1996 Dodge Pickup

Routine

Owners filed 26 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › automatic transmission. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip2
000
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner2
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor1
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control1
000
Tires › Tread/Belt1
000
Tires1
000
Suspension › Rear › Springs › Leaf Spring Assembly1
000
Suspension › Front1
000
Suspension1
000
Structure › Body › Door1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting06E026000
Filed Mar 23, 200661,944 vehiclesPro-A Motors, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Seat Belts › Front
Filed Dec 15, 200524,410 milesNY

DT:THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS ARE NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER . THE SEAT BELTS ARE TOO CONFINING, AND FIT TOO TIGHTLY AROUND THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE WEARING THE SEAT BELTS THEY DO NOT ALLOW PROPER MOVEMENT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SAFELY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELTS OR IF IT WAS THE DESIGN OF THE SEAT BELTS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY SUGGESTED INSTALLING A SEAT BELT EXTENDER. SHE DID NOT HAVE THE SEAT BELT EXTENDER INSTALLED DUE TO THE COST OF THE EQUIPMENT. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO COVER THE COST OF THE ADDED EQUIPMENT. SHE NOTICED THE PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELTS DIRECTLY AFTER SHE ACQUIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Apr 5, 200472,000 milesMD

WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER, INTERMITTENTLY THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER WOULD FAIL. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *NM

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Filed Jan 23, 2003100,000 milesWI

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS START FLASHING AND THE BRAKES DON'T HOLD. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIX PROBLEM, CAUSE IT CANNOT BE DUPLICATED. MODEL B2200. TS CONSUMER FOUND TSB REGARDING LEAKING VACUUM HOSE AT SPEED CONTROL SERVO LOCATED UNDER BATTERY AND THIS SEEMED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *TT

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Mar 4, 2002NM

WHILE DRIVING THE SEAT HINGES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BROKE CAUSING THE SEATBACK TO COLLAPSE ON DRIVER'S SIDE, DRIVER TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY UNSAFE.*AK THE SEAT HINGE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BROKE, DEALER REPLACED BROKEN HINGE AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *TT

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Dec 3, 2001AZ

COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION. OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY WITH GOODYEAR WRANGER A/T.*AK (DOT NUMBER: PJ11CBLV20 TIRESIZE: 245/75R16)

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Oct 2, 2001FL

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL ON THROTTLE CABLE AND LINKAGES. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DEALERS SHOP FOR RECALL FIXING, THE FUEL PUMP BROKE, THE DEALER SAID THE CONSUMER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FUEL PUMP BREAKING THAT IT WAS BROUGHT INTO THE DEALERSHIP THAT WAY. *YH

Suspension
Filed Aug 16, 2001ID

TRAVELING AT 75 MPH, HIT A BUMP. THIS CAUSED A VIOLENT SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP CONTROL WAS TO BRAKE ABURTLY. A BULLETIN WAS SENT TO DEALERSHIPS BUT NO ONE CONTACTED THE BUYERS.

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Aug 8, 2001CA

LOCK OPENS EVEN AFTER LOCKING THE DOOR. THESE ARE NOT POWER LOCKS, AFTER LOCKING THE DOOR FROM INSIDE, IF YOU PULL THE HANDLE, THE DOOR UNLOCKS BY ITSELF BY PULLING THE HANDLE AND OPENS THE DOOR. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS MY JEANS GOT STUCK IN THE HANDLE OPENED THE DOOR ACCIDENTALLY (PASSENGER) BUT WE WERE GOING SLOW, SO NO INJURIES.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads
Filed Mar 1, 2001CT

THE FAILURE AND NEAR FATALITIES INVOLVED THE INSTALLATION OF NAPA BRAKE PADS BY A LOCAL DODGE DEALER. I WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE HAD DODGE BRAKE PADS INSTALLED BUT NAPA PADS WERE SUBSTITUTED WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. THE FAILURE INVOLVED THE INSIDE BRAKE PAD. SOMEHOW, THE INSIDE BRAKE PAD SEPARATED FROM THE METAL PAD PLATE. THEN AT THE MOST INOPPORTUNE TIME, WHEN I NEEDED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PAD SLIPPED OUT OF THE CALIPER HOUSING. I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, TRAVELING ABOUT 60 MPH IN A 4-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP IN FAIRLY HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN BRAKE LIGHTS STARTED TO GO OFF. WHEN I SUDDENLY HIT MY BRAKES, THEY WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS HORRIFIED. I HAD NO BRAKING POWER. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. I WAS FORCED TO BEGIN DEFENSIVE MANEUVERS TO AVOID CRASHING INTO OTHER VEHICLES, NEARLY ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES AND FINALLY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. THROUGHOUT ALL OF THIS, I WAS DESPERATELY PUMPING MY BRAKES. AFTER WHAT SEEMED LIKE AN ETERNITY, BUT MOST LIKELY 4 OR 5 PUMPS OF THE BRAKES BEFORE BRAKING POWER FINALLY REAPPEARED AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP. I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK TO LOOK FOR BRAKE FLUID BUT COULD SEE NOTHING, SO DECIDED TO HEAD HOME. ID HAD HAD ENOUGH, AS I HAD NEARLY KILLED MY DAUGHTER, OTHERS AND MYSELF. BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAYS, THE DEALER WHO HAD EARLIER INSTALLED THESE BRAKES AND SEVERAL OTHER SHOPS THAT I HAD CALLED WERE UNABLE TO DO THE JOB RIGHT AWAY. I RELUCTANTLY DECIDED TO DO IT MYSELF. THE BRAKE PADS, WHEN REMOVED, HAD ABOUT 20,000 MILES ON TH

Electrical System › WiringFire
Filed Jan 10, 200197,679 milesMI

SMOKE CAME FROM UP UNDER THE DASHBOARD NEAR THE LIGHT SWITCH. REMOVED DASH PANEL TO INSPECT THE SWITCH AND FOUND THAT THE SWITCH TO THE BOTTOM LEFT FIRE WALL WAS BURNED. CONTACTED DODGE DEALER. *MR *NLM *DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*739168

Tires
Filed Dec 6, 2000MI

CONSUMER HAS A 1996 DODGE HEAVY DUTY PICKUP. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 70MPH, AND REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE SEPARATED. TRUCK STARTED TO SHIMMY BEFORE TIRE BLEWOUT. THERE WAS NO LOSS OF CONTROL. CONSUMER JUST PULLED OVER TO CHANGE TIRE. TIRE SIZE LT245/75R16 AND ORIGINAL TIRES WITH 38,000 MILES. GOODYEAR CUSTOMER SERVICE REFERRED CONSUMER TO BELL TIRE WHICH DID NOT MAKE THE TIRE ANYMORE. SERVICE MEN OFFERED TO REPLACE GOODYEAR TIRES WITH WRANGLER /AT BLACKWALL WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT GOODYEAR WOULD PAY FOR THEM.THEN VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP CONSUMER WHO RECEIVED A BILL OF $320. CONSUMER HAD NO ARGUMENT BECAUSE OF A GOOD DEAL FOR THE SET. CONSUMERS ARE CONCERNED THAT TIRES HAD CAUSED 9-15 DEATHS BASED ON MEDIA INFORMATION. *AK THE TIRE DID NOT BLOW. THE PLY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND STARTED BOUNCING SO THE CUSTOMER COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. *YH

Electrical System › IgnitionFire
Filed Jul 11, 2000CA

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. WHEN TURNING OFF VEHICLE AND REMOVING KEY FROM IGNITION, CAR WAS STILL RUNNING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE FUEL SHUT OFF RELAY & WIRE. ONE WEEK LATER, FIRE OCCURRED AGAIN. CONSUMER FELT THIS HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IGNITION.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Jul 6, 2000NC

I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY AS WELL AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE. THE FAILED COMPONENTS ARE FIRMLY ATTACHED TO THE CHASIS OF THE VEHICLE. AS THERE IS NO ASSOCIATED ACCIDENT THE PART FAILURE IS PREMATURE AND A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. PLEASE ADVISE IF YOU WISH ME TO RETAIN THE PARTS FOR INVESTIGATION. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Filed Dec 9, 1999FL

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT / RIGHT HAND TURN. THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS MODIFIED THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE IS STILL PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. * AK *YC

Suspension › Front
Filed Sep 30, 1999NE

THERE IS VIBRATION WITHIN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND SHAKING WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND THE VEHICLE ISN'T SHIFTING PROPERLY. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Apr 21, 1999TX

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Feb 1, 1999CA

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS FAILED. *YC

Steering1 injured
Filed Sep 22, 1998VA

SOMETHING POPPED IN THE STEERING MECHANISM AND CAUSED DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL AND HIT A GUARD RAIL.

Suspension › Rear › Springs › Leaf Spring Assembly
Filed May 13, 1998OH

REAR LEAF SPRINGS SAGGING/ENGINE CYLINDER HEADS MALFUNCTIONED/THERMOSTAT GASKET LEAK AND REPLACED 3 OF 8 FUEL INJECTORS.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Jan 7, 1998VI

BRAKES FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.

20 of 26 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1996
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20021000Routine
20013100Routine
20003100Routine
19996100Routine
199815100Routine
19972110Routine
1996 — this page26130Routine
199523100Routine
19948110Routine
19924000Routine

Compare every Pickup 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.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Mar 23, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.