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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
291Owner complaints

Model-year median: 275

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1996 Dodge RAM 2500

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 291 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 2 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 74 reports
  • Power Train: 44 reports
  • Electrical System: 26 reports
  • Tires: 24 reports
  • Suspension: 23 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    39
    1993    168
    1994    267
    1995    291
    1996    213
    1997    225
    1998    313
    1999
    Compare all RAM 2500 years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    74    Power Train
    44    Electrical System
    26    Tires
    24    Suspension
    23
    All reported categories
    Steering
    20    Exterior Lighting
    16    Fuel System, Gasoline
    16    Vehicle Speed Control
    16    Engine And Engine Cooling
    14    Structure
    13    Air Bags
    11    Equipment
    8    Visibility
    5    Trailer Hitches
    4    Fuel System, Diesel
    3    Fuel System, Other
    3    Parking Brake
    3    Seats
    3    Unknown Or Other
    3    Wheels
    3    Latches/locks/linkages
    2    Seat Belts
    2    Service Brakes, Air
    2    Fuel/propulsion System
    1    Service Brakes
    1

    Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

    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

    Unknown Or Other complaints

    3 reports
    Clear category filter
    250,000 miles · Oct 19, 2020
    Unknown Or Other

    THE PEALING (DEFECTIVE) PAINT THAT DODGE REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT HAS NOW PEALED AROUND THE WINDSHIELD FRAME. THE WINDSHIELD IS STUCK TO THE PAINT, BUT SINCE THE PAINT HAS TURNED LOOSE FROM THE WINDSHIELD FRAME IT'S JUST SORT OF SITTING THERE. I GUESS THE GOOD NEWS IS NOW UPON IMPACT THE WINDSHIELD WILL QUICKLY EXIT THE …

    Read full complaint

    THE PEALING (DEFECTIVE) PAINT THAT DODGE REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT HAS NOW PEALED AROUND THE WINDSHIELD FRAME. THE WINDSHIELD IS STUCK TO THE PAINT, BUT SINCE THE PAINT HAS TURNED LOOSE FROM THE WINDSHIELD FRAME IT'S JUST SORT OF SITTING THERE. I GUESS THE GOOD NEWS IS NOW UPON IMPACT THE WINDSHIELD WILL QUICKLY EXIT THE VEHICLE ALLOWING THE SHARP PLASTIC SHARDS FROM THE BROKEN DASH TO ALSO LEAVE THE VEHICLE RATHER THAN IMPALING THE OCCUPANT'S. THIS JUST WEEKS AFTER HAVING TO WELD A BROKEN LOWER A FRAME BRACKET BACK IN PLACE, YET ANOTHER DEFECT IN THESE TRUCKS.

    NHTSA ODI #11365274

    203,000 miles · Sep 1, 2013
    SteeringSuspensionUnknown Or Other

    I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DOING ABOUT 55MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED TO HAVE A BAD VIBRATION. IT CAUSED THE WHOLE TRUCK TO SHAKE. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER IT AND ALL AROUND IT BUT FOUND NOTHING. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT AND IT DROVE FINE. EVERY TIME IT GETS AROUND 55 IT STARTS THE SHAKING. I KEEP FINDING ONLINE THAT…

    Read full complaint

    I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DOING ABOUT 55MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED TO HAVE A BAD VIBRATION. IT CAUSED THE WHOLE TRUCK TO SHAKE. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER IT AND ALL AROUND IT BUT FOUND NOTHING. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT AND IT DROVE FINE. EVERY TIME IT GETS AROUND 55 IT STARTS THE SHAKING. I KEEP FINDING ONLINE THAT IT IS CALLED THE "DEATH WOBBLE" AND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE CASES.

    NHTSA ODI #10538294

    Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 1998
    Electrical SystemPower TrainSeat Belts

    DRIVE SHAFT/CRUISE CONTROL, AND BATTERY MALFUNCTIONED. THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WORE OUT WITHIN 20 MONTHS AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM DOES NOT ALWAYS OPERATE PROPERLY. OWNER INDICATED A "2-POINT BELT"RESTRAINT SYSTEM.HOWEVER, THE EQUIPMENT LISTING A UNIBELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM.

    NHTSA ODI #540782

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect 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.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.