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U.S. public vehicle records

1996 Dodge RAM 2500: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior3318.1%
Transmission and shifting1910.4%
Steering behavior1910.4%
Electrical and battery issues179.3%
Fuel system concerns126.6%
Engine operation52.7%

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.

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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train:Automatic Transmission13
Tires10
Exterior Lighting9
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip9
Tires:Tread/Belt9
Electrical System7
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines7
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch6

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,99910
75,000 to 99,9999
100,000 to 149,99917
150,000 and above35

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19952
19966
200036
200127
200227
200314
200410
200510
20067
20077
20082
20095
20103
20112
20121
20138
20145
20152
20162
20192
20202
20211
20231

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10002182 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE THROTTLE WOULD STICK IN THE IDLE POSITION CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002182 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 10009712 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)

THE AXLE SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009712 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 10010719 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)

DODGE EX CAB 2500 4X4 SHAKES VIOLENTLY ON THE HIGHWAY, JUST ALIGNED BY THE DEALER I WAS TOLD IT WAS A NORMAL DODGE PROBLEM AND HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FACTORY FRONT END PARTS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010719 at NHTSA ↗

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 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 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 ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.