Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Dodge Ram, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic170
- Power train135
- Engine and engine cooling57
- Suspension49
- Electrical system47
- Steering43
- Air bags38
- Fuel system, gasoline32
- Vehicle speed control30
- Tires29
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 49 injuries and 2 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 70 1996 Ram vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 47 people died inside them, and 24 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1996 Dodge Ram failed the safety check 1.34% of the time — 8% less often than the average 1996 passenger car (1.47%). Median odometer at inspection: 168,235 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
5 1996 cars are on the New Zealand register; 80% arrived as used imports, 20% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
11 Transport Canada recalls for the 1996 Dodge Ram.
| 2001055 8 Mar 2001 | Structure On certain pickup trucks located in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime provinces, corrosion of the hood secondary latch return spring may cause the hood secondary… |
| 2001052 8 Mar 2001 | Engine On certain diesel pickup trucks, the throttle cable can unravel (fray) or break, which could result in loss of throttle control and loss of power. Correction:… |
| 2000144 30 Jun 2000 | Electrical Certain pickup trucks were built with an ignition switch and wiring that may overheat under certain operating conditions. High electrical current loads pass th… |
| 1999132 28 Jun 1999 | Structure On certain 4 x 4 pickups equipped with an 8.0 litre V10 engine, Under certain heavy duty applications, such as driving up a steep grade in four wheel drive with… |
| 1999027 23 Feb 1999 | Electrical On certain Ram 3500 vehicles, the headlamp switches used in this truck series operate under a high current load which results in switch internal temperatures ab… |
| 1998123 17 Jun 1998 | Emissions Certain vehicles may not comply with CMVSS 1105 - evaporative emissions. The evaporative canister may allow migration of its contents (charcoal) through the pur… |
| 1998038 4 Mar 1998 | Emissions Certain Ram 3500 vehicles do not comply with CMVSS 1101 - emission device. The Vehicle emission warranty statement in the engine warranty manuals does not incl… |
| 1997206 20 Nov 1997 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, the fuel tank mounted rollover valve may allow liquid fuel to leak onto the ground under certain conditions. In the presence of an ignition… |
| 1997095 7 May 1997 | Brakes On certain vehicles, the engine driven vacuum pump may introduce engine oil into the vacuum hoses due to the absence of an internal check valve. The oil may cau… |
| 1997096 7 May 1997 | Powertrain On certain vehicles, the transmission fluid temperature could exceed the melting point of the connector which retains the fluid line to the transmission. Should… |
| 1996074 14 May 1996 | Emissions Certain vehicles do not comply with CMVSS 1103 - exhaust emissions. The Emission Maintenance Reminder (EMR) light in the climate control module is either non-f… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL ENGINES. THE THROTTLE CABLE COULD UNRAVEL (FRAY) OR BREAK RESULTING IN LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING "SALT BELT" STATES: MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, CONNECTICUT, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE, MARYLAND, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WEST VIRGINIA, OHIO, INDIANA, MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, IOWA, AND MISSOURI. CORROSION OF THE RETURN SPRING ON THE HOOD SECONDARY LATCH COULD CAUSE THE MECHANISM TO BIND IN THE "RELEASE POSITION."
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN IGNITION SWITCH AND WIRING THAT COULD OVERHEAT. HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT LOADS PASS THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE BLOWER MOTOR IS OPERATED ON HIGH FOR AN EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION, V10 ENGINES AND FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE TRANSFER CASES. UNDER SUSTAINED MAXIMUM RATED VEHICLE LOAD, WHILE DRIVING UP A STEEP GRADE IN FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE LOW RANGE IN HOT AMBIENT CONDITIONS, THE LOCAL EXHAUST TEMPERATURE PROXIMATE TO THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE CAN GENERATE LINE TEMPERATURES THAT EXCEED THE TEMPERATURE LIMIT OF THE CLUTCH LINE MATERIAL. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS AND THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED, THE LINE COULD RUPTURE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VAN AND WAGON MODEL PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF WATER/ROAD SALT GETS ON THE INTERIOR FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (AECM), THE AECM CAN CORRODE. THE RESULTING CORROSION CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH GASOLINE ENGINES. THE FUEL TANK MOUNTED ROLLOVER VALVE CAN ALLOW LIQUID FUEL TO LEAK ONTO THE GROUND UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITIONS.
