IllustrationWHILE PULLING A TRAILER UP HILL, TRANSMISSION CONNECTOR MELTED, VEHICLE LOST ALL FLUIDS; SOME OF THE FLUIDS SPRAYED ON MUFFLER AND STARTED SMOKING. *AK *SCC
1996 Dodge RAM 2500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Dodge RAM 2500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 275.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 2500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
00–25K
225–50K
1050–75K
975–100K
17100–150K
35150K+
73 reports with mileage · 218 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports15 fire reports8 injury reports
Power Train complaints
44 reportsI BELIEVE THIS IS COVERED IN YOUR RECALL 97V084000 - TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE TO TRANSMISSION SPLIT AND OR FITTING FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF ALL TRANSMISSION FLUID. FACOTRY DEALER VAGUELY REFERENCED RECALL AND I LOCATED IT ON YOUR WEB SITE. I CONTACTED DAIMLER/CHRIYSLER RECALL CENTER AT 800-853-1403 AND THEY TOOK COMPLAINT REFERE…
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I BELIEVE THIS IS COVERED IN YOUR RECALL 97V084000 - TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE TO TRANSMISSION SPLIT AND OR FITTING FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF ALL TRANSMISSION FLUID. FACOTRY DEALER VAGUELY REFERENCED RECALL AND I LOCATED IT ON YOUR WEB SITE. I CONTACTED DAIMLER/CHRIYSLER RECALL CENTER AT 800-853-1403 AND THEY TOOK COMPLAINT REFERENCE # 9992910 AND THEN TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO SUCH RECALL ON ITEM AND YOUR 97V084000 WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. LOCAL DEALER INDICATES THIS RECALL DOES NOT SHOW ON THEIR DATABASE. SOME INDICATION THAT IT WAS OVER TWO YEARS OLD. MY INSURANCE HAD $340 TOW BILL AND I WAS OUT $278.43 IN REPAIRS. I NOTICED EXTREME AMOUNT OF SMOKE FROM UNDER VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE DAMAGING TRANSMISSION OTHER THAN RUNNING OUT OF FLUID. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL AND WHAT IS GOING ON HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.*AK
TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES FAILING AT THE CONNECTOR WHEN UNDER HOT TEMPERATURES
HEAT IS ON THE MODULE AND WILL CATCH ON FIRE.*AK THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS REBUILT. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE MONEY HE PAID TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. *YD
THIRD GEAR LIP SEAL FAILED IN TRANSMISSION. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING UP SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN 25 TO 30 MPH AND PULLING A TRAILER, NYLON BUSHING RUNNING FROM TRANSMISSION TO OIL COOLER MELTED, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. DEALERSHIP MADE REPAIRS TO VEHICLE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY ANY RECALL. *AK THE CONSUMER STA…
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WHILE TRAVELING UP SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN 25 TO 30 MPH AND PULLING A TRAILER, NYLON BUSHING RUNNING FROM TRANSMISSION TO OIL COOLER MELTED, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. DEALERSHIP MADE REPAIRS TO VEHICLE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY ANY RECALL. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER SAID EXHAUST SYSTEM CAUSED EXTRA HEAT, BUT THE MAIN HEAT SOURCE COMES FROM THE INSIDE AND NOT FROM THE OUTSIDE BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION FRICTION. *YH
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE FIFTH GEAR IN MY TRANSMISSION FELL OFF THE SHAFT. DODGE HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN, SEPT.25,1998, BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. I WONDER IF THAT SOMEHOW THIS MIGHT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER IS 21-10-98 REV. A. *AK
DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE IN 5TH GEAR WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING LOST 5TH GEAR.*AK
AUXILLIARY TRANSMISSION COOLING SYSTEM HOSES THAT RUN TO THE FRONT OF THE RADIATOR ARE TOO SHORT TO REACH BED OF AUXILLIARY RADIATOR, THIS CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK AND LOSE POWER AND MOMENTUM, CONSUMER STATES ALL DIESEL TRUCKS WITH AUXILLIARY TRANSMISSION COOLER'S HAVE THIS DEFECT. *SLC
WHILE VEHICLE IS IN PARK, COULD MOVE THE PAWL FROM PARK TO DRIVE, BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE, AND PROVIDING NO POWER.*AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2DP03006 · Seat Back Failure
Opened Sep 23, 2003 · Closed Apr 8, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats; Seats:front Assembly:recliner
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 INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THERFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE THE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR FURTHER DETAILS, REFER TO ODI'S RESPONSE TO THE PETITION PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER VOL.69, NO. 60 , DATED MARCH 29, 2004.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Seats
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 INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THERFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE THE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR FURTHER DETAILS, REFER TO ODI'S RESPONSE TO THE PETITION PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER VOL.69, NO. 60 , DATED MARCH 29, 2004.
Seats:front Assembly:recliner
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 INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THERFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE THE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR FURTHER DETAILS, REFER TO ODI'S RESPONSE TO THE PETITION PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER VOL.69, NO. 60 , DATED MARCH 29, 2004.
PE00048 · Loss Of Throttle Control
Opened Dec 11, 2000 · Closed Mar 7, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
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.