1996 Dodge RAM 3500: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 17.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 10.5% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 7.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 3.9% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 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 10028583 · 2003-07-18 (July 18, 2003)
MY 1996 V10 DODGE RAM 3500 PICKUP HAD 3 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS PLUG UP IN A 4 YEAR PERIOD DUE TO REAR INJECTORS BEING PLUGGED. THERE IS NO FUEL FILTER IN LINE AND THE SCREEN IN THE INJECTORS PLUGS OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT A YEAR. AT A REPLACEMENT COST OF $600.00, THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT MOTIVATED TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028583 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 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 ↗
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 10065437 · 2004-04-01 (April 1, 2004)
AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT COOLING LINE CLIPS WERE DAMAGED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065437 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10101398 · 2004-11-19 (November 19, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10101398 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
99V024000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch
Reported: 1999-02-05 (February 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