UNDER CERTAIN HIGH LOAD OPERATING CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TEMPERATURE CAN EXCEED THE MELTING POINT OF THE MATERIAL USED IN THE CONNECTOR TO RETAIN THE FLUID LINE TO THE TRANSMISSION.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL ENGINES. THE ENGINE DRIVEN VACUUM PUMP CAN ALLOW ENGINE OIL INTO THE VACUUM HOSES DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF AN INTERNAL CHECK VALVE. THE OIL CAN CAUSE THE HOSE TO DETERIORATE AND PARTIALLY COLLAPSE, REDUCING THE VACUUM SUPPLY TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAVE TIRE/WHEEL SPECIFICATION INFORMATION ON THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL WHICH INDICATES A SMALLER SIZE TIRE THAN REQUIRED. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH LABEL REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
THE FASTENERS WHICH SECURE THE GENERATOR CARTRIDGE FUSE TO THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER CLAMP LOAD. IMPROPER CLAMPING CAN RESULT IN ARCING AT THE CONNECTION.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Dodge told its dealers about the 1996 Dodge Ram: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634272 | FLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *SLC |
| 628237 | CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION, GREY OIL SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST OR BREATHER TUBE, OR MECHANICAL KNOCKING. *TT |
| 621898 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ |
| 620066 | SUBJECT REGARDING GENERIC SCAN TOOL (GST), PUBLICATION NO. 81-170-00008 PROVIDED WITH THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO PROVIDE REFERENCE INFORMATION WHEN USING GENERIC SCAN TOOL ON OBDII VEHICLES. *TT |
| 618392 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY EXPERIENCE A SITUATION IN WHICH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SITS TOO HIGH TO ATTACH THEIR FIFTH WHEEL OR GOOSE NECK TRAILER TO THE TRAILER HITCH TURNABLE. *JB |
| 618049 | SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB |
| 615688 | SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT |
| 612607 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO AIR FILTER SERVICE. *TT |
| 612606 | CONCERNS WITH A BUZZ NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DOOR SPEAKER(S). *TT |
| 612160 | SUBJECT ON THE CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *MJS |
| 610616 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A SQUEAKING / CLICKING NOISE FROM REAR LEAF SPRINGS. *TT |
| 610005 | EXPERIENCING SPARK KNOCK AND ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD PAN GASKET OIL LEAK. *TT |
| 609995 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT |
| 609987 | INFORMATION REGARDING A REVISED POWER BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE. *TT |
| 6089735 | THIS BULLETIN MENTIONS THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING GREASE IS EVIDENT ON THE BEARING SEAL AREA. *TT |
| 6089142 | CONCERNS WITH VEHICLE BUCKING. *NLM |
| 6089139 | CONDITIONS ON FUEL DOO AND/OR FUEL DISCHARGING FROM THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS CANISTER. *NLM |
| 6089112 | THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES OIL CANNING NOISE COMING FROM BOX AREA. *NLM |
| 6089062 | CONCERN WITH WATER LEAKING THROUGH REAR WINDOW. *NLM |
| 6089058 | EXHIBITING WINDNOISE (WHISTLE) AROUND GRILLE AREA. *NLM |
| 6089056 | THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER BLADE CONTRACTS A -PILLAR. *NLM |
| 6089034 | CONCERNS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION GEAR RATTLE AT OPERATING TEMPERATURES. *NLM |
| 6089032 | THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES TRANSFER CASE SHIFTER BUZZ OR RATTLE. *NLM |
| 6089030 | THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES REVERSE BUZZ (46RE) *NLM |
| 6088991 | THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES OVERDRIVE UNAVAILABLE IN EXTREME COLD TEMPERATURES, BYPASS KIT INSTALLATION, INHIBITOR PROGRAMMING. *NLM |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SEAT BACK FAILURE
HOOD LATCH
STEERING COLUMN FIRE
STEERING COLUMN FIRES
IGNITION SWITCH
TRANSMISSION QUICK CONNECTORS
CLUTCH HYDRAULIC LINE
CLUTCH HYDRAULIC LINE FAILURE
TRANSMISSION FLUID FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation