1996 DODGE RAM 1500 Complaints

19960 DODGE RAM 1500. CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE HOOD UNLATCHED. THE HOOD BENT BACKWARDS AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. *MC OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. THE EIGHTH CYLINDER ON THE ENGINE IS FAILING AND THE ENGINE HEAD IS ALSO CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT PAID $700 FOR THE PREVIOUS REPAIRS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 114,000. THE VIN IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.

THE HOOD FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING HOME, CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND HITTING THE CURB TO STOP THE TRUCK. DODGE REUSED TO REPAIR DAMAGE OR SUPPLY ME WITH A NEW LATCH, THEY STATED THE PRIMARY LATCH GAVE WAY, CAUSING THE HOOD TO OPEN. DODGE DEALER STATED THE MAIN LATCH WAS BAD, IF THE SECONDARY LATCH WAS OPERATING AS IT WAS MEANT TO THE HOOD COUND NOT HAVE OPENED, DODGE WAS AT FAULT. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY TRUCK, BUT IT WAS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION.*AK

PEELING PAINT OFF OF CAB OF TRUCK. EXTENSIVE IN AREA OF CENTER TO DRIVERS SIDE. APPEARS THAT PAINT HAS BLISTERED AND EXPOSED UNDER COATING. OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THAT DODGE RAM TRUCK MODELS 1500,2500 &3500 FOR YEARS 1994,1995,1996 & 1997 AFFECTED. AVERAGE ESTIMATE TO REPAIR RANGES FROM $700.00 TO $1500.00. *JB

1996 RAM 1500 SWAY BAR ATTACHMENT FAILED. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE SWAY BAR FELL TO THE GROUND, IT CAUSED THE FRONT WHEELS TO RAPIDLY GO FROM FULL-LEFT TO FULL RIGHT AT THE RATE OF SEVERAL TIMES PER SECOND. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE SWAY BAR PLATE HAD NEVER BEEN MACHINE WELDED TO THE FRAME AND FOR SEVERAL YEARS HAD BEEN HELD ON ONLY BY THREE SMALL SPOT WELDS, MEANT TO HOLD THE PLATE IN PLACE FOR THE MACHINE WELDER. THE MACHINE WELD APPEARED TO BE ABOUT AN EIGHTH TO A SIXTEENTH OF AN INCH OFF, MISSING THE ENTIRE PLATE. *JB

1996 DODGE RAM 1500'S SWAY BAR LINK BROKE WHILE DRIVING. *TS PRIOR TO THE SWAY BAR BREAKING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF THE TRUCK SHOWED THAT THE SWAY BAR PLATE HAD NEVER BEEN MACHINE WELDED TO THE FRAME AND HAD BEEN HELD ON ONLY BY THREE SPOT WELDS. THE PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. *NM

I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY, J. TURNER BUTLER BLVD. TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH WHEN THE HOOD OF MY TRUCK RELEASED AND CRASHED INTO MY WINDSHIELD BLINDING ME. I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP AND PULL OFF THE ROADWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. AFTERWARDS I DID RESEARCH TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS AND FOUND NHTSA 01V040000 FOR DODGE RAM 1500 PUS FOR YEARS 1994-1999 WHICH INDICATED CORROSION OF THE SPRING ON THE SECONDARY LATCH COULD CAUSE IT TO BIND IN THE RELEASE POSITION. I BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY TRUCK. THE RECALL HOWEVER WAS ONLY FOR TRUCKS SOLD OR REGISTERED IN THE SALT BELT STATES IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTRY. I RESIDE IN A COASTAL AREA OF FLORIDA AND PURCHASED THIS TRUCK USED. IT WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD ON THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA AND I AM A RESIDENT OF JACKSONVILLE BEACH, BUT IT WAS USED IN COASTAL FLORIDA SINCE IT WAS SOLD. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING IT REPAIRED, AND I WILL BEAR THE COST SINCE I JUST CANCELLED MY COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE (THOUGHT IT WAS TOO COSTLY FOR A 10 YEAR OLD TRUCK). I WAS JUST WONDERING WHY COASTAL REGIONS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OR IF THAT NEEDED MORE RESEARCH? *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A STRONG SMELL OF GAS WAS IN THE VEHICLE AND A LEAK WAS FOUND IN THE PLASTIC PIPE FROM THE FUEL PUMP. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

I HAVE A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK AND THE DASH BOARD IS FALLING APART. IT STARTED AS SMALL CRACKS AROUND THE VENTS AND SOON SPEED ALL OVER THE DASH. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE FUNCTION OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER DODGE TRUCK OWNERS AND THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I THINK IT MUST BE BAD MATERIAL THE DODGE USED IN THE DASHES. *NM

TRUCK PURCHASED USED AT DEALERSHIP IN 2000. TRANSMISSION REBUILT IN 2002. TRANSMISSION FAILED IN 2006. *NM