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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

291 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CONSUMER HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, HOWEVER WHEN CONSUMER TOUCHED THE BRAKES TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL IT DID NOT RESPOND, CONSUMER THEN WENT TO TURN THE SWITCH FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE STEERING WHEEL BUT IT STILL WOULD NOT COME OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL, CONSUMER WA…

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CONSUMER HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, HOWEVER WHEN CONSUMER TOUCHED THE BRAKES TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL IT DID NOT RESPOND, CONSUMER THEN WENT TO TURN THE SWITCH FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE STEERING WHEEL BUT IT STILL WOULD NOT COME OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS FRAYED, AND HAD BECOME HUNG UP ON THE HARD PLASTIC END OF THE CRUISE CABLE HOUSING, THE CABLE WAS REPLACED BUT IS THE SAME DESIGN OF THE FIRST ONE, CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN.*JB

NHTSA ODI #566852

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2002
Structure

CONSUMER STATES WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR SWUNG OPEN. CONSUMER STATES IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE SEATBELT SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE METAL IN DOOR HAS FATIGUE.*AK.*JG

NHTSA ODI #8013289

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY LEAKED FUEL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8013023

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

1 OFF THE MOUNTS THAT HOLDS GAS TANK BROKE. TANK FELL ABOUT 10 INCHES UNDER VEHICLE,WHICH COULD CAUSE A MAJOR FIRE IF IT HAD FALLEN TO THE GROUND.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8013021

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MAIN BRAKE LINE HAS RUSTED AND RUPTURED, OTHER LINE IS DETERIORATED. THE LINE RUPTURED AT HOME NOT ON THE ROAD. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #763660

Mileage unknown · May 8, 2002
Power Train

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 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

NHTSA ODI #761694

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2002
Power Train

TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES FAILING AT THE CONNECTOR WHEN UNDER HOT TEMPERATURES

NHTSA ODI #9006663

Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2002
Electrical SystemPower Train

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

NHTSA ODI #8008690

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2002
Tires

TIRE BLOWOUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8007771

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2002
Tires

TIRE BLOWOUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8007768

Official recalls

0

No 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

2

DP03006 · 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.