Five problems related to underhood wiring have been reported for the 1996 Dodge Ram 2500. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
On the morning of 12/7/09 I started my truck to warm it up with the heating fan on high when at some point, somewhere in the wiring harness under the dash overheated and started the interior on fire. Destroying my vehicle. The windshield and driver door windows were broken from the heat but luckily remained intact and not letting air inside to fuel the fire and it eventually extinguished itself.
I drive quite a bit during the night time with my vehicle. There seems to be a very serious issuse with the wiring over heating at the headlight switch. I have replaced 5 . . . Going to be 6 headlight switches. There is a dangerous amount of head being put out at the switch itself. So much that it actually melts the pigtail at the light switch connection. The light switch itself is destroyed. Its bad especcially when driving down the road and your headlamps, marker lights and dash light all go out. If I do not have a replacment part in my truck at the time, I have to find a spot in between switch position just to get my lights operational to "limp" my truck home. My choice of positions when the switch fails is headlamps with out markers and no dash lights or fog lamps markers and dash lights. Being Dodge has such terrible headlamps I use fog lights to drive when this happenes. Believe it or not he fog lights are better than the driving lights. I recently saw a recall for Dodge durangos with a under dash electrical problem. I would think that this wiring/headlamp switch problem should be a recall! thank you.
Third engine compartment fire on 1996 Dodge p/u w/ deisel engine. I reported to dot on 11-Jul-2000 after the second fire. See your reference no 865223. This makes three times the driver could not turn engine off, wiring harnesses overheated causing engine compartment fire.
Front coil spring broke, which caused front end to drop. There is a recall for this problem, but this vehicle is not included although it has the same problem. Also, occupant received a recall for the wiring harness which he never had repaired, and lost the recall notice. Manufacturer stated that this vehicle was not included in wiring harness recall. Also, 5th gear quit for the second time, first time covered under extended warranty, this time owner must pay for repair. Chrysler has issued an updated nut for this problem.
Driving truck down the road, stopped at a stop light and noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood. Got out of truck, pulled hood up and noticed that the fire retarding pad was on fire. Truck had to be towed to a mechanic, has not determined was caused the fire.