1996 Dodge Dodge Truck

Routine

Owners filed 35 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › foundation components. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Tires3
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components3
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines3
020
Seats › Front Assembly › Head Restraint2
000
Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner2
000
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System1
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Structure1
000
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist › Hose, Piping, and Connections1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure
Filed Sep 6, 2011SC

LIKE ALMOST EVERY OTHER DASH IN THE DODGE PICKUP THIS ONE AS WELL AS THE ONE IN MY 18 YEAR OLD SONS 96 1500 IS DESTROYED. *TR

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 12, 200377 milesTX

I WAS DRIVING MY 1996 DODGE CARAVAN TO WORK ONE DAY WHEN I BEGAN TO HEAR A SOUND LIKE AN AVALANCHE OF ROCKS FALLING UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THE VAN ULTIMATELY STOPPED RUNNING. I NOTICED COOLANT ON THE STREET. I TOWED THE VAN TO A DODGE SERVICE CENTER. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT MY WATER PUMP BEARING HAD BROKEN. THE TIMING BELT DRIVES THE WATER PUMP ON THIS VEHICLE. ONCE THE BEARING BROKE, IT LOOSENED AND ULTIMATELY BROKE THE TIMING BELT WHICH I HAD REPLACED A YEAR BEFORE. I HAD TO PAY $990.00 FOR THIS REPAIR, WHICH WAS UNEXPECTED. THE FAULTY BEARING WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ME PAYING FOR A NEW WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT, THEROMOSTAT, AND OTHER PARTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TIMING BELT ASSEMBLY. SINCE THE WATER PUMP AND ITS BEARING ARE INSIDE THE TIMING BELT ASSEMBLY, I WAS NOT ABLE TO HEAR OR SEE ANYTHING THAT WOULD INDICATE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VAN. MY VAN HAD 77,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS WATER PUMP BEARING FAILED.

Air BagsCrash
Filed Dec 17, 200272,000 milesPA

1996 DODGE RAM EXTENDED CAB PICK UP INVOLVED IN SEVERE FRONTAL CRASH. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DODGE'S INVESTIGATION SAID THAT THIS WAS CORRECT SINCE THE DAMAGE WAS IN THE "CRUSH" "CRUMPLE" AREAS AND ENERGY DID NOT DISIPATE ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE AIRBAGS? INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED VEHICLE DUE TO SEVERE DAMAGE. WE HAVE PICTURES OF DAMAGE. IS DODGE CORRECT OR JUST TRYING TO SWEEP THIS UNDER THE RUG SINCE OUR SON DID NOT GET INJURIED IN THIS ACCIDENT. WE HAVE OWNED TWO OTHER DODGE VEHICLES THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. I AM DRIVING ONE NOW, IS MY FAMILY SAFE?

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Feb 28, 2002AZ

AFTER PUMPING FUEL INTO VEHICLE THERE IS NO REGISTRATION ON FUEL GAUGE/NEEDLE ON DASHBOARD.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE GAS PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, ALSO GAS IDLE DOES NOT WORK. *SLC

Seats
Filed Dec 26, 2001NC

DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE . THE BACK PART OF THE LEFT FRONT SEAT BROKE AND FELL AGAINST THE BACK SEAT. THE STEEL FRAME BROKE IN HALF THE THE JOIN T WHERE IT SWIFFERS. THE METEAL THICKNES IS LESS THAN 1-8 INCH. I WENT TO ASHEVILLE DODGE . THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRENTY AND THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT. HAVE THEY HAD THIS PROBLEM OR HAS THIER BEEN AN RECALL? AND THEY SAID NO .AND I SAID THIS IS AN DEFECT IN THE SEAT. IF I HAD BROKE IT MYSELF I WOULDN'T BE HERE. THIS IS DEFECT OF DODGE NOT MINE. SO I STARTED SENDING DODGE E MAILS. AND I HAVE COPIES IF YOU NEED TO SEE THEM .I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO GET BACK INTOUCH WITH ME ON THIS MATTER. MY E MAIL IS JACK . BABB 07 KILDARE PLACE ASHEVILLE N.C. 28806 828 254 2642 E MAIL 22607@@MSN.COM. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Filed Nov 6, 2001CA

