1996 DODGE RAM 1500 Electrical System Problems

9 NHTSA complaints on file

Check any vehicle history by VIN - Free vehicle history report

Electrical System Issues in the 1996 DODGE RAM 1500

9 electrical system complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. Of these, 0 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, and 0 resulted in injury.

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

All Electrical System Complaints

#10924644 | November 7, 2016

IGNITION WIRING FAILED

#10746117 | August 4, 2015

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 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATE 9/15/15*CW

#10735926 | July 23, 2015

WHEN APPLYING THE TURN SIGNAL, THE SIGNAL DOES NOT ILLUMINATE OR IS ERRATIC OR DOES ALTERNATE OF WHAT IS CHOSEN.

#10681964 | February 7, 2015 Fire

I WENT OUT ON FRIDAY THE 6TH OF FEB.2015. I GOT A COFFEE AT WAWA EVERYTHING WAS FINE I LEFT TO GO TO MY BUDDY'S HOUSE TO HANGOUT AND I STARTED DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD N I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT THE VENTS WHEN I WAS DRIVING SO I PULLED OVER CUZ I THOUGHT IT WAS THE HEATER CORE CUZ WHEN THEY GO BAD SMOKE COMES OUT OF THEM SO I'M LOOKING N LOOKING N ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SMOKE IS GETTING HEAVIER AND DARKER WITHIN 20-25 MINS AFTER CALLING 911 THERE IT HAPPENED MY TRUCK WENT UP IN FLAMES N A TOTAL LOSS. THEN THAT DAY AFTER I GOT HOME N CALMED DOWN I LOOKED IT UP N THE FIRST THING THAT POPPED UP RECALL FOR WIRING HARNESS IN DASHBOARD SHORTS OUT N CAUSES FIRES... I'M LIKE REALLY....*JS

#10465932 | July 17, 2012

IN THE 1994-2001 MODEL YEAR DODGE RAM 1500, 2500 AND 3500 TRUCKS THERE IS NO RELAY IN THE WIRING CIRCUITRY USE FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. WHEN THE RAM WAS REDESIGNED IN 1994, THE ENGINEERS DID NOT FIND IT NECESSARY TO CHANGE THE 40-YEAR OLD DESIGN FOR THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM; FEELING ONLY THE NEED TO USE A LARGER GAUGE WIRE TO HANDLE THE EXCESSIVE HEAT OF THE HALOGEN BULBS. UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER THE WIRES NOR THE SWITCH OR INTERNAL RHEOSTAT (FOR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING) COULD HANDLE THIS LOAD AND THE FOLLOWING NEAR TRAGIC EVEN HAS BEEN AN ALL TOO COMMON OCCURRENCE. A RECALL (OR AT THE VERY LEAST A TSB HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE 3500 MODEL DODGE RAMS, WHICH ARE COMPRISED OF THE EXACT SAME SWITCH AND WIRING, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN NOTED ABOUT THE 1500 OR 2500 MODELS. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND THIS, AND THIS IS THE VERY REASON I FEEL...

#10190303 | May 9, 2007

THE DASHBOARD IN THE DODGE RAMWAS CRACKED AND CAVED IN. THIS CREATED A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT EXPOSED ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS TO DAMAGE.*AK

#10100969 | December 2, 2004 Fire

I HAVE THIS TRUCK FOR 2 YEARS AND IN THAT 2 YEARS I HAVE MANY COMPLICATIONS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MELTING AND BURNING THE WIRES IN THE DASH. I HAVE HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED TWICE AND IT CONTINUES TO BURN OUT AND MELT. I AM SO SCARED THE TRUCK IS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE ONE DAY THAT RARELEY DRIVE THE TRUCK. I STILL HAVE THE OLD PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED BUT DONT FEEL IT IS THE SWITCH CAUSING ALL THE PROBLEMS. I FEEL IT IS THE WHOLE WIRING SYSTEM. I READ THE CUSTOM REPORTS ON MYCARSTATS.COM IT SEEMS THE 1996 DODGE DAKOTA HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. THERE WERE EVEN REPORTS OF THE TRUCK CATCHING ON FIRE. IF THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED ON MANY DIFFERNET OCCAIONS; WHY HAVENT THEY RECALLED IT??? I WOULD APPRECIATE A RESPONSE AND HOPEFULLY DODGE TAKING CARE OF...

#8017958 | September 5, 2002

WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON THERE IS A BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE COMING FROM DASH NEAR WINDSHIELD. ONCE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF THE SMOKE STOPS. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*JB

#514331 | April 6, 1999

CONTINUAL ELECTRICAL SHORTS CAUSING FUSES TO BLOW.

Other 1996 DODGE RAM 1500 Problem Areas

← Back to 1996 DODGE RAM 1500 overview