Problems · NHTSA complaints

1996 Dodge Ram 1500 problems

Owners filed 936 complaints about the 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 with NHTSA between Nov 1995 and Nov 2024. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (206).

Complaints
936
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
92
Reported by owners
Fires
41
Reported by owners
Injuries
65
People reported injured
Deaths
8
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes, hydraulic206
  2. Power train171
  3. Engine and engine cooling76
  4. Suspension71
  5. Electrical system67
  6. Steering64
  7. Structure58
  8. Fuel system, gasoline50
  9. Air bags47
  10. Tires40
  11. Vehicle speed control39
  12. Visibility30
  13. Exterior lighting28
  14. Latches/locks/linkages27

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19955
1996114
1997175
199899
199999
2000115
2001109
200260
200334
200424
200514
200614
200722
20089
20096
20104
20116
20124
20135
20141
20155
20162
20171
20184
20191
20200
20211
20221
20230
20242

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Service brakes, hydraulic

206 reports22 crashes
“The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 97V068000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), 01V037000 (Vehicle Speed Control), and 00V135000 (Electrical System); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 25, 2024Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlODI 11627321

Power train

171 reports9 crashes7 fires
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 10, 2019Steering, Power train, WheelsODI 11206649

Engine and engine cooling

76 reports4 crashes10 fires1 related recall
“MY SON DIED IN DEC 12,2002 IN A 1996 DODGE STEALTH TWO DAYS AFTER HE DIED I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE. CAR LOST CONTROL ON FREEWAY AND WENT OFF ROAD AND ROLLED. HE JUST PUT A TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED CLUTCH, AND PUT IN NEW ENGINE THROUGH TRACY DODGE IN TRACY, CA. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 20, 2007Engine and engine cooling, Power train, EquipmentCrash reportedODI 10212385

Suspension

71 reports1 crash
“I HAVE A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4. MY MILEAGE IS AT 85,020. I HAVE TAKEN REAL GOOD CARE OF THIS TRUCK AND I USE IT TO DRIVE IN THE SNOW WHEN I NEED THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. I WAS DOING A OIL CHANGE AND I NOTICED THE PASSINGER SIDE TRAILING ARMS AND COIL SPRING BRACKET WELDS ARE PULLING AWAY FROM THE AXLE. I LOOKED OVER TO DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE TRAILING ARM WELDS ON THE FRONT AXLE ARE CRACKED. I HAVE A DANA 3.5 AXLE RATIO. THE TAG UNDER THE HOOD NUMBERS ARE 3850 FRONT AXLE DANA 4. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK THINKING THE FRAME AND AXLES WOULD LAST THE LIFE TIME OF THE TRUCK. I'AM A NAVY VETERAN AND A MECHANIC AND I CAN REPAIR MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD NOT OF HAPPEN AND I WOULD LIKE DODGE TO HELP OUT IN THIS MATTER. I ALSO WHAT TO MAKE OTHER DODGE PEOPLE AWEAR OF THIS PROBLEM. I'M JUST GLAD THAT I NOTICED THIS BEFORE WINTER AND I WAS NOT DRIVING AT THE TIME. IF THE WELDS WOULD HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE AXLE AND TRAILING ARMS IT COULD OF BEEM FATAL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2012SuspensionODI 10469064

Electrical system

67 reports2 crashes18 fires
“I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM NHTSA OF A RECALL FOR MY DODGE RAM TRUCK. I HAVE TRIED SINCE JUNE 11, 2015 TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH CROWNE DODGE OF VENTURA, CALIFORNIA AND HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. I SPENT 30 MINUTES STANDING IN LINE AT THE DEALERSHIP SERVICES ENTRANCE AND NO LIVE PERSON CAME TO INQUIRE ABOUT MY VISIT. I MADE AN ONLINE APPOINTMENT WITH CROWNE DODGE AND RECEIVED AN E-MAIL RESPONSE THEY HAD RECEIVED MY APPOINTMENT REQUEST. I FEEL THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO ?DODGE? THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A SAFETY RECALL. 1996 DODGE RAM 1500 2WD SLT [XXX] IGNITION SWITCH AND ELECTRICAL WIRING. RECALL *TR UPDATE 9/15/15*CW”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 4, 2015Electrical systemODI 10746117

Steering

64 reports4 crashes
“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*”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 4, 2018Steering, WheelsODI 11145187
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.