IllustrationDASH 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
1996 Dodge RAM 3500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Dodge RAM 3500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 124.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 3500 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
Limited mileage data: 23 of 124 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports10 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
124 reports1996 DODGE RAM 3500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE TIRE TREAD SHREDS OFF CASING AND CAUSES SEVERE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNDERCARRIAGE. *SMD *TR
"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 D…
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"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.
HEAT CAUSED THE DASH TO DRY OUT AND CRACK INTO LARGE JAGGED PIECES, THAT COULD HAVE FATAL CONSEQUENCES IF IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT.
DEATH WOBBLE. VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE TRUCK. SIMPLY GOOGLE "DEATH WOBBLE" AND DODGE TRUCK. HOPE YOU DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET KILLED.
DASH FALLING APART DODGE DOES NOT HAVE REPLACEMENT/CANNOT FIND REPLACMENT. *TR
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
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: 99V…
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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.
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. APP…
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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.
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 R…
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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
Official recalls
199V024000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Feb 5, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MODEL 3500 LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS ONLY. OPERATION OF THE HEADLAMPS OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME CAN RESULT IN HEADLAMP SWITCH FAILURE, CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS OR PARK LAMPS TO GO OUT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE LIGHTS FAIL, A VISIBILITY PROBLEM COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP SWITCH INCLUDING A RELAY IN THE PARK LAMP WIRING CIRCUIT.
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.