10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 1
Average Mileage:
7,889 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1996 Dodge Ram 1500:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #109

Jul 082011

Ram 1500

  • 120,000 miles
Transmission keeps slipping. It shifts really hard then it doesn't want to shift later on.

- Pawnee, IL, USA

problem #108

Aug 152008

Ram 1500

  • 138,000 miles
Normal driving into mountains and auto transmission shifted out of overdrive and would not shift back, even down hill. Checked fluid and very hot and started to smelled burnt. Has been shifting hard.

- Boise, ID, USA

problem #107

Mar 242006

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Truck purchased used at dealership in 2000. Transmission rebuilt in 2002. Transmission failed in 2006.

- Beale Afb, CA, USA

problem #106

Jun 011998

Ram 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,000 miles
I purchased the truck in 1996 new from parks motors in augusta, since that time I have had the transmission rebuild 3 times for the same problem, the transmission will not shift out of 1 or 2 gear or if it does it takes high rpms to do it. It was determined that a seal in the upper half of the transmission was faulty from the factory. The first time I had this rebuilt I covered the cost myself because of the low mileage warranty the second time I had this rebuilt Chrysler agreed to pay for half of the problem because they knew it had been rebuilt once before and failed a 2nd time, the third time I paid to have it rebuilt out of pocket, I am now at the point of needing it rebuilt for a 4th time my truck has 120,000 miles on it now and I have yet to see a recall on this problem I have talked to many people who have had the same problem and have also been to many web sites describing the same problems I am having, the transmission also has a 5 mile an hour difference than what it should be. My incident date is not exact as this problem has occurred many times now over a 10 year period, I have also reported this before but never had any letters or have been informed as to what was going on from the dot.

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #105

Dec 202003

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles
While driving transmission failed to go from second to thid gear. Mechanic stated that the third gear lip seal failed. This was a common failure with these vehicles.

- Gardnerville, NV, USA

problem #104

Mar 132004

Ram 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 131,700 miles
Somthing under the truck rattles/ stalls in reverse, will not shift out of 2nd gear, acts like it is locked in 4WD all the time.

- Hueytown, AL, USA

problem #103

Jan 222004

(reported on)

Ram 1500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 77,158 miles
Manufacturer defect could have caused an accident or even harm. Problems with vehicle not shifting properly. Vehicle was taken to dealership and the high clutch drum was replaced.

- Binghamton, NY, USA

problem #102

Mar 232002

Ram 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles
Dodge Ram - bad transmission(s)

- Davison, MI, USA

problem #101

Jan 012004

Ram 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 96,000 miles
S, bar link, replaced twice within 3 weeks, no good.transmission failure took to transmission shop, replaced pressure sol, governor, gov switch, switchand seleriond, still acting the same.left controlarmandboltkit, also say needs right side.will not alligne.light under hood comes on when driving, and horn does not work no one can fig out why..?Dodge should cover all tranny and frount sup on these trucks, found out after purchaced all the things that go wrong with this yr of tk.96 Dodge Ram 4X4 1500 also the 4X4 is hard to shift into and take out and sometimes doesn not come out, even when light indcates it is out of four wheel.never again Dodge!! numerous dates of work to this vehicle.

- Boyers, PA, USA

problem #100

Jul 172003

Ram 1500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles
After truck's engine was started the gear selector was placed in reverse so as to back out of garage. A loud noise was heard. The gear shift selector was returned to P. as this happened the truck lurched forward striking the garage wall. The buiding and truck were damaged.

- Mt. Pleasant, UT, USA

problem #99

Jan 142003

(reported on)

Ram 1500

  • miles
Consumer states while driving the transmission slips notified dealer repaired 40,000 miles later problem reoccured. Please provide any additional information.

- Appleton, WI, USA

problem #98

Oct 232002

Ram 1500

  • miles
Dealer replace only solenoids and filter on first failer. The 2nd failer requires a total rebuild. The transmission shop said the transmission line should have replaced at the dealer.

- Killeen, TX, USA

problem #97

Feb 022000

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When putting vehicle into reverse there was a delay. Delay became longer and longer, and eventually would not reverse. Cause unknown.

- Tilghman, MD, USA

problem #96

Aug 012002

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission was slipping when accelerating, dealer stated transmission has to be rebuilt. Consumer states that this seems to be a defect, and there should be a recall.

- Tilhman, MD, USA

problem #95

Jun 092002

Ram 1500 4WD

  • miles
Shifted from park to reverse. Engine idled fast, truck took off in reverse and could not be stopped by pressing on the brake. Speed probably accelerated to 20 mph before hit 3 other vehicles. Witnesses said the rear tires were spinning and the engine noise was high pitched and oscillating.

- Palm Bay, FL, USA

problem #94

Apr 151996

Ram 1500 Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission will jump into low gear and/or won't down shift at times. Consumer added during cold start, transmission will not back up for short time.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #93

Oct 012000

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission has a delay when shifting from 2 nd to 3 rd gear, also there is a grinding sound when in reverse.

- Portsmouth, VA, USA

problem #92

Sep 012001

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission slips most times when it shifts from 2 nd to 3 rd gear, vehicle has not been examined by dealer yet.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #91

Mar 042002

(reported on)

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While shifting vehicle in second gear transmission would skip second gear. Dealer has been contacted.

- Ruidoso, NM, USA

problem #90

Nov 012001

Ram 1500 4WD Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Mechanic said he see this in Dodge's ranging in the yrs.1994-1999's, it is a faulty part. No safety defec tmentioned.

- Granite Bay, CA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »