IllustrationWHEN A/C OR HEATER IS ON THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL OVERHEAT AND STEERING COLUMN START SMOKING, CONSUMER HAD TO BUY ANOTHER SWITCH, AND DEALER PUT IT ON. ORIGINAL SWITCH COULD NOT TAKE ALL THE POWER COMING FROM ALL THE CIRCUITRY. *AK
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
What owners actually said
291 reportsWHEN DRIVING THEIR IS A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHICH CAUSES OVERSTEERING SOMITIMES, AND CONSTANT WEAR ON THE STEERING JOINTS OR THE TRACKING BAR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
BETWEEN JAN.1998 THROUGH OCT. 1999 VEHICLE HAS BEEN THROUGH EIGHT SETS OF BRAKES, FRONT ROTORS TURNED THREE TIMES, REAR DRUMS TURNED ONCE, EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE BRAKE COMPONENTS. *MJS
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. AFTER THAT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HAD TO DRIVE WITH EMERGENCY FLASHERS TO GET HOME. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMP SWITCH. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THROTTLE CABLE WORE OUT THROUGH ITS COVERING, AND WIRE BECAME UNRAVLED, CAUSING IT TO BE STUCK IN OPEN POSITION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE EXPERIENCING BRAKE FAILURE ON FIVE OCCASIONS WHEN SHIFTING IN REVERSE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER VACUUM SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND WAS UNABLE TO REPLACE IT DUE TO NATIONAL BACK ORDERS. *AK
BRAKES WEAR EXCESSIVELY AFTER BEING APPLIED. BRAKES WERE CHANGED. 6,000 MILES LATER, NEEDED REPLACING AFTER MAKING SQUEAKING NOISE. INFORMED BY MECHANIC REAR CYLINDERS TOO SMALL FOR BRAKES ON TRUCK. GIVEN PRINTOUT FROM NAPA, INDICATING DEFECTIVE CYLINDERS. NOT ENOUGH PRESSURE FOR REAR BRAKES FROM CYLINDERS. CONTACTED MANUFACTUR…
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BRAKES WEAR EXCESSIVELY AFTER BEING APPLIED. BRAKES WERE CHANGED. 6,000 MILES LATER, NEEDED REPLACING AFTER MAKING SQUEAKING NOISE. INFORMED BY MECHANIC REAR CYLINDERS TOO SMALL FOR BRAKES ON TRUCK. GIVEN PRINTOUT FROM NAPA, INDICATING DEFECTIVE CYLINDERS. NOT ENOUGH PRESSURE FOR REAR BRAKES FROM CYLINDERS. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER & INFORMED CONSUMER OF A TSB REGARDING FRONT PADS AND SHOES & CYLINDERS. *AK
THROTTLE CABLE WAS FRAYED TO THE POINT THAT ONLY ONE STRAND WAS REMAINING. NLM
I WAS PARKED NEXT TO A CURB IN A LOT AT WORK CARE WAS BEHIND ME. HAD TO GO OVER CURB AT 1-2MPH HEARD BANG TIRE BLEW OUT. DROVE ACROSS STREET, PULLED INTO LOT, GOT OUT, GAS TANK DRAGGING GROUND AND SLOSHED GAS ALL OVER ROAD. DRIVESHAFT HAD BEEN TURNING AGAINST METAL PLATE ON SIDE OF TANK-STRAPS BROKE-HAD NO WARNING OF ANYTHING …
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I WAS PARKED NEXT TO A CURB IN A LOT AT WORK CARE WAS BEHIND ME. HAD TO GO OVER CURB AT 1-2MPH HEARD BANG TIRE BLEW OUT. DROVE ACROSS STREET, PULLED INTO LOT, GOT OUT, GAS TANK DRAGGING GROUND AND SLOSHED GAS ALL OVER ROAD. DRIVESHAFT HAD BEEN TURNING AGAINST METAL PLATE ON SIDE OF TANK-STRAPS BROKE-HAD NO WARNING OF ANYTHING WRONG-HAD TO HAVE TRUCK TOWED-SLOSHED GAS ALL OVER TRAILER-DRIVERS' PARTING WORDS "PRAY FOR ME". I CALLED DODGE TOLD THEM I WASN'T PAYING FOR A SAFETY DEFECT, AND THAT I WASN'T HAPPY. THEY CALLED DEALER DEALER TOOK CARE OF IT NO CHARGE. VERY UPSETTING HAVING GAS TANK FALL OFF OF WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A HEAVY DUTY TRUCK. APPEARS ONLY ONE STRAP HOLDING TANK UP -NO SECONDARY SUPPORTS. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE THIS TYPE OF THING HAPPENED TO THEM? I CAN'T IMAGINE BEING IN A WRECK IF IT IS THAT FRAGILE. *AK
TRANSMISSION FLUID IS LEAKING OUT. *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.