2.7

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
52,927 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 steering problems

steering problem

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1996 Dodge Ram 1500 Owner Comments

problem #18

Feb 212018

Ram 1500

  • 100,000 miles

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

My ball joints, tie rods, steering box, all that has to do with those areas have serious issues and Dodge needs to fox them for free put them under the recall dept so they can be. Steering wheel very loose tons of play very dangerous.

- Logan, UT, USA

problem #17

Oct 172018

Ram 1500

  • 140,000 miles
Sigma tires stampede tires -265 75 16 at splitting tread and coming apart -told recall only last ten* years**-nothing to do and no replacement-tire kingdom* truck vibrates and shakes, loud thud, thud, noise(in motion) affects steering as wobbles always issues as rough**riding over the years and never knew why*

- Rotonda West, FL, USA

problem #16

Jul 222015

Ram 1500

  • 107,300 miles
When applying the turn signal, the signal does not illuminate or is erratic or does alternate of what is chosen.

- Keyser, WV, USA

problem #15

Dec 162013

Ram 1500

  • 150,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 55 mph, the steering wheel seized and the front wheel became unresponsive. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 150,000.

- Bessemer, AL, USA

problem #14

Apr 062011

Ram 1500 8-cyl

  • 220,000 miles
When I drive my 96 Dodge Ram 1500 4X4 pickup on highway at miles between 60 and 70 it starts shaking and I am not able to control the steering wheel, I sometimes have to stop or speed up to over 75 miles for it to decrease as I am afraid this will cause an accident. Also when I cross a small bump in the road it does the same thing but this happens at any speed. One mechanic told me the stabilizer bar needed to be replaced $400 did not fix the problem. I have taken to three different mechanics and they are not able to find the exact problem.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #13

Jul 162008

Ram 1500

  • 129,385 miles
Was driving on highway at 65 mph, I crossed a small bump in the road and lost all control of the 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 4X4 pickup. It shook all the stuff off of my seat as well as my cd holder. This is the second time this has happened. I am at a loss as to how to look for the problem. I love this truck but I have gone through two wheel bearings and a tie rod end and I have only had it for a year.... I want to know how to fix this problem before someone gets killed.

- Belfry , MT, USA

problem #12

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 #11

Oct 012000

Ram 1500 4WD Diesel

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Under normal operating conditions when traveling around 50 to 60 mph and hitting a bump, front end will vibrate violently. Consumer must stop vehicle in order to get vibration to go away. Dealership has examined vehicle twice: During first incident dealership replaced track bar, and at second incident, dealership could not determine cause. The steering damper has been replaced and consumer hopes that this solves the problem.

- Hickory, NC, USA

problem #10

Nov 012000

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Steering has to much play, also there is a popping sound, to dealer 4 times, cannot find problem. Vehicle will not stay in overdrive.

- Mishawaka, IN, USA

problem #9

Jan 011999

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Front end misaligned due to idle arm, ball joints, tie rod ends pitman arm and steering failure.

- Danvers, MA, USA

problem #8

Oct 071998

(reported on)

Ram 1500 4WD Diesel

  • Manual transmission
  • miles

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

Front end shimmy when going over bump or pot hole, due to poor steering design, dampner kit available to correct design problem.

- Henryetta, OK, USA

problem #7

May 051997

Ram 1500

  • miles
Noise in front end as well as leaking due to failure of the steering shaft and steering stabilizer.

- Sardinia, NY, USA

problem #6

Feb 041998

Ram 1500 4WD Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Steering arm broke, causing complete loss of steering.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #5

Apr 111997

Ram 1500

  • miles
Vehicle has grinding noise in steering wheel when turning, replacement of new shaft did not correct the problem.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #4

May 011997

Ram 1500 4WD Diesel

  • miles
Steering has excessive play/clunking noise when turning or braking.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #3

May 271997

(reported on)

Ram 1500

  • miles
While making a left turn the steering wheel shakes. Owner is very concerned about this problem.

- Salt Rock, WV, USA

problem #2

Oct 021996

(reported on)

Ram 1500

  • miles
Consumer has a 1995 mode, manufacturer gave consumer a 1996, the problem is the consumer was driving and there was no steering control on both trucks, still having same problem.

- Glenrock, PA, 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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