- The problem
- Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
- The risk
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on july 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.
Vehicle safety record
1996 Dodge Ram Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1996 Dodge Ram have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 14 recalls, the latest in May 2009 for the headlights.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Ram year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 14
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1996 Dodge Ram recalls 14
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
- The risk
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on may 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.
- The problem
- K2 motor is recalling 1,921 aftermarket headlamps of various models sold for use on the above listed vehicles. These headlamps are missing the amber side reflex reflector which fails to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
- The risk
- Without the amber side reflex reflectors, the lighting visibility may be affected, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- K2 motor will notify owners and offer a full refund. The recall began on decemeber 17, 2008. Owners may contact k2 motor at 1-909-839-2992.
- The problem
- Certain aai motorsports combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above list passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
- The risk
- Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash
- The fix
- Aai motorsports will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall began on august 1, 2006. Owners may contact aai motorsports at 909-923-9188.
- The problem
- On certain pickup trucks originally sold in or currently registered in the following "salt belt" states: maine, new hampshire, vermont, massachusetts, rhode island, connecticut, new york, new jersey, pennsylvania, delaware, maryland, the district of columbia, west virginia, ohio, indiana, michigan, illinois, wisconsin, minnesota, iowa, and missouri. Corrosion of the return spring on the hood secondary latch could cause the mechanism to bind in the "release position."
- The risk
- If the primary latch is not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the secondary hood latch. Owner notification began september 17, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with diesel engines. The throttle cable could unravel (fray) or break resulting in loss of throttle control.
- The risk
- A throttle that does not return to idle could result in unexpected acceleration, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the throttle cable and upper bell crank lever. Owner notification began august 3, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. The affected vehicles were built with an ignition switch and wiring that could overheat. High electrical current loads pass through the switch when the blower motor is operated on high for an extended periods of time.
- The risk
- This could cause the ignition switch and wiring to overheat.
- The fix
- Dealers will install a relay and overlay harness.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with manual transmission, v10 engines and four-wheel-drive transfer cases. Under sustained maximum rated vehicle load, while driving up a steep grade in four-wheel-drive low range in hot ambient conditions, the local exhaust temperature proximate to the hydraulic clutch line can generate line temperatures that exceed the temperature limit of the clutch line material. If this condition occurs and the clutch is depressed, the line could rupture.
- The risk
- The fluid could ignite on the hot exhaust possibly resulting in a vehicle fire.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the hydraulic clutch assembly.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: van and wagon model passenger vehicles. If water/road salt gets on the interior floor of the vehicle in the proximity of the air bag electronic control module (aecm), the aecm can corrode. The resulting corrosion can cause the driver side air bag to deploy inadvertently.
- The risk
- Deployment of the air bag without warning could cause a driver to lose vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash and personal injury.
- The fix
- Dealers wil replace the aecm with an aecm that is sealed from moisture intrusion.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks equipped with gasoline engines. The fuel tank mounted rollover valve can allow liquid fuel to leak onto the ground under certain vehicle operating conditions.
- The risk
- Fuel leakage could result in a fire if an ignition source was present.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the fuel tank rollover valve with a float type rollover valve.
- The problem
- Under certain high load operating conditions, the transmission fluid temperature can exceed the melting point of the material used in the connector to retain the fluid line to the transmission.
- The risk
- When these temperatures occur, the fluid line will not stay connected with the transmission and fluid can spray onto the exhaust manifold, resulting in smoke or fire.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the high temperature side of the transmission fluid cooler line connector fittings with connectors that incorporate a stainless steel retainer.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with diesel engines. The engine driven vacuum pump can allow engine oil into the vacuum hoses due to the absence of an internal check valve. The oil can cause the hose to deteriorate and partially collapse, reducing the vacuum supply to the brake booster.
- The risk
- Reduced power brake assist can result increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will add a vacuum pump check valve to the vacuum pump. In addition, the vacuum hose connected to the vacuum pump will be replaced with a hose that is engine oil resistant.
- The problem
- The involved vehicles have tire/wheel specification information on the vehicle certification label which indicates a smaller size tire than required. This does not comply with label requirements of fmvss no. 120, "Tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."
- The risk
- Consequence of non-compliance: the smaller tires would not have sufficient load capacity for the vehicles specified gross weight rating, increasing the potential for a premature tire failure and an accident.
- The fix
- Owners will be mailed an overlay label with the correct tire/wheel certification information and instructions for installing the label on their vehicles. If owners prefer, their dealer can install the label for them.
- The problem
- The fasteners which secure the generator cartridge fuse to the power distribution center may have an improper clamp load. Improper clamping can result in arcing at the connection.
- The risk
- This condition can potentially cause a fire in the engine compartment.
- The fix
- Dealers will tighten the generator cartridge fuse fasteners properly.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1996 Dodge Ram yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Dodge Ram: every year compared
All Ram years1996 Dodge Ram vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Dodge Ram | 0 | 14 | F | |
| 1996 Ford F-150 | 0 | 7 | A | Compare |
| 1996 GMC Sierra | 0 | 2 | B | Compare |
| 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 | 0 | 1 | A | Compare |
| 1996 Dodge Caravan | 1,402 | 18 | F | Compare |
| 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan | 1,167 | 11 | F | Compare |
| 1996 Dodge Neon | 621 | 7 | F | Compare |
| 1996 Dodge Intrepid | 515 | 2 | C | Compare |
| 1996 Dodge Dakota | 199 | 2 | C | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1996 Dodge Ram
Does the 1996 Dodge Ram have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 14 recalls for the 1996 Dodge Ram: headlights (May 2009); exterior lighting (April 2009); headlights (August 2008); exterior lighting (June 2006) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 1996 Dodge Ram had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1996 Dodge Ram a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 22 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Dodge Ram year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Dodge Ram years have the most complaints?
2001 (1,430), 2003 (1,359), 2004 (1,157). See every Dodge Ram year compared.
What should I do if my 1996 Dodge Ram has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data