IllustrationBRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION ALSO CORROSION OF TRANSMISSION AND FUEL LINES 1996 DODGE RAM 3500 PICKUP 4WD EXT CAB. *TR
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
Power Train complaints
19 reportsCONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER TO VERIFY IF MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 722 REPAIRS WERE DONE. MANUFACTURER INSISTED THAT REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED BUT THEY HAD NO RECORDS OF IT DONE. VEHICLE WAS THEN INVOLVED IN A FIRE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT AND LINE QUICK CONNECTION MELTING . THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*…
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CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER TO VERIFY IF MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 722 REPAIRS WERE DONE. MANUFACTURER INSISTED THAT REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED BUT THEY HAD NO RECORDS OF IT DONE. VEHICLE WAS THEN INVOLVED IN A FIRE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT AND LINE QUICK CONNECTION MELTING . THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK
AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT COOLING LINE CLIPS WERE DAMAGED.*AK
THE PLASTIC TRANSMISSION LINES BECAME HOT AND LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE LEAK CAUSED INTERNAL DAMAGE AND NOW IT MUST BE REBUILT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
BRAKES PULL TO RIGHT, CALIBERS AND PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. REAR BRAKES DON'T SEEM TO WORK WELL ANTILOCK ALLOWS YOU TO ROLL TO FAR. STEERING COLUMN GOES BAD AFTER WARRANTY IS UP ( 100,000 MILES ). FUEL PUMP SHUT DOWN SOLENOID AND RELAY HAVE ALSO GONE OUT ON BOTH OF MY TRUCKS. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED ON BOTH…
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BRAKES PULL TO RIGHT, CALIBERS AND PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. REAR BRAKES DON'T SEEM TO WORK WELL ANTILOCK ALLOWS YOU TO ROLL TO FAR. STEERING COLUMN GOES BAD AFTER WARRANTY IS UP ( 100,000 MILES ). FUEL PUMP SHUT DOWN SOLENOID AND RELAY HAVE ALSO GONE OUT ON BOTH OF MY TRUCKS. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED ON BOTH TRUCKS AT THE 70000-75000 MILES . *NLM
PLASTIC TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE MELTED, AND CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND REPLACE IT WITH A METAL LINE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
BEFORE RECALL 97V084000, RECALL COMPENENT FAILED CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION LINE TO SEPARATE WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND, CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT (CONSUMER IS AN ATTORNEY). *SLC
TRANSMISSION: FOUND A LARGE PUDDLE OF WHAT I THOUGHT WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID UNDER THE TRUCK. CHECKED LEVEL AND FOUND IT APPROXIMATELY 1 TO 1 1/2 QUARTS LOW. WE USE THE TRUCK TO TOW A LARGE FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER PERIODICALLY. DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 97V08400 WHICH DEALT WITH HIGH LOAD CONDITIONS AND SUBSTANDARD CONNECTORS…
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TRANSMISSION: FOUND A LARGE PUDDLE OF WHAT I THOUGHT WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID UNDER THE TRUCK. CHECKED LEVEL AND FOUND IT APPROXIMATELY 1 TO 1 1/2 QUARTS LOW. WE USE THE TRUCK TO TOW A LARGE FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER PERIODICALLY. DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 97V08400 WHICH DEALT WITH HIGH LOAD CONDITIONS AND SUBSTANDARD CONNECTORS. CALLED CHRYSLER (800-853-1403) AND WAS INFORMED THIS RECALL WAS ONLY FOR GAS ENGINE VEHICLES. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPUTABLE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THEY CONTACTED DODGE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE REPLACEMENT SEALS ARE NO LONGER OFFERED. THEY THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER REP AND WAS TOLD THE PREFERRED METHOD OF REPAIR WAS TO REPLACE THE TUBES COMPLETELY WITH AN UPDATE KIT ($451.05). THEY REPLACED THE SEALS WHICH LEAKED, THE SPEED SENSOR WHICH LEAKED, AND AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SERVICE. THE COST OF THIS TRANSMISSION SERVICE WAS $260.28. FRONT BRAKES: AT 31487 MILES THE FRONT BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS NOT DISCOVERED BY THE NORMAL SQUEAL BARS BUT BY THE METAL OF THE PAD COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR. THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP STATED THE SQUEAL BARS HAD BEEN BENT BACK. THE REAR BRAKE SHOES STILL HAD MORE THAN 50 PERCENT LIFE LEFT. THE COST OF REPLACING THE PADS, TURNING THE ROTORS, AND GREASE SEALS WAS $189.02.
TRANSMISSION GEARS GET STUCK IN SECOND GEAR AND WILL NOT COME OUT OF SECOND. VEHICLE HAD TO BE STOPPED, TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED BACK ON IN ORDER FOR THE GEARS TO SHIFT. DEALER COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. *AK
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 5TH GEAR,CAUSE UNKNOWN, ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS REPLACED,ELECTRICAL SHORT WITH ABS AND CONSUMER ALSO STATES RADIO IS INOPERATIVE. *ADJ
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.