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U.S. public vehicle records

1996 Dodge RAM 3500 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

76 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

115,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 76 complaints (7.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1317.1%
Transmission and shifting810.5%
Steering behavior67.9%
Electrical and battery issues33.9%
Fuel system concerns33.9%
Engine operation11.3%

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.

Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines
6
Suspension
5
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch
4
Steering
4
Structure:Frame And Members
4
Tires
4
Vehicle Speed Control
4
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines6
Suspension5
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch4
Steering4
Structure:Frame And Members4
Tires4
Vehicle Speed Control4
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash3

Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines: 6; Suspension: 5; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch: 4; Steering: 4; Structure:Frame And Members: 4; Tires: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
3
100,000 to 149,999
8
150,000 and above
6
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,9993
100,000 to 149,9998
150,000 and above6

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 6

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 53 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.

1996
2
2000
15
2001
13
2002
14
2003
7
2004
2
2005
2
2006
1
2007
3
2008
2
2010
4
2011
3
2013
2
2015
2
2017
2
2018
1
2019
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19962
200015
200113
200214
20037
20042
20052
20061
20073
20082
20104
20113
20132
20152
20172
20181
20191

1996: 2; 2000: 15; 2001: 13; 2002: 14; 2003: 7; 2004: 2; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2013: 2; 2015: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 1

Pattern summary

Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 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 10023089 · 2003-06-15 (June 15, 2003)

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023089 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10037966 · 2003-08-29 (August 29, 2003)

WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE ON AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED VEHICLE ROLLED. HOWEVER, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037966 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10051996 · 2003-12-23 (December 23, 2003)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 230,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051996 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10399485 · 2011-05-08 (May 8, 2011)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 136,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10399485 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10013812 · 2003-04-02 (April 2, 2003)

FIRE IN ENGINE AREA,,,,,FUEL PRE-HEATER CATCHES FIRE IN THE WIRING BECAUSE OF BAD SEAL ON ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS THAT ALLOW RUST TO FORM IN TRUCKS IN SNOW AND SALT COUNTRY...LUCKILY I WAS GETTING HOME AND STEPPING OUT OF THE TRUCK WHEN I SPOTTED THE FIRE,,,,IF NOT THE TRUCK WOULD HAVE BURN TO THE GROUND DURING THE NIGHT,,,OR I COULD HAVE BEEN ASLEEP AT A TRUCK STOP AS I OFTEN DO WHEN I AM ON THE ROAD TO THE RACES...ACCORDING TO FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE TURBO DIESEL REGISTER (WE SUPPLIED ALL THE INFO AND DAMAGED PARTS TO YOUR ORGANIZATION LAST YEAR…

Owner-reported narrative. 139,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013812 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11233910 · 2019-07-22 (July 22, 2019)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11233910 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10355895 · 2010-09-16 (September 16, 2010)

BRAKE FAILURE, DUE TO BRAKE LINE TO REAR WHEELS RUSTED OUT IN FRAME CLIP BEHIND FUEL TANK. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10355895 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10044578 · 2003-10-23 (October 23, 2003)

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE IT STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044578 at NHTSA ↗