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1996 Dodge RAM 2500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Dodge RAM 2500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 275.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

73 reports with mileage · 218 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports15 fire reports8 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

11 reports
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330,000 miles · Jun 15, 2023
Air BagsInjury

The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the air bag warning light suddenly activated, and moments later the front driver’s side air bag erroneously deployed. During the failure, the driver sustained various facial injuries and injuries to the nose. The contact also sustained…

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The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the air bag warning light suddenly activated, and moments later the front driver’s side air bag erroneously deployed. During the failure, the driver sustained various facial injuries and injuries to the nose. The contact also sustained an injury to the right arm which required medical attention. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 330,000.

NHTSA ODI #11527189

291,000 miles · Jan 8, 2015
Air BagsInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHOULDER, ARM, JAW, AND HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHOULDER, ARM, JAW, AND HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 291,000.

NHTSA ODI #10670912

223,000 miles · Feb 14, 2008
Air BagsInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 2500. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE AND ENGINE WAS STILL IN THE OFF POSITION. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CUTS AND LACERATIONS ON HIS FACE AND NECK. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V023000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) WAS REFERENCED. THE DEALER AND MANUF…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 2500. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE AND ENGINE WAS STILL IN THE OFF POSITION. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CUTS AND LACERATIONS ON HIS FACE AND NECK. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V023000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) WAS REFERENCED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 223,000. UPDATED 03-31-08 *BF UPDATED 03/31/08 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218037

75,345 miles · Mar 21, 2007
Air Bags

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE 2500 DIESEL. THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNED ON AND STAYED ON. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING AN AIR BAG MODULE. THIS PART HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED AND THE AIRBAG IS INOPERATIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,345. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THEY DO NOT DEAL WITH …

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TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE 2500 DIESEL. THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNED ON AND STAYED ON. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING AN AIR BAG MODULE. THIS PART HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED AND THE AIRBAG IS INOPERATIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,345. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THEY DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT AND THAT HE SHOULD CALL THE LOCAL DEALER.

NHTSA ODI #10185801

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2006
Air BagsElectrical System

SYMPTOMS: AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATES RANDOMLY, HORN SOUNDS INTERMITTENTLY, CRUISE CONTROL HAS STOPPED WORKING. A CASUAL SEARCH OF THE INTERNET SHOWS THESE THREE SYMPTOMS OCCUR QUITE FREQUENTLY ON CHRYSLER/DODGE AND PLYMOUTH VEHICLES. THE CAUSE IS A FAULTY CLOCKSPRING. THE RISK IS HAVING THE AIRBAG DISENGAGE, I.E. …

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SYMPTOMS: AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATES RANDOMLY, HORN SOUNDS INTERMITTENTLY, CRUISE CONTROL HAS STOPPED WORKING. A CASUAL SEARCH OF THE INTERNET SHOWS THESE THREE SYMPTOMS OCCUR QUITE FREQUENTLY ON CHRYSLER/DODGE AND PLYMOUTH VEHICLES. THE CAUSE IS A FAULTY CLOCKSPRING. THE RISK IS HAVING THE AIRBAG DISENGAGE, I.E. WILL NOT DEPLOY. CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED RECALLS FOR A NUMBER OF VEHICLES FOR THIS DEFECT, THE PROBLEM IS THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR MANY MORE VEHICLES THAT HAVE THIS SAFETY DEFECT. CHRYSLER CLAIMS A BAD INSTALLATION AT CERTAIN PLANTS, PROBLEM IS THE DEFECT OCCURS ON MANY MORE VEHICLES THEN RECALLED MADE AT OTHER PLANTS. COST IS IN THE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR. USER REPAIR IS NOT ADVISED SINCE THE AIRBAG MUST BE REMOVED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10159760

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 1999
Air Bags

RECALL REPAIR (99V-023) COMPLETED CAUSING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN, CONTINUED HAVING PROBLEMS AND REPAIRED, AIR BAG BLEW UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. MJS

NHTSA ODI #548653

Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 1999
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicSteeringCrash

JUST PULLED AWAY FROM GREEN LIGHT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT ALSO. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE'S ENGINE ROARED AFTER BEING HIT. TRAVELED 30FT & HIT TELEPHONE POLE. HAD NO STEERING OR BRAKE CONTROL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT WITH THE POLE. THE RIGHT FRONT END WAS ONLY HIT SLIGHTLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #844329

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 1999
Air Bags

AIRBAG SYSTEM TRIGGERING MECHANISM UNDER SEAT WAS REPLACED AND NO COVER WAS INSTALLED DUE TO INTERFERENCE OF SEAT. STATED TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET ANYTHING UNDER SEAT, OR AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY PREMATURELY. PROBLEM CANNOT BE REMEDIED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #836687

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 1997
Air Bags

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS AIRBAG IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, FRONT END DAMAGE ENOUGH TO WARRANT DEPLOYMENT.

