IllustrationDEATH WOBBLE. VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE TRUCK. SIMPLY GOOGLE "DEATH WOBBLE" AND DODGE TRUCK. HOPE YOU DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET KILLED.
1996 Dodge RAM 3500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Dodge RAM 3500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 124.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 3500 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
Limited mileage data: 23 of 124 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports10 fire reports3 injury reports
Suspension complaints
16 reportsSTEERING WOBBLES/SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN DRIVING. OFTEN INITIATED BY A MINOR IRREGULARITY IN ROAD PAVEMENT. REQUIRES COMING TO A FULL STOP TO ELIMINATE THE WOBBLE. RECURS OFTEN. DIFFICULT TO EXCEED 30MPH IN ORDER TO AVOID SHAKING. NO NOTICEABLY BAD OR BROKEN SUSPENSION PARTS. *TR
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REAR WHEEL AXEL IS `NOT IN LINE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE. PLEASE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
WHILE DRIVING THERES A SQUEEKING NOISE, AND IF YOU HIT A POT HOLE SQUEEKING INCREASES. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY HAVE REPLACED SHARKS THREE TIMES. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THE VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. DEALER REFUSING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
WHILE DRIVING 40-70 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED FRONT END OF VEHICLE SHAKING. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE FRONT END STARTED TO VIBRATE SO BAD CONSUMER HAD TO ALMOST STOP VEHICLE FOR IT TO STOP. NLM. CONSUMER REPLACED SWAY BAR, SOLID AXLE LINK, COIL AND FRONT SUSPENSION DUE TO VIBRATION. *YH
INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN VEHICLE RUNS OVER A BUMPS OR POTHOLE IT CAUSES A SEVERE VIBRATION. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK
I AM REPORTING A DEFECT ON A ORIGINAL FRAME WELD. THE STABILIZER BAR THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE FRAME THAT KEEPS YOUR VEHICLE FROM SHAKING HAS SEPARATED. I HAVE HAD 3 WELDERS LOOK AT THIS VEHICLE TO REPAIR IT AND THEY ALL SAY THEY WONT FOR THEY DONT WANT TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR IT, BE CAUSE IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN GOING AT A HIGHE…
Read full complaint
I AM REPORTING A DEFECT ON A ORIGINAL FRAME WELD. THE STABILIZER BAR THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE FRAME THAT KEEPS YOUR VEHICLE FROM SHAKING HAS SEPARATED. I HAVE HAD 3 WELDERS LOOK AT THIS VEHICLE TO REPAIR IT AND THEY ALL SAY THEY WONT FOR THEY DONT WANT TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR IT, BE CAUSE IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN GOING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE INJURED. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY STATED TO ME THAT I SHOULD CONSIDER THE MILEAGE, WELL I HAVE NOT HAD ONE PROBLEM WITH MY ENGINE AND WITHOUT A FRAME A ENGINE IS REALLY NO GOOD. THEY ALSO STATED TO ME THAT MINE WAS THE FIRST ONE THEY EVER HEARD OF, WHICH I DONT HARDLY BELEIVE THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOU RTIME IN ADVANCE. *AK
VEHICLE NEEDS A TOWER BRACKET. ALSO, BRAKES ARE BAD, THEY HAVE TO BEE REPLACED EVERY 15 THOUSAND MILES. *AK THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER WHEN BRAKING WHILE BACKING DOWN HILL. *YH
WHILE TRAVELING WHEN ROAD WAS WARM AND OVER A BUMP TIRE WOULD LEAVE SKID MARKS ON ROAD. VEHICLE WOULD TRAVEL FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. *AK AT 65 MPH, THE FRONT TIRES MAKES DEEP SKID MARKS ON THE ROAD UNTIL THE VEHICLE STOPS. THE SQUARE SHAFT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND STEERING BOX MAKES NOISE WHILE DRIVING. *YH
Official recalls
199V024000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Feb 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 & remedy
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.
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.