NHTSA vehicle safety data

1996 Dodge Ram 1500 Recalls & Complaints

The 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 296 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Dodge dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1996 Dodge Ram 1500. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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1996 Dodge Ram 1500 owner complaints

Owners have filed 296 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Dodge Ram 1500, describing incidents dated September 15, 1995 to May 15, 2021.

Most-cited components

Power Train 48 complaints
Service Brakes 43 complaints
Structure 35 complaints
Engine 28 complaints
Suspension 26 complaints
Electrical System 22 complaints

Of the 296 complaints on file, 18 report a crash and 17 a fire; across all 296 complaints, owners report 17 injuries and 4 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11566292 · Filed January 18, 2024
The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the hood flew open and struck the windshield. The contact immediately veered to the side of the road. The contact stated that the hood was bent, and the windshield was cracked due to the failure. The contact was able to…
ODI #11471902 · Filed June 30, 2022
The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated while refueling the vehicle, he noticed that fuel leaking underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed, and the mechanic stated that the rollover valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was…
ODI #11395795 · Filed February 11, 2021
HEADLIGHT SWITCH OVERHEATS AND THE PLASTIC START TO MELTING

Read all 296 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Defect Petition DP03-006: SEAT BACK FAILURE
Closed April 8, 2004

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

REPLACEMENT AIR INTAKE SYSTEMS/DEBRIS CAN ENTER

NHTSA #06E024000 · Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA notice

Reported March 15, 2006 · K&N ENGINEERING, INC.

Potentially affected: 44,386 vehicles

Owners notified April 20, 2006

Defect description

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS, P/NOS. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, AND 57-1530. ALSO, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THESE KITS WERE SOLD UNDER THE MOPAR PERFORMANCE PARTS BRAND NAME (P/NOS. P5007069 AND P5007070). ALL KITS WERE MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 20, 1999, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 23, 2004. THESE ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN DODGE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUVS. A SMALL PIECE OF MATERIAL FROM THE TUBE WALL COULD BE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE OPEN POSITION.

Safety consequence

A JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH OR INCREASED STOPING DISTANCES WHEN BRAKING.

Manufacturer remedy

K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON DODGE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1996 Dodge Ram 1500. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

296 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 Dodge Ram 1500.

Latches/Locks/Linkages

ODI #11566292

Incident: May 15, 2021 · Filed: January 18, 2024

The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the hood flew open and struck the windshield. The contact immediately veered to the side of the road. The contact stated that the hood was bent, and the windshield was cracked due to the failure. The contact was able to drive to the residence at a slow speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 01V040000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages). The dealer informed the contact that he would be charged a repair fee for the replacement of the hood, the grill, the windshield, and components; however, the parts were not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 152,000.

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #11471902

Incident: June 13, 2020 · Filed: June 30, 2022

The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated while refueling the vehicle, he noticed that fuel leaking underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed, and the mechanic stated that the rollover valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 138,000.

Structure

ODI #11395795

Incident: February 9, 2021 · Filed: February 11, 2021

HEADLIGHT SWITCH OVERHEATS AND THE PLASTIC START TO MELTING

Steering; Power Train; Wheels

ODI #11206649

Incident: February 21, 2018 · Filed: May 10, 2019

MY BALL JOINTS, TIE RODS, STEERING BOX, ALL THAT HAS TO DO WITH THOSE AREAS HAVE SERIOUS ISSUES AND DODGE NEEDS TO FOX THEM FOR FREE PUT THEM UNDER THE RECALL DEPT SO THEY CAN BE. STEERING WHEEL VERY LOOSE TONS OF PLAY VERY DANGEROUS.

Steering; Wheels

ODI #11145187

Incident: October 17, 2018 · Filed: November 4, 2018

SIGMA TIRES STAMPEDE TIRES -265 75 16 AT SPLITTING TREAD AND COMING APART -TOLD RECALL ONLY LAST TEN* YEARS**-NOTHING TO DO AND NO REPLACEMENT-TIRE KINGDOM* TRUCK VIBRATES AND SHAKES, LOUD THUD,THUD, NOISE(IN MOTION) AFFECTS STEERING AS WOBBLES ALWAYS*HAD ISSUES AS ROUGH**RIDING OVER THE YEARS AND NEVER KNEW WHY*

Tires

ODI #11128551

Incident: December 1, 2017 · Filed: September 10, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500 EQUIPPED WITH SIGMA STAMPEDE RADIAL AT/S TIRES, SIZE 265/75R16. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEEL TREAD ON ALL FOUR TIRES WAS TORN APART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE TIRES WERE NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE DOT NUMBER AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11119466

Incident: September 5, 2016 · Filed: August 12, 2018

THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD IS CRUMBLING LEAVING SHARP PLASTIC FLING AROND AND OPEN WIRES IN THE DASH NET ISSUE THE DASH IS ACTUALLY DISINTEGRATING TO DUST CALLED NO HELP OUT OF WARRANTY WE HAVE OTHER CARS THAT ARE OLDER AND NO SUCH PROBLEM HAS EVER MAKE OUR DASH TURN TO DUST .

Structure; Unknown or Other

ODI #11065684

Incident: January 27, 2018 · Filed: January 29, 2018

ON 1/27/2018 MY DASH BOARD SHATTERED WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO WIPE CLEAN IT WITH MOIST TOWEL. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED FROM DODGE DEALERSHIP IN JUNE 1998 WITH 45120 MILES. AT PRESENT IT HAS ONLY 83000 APPROX. THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME WAS STATIONARY. I HAVE THE PHOTOS, UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO UPLOAD IT.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11013744

Incident: July 31, 2017 · Filed: August 8, 2017

TAKATA RECALL THE WIRING FOR HEADLIGHT SWITCH BURNT UP AND SWITCH MELTED I SAW A LOT OF THE SAME PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET BUT NO RECALL ON THE 1500 JUST THE 3500 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM

Electrical System

ODI #10924644

Incident: August 27, 1998 · Filed: November 7, 2016

IGNITION WIRING FAILED

Other Dodge Ram 1500 model years

Check your 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Dodge Ram 1500 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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