DODGE RAM 3500 · model year

1996 DODGE RAM 3500

182 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996DODGERAM 3500 carries 182 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 8 crashes, 12 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1996 RAM 3500 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 15 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (9) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (8). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 1996 RAM 3500, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

182
Complaints
8
Crashes
12
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

182 filings

Crashes Reported

8 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP15
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS8
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES8
SUSPENSION:FRONT7
STEERING5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
TIRES5
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS5
SUSPENSION5
EXTERIOR LIGHTING4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE4
STRUCTURE4

Recent Complaints

20190722AIR BAGS

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

Mileage: 200,000

20190722ELECTRICAL 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

Mileage: 200,000

20190722EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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

Mileage: 200,000

20180402TIRES

1996 DODGE RAM 3500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE TIRE TREAD SHREDS OFF CASING AND CAUSES SEVERE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNDERCARRIAGE. *SMD *TR

20170907UNKNOWN OR OTHER

"TAKATA RECALL" THE DASH ON MY TRUCK IS ALL CRACKED UP AND I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY TRUCK. IO CAME ACROSS AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE DODGE DASH'S I WENT RIGHT OUT SIDE AND PULLED MY DASH COVER BACK AND TOOK A LOOK AND TO MY SURPRISE MY DASH IS ALL CRACKED UP IN MANY PIECE'S . AND I HAVE HAD IT COVERED SINCE NEW...I DO FEEL THAT DODGE SHOULD BE HELD REASONABLE FOR THIS , LOOKS LIKE THEY USED CHEAP PLASTIC ON THESE, I CAN SEE IT NOW IF I WAS TO HAVE A WREAK PLASTICS PIECES FLYING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

20170703UNKNOWN OR OTHER

HEAT CAUSED THE DASH TO DRY OUT AND CRACK INTO LARGE JAGGED PIECES, THAT COULD HAVE FATAL CONSEQUENCES IF IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 110,987

20150513CrashSUSPENSION

DEATH WOBBLE. VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE TRUCK. SIMPLY GOOGLE "DEATH WOBBLE" AND DODGE TRUCK. HOPE YOU DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET KILLED.

Mileage: 65,000

20150426STRUCTURE

DASH FALLING APART DODGE DOES NOT HAVE REPLACEMENT/CANNOT FIND REPLACMENT. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

20130305STEERING

STEERING WOBBLES/SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN DRIVING. OFTEN INITIATED BY A MINOR IRREGULARITY IN ROAD PAVEMENT. REQUIRES COMING TO A FULL STOP TO ELIMINATE THE WOBBLE. RECURS OFTEN. DIFFICULT TO EXCEED 30MPH IN ORDER TO AVOID SHAKING. NO NOTICEABLY BAD OR BROKEN SUSPENSION PARTS. *TR

Mileage: 98,090

20130305SUSPENSION

STEERING WOBBLES/SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN DRIVING. OFTEN INITIATED BY A MINOR IRREGULARITY IN ROAD PAVEMENT. REQUIRES COMING TO A FULL STOP TO ELIMINATE THE WOBBLE. RECURS OFTEN. DIFFICULT TO EXCEED 30MPH IN ORDER TO AVOID SHAKING. NO NOTICEABLY BAD OR BROKEN SUSPENSION PARTS. *TR

Mileage: 98,090

20130108FireELECTRICAL 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.

Mileage: 170,000

20111222STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIGOROUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE MECHANIC PERFORMED REPAIRS TO THE STEERING ASSEMBLY. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE EXACT REPAIRS PERFORMED. APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

Mileage: 45,000

20110508STEERING

1996 DODGE 3500 4X4 DUALLY HAS A FRONT END SHAKE AT ANY SPEED HAVE PUT NEW BALLJOINTS IN PUT A NEW TRACK BAR IN THAN PUT A DOUBLE FRONT STEERING STABILIZER ON AND THE TRUCK STILL SHAKES AFTER IT DOES IT ONCE AND YOU HAVE TO TRY AND GET OUT OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND STOP IT WILL JUST RANDOMLY KEEP DOING IT BUMP OR NOT JUST A ROUGH ROAD. *TR

