10 of the 182 complaints about the 1996 Dodge RAM 3500 are about the electrical system — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 170,000 miles.
10
Complaints
0
Crashes
6
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DASH IS ALL CRACKED UP ALLOWING SHARP PLASTIC PROJECTILES IN AND ABOUT THE CAB THAT CAN CUT YOU IN A WRECK SUN GETTING ON ELECTRICAL WIRES DESTROYING THEM AND NOW SHORTS AND SOMETIMES DONT WORK RIGHT
NHTSA complaint #11233910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, A THERMAL EVENT STARTED IN THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ABOVE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V024000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
NHTSA complaint #10491817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
FIRE IN ENGINE AREA,,,,,FUEL PRE-HEATER CATCHES FIRE IN THE WIRING BECAUSE OF BAD SEAL ON ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS THAT ALLOW RUST TO FORM IN TRUCKS IN SNOW AND SALT COUNTRY...LUCKILY I WAS GETTING HOME AND STEPPING OUT OF THE TRUCK WHEN I SPOTTED THE FIRE,,,,IF NOT THE TRUCK WOULD HAVE BURN TO THE GROUND DURING THE NIGHT,,,OR I COULD HAVE BEEN ASLEEP AT A TRUCK STOP AS I OFTEN DO WHEN I AM ON THE ROAD TO THE RACES...ACCORDING TO FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE TURBO DIESEL REGISTER (WE SUPPLIED ALL THE INFO AND DAMAGED PARTS TO YOUR ORGANIZATION LAST YEAR CONCERNING THE THROTTLE CABLE PROBLEM)),,,THIS FUEL HEATER FIRE IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THESE 94 TO 97 TRUCKS WITH THE CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINE.. HOW DOES CHRYSLER GET AWAY WITH ALL THESE SAFETY ISSUES. THIS COULD VERY EASILY CAUSE DEATH IF NOT ADDRESSED.. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10013812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
SMOKE WAS COMING FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE THROUGH VENT PANEL AREA. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDERS. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED OUT.
NHTSA complaint #8005232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO SHOULDER 0FF ROAD AND LEFT VEHICLE RUNNING TO ASSIST ANOTHER MOTORIST. WHEN HE RETURNED TO VEHICLE, THERE WAS SMOKE INSIDE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH DASHBOARD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT HEADLIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #8001900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AFTER RECALL REPAIR 97V-068 OF THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WIRING BOTH BATTERIES WENT DEAD, THE BATTERY ISOLATOR WIRING IS DIRECTLY LINKED INTO BLOWER MOTORS WHICH WAS THE WRONG SOURCE FOR POWER CAUSING ELECTRICAL DRAW TO THE BATTERY ISOLATOR AND BATTERIES, DEALER FOUND NEW POWER SOURCE FOR BATTERIES. NLM
NHTSA complaint #558215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
TRUCK BURNED APROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES AFTER SHUTTING DOWN IN MY DRIVEWAY. CHRYSLER IS SENDING ME RECALL NOTICES THAT ARE ANYWHERE FROM 1 1/2 YRS OLD TO 6 WEEKS BEFORE THE FIRE, AND THEY ARE COMING IN THE MAIL NOW, ALMOST 4 MONTHS AFTER THE FIRE. CHRYSLER WILL NOT ADMIT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FIRE, EVEN WHILE SENDING ME RECALLS THIS LATE AFTER THE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #737773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
TRUCK BURNED APROX. 45 MINUTES AFTER SHUTTING DOWN IN MY DRIVEWAY.
NHTSA complaint #734794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT AND MELTED WIRING. MJS
NHTSA complaint #516398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 5TH GEAR,CAUSE UNKNOWN, ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS REPLACED,ELECTRICAL SHORT WITH ABS AND CONSUMER ALSO STATES RADIO IS INOPERATIVE. *ADJ
NHTSA complaint #832637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.