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U.S. public vehicle records

1996 Dodge RAM 1500: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting2713.9%
Braking behavior2110.8%
Electrical and battery issues189.3%
Steering behavior168.2%
Fuel system concerns115.7%
Engine operation52.6%

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.

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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train:Automatic Transmission25
Structure20
Unknown Or Other13
Electrical System8
Steering8
Tires:Tread/Belt8
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch7
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip7

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0005
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,99920
100,000 to 149,99929
150,000 and above24

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19963
200027
200121
200220
200323
200411
20058
200611
200720
20089
20095
20104
20116
20124
20135
20141
20155
20162
20171
20184
20191
20211
20221
20241

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.

Examples from the source records

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 10004174 · 2003-01-17 (January 17, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS TIMING CHAIN MAKES LOUD NOISES. *TS

Owner-reported narrative. 24,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004174 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10005415 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON IN JUNE 02. IT HAD RECENTLY PROGRESSED THE FULL LENGHT OF THE WINDSHILED OBSTRUCTING DRIVERS VIEW. DURING WINSHIELD REPLACEMENT TECHNICIAN FOUND WINDSHIELD WAS SEPERATED FROM POLYURETHANE BEDDING AND WAS LOOSE. THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE WINDSHIELD IN WAS THE MOULDING AROUND THE WINDSHIELD. TECHNICIAN SAID THE WINDSHIELD WAS EITHER PREPARED INCORRECTLY OR NOT PREPARED AT ALL DURING FACTORY INSTALLATION.

Owner-reported narrative. 87,424 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005415 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 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 10024008 · 2003-06-13 (June 13, 2003)

TREAD ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH . BRIDGESTONE, SIZE UNKNOWN, DOT# 7BA3PUA527 DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024008 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10028741 · 2003-07-21 (July 21, 2003)

AFTER TRUCK'S ENGINE WAS STARTED THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS PLACED IN REVERSE SO AS TO BACK OUT OF GARAGE. A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WAS RETURNED TO P. AS THIS HAPPENED THE TRUCK LURCHED FORWARD STRIKING THE GARAGE WALL. THE BUIDING AND TRUCK WERE DAMAGED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028741 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10029943 · 2003-08-07 (August 7, 2003)

THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS EXPERIENCED PREMATURE FAILURE. *AK *CB *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 3,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029943 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.