IllustrationAFTER RECALL REPAIR 97V-068 OF THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WIRING BOTH BATTERIES WENT DEAD, THE BATTERY ISOLATOR WIRING IS DIRECTLY LINKED INTO BLOWER MOTORS WHICH WAS THE WRONG SOURCE FOR POWER CAUSING ELECTRICAL DRAW TO THE BATTERY ISOLATOR AND BATTERIES, DEALER FOUND NEW POWER SOURCE FOR BATTERIES. NLM
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
What owners actually said
124 reportsWATER LEAKS THROUGH SEAMS IN TRUCK.HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP 6 TIMES. WATER STILL LEAKS IN TRUCK TO THE POINT OF POURING OUT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WHEN OPENED. *AK
TRUCK BURNED APROX. 45 MINUTES AFTER SHUTTING DOWN IN MY DRIVEWAY.
WHILE HAVING TIRES SERVICED TECHNICIAN NOTICED TREAD SEPARATION.TIRES WERE NOT PART OF RECALL. *AK FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION ON OUTER AND INNER EDGES. BACK TIRES STARTING TO DO THE SAME. TIRE SIZE LT215/85R16 AND DOT # VDOP66BZ98. *YH *SLC
RIGHT REAR OUTER TIRE OF DODGE DUALLY SEPERATED AND EXPLODED AT 45 MPH CAUSING $2500 IN DAMAGE. SECOND TIRE, LEFT REAR OUTER, PARTIALLY SEPERATED AT 65 MPH CAUSING $500 IN DAMAGE. REMAINING TIRES REMOVED AND THE THIRD TIRE WAS FOUND TO BE SEPERATING BADLY ALSO. I HAVE TWO OF THE THREE FAILED TIRES, PLUS THE FOURTH. MANUFACTURER …
Read full complaint
RIGHT REAR OUTER TIRE OF DODGE DUALLY SEPERATED AND EXPLODED AT 45 MPH CAUSING $2500 IN DAMAGE. SECOND TIRE, LEFT REAR OUTER, PARTIALLY SEPERATED AT 65 MPH CAUSING $500 IN DAMAGE. REMAINING TIRES REMOVED AND THE THIRD TIRE WAS FOUND TO BE SEPERATING BADLY ALSO. I HAVE TWO OF THE THREE FAILED TIRES, PLUS THE FOURTH. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BY E-MAIL, BUT NO RESPONSE.
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
BEFORE RECALL 97V084000, RECALL COMPENENT FAILED CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION LINE TO SEPARATE WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND, CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT (CONSUMER IS AN ATTORNEY). *SLC
TRAILER HITCH HAD CRACKED AROUND MID 97'S. IT HAS NOT BROKE AWAY AFTER TOWING. WAS JACKED UP & DEALERSHIP WELDED HITCH BACK ON. *AK
GASOLINE GAUGE NEEDLE DOESN'T REGISTER CORRECTLY THE AMOUT OF GASOLINE INSIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK
HOOD BECAME UNLATCHED AND OPENED WHILE DRIVING DAMAGING THE HOOD. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
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.