10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 3 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 67,910 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.
ABS and brake light came on within 7 minutes had no brakes due to driver side back brake line corrosion. This has happened to many Dodge Ram 1996 vehicles. There needs to be a recall.
- Harrisonville, MO, USA
I was traveling to town and as I entered the town as I started to brake I could feel that my brake pedal was feeling spongy and the pedal seemed to be going to the floor. I felt as though 90% of my braking was gone. I was able to stop safely though I had very little braking. I felt that I could not stop safely in an emergency. I returned home very carefully at slow speeds. After looking my vehicle over I saw that all the brake fluid was gone from both the front and rear compartments of the master cylinder. Under my vehicle it seemed to be wet from brake fluid between the fuel tank and frame rail where the brake lines run. The brake lines had rusted through and leaked out all fluid. I feel there may be 2 dangerous issues. 1 that if the front or rear line leaks, the remaining chamber of the 2 chambers in the master cylinder should not loose its fluid. This allows limited braking with the brake section that has not lost its fluid. The 2nd issue is that the rear brakes line runs in the frame rail between the fuel tank. The fuel tank is constantly sweating on humid days which subjects the brake lines to constant rusting. Until they rust through. I may take several years. With the brake line running in the vehicle frame rails very close to the fuel tank you can not easily see if any rusting has occurred until its too late. I have also had another vehicle of another manufacturer also rust completely through loosing all brakes. I feel any vehicle that has a fuel line in the frame next to a fuel tank will also rust through. Because of the fuel tank sweating.
- Elmer, NJ, USA
1996 Dodge 1500 brakes failed. While braking at a toll booth the vehicle brakes failed and resulted in the vehicle hitting the rear of another vehicle. The consumer vehicle sustained damage to it's front grill, front bumper, the hood was pushed back, the radiator was damaged and possible engine damage. The consumer indicated that his back and neck felt tight after the crash. The other vehicle sustained heavy rear end damage. That vehicles occupant stated that his head and legs hurt.
- Akron, OH, USA
The brakes on my 1996 Dodge Ram failed. The dealer "kirkwood Dodge" said the metal brake line had rusted through.
- Wilmington, DE, USA
Brake wear seems excessive and at times the pedal would go to the floor and the brakes would not work well.
- Perrine, FL, USA
Consumer has a problem with brakes. They work fine when driving in town. When driving at 30 - 35 mph or more, the brakes do not stop accurately. When pressing the pedal for braking driver must release them. Then press again before stopping.
- Sapulpa, OK, USA
Brake performance is poor. In some instances brake pedal needs to be pressed almost to the floor and stopping distances are poor.
- Mount Hore, WI, USA
Going to a camp ground on dirt road, hauling a trailer, going down a hill, driver tried to apply brakes (ABS), had no brakes, ran into another vehicle w/trailer, the other vehicle literally stopped the vehicle at bottom of hill. After inspection, it was found that the master cylinder was faulty.
- Lucerne Valley, CA, USA
- Thunder Bay, 00, USA