1996 Dodge RAM 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
194 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
122,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 84 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 25 of 194 complaints (12.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 27 | 13.9% |
| Braking behavior | 21 | 10.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 18 | 9.3% |
| Steering behavior | 16 | 8.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 11 | 5.7% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 25 |
| Structure | 20 |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 8 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 25; Structure: 20; Unknown Or Other: 13; Electrical System: 8; Steering: 8; Tires:Tread/Belt: 8; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 20 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 29 |
| 150,000 and above | 24 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 29; 150,000 and above: 24
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 110 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 3 |
| 2000 | 27 |
| 2001 | 21 |
| 2002 | 20 |
| 2003 | 23 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 20 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
1996: 3; 2000: 27; 2001: 21; 2002: 20; 2003: 23; 2004: 11; 2005: 8; 2006: 11; 2007: 20; 2008: 9; 2009: 5; 2010: 4; 2011: 6; 2012: 4; 2013: 5; 2014: 1; 2015: 5; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 4; 2019: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 27 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 18 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003753 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS NOTIFIED DEALER REPAIRED 40,000 MILES LATER PROBLEM REOCCURED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003753 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055112 · 2004-01-28 (January 28, 2004)
S,BAR LINK ,REPLACED TWICE WITHIN 3 WEEKS ,NO GOOD.TRANSMISSION FAILURE TOOK TO TRANSMISSION SHOP ,REPLACED PRESSURE SOL,GOVERNOR,GOV SWITCH,SWITCHAND SELERIOND,STILL ACTING THE SAME.LEFT CONTROLARMANDBOLTKIT , ALSO SAY NEEDS RIGHT SIDE .WILL NOT ALLIGNE .LIGHT UNDER HOOD COMES ON WHEN DRIVING ,AND HORN DOES NOT WORK NO ONE CAN FIG OUT WHY ..?DODGE SHOULD COVER ALL TRANNY AND FROUNT SUP ON THESE TRUCKS ,FOUND OUT AFTER PURCHACED ALL THE THINGS THAT GO WRONG WITH THIS YR OF TK.96 DODGE RAM 4X4 1500 ALSO THE 4X4 IS HARD TO SHIFT INTO AND TAKE OUT…
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055112 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031536 · 2003-07-30 (July 30, 2003)
WHEN DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL IF THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND DRIVER RETURNS TO CRUISE CONTROL BY ACCELERATING THE GAS PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. THE ENGINES AND RPM'S RACE VERY HIGH, THE DRIVER HAS TO STOMP ON THE GAS PEDAL TO RELEASE PEDAL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
Owner-reported narrative. 77,407 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031536 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032131 · 2003-09-04 (September 4, 2003)
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR OVER A MONTH AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER CONTACTED CHRYSLER WHO SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WERE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED, THEY JUST FLASHED. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 24,571 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032131 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017007 · 2003-05-04 (May 4, 2003)
I HAVE A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP, WITH 104,000 MILES. THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH SHORT CIRCUITED WHICH CAUSED THE WIRING CONNECTOR AND THE SWITCH CONNECTOR TO OVER HEAT AND MELT. I HAVE PURCHASED A NEW SWITCH AND THE AUTO PARTS STORE SAYS THIS HAPPENS OFTEN. ALSO WITH THE SWITCH OUT OF WORKING ORDER I HAD NO LIGHTS, THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017007 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036917 · 2003-08-31 (August 31, 2003)
I TOOK MY 1996 DODGE RAM TO THE DEALER FOR AN IGNITION SWITCH WIRING RECALL. AFTER THE RECALL PARTS WERE REPLACED, MY TRUCK WAS NOT FIXED. THE WIRING HARNESS HAD OVERHEATED AND DAMAGED MY IGNITION SWITCH. THIS COST MORE MONEY. THERE WAS ALSO A SPECIAL TOOL THAT MY HUSBAND HAD TO PURCHASE TO CHANGE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE PLASTIC COVER ON MY STEERING COLUMN HAD ASLO MELTED. I WOULD SAY MY TRUCK WAS VERY CLOSE TO GOING UP IN FLAMES. THIS IS VERY UPSETTING TO ME BECAUSE I FEEL THIS PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED ALONG WITH THE HARNESS SINC…
Owner-reported narrative. 159,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010160 · 2003-03-08 (March 8, 2003)
I OWN A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500 WITH THE 5.2 LITER ENGINE. THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT WOULD FLICKER WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN IN DRIVE. I TOOK IT TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE WEAR. I HAVE USED MOBILE 1 SYNTHETIC OIL SINCE THE BREAKIN OIL AND NEVER LET THE OIL IN THE VEHICLE OVER 4,000 MILES. EACH TIME THE OIL FILTER WAS ALSO CHANGED. THE VEHICLE HAS 106,000 MILES ON IT AND THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT IS COSTING ME $4.700. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE 5.2 LITER ENGINE DOES NOT HANDLE SYNTHETIC OI…
Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010160 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111512 · 2005-03-08 (March 8, 2005)
ROLL OVER VALVE LEAKED FUEL. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO WILL NOT ASSIST THE CONSUMER IN FIXING THE VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT IF HE FILLS THE FUEL TANK OR TIGHTEN THE GAS CAP FUEL LEAKS ON THE GROUND. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE HIS VIN NUMBER. *TC
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10111512 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062129 · 2004-03-14 (March 14, 2004)
SOMTHING UNDER THE TRUCK RATTLES/ STALLS IN REVERSE ,WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF 2ND GEAR,ACTS LIKE IT IS LOCKED IN 4WD ALL THE TIME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 131,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062129 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10128555 · 2005-07-13 (July 13, 2005)
DT: CONSUMER STATES HE OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500 PICK UP TRUCK. WHILE HAULING A TRAILER, THE WIRES FROM THE TRAILER BECAME CAUGHT BETWEEN THE TRAILER AND THE TRAILER HITCH OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE WIRING HARNESS SYSTEM TO BURN OUT. THIS CAUSED THE FUEL GAUGE TO FAIL, IT SHORTED OUT THE FUSE TO THE FUEL PUMP CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEALER. HE STATED THIS WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THE WIRING HARNESS CAME WITH A 40 AMP FUSE. THE CONSUMER ASKED FOR A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10128555 at NHTSA ↗