1996 Dodge RAM VAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
31,365 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 12 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 41.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 16.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 8.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 8.3% |
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 | 3 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 1 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Tires:Tread/Belt: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 1; Power Train: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 11 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2004 | 1 |
2000: 3; 2001: 5; 2002: 3; 2004: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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 10070599 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
WE SUBMITTED A LETTER TO CHRYSLER ASKING FOR A "GOODWILL REPAIR REFUND" AND HAD A PHONE CALL FROM THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER, AL WILLIAMS, STATING THAT THE THREE (3)YEAR WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. WE HAD EXPLAINED THAT OUR LEISURE TRAVEL VAN WITH A DODGE V8 360 ENGINE ONLY ON 31,365 ON THE TRANSMISSION. HE SAID IT DID NOT MATTER. THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP THAT REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION FROM CHRYSLER STATED THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN A TRANSMISSION "CHEWED UP" LIKE OURS. WE HAVE MADE SEVERAL PHONE CALLS TO CHR…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,365 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 720129 · 2000-03-15 (March 15, 2000)
LAST YEAR, WHEN I HAD MADE 23 PAYMENTS ON MY VAN, IT HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 23 TIMES. I DRIVE NEARLY 100 MILES TO PUT IT IN THE SHOP, SO 23 X'S 200 MILES IS A LOT OF MILEAGE THAT WAS PUT ON MY VAN JUST FOR REPAIRS. THE FIRST WEEK WE HAD THE VAN, WE CALLED TO COMPLAIN THAT WE COULDN'T EVEN TAKE IT TO CARWASH, BECAUSE THE WINDOWS LEAKED SO BADLY....THEN THE HEATER QUIT WORKING, AND ON AND ON AND I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I JUST FEEL LIKE NOONE CARES THAT I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN DODGE AND M…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 720129 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 721359 · 2000-04-12 (April 12, 2000)
THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED INTO 2ND GEAR AND STALLED WHILE GOING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. POWER STEERING WAS LOST AND GETTING THE VAN ACROSS 3 LANES OF CITY TRAFFIC WHILE LOSING SPEED WAS VERY DIFFICULT. COMPLETE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED W/ REPAIRS AT OWNERS COST. ONLY 6 MONTHS OVER 3 YR. WARRENTY AND ONLY 12,000 MILES ON THE 36,000 MILE WARRENTY. CHRYSLER WOULD NOT TAKE RESPOSIBLITY EVEN WHEN WE HAD THE VAN INTO A CHRYSLER DEALER THE MONTH BEFORE COMPLAINING THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THEY RETURNED THE VAN SAYING THER…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 721359 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 722621 · 2000-05-13 (May 13, 2000)
EXHAUST PIPE CRACKED COMPLETELY AROUND WEAK POINT IN PIPE CAUSED BY OXYGEN SENSOR MOUNT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722621 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 752901 · 2001-10-04 (October 4, 2001)
MOVEABLE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS SLIP WITH SHUTTING DOORS AND WITH TRAVEL AT HIGHWAY SPEED (>45 MPH). I (OWNER) ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR INITIAL SLIPPAGE BY TIGHTENING SCREWS. MIRRORS SOON BEGAN SLIPPING AGAIN, AND VEHICLE WAS PAST 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. SCREW THREADS ARE NOW STRIPPED, MIRRORS WON'T MAINTAIN POSITION. DEALER RECOMMENDS PURCHASING TWO NEW MIRROR ASSEMBLIES (EXACT SAME STYLE) FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. MANUFACTURER REJECTED REQUEST TO PAY FOR INSTALLATION OF REPLACEMENT MIRRORS FROM ALTERNATE SOURCE. NOTE: I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1987 D…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 752901 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8004960 · 2002-03-05 (March 5, 2002)
VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A THREE QUATER TONE VEHICLE, BUT AFTER FURTHER REVIEW CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT VEHICLE WAS HALF TONE. WHEN CONTACTING DEALER, DEALER NOTED THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT IT. IT WAS MANUFACTURED THAT WAY BECAUSE OF BETTER HANDLING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8004960 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8004962 · 2002-03-05 (March 5, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER DRIVEABLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8004962 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8016172 · 2002-08-13 (August 13, 2002)
DUNLOP, AT, P255/70R15, DOT DBM2GA2428, REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT WITH 1000 MILES ON A 1996 RAM 250 VAN. DRIVER REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION AT 65 MPH. ON 6, AUGUST 2002 PASSENGER REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION AT 65 MPH, MILEAGE WAS 6000 MILES. *AK ALL THE TIRES NOW HAVE TREAD SEPERATION AND THE DEALER SENT THEM BACK TO DUNLOP WHICH ONLY PRO-RATED THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. CONSUMER FEELS THAT DUNLOP SHOULD REPLACE THE TIRES AT EQUAL VALUE BECAUSE HE COULD HAVE LOST HIS LIFE OR BEEN INJURED DUE TO THE DEFECT. *SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8016172 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.