Model year record
The 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 has 1 safety recall and 124 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (43 complaints).
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components | 43 | 103,753 mi |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines | 21 | 115,000 mi |
| SuspensionFront; Front › Stabilizer bar | 16 | — |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine | 12 | — |
| SteeringGear box (other than rack and pinion); Linkages | 11 | 98,090 mi |
| Vehicle speed controlCruise control; Cables | 11 | 112,000 mi |
| StructureFrame and members; Body | 11 | — |
| Electrical systemWiring › Interior/under dash; Wiring › Front underhood | 10 | 170,000 mi |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights › Switch; Headlights | 9 | 170,000 mi |
| EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner; Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc. | 6 | — |
| Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings; Delivery › Fuel pump | 6 | — |
| TiresTread/belt | 6 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
DASH 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. 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 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: 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.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
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…
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.