1996 DODGE RAM 1500 Exterior Lightingheadlightsswitch Problems

8 NHTSA complaints on file

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Exterior Lightingheadlightsswitch Issues in the 1996 DODGE RAM 1500

8 exterior lightingheadlightsswitch 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 Exterior Lightingheadlightsswitch Complaints

#10116895 | April 13, 2005

THE SWITCH FOR THE HEADLIGHTS MUST BE FALSE SINCE THIS IS ALREADY THE SECOND TIME IN THE TWO YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED MY TRUCK THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. I UNDERSTAND THAT RECALLS DO OCCUR, BUT THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND OUT OF MY WALLET. NOW, I DOUBT THAT I WILL BUY A DODGE AGAIN SINCE DODGE DOES NOT COVER ITS MISTAKES. *AK

#10049926 | December 2, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, IN WHICH HE SUGGESTED THAT THE HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS SWITCH MELTED. *AK *SC

#10037789 | August 27, 2003 Fire

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HEADLIGHT SWITCH PROBLEMS. CONSUMER WAS AWARE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE RAM 3500 SERIES, BUT NOT ON THE RAM 1500, WHICH WAS THE ONE HE HAD. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND SOLD THE CONSUMER A REPLACEMENT SWITCH. HE COMPARED THE NEW SWITCH TO THE ONE ON THE 3500 SERIES, AND STATED THAT THEY WERE IDENTICAL.*AK WHILE DRIVING HOME CONSUMER SMELT WIRES BURNING AND THE HEADLIGHT CUT OFF THEN CAME BACK ON. CONSUMER STATED IF THE SWITCH WAS THE PROBLEM ON THE OLDER MODEL RAM'S, THEN THEY ARE A PROBLEM WITH HIS LATER MODEL. *PH *NLM

#10017007 | May 4, 2003

I HAVE A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP, WITH 104,000 MILES. THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH SHORT CIRCUITED WHICH CAUSED THE WIRING CONNECTOR AND THE SWITCH CONNECTOR TO OVER HEAT AND MELT. I HAVE PURCHASED A NEW SWITCH AND THE AUTO PARTS STORE SAYS THIS HAPPENS OFTEN. ALSO WITH THE SWITCH OUT OF WORKING ORDER I HAD NO LIGHTS, THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT. *JB

#8012778 | June 27, 2002

HEADLIGHT SWITCH WOULD OVERHEAT WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

#753196 | October 16, 2001

HEADLIGHT SWITCH GOT HOT AND MELTED ITSELF AND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO QUIT WROKING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. DASH WAS EXTREMELY HOT ABOVE SWITCH. NO OTHER ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT ADDED TO HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT. CONTACTED CHRYSLER BUT THEY SAID IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I HAVE THE FAILED COMPONENTS AND CAN PROVIDE THEM OR PICTURES IF REQUIRED. REPLACEMENT SWITCH ALSO INCLUDED A CONNECTOR AND PIGTAIL. IS THIS BECAUSE THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM A LOT? NORMALLY YOU WOULD HAVE TO BUY PARTS SEPARATELY.*AK

#714804 | November 15, 1999

HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED DUE TO OVERHEATING WHICH CAUSED HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT WHILE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT 65MPH. DEALER SOLD ME A NEW SWITCH/KIT AND PROVIDED INSTALLLATION INFORMATION FOR THEIR SAFETY RECALL 819 (WHICH THEY SAID DID NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE). INSTRUCTIONS TALK ABOUT LOOKING FOR A MELTED CONNECTOR WHICH INDEED MY SWITCH DOES HAVE. NEW WIRING HARNESS PROVIDES A RESISTOR OR SOMETHING WHICH MY MECHANIC TELLS ME IS TO DISSIPATE HEAT! DEALER AND CHRYSLER CAN NOT EXPLAIN WHY THIS HAPPENED AND OFFER NO RELIEF BUT I STILL FEEL IF THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND ARE MAKING MODIFICATIONS TO SOME OF THE VEHICLES WHY THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO MAKE THEM ON ALL OF THEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND YOU ARE LEFT WITHOUT LIGHTS! FORTUANTELY I HAD FOG LIGHTS AND THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO TURN THEM ON! THANK YOU. *AK

#847620 | September 14, 1999 Fire

HEADLIGHT SWITCH OVERHEATS AND CATCHES ON FIRE. ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH WILL GO OUT. ALSO. DEALER HAS SENT AN UPDATED OWNERS MANUEL. *AK

Other 1996 DODGE RAM 1500 Problem Areas

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