Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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....
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 this problem free of charge. Please help!!! [email]
I took my 1996 Dodge Ram to the dealer for an ignition switch wiring recall. After the recall parts were replaced, my truck was not fixed. The wiring harness had overheated and damaged my ignition switch. This cost more money. There was also a special tool that my husband had to purchase to change the ignition switch. The plastic cover on my steering column had aslo melted. I would say my truck was very close to going up in flames. This is very upsetting to me because I feel this part should have been replaced along with the harness since the defective wiring caused this part to be damaged. I think Dodge should add this part to the list of parts changed when they service vehicles from this recall. I also believe they should reimburse me and anyone else who has had this problem. …
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 [redacted] ignition switch and electrical wiring. Recall update 9/15/15
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.
Driving car; engine suddenly died; car caught on fire & was engulfed in flames; driver's side door failed to open; fire department arrived & put flames out; manufacturer's representative looked at car; insurance company had private representative look at car; fire originated under car due to location of electrical wires. Driver/passengers escaped unharmed.
Vehicle was not properly repaired after being invoved in a under dash fire caused by an electrical short.manufacturer//dealer were not notified at this time. Please feel free to provide any further details on this matter,.
Turn signals failed, checked fuse, replaced flasher relay, replaced multi-function turn/dimmer/wiper switch and checked all bulbs and still no turn signals. Hazard flashers working correctly. Problem still exist.
If driving with air conditioning on high, ingnition switch gets so hot it will burn your hand if you touch the bottom of collum, also you loose the engine in traffic. Brakes on rear not strong enough with load
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 compelled to be writing this complaint in the first place. …
Electrical complaints in other Ram 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1996 Dodge Ram 1500?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the electrical system of the 1996 Dodge Ram 1500, 9% of the model year's 298 complaints. The component named most often is wiring (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 1996 Dodge Ram 1500. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 143,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 6 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.