4.9

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
21,200 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1996 Dodge Ram 1500 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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1996 Dodge Ram 1500 Owner Comments

problem #5

Mar 052003

Ram 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 106,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I own a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 with the 5.2 liter engine. The engine oil light would flicker when stopped at a stop sign in drive. I took it to the Dodge dealership and they said that the engine would have to be replaced due to the wear. I have used mobile 1 synthetic oil since the breakin oil and never let the oil in the vehicle over 4,000 miles. Each time the oil filter was also changed. The vehicle has 106,000 miles on it and the engine replacement is costing me $4.700. I've been told that the 5.2 liter engine does not handle synthetic oil well. The oil does not return to the oil pan fast enough to keep the bottom of the engine lubricated. I find this hard to believe but I've never wore out an engine before. My question is how can an engine wear out when it was taken such good care of? I've had several other failures of this vehicle dealing with U-joints, steering shaft, failed fuel pump, and an unstable suspension requiring a $500 piston assembly to repair but the repair did nothing to help.

- Green Bay, WI, USA

problem #4

Feb 231998

Ram 1500

  • miles
Universal joint and drive shaft failed, causing vibration.

- Sardinia, NY, USA

problem #3

Feb 261996

Ram 1500

  • miles
Front universal joint drained to proper level and cleaned.

- Cooperstown, NY, USA

problem #2

Aug 021996

Ram 1500 4WD

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Transfer case and universal joint broke.

- Littleton, CO, USA

problem #1

May 181996

Ram 1500 Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumer was driving and the steering came apart. Consumer states the upper universal joint dropped off the steering shaft, causing no steering control, the steering shaft and universal joint were not assembled properly at the factory, upper universal joint was barely stuck onto the end of the steering shaft, the universal joint was stuck onto the shaft only up to the area of the upper universal joint.

- Trenton, MO, USA

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