTED AS SMALL CRACKS AROUND THE VENTS AND SOON SPEED ALL OVER THE DASH. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE FUNCTION OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER DODGE TRUCK OWNERS AND THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I THINK IT MUST BE BAD MATERIAL THE DODGE USED IN THE DASHES. *NM

ON 3/9/06 MY HOOD ON MY 1996 DODGE RAM 1500 BLEW OPEN ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE HOOD AND THE HOOD HIDGES. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HOOD LATCH #01V04000. I CONTACTED DODGE ABOUT THIS, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE LATCH BUT NOT THE DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK. THEY SHOULD REPAIR THE DAMAGE ALSO, SINCE I DID NOT RECEIVE THE RECALL NOTICE. *NM

1996 DODGE 1500 BRAKES FAILED. *TS WHILE BRAKING AT A TOLL BOOTH THE VEHICLE BRAKES FAILED AND RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE HITTING THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO IT'S FRONT GRILL, FRONT BUMPER, THE HOOD WAS PUSHED BACK, THE RADIATOR WAS DAMAGED AND POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT HIS BACK AND NECK FELT TIGHT AFTER THE CRASH. THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED HEAVY REAR END DAMAGE. THAT VEHICLES OCCUPANT STATED THAT HIS HEAD AND LEGS HURT. *NM