1996 DODGE RAM 1500 Electrical System Problems

IGNITION WIRING FAILED

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 [XXX] IGNITION SWITCH AND ELECTRICAL WIRING. RECALL INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATE 9/15/15*CW

WHEN APPLYING THE TURN SIGNAL, THE SIGNAL DOES NOT ILLUMINATE OR IS ERRATIC OR DOES ALTERNATE OF WHAT IS CHOSEN.

Mileage: 107,300

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....*JS

Mileage: 180,000

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. ONE NIGHT I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 55-MPH WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, RELAY AND CONNECTED WIRING ALL BECAME OVERHEATED, CAUSING THEM TO MELT. BECOMING FRANTIC, I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY WIGGLE THE DIMMER SWITCH (COMBINATION/TURN SIGNAL SWITCH), THEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH UNTIL I GOT THEM TO COME BACK ON. DURING THAT EPISODE I HAD THEM GO OUT ON ME ABOUT 4 TIMES THAT I RECALL. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE REMAINS UNFIXED AND IS NOT DRIVABLE AT NIGHT. BEING A MECHANIC, MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS TO CHECK THE RELAYS AND FUSES TO SEE IF THEY WERE BLOWN OR BAD. TO MY DISMAY, I COULD NOT FIND ANY RELAYS! THIS WAS HOW I DISCOVERED, THROUGH SOME ONLINE RESEARCH, ABOUT THE RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH- HOW I WAS NOT ALONE IN THIS SITUATION AND THE REST OF THE AFOREMENTIONED PARAGRAPH. I WILL GLADLY BE AVAILABLE FOR PHONE CALLS, QUESTIONS, AND TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE PARTS IN QUESTION. *TR

Mileage: 141,000

1996 DODGE RAM 1500 CAUGHT FIRE IN THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. *KB THE CAUSE OF FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE ELECTRICAL UNDER THE DASHBOARD. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *JB

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. *TR

Mileage: 143,085

THE DASHBOARD IN THE DODGE RAMWAS CRACKED AND CAVED IN. THIS CREATED A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT EXPOSED ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS TO DAMAGE.*AK

DT: CONSUMER STATES HE OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500 PICK UP TRUCK. WHILE HAULING A TRAILER, THE WIRES FROM THE TRAILER BECAME CAUGHT BETWEEN THE TRAILER AND THE TRAILER HITCH OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE WIRING HARNESS SYSTEM TO BURN OUT. THIS CAUSED THE FUEL GAUGE TO FAIL, IT SHORTED OUT THE FUSE TO THE FUEL PUMP CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEALER. HE STATED THIS WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THE WIRING HARNESS CAME WITH A 40 AMP FUSE. THE CONSUMER ASKED FOR A 30 AMP FUSE TO BE INSTALLED BUT THE SERVICE DEALER WOULD NOT INSTALL THIS TYPE OF FUSE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER; THEY SAID THEY WOULD CONSIDER REFUNDING THE CONSUMERS MONEY FOR REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. A NEW HARNESS HAS BEEN INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THE WIRING HARNESS, THE RECALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED AUGUST 2, 1999. *JB

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 protected]

Mileage: 150,000

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. *AK

Mileage: 96,000

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. THERE WAS ALMOST A FIRE, I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I HAVE THE OLD IGNITION SWITCH AND THE PLASTIC PART ON MY STEERING COLUMN HAS A HOLE WHERE IT WAS HOT, SINCE I DID NOT SEE A FIRE (MY HUSBAND DID SMELL SOMETHING BURNING), I CANNOT ANSWER YES TO THE QUESTION BELOW THAT ASKED "WAS THERE A FIRE?". ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I THINK SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. SOMETHING SIMILAR HAPPENED TO A FRIEND OF MINE WHO HAD A DIFFERENT MAKE CAR, HER SON BURNED TO DEATH IN A CAR. I SHIVER TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD NOT FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK

Mileage: 159,000

WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON THERE IS A BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE COMING FROM DASH NEAR WINDSHIELD. ONCE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF THE SMOKE STOPS. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*JB

THE BACKUP LIGHT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS NOT WORKING DUE TO FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. NLM

THE BACKUP LIGHT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS NOT WORKING DUE TO FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. NLM

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO RECEIVE RECALL REPAIR 00V135, HOWEVER CONSUMER HAD TO WAIT A LENGTHY TIME DUE TO DEALERSHIP NOT HAVING TRAINED TECHNICIANS, WHEN CONSUMER PICKED UP VEHICLE, WIRES WERE HANGING FROM STEERING WHEEL AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO 1ST OR 2ND GEAR, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK AND IT RAN FINE THE FIRST DAY, THE NEXT MORNING IT WOULDN'T CRANK AGAIN, CONSUMER FOUND BATTERY CABLE LOOSE AND THE FUSE COMPARTMENT COVER FELL OFF IN HIS HANDS. *SLC

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,. *AK

5 CORE PLUGS REPLACED...INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED......THROTTLE POSITIONING SENESOR REPLACED...TWO BATTERIES REPLACED

5 CORE PLUGS REPLACED...INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED......THROTTLE POSITIONING SENESOR REPLACED...TWO BATTERIES REPLACED

COMPUTER CHIP WILL NOT START THE CAR, CAR DIES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHEN TRAFFIC IS COMING. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THERE A COMPUTER CHIP THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *AK

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

MY TRUCK WOULD NOT START. FIRST I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A NEW BATTERY, THEN A FUEL PUMP AND FINALLY A NEW ECU. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ALL OF THESE COMPONENTS TO FAIL SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND SHUTDOWN. I WAS TOLD BY THE PARTS MAN AT DALLAS DODGE THAT THE ECUS ARE DESIGNED TO FAIL PRMATURELY. ANOTHER CUSTOMER ALSO STATED THAT THE SAME COMPUTER IN MY TURCK IS INSTALLED IN A NUMBER OF CHRYLSER PRODUCTS AND THAT IT FAILS WHEN OTHER COMPONENTS FAIL (IN HIS CASE WHEN THE ABS FAILED).

MY TRUCK WOULD NOT START. FIRST I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A NEW BATTERY, THEN A FUEL PUMP AND FINALLY A NEW ECU. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ALL OF THESE COMPONENTS TO FAIL SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND SHUTDOWN. I WAS TOLD BY THE PARTS MAN AT DALLAS DODGE THAT THE ECUS ARE DESIGNED TO FAIL PRMATURELY. ANOTHER CUSTOMER ALSO STATED THAT THE SAME COMPUTER IN MY TURCK IS INSTALLED IN A NUMBER OF CHRYLSER PRODUCTS AND THAT IT FAILS WHEN OTHER COMPONENTS FAIL (IN HIS CASE WHEN THE ABS FAILED).

ELECTRICAL FIRE ORIGINATING UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

STARTER FAILED.

BATTERY FAILED.

HARD STARTING WHEN ENGINE HOT.

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. *AK

CONTINUAL ELECTRICAL SHORTS CAUSING FUSES TO BLOW.

FAILED WIRE IN THE TRUCK'S TRAILER RECEIVER PLUG.