IllustrationON 9/20/2007 I TOOK MY 96 DODGE PICKUP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE ATTENDANT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT GAS TANK STRAP (1 OF 2) WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKEN. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION THE BACK STRAP WAS FOUND TO BE CORRODED ALSO. *JB
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 2500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
00–25K
225–50K
1050–75K
975–100K
17100–150K
35150K+
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
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
16 reportsDT: THE CONTACT SMELLED A GASOLINE ODOR AND WAS UNAWARE OF WHERE THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM. THIS CONTINUED FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT GASOLINE WAS DRIPPING FROM THE GAS TANK ONTO THE PAVEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE SHOP. THE MECHANIC CO…
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DT: THE CONTACT SMELLED A GASOLINE ODOR AND WAS UNAWARE OF WHERE THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM. THIS CONTINUED FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT GASOLINE WAS DRIPPING FROM THE GAS TANK ONTO THE PAVEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE SHOP. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED A CRACK IN THE GAS TANK. THE CRACK WAS ACTUALLY ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK AT THE FASTENERS AND MOUNTS THAT ATTACHED TO THE TANK TO THE TRUCK. THE MECHANIC HAD NO IDEA WHY THIS FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MECHANIC CONTACTED CHRYSLER IN ORDER TO FIND A REPLACEMENT, AND THEY STATED THEY DID NOT HAVE THE TANKS AVAILABLE FOR THAT MODEL YEAR. THE MECHANIC ALSO SEARCHED FOR AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENTS AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. AT THIS POINT THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS DUE TO THE LACK OF PARTS. THE CONSUMER WAS WAITING IN LIMBO FOR A REPLACEMENT TANK THAT COULD NOT BE FOUND AT THIS TIME. *AK
FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY LEAKED FUEL. *AK
1 OFF THE MOUNTS THAT HOLDS GAS TANK BROKE. TANK FELL ABOUT 10 INCHES UNDER VEHICLE,WHICH COULD CAUSE A MAJOR FIRE IF IT HAD FALLEN TO THE GROUND.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED LIMIT FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING, CAUSING A COLLISION.*AK
A FUEL HOSE APPROXIMATELY 20" LONG WITH A DIAMETER OF 5/16" HAS SPLIT AND IS LEAKING DIESEL FUEL IN EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS. HOSE INSTALLED IN VEHICLE WAS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH HANDLING DIESEL FUEL AND IT CORRODED. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK
TALKED W/ SEVERAL OTHER RAM OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. DEALER ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE MALFUNCTION WITH THE DIESEL . I FEEL THAT BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE WHEN FUELING THIS IS A SAFETY AS WELL AS AN ENVIRMENTAL HAZARD.
A NON-METALLIC HOSE RUBBING AGAINST ENGINE CAUSES FUEL LEAKAGE. THIS COULD LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FIRE UNDER HOSE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
THE INJECTION PUMP FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO IDLE WIDE OPEN, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TURN MOTOR OFF WITH THE KEY AND HAD TO STALL THE MOTOR OUT. NLM
FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *AK
Official recalls
0No 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
2DP03006 · 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.