1996 Dodge Ram Pickup SLT from North America - Comments

2nd Jun 2004, 04:51

"Nice to look at, but nasty to own!"

What things have gone wrong with the car?

Many leaking gaskets.

Fuel pump replaced.

Brakes replaced, front & rear.

Paint peeling off.

U-joints gone bad in front-end.

Headlight bulbs blow constantly.

4x4 indicator lamp on dash blinks annoyingly... covered with black tape.

Continually burns a hole in air filters, replaced filters 4x's since owned... nobody knows why!

Transmission shifts erratically at best.

Front "pumpkin" seal leaking profusely as well.

General comments?

I bought this vehicle from the original owner with only 27,000 miles on it.

Truck just recently turned 54,000 miles and currently has all faults mentioned.

I'm guessing either I bought the pride of the Dodge fleet or the truck simply sat too long in the original owner's driveway resulting in dried-up seals; I hope for everyone's sake it's the latter of the two.

The only good thing I can say for the vehicle is that it was one seriously tough-looking truck when bought, but turned out to be weaker than my old Sunbird... it surely left me on the side of the road more often!

Hopefully my experience with this Dodge Ram is not indicative of all the Rams out there and I will definitely not buy another vehicle (any make) that sat around being used as a lawn ornament nor would I suggest others do the same! WOW!!


2nd Jun 2004, 13:10

I have a 1995 Dodge Ram with the Cummins diesel engine, and have had a better time with it than the reviewer with his 1996. I think the engine makes all the difference: the Cummins is predictable, powerful, and reliable. The transmission and rear end matched to this engine have served well, also. Some of the Chrysler-specific bits (fuel gauge sending unit, air conditioning condenser, fuel line from tank, ball joints) have worn out at fairly low mileage, but the drive train is bullet-proof.

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