Mileage: 136,000

20110328TIRES

ON MARCH 26TH 2011 WHILE TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON I 76 IN COLORADO OUR DRIVERSIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TIRE WAS A TEMPRA TRAIL CUTTER RADIAL RT LT 255/85R16. AFTER A LOUD SHOTGUN TYPE NOISE, OUR VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. WE REGAINED CONTROL AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AND STOPPED. WE CONTACTED COOPER TIRE WHO MANUFACTURES THIS BRAND ON 03/29/2011 AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS TIRE WAS NOT CURRENTLY UNDER RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 241,500

20100916SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKE FAILURE, DUE TO BRAKE LINE TO REAR WHEELS RUSTED OUT IN FRAME CLIP BEHIND FUEL TANK. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

20100426TIRES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 3500 EQUIPPED WITH GENERAL TIRE HIGHWAY SCOUT (NA) TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO LOCATE THE TIRE MANUFACTURER AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE TIRE SIZE WAS 215/85R16 AND THE DOT NUMBER ADOP1LD1204 WERE LISTED ON THE HIGHWAY SCOUT TIRES. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, WHEN BOTH REAR TIRES BLEW OUT AND THE TREAD SEPARATED. THE FAILURE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE REAR FENDER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE; SIX TIRES BLEW OUT AND THE TREAD SEPARATED WITHIN THREE MONTHS. THERE WAS ONLY A QUARTER INCH OF TREAD DEPTH REMAINING ON THE TIRES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE TIRE MANUFACTURER BUT DISCOVERED THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE ON THE TIRES WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000.

20100402VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR A THROTTLE CABLE REPAIR MARCH 2010 BUT THE DEALER ONLY REPLACED THE THROTTLE CABLE AND NO OTHER REQUIRED PARTS THAT WOULD KEEP THE CABLE FROM FAILING. AS A RESULT, THE CABLE BECAME LOOSE TWICE AFTER THE REPAIR WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FAILED THROTTLE TWICE. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AS THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC AT THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE THROTTLE ROD BALL, THE BALL STUD, THROTTLE CABLE STUD, THE THROTTLE ROD THREAD (LEFT AND RIGHT) AND THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING. IN ADDITION TO THE THROTTLE FAILURE, CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT REPAIR PERFORMED JUNE 2009 DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM; THE HEADLIGHT PLASTIC AND SWITCH MELTED EVEN AFTER THE REPAIR. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND

Mileage: 22,010

20100402EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR A THROTTLE CABLE REPAIR MARCH 2010 BUT THE DEALER ONLY REPLACED THE THROTTLE CABLE AND NO OTHER REQUIRED PARTS THAT WOULD KEEP THE CABLE FROM FAILING. AS A RESULT, THE CABLE BECAME LOOSE TWICE AFTER THE REPAIR WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FAILED THROTTLE TWICE. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AS THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC AT THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE THROTTLE ROD BALL, THE BALL STUD, THROTTLE CABLE STUD, THE THROTTLE ROD THREAD (LEFT AND RIGHT) AND THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING. IN ADDITION TO THE THROTTLE FAILURE, CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT REPAIR PERFORMED JUNE 2009 DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM; THE HEADLIGHT PLASTIC AND SWITCH MELTED EVEN AFTER THE REPAIR. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND

Mileage: 22,010

20100302EXTERIOR LIGHTING

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT FAILURE---CHECKED ON LINE FOUND RECALL # 819---WENT TO CHRYSLER DEALER---WAS ADVISED THAT THE RECALL HAD BEEN DONE ON THAT VIN# AND CHRYSLER HAD NO OBLIGATION---I PULLED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND FOUND THAT IT WAS DAMAGED, THE CONNECTOR MELTED AND NO RELAY PACK SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL FIX-----IT WAS APPEARS THE RECALL WAS PENCIL WHIPPED AND THE REPAIR WAS NEVER MADE------HOW DO YOU INSURE THAT RECALLS ARE REALLY DONE AND HOW MANY MORE LIKE MINE ARE OUT THERE???????? *TR

Mileage: 140,000

20080721SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO RUST IN THE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED; HOWEVER,THE CONTACT WILL PERFORM THE REPAIR HIMSELF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,753 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

Mileage: 103,753

Compare 1996DODGERAM 3500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 DODGE RAM 3500 have?
The 1996 DODGE RAM 3500 has 182 NHTSA complaints, 8 crashes, 12 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 DODGE RAM 3500?
The most-complained component for the 1996 DODGE RAM 3500 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 15 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS.
Is the 1996 DODGE RAM 3500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.