NHTSA ODI #524091

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 1997
Air BagsCrashInjury

DRIVING VEHICLE AT SPEED OF 45MPH, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #807838

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

DP03006 · Seat Back Failure

Opened Sep 23, 2003 · Closed Apr 8, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats; Seats:front Assembly:recliner

ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 30 INCIDENTS WHERE IT IS ALLEGED THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED IN A REAR IMPACT CRASH.THESE INCIDENTS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO 23 INJURIES AND TWO DEATHS.THE DATA PRESENTED TO ODI SHOW THAT THE SEAT BACK STRENGTH OF THE FRONT SEATS COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207. SEATING SYSTEM.ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYLSER THE FRONT SEATS WERE DESIGNED TO COLLAPSE REARWARD IN REAR IMPACT CRASHES AS PART OF THE ENERGY ABSORPTIONCAPABILITIES OF THE SEATING SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.RATES OF OCCURANCE WERE COMPARED TO PEER VEHICLES, AND IT WAS SHOWN THAT THE PERFORMACE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS COMPARABLE TO THOSE VEHICLES.IN VIEW OF THE FORGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION REMEDY OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS DEFINED BY THE PETITIONER AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THERFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE THE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR FURTHER DETAILS, REFER TO ODI'S RESPONSE TO THE PETITION PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER VOL.69, NO. 60 , DATED MARCH 29, 2004.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seats

ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 30 INCIDENTS WHERE IT IS ALLEGED THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED IN A REAR IMPACT CRASH.THESE INCIDENTS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO 23 INJURIES AND TWO DEATHS.THE DATA PRESENTED TO ODI SHOW THAT THE SEAT BACK STRENGTH OF THE FRONT SEATS COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207. SEATING SYSTEM.ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYLSER THE FRONT SEATS WERE DESIGNED TO COLLAPSE REARWARD IN REAR IMPACT CRASHES AS PART OF THE ENERGY ABSORPTIONCAPABILITIES OF THE SEATING SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.RATES OF OCCURANCE WERE COMPARED TO PEER VEHICLES, AND IT WAS SHOWN THAT THE PERFORMACE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS COMPARABLE TO THOSE VEHICLES.IN VIEW OF THE FORGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION REMEDY OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS DEFINED BY THE PETITIONER AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THERFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE THE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR FURTHER DETAILS, REFER TO ODI'S RESPONSE TO THE PETITION PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER VOL.69, NO. 60 , DATED MARCH 29, 2004.

Seats:front Assembly:recliner

ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 30 INCIDENTS WHERE IT IS ALLEGED THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED IN A REAR IMPACT CRASH.THESE INCIDENTS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO 23 INJURIES AND TWO DEATHS.THE DATA PRESENTED TO ODI SHOW THAT THE SEAT BACK STRENGTH OF THE FRONT SEATS COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207. SEATING SYSTEM.ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYLSER THE FRONT SEATS WERE DESIGNED TO COLLAPSE REARWARD IN REAR IMPACT CRASHES AS PART OF THE ENERGY ABSORPTIONCAPABILITIES OF THE SEATING SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.RATES OF OCCURANCE WERE COMPARED TO PEER VEHICLES, AND IT WAS SHOWN THAT THE PERFORMACE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS COMPARABLE TO THOSE VEHICLES.IN VIEW OF THE FORGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION REMEDY OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS DEFINED BY THE PETITIONER AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THERFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE THE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR FURTHER DETAILS, REFER TO ODI'S RESPONSE TO THE PETITION PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER VOL.69, NO. 60 , DATED MARCH 29, 2004.

PE00048 · Loss Of Throttle Control

Opened Dec 11, 2000 · Closed Mar 7, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

ALLEGED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE CAN FRAY OR SEVER DURING NORMAL USE RESULTING IN THE THROTTLE NOT RETURNING TO IDLE OR AN INABILITY TO ACCELERATE.