1996 Dodge RAM 2500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
182 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
145,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 73 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 182 complaints (7.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 33 | 18.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 19 | 10.4% |
| Steering behavior | 19 | 10.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 17 | 9.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 6.6% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 2.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 13 |
| Tires | 10 |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 9 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 9 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch | 6 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 13; Tires: 10; Exterior Lighting: 9; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 9; Tires:Tread/Belt: 9; Electrical System: 7; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines: 7; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 35 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 35
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (35). 109 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 2 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 2000 | 36 |
| 2001 | 27 |
| 2002 | 27 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
1995: 2; 1996: 6; 2000: 36; 2001: 27; 2002: 27; 2003: 14; 2004: 10; 2005: 10; 2006: 7; 2007: 7; 2008: 2; 2009: 5; 2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 8; 2014: 5; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 19 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10014938 · 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A FAILED DISC BRAKE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE DISC BRAKE , HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014938 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040030 · 2003-10-22 (October 22, 2003)
THE VACUUM SYSTEM WAS REPLACED TWICE DUE TO OIL CONTAMINATION. CONSUMER WAS TOLD ABOUT A RECALL ON THE CHECK VALVE. PER MANUFACTURER. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED. HOWEVER THE CHECK VALVE WAS MISSING ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK RECALL# 97V068000. THIS CAUSED THE HEATER/A/C CONTROLS TO FAIL AND THE VACUUM HOSE LEADING TO THE MASTER CYLINDER BOOSTER SYSTEM. (FULL OF OIL AND NOT FUNCTIONING) THE HOSE WHICH LEAD TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS SOFT. THE CONSUMER HAD WORK DONE TO THE BRAKE WIRING SYSTEM BUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BRAKE LIGHT HAD COME…
Owner-reported narrative. 92,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040030 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002546 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)
THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR A TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE FAILURE 97 V 084. THE DEALERSHIP NOR CHRYSLER WILL HONOR THE RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. *JG
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002546 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021894 · 2003-05-30 (May 30, 2003)
VEHICLE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL#97V084000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033120 · 2003-08-19 (August 19, 2003)
MY 1996 DODGE RAM 2500 CAME NEW WITH 5 GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S 245/75 R16 TIRES. I REPLACED 4 TIRES AT 78,000 MILES WITH 3 NEW RT/S TIRES AND ROTATED IN THE ORIGINAL SPARE. I KEPT THE BEST 2 TIRES FOR SPARES.*AK I USED AN OLD SPARE FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND NOTICED SOME VIBRATION. THE GOODYEAR DEALER INDICATED THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING. WHILE ON THE TURNPIKE, THE TREAD ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED CATASTROPHICALLY AT 75 MPH AND DAMAGED THE QUARTER PANEL, WHEEL WELL, LOWER PASSENGER DOORFRAME, STEERING MECHANISM (TRACK BAR), FRONT BUMPER COW…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033120 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033184 · 2003-08-20 (August 20, 2003)
THE STEERING PITMAN WORN OUT AT 74,103 MILES. THE PART WAS FULLY FILLED WITH GEASE. THE SYMPTOMS WERE VEHICLE STEERING WAS WONDERING (L)& (R) BY ITS SELF. THIS COMPONENT SHOULD LAST AT LEASE 200,000 MILES IF PROPERTY MAINTAINED WITH GEASE. THE MANUFACTURER IS TRW PART #MA-12-1 EY3 . DODGE 981/2 YR. MODEL #25000 24V DIESEL L-6 DIESEL ENGINE CUMMINS VIN#[XXX] VEHICLE MILEAGE IS (74,103). THE PART REPLACEMENT COST IS $60.00. INSTALLED BY OWNER. THE PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018958 · 2003-05-20 (May 20, 2003)
DODGE 1996 2500 CUMMINS DIESEL - VIN - [XXX]. STARTED TRUCK, STARTER REMAINED ENGAGED, TURNED KEY OFF, STARTER REMAINED ON AND ENGINE RUNNING, SMOKE ROSE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ONLY WAY ENGINE COULD BE STOPPED WAS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERIES. BY THE TIME BATTERIES WERE DISCONNECTED, THE STARTER, FUEL SHUTDOWN SOLENOID, SOME WIRING WERE BURNT UP, HAD TO BE REPLACED. LUCKILY ELECTRICAL FIRE WENT OUT BEFORE IGNITING DIESEL FUEL. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 70,043 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018958 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028753 · 2003-07-21 (July 21, 2003)
GAS GAUGE INSIDE ON THE DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL ENGINES CORODES AND FALLS OFF AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. OUR TRUCK IS A 1996 AND THE GAUGE BROKE IN 1997. THE PRICE IS TOO MUCH TO FIX IT AND IF FIXED, WAS SAID THAT IT WOULD JUST BREAK AGAIN. IT IS VERY HARD TO DRIVE WITHOUT KNOWING HOW FULL OR EMPTY YOUR GAS TANK IS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028753 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078878 · 2004-06-27 (June 27, 2004)
WHILE OPERATING MY 1996 DODGE RAM 2500 EXT CAB 4X4 DIESEL, I SUDDENLY LOST THE NORMAL BRAKING, ON THE VEHICLE I SWERVED TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, JUST BARELY MISSING ANOTHER IN SLOWING/STOPPING(ONLY HAD FRONT BRAKES). THE REAR STEEL BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH, LOCATED INSIDE REAR FRAME RAIL DRIVERS SIDE, NEXT TO FUEL TANK,WHERE THE BRACKET HOLDS THE LINE NEXT TO THE FRAME. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 8 YEARS OLD, AND EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED(MAINTENANCE RECORDS AVAILABLE) I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE OTHER COATED (ZINK) LINES AR…
Owner-reported narrative. 134,604 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078878 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010351 · 2003-03-12 (March 12, 2003)
OCCASIONALLY, EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY IN STARTING THE ENGINE, STALLS IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING AND DURING LONG DISTANCE DRIVING, EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT FIRING, LIKE TREMBLING.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 550863 · 2000-02-10 (February 10, 2000)
TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND VEHICLE STALLED ON THE ROAD. YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 550863 at NHTSA ↗