EVERY WEEK THIS PAST MONTH I HAVE BEEN TAKING MY CAR INTO THE NELSON DODGE DEALERSHIP IN EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA IN REGARDS TO THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY "THINK" IT MAY NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT SURE. I TOOK THE VAN IN ON 10/15/01 DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND I WAS CHARGE FOR REPLACING THE THERMOSTAT AND GASKET. ON 10/23/01, MY VAN STALL WHILE DRIVING AND I TOOK IT IN AND WAS CHARGE FOR THE THROTTLE BODY SERVICE. ON 10/29/01 I NOTICE A GREEN LIQUID THAT WAS DRIPPING AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE COOLING SYSTEM, THEY CHECK IT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG, I WAS NOT CHARGED. ON 11/05/01, I TOOK IT IN AGAIN FOR THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS COMMING ON AGAIN, THEY CHECK THE VAN AND WERE NOT ABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM, THEY "THINK" IT MIGHT NEED POWERSTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND MAP SENSOR. ON 11/06/01, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON THEN IT TURNS OFF, I HAVE IT IN THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, WAITING TO RECEIVE A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP AS TO WHAT THEY "THINK" MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM, THAT'S IF THEY DETECT A PROBLEM.

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Filed Sep 1, 2000OR

OUR BATTERIES BOTH DIED TOGETHER ON THE DAY BEFORE OUR RECALL APPT. IN CONSEQUENCE, TO RETURN HOME, WE HAD TO BUY TWO(2) NEW BATTERIES. WE ARE WONDERING IF THERE IS SOME FORM OF REMUNERATION FOR THIS UNFORESEEN AND COSTLY FAILURE?

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Aug 28, 2000TX

DEALER PERFORMED RECALL 875 OF THE STEERING COLUMN WIRING, HOWEVER THE REPAIR DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. NLM

Tires
Filed Aug 26, 2000FL

OUT OF A SET OF 4 TIRES, 3 OF THE TIRES FAILED. ONE WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205-75R-14 )

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Aug 24, 2000FL

NO SUMMARY

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jul 24, 2000WV

WENT TO START, NOTHING IT BLEW 2 FUSES,LOCAL DEALER SAID NO RECALL ON THIS ONE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Mar 30, 2000KS

A DAMAGED PISTON AND CYLINDER WALL CAUSED LOW COMPRESSION. YH

Air Bags › Frontal1 injured
Filed Mar 19, 1999VA

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG RESULTING IN INJURIES TO CONSUMER (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Fluid
Filed Aug 11, 1998MI

CONTAMINATED BRAKE FLUID CAUSED BRAKE SYSTEM TO FAIL. QCAW

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Jun 26, 1998AZ

BRAKES PULL RESULTING IN VEHICLE HITTING COW IN ONE INCIDENT, REPAIRS MADE HOWEVER CONTINUE TO PULL.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jun 8, 1998AZ

ANTI LOCK BRAKES CONTINUALLY FAILING RESULTING IN LOCKING UP.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and LinesFire
Filed May 5, 1998WV

TRANSMISSION PLASTIC COOLER LINES CAUSED VEHICLE FIRE, RECALL ORDER SENT AFTER FIRE.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines
Filed Apr 17, 1998AL

TRANSMISSION COOLER FAILED.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and LinesFire
Filed Mar 5, 1998NJ

RECALL COMPONENT (COOLER LINE QUICK CONNECT FITTINGS) FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE CATCHING ON FIRE.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 6, 1998ID

BOLT WHICH HOLDS THE THROTTLE LINKAGE TO THE ENGINE FELL OUT, CAUSING FULL THROTTLE.

20 of 35 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200315000Routine
200222010Routine
200139010Routine
200020000Routine
199951020Routine
199828000Routine
199718010Routine
1996 — this page35020Routine
199516000Routine
199419010Routine
19936000Routine
199214010Routine
199110000Routine
19905000Routine

Compare every Dodge Truck year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.