Problems · NHTSA complaints

1996 Dodge Ram 2500 problems

Owners filed 291 complaints about the 1996 Dodge Ram 2500 with NHTSA between Nov 1995 and Jun 2023. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (71).

Complaints
291
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
15
Reported by owners
Fires
15
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes, hydraulic71
  2. Power train43
  3. Electrical system26
  4. Tires23
  5. Suspension22
  6. Steering20
  7. Exterior lighting16
  8. Fuel system, gasoline16
  9. Vehicle speed control15
  10. Engine and engine cooling14
  11. Structure13
  12. Air bags11
  13. Equipment8
  14. Visibility4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19952
199610
199742
199840
199923
200036
200127
200227
200314
200410
200510
20067
20077
20082
20095
20103
20112
20121
20138
20145
20152
20162
20170
20180
20192
20202
20211
20220
20231

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Service brakes, hydraulic

71 reports10 crashes
“I WENT TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND THE BRAKE PETAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I REAR ENDED AN SUV. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP TO FIND THAT THREE OF THE FOUR BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT AND THE ONE THAT STAYED INTACT WAS LEAKING. I DID HEAVY DAMAGE TO THE SUV AS WELL AS PUSHED IN MY BUMPER AND DAMAGED THE HOOD. ALSO THE APPLICATION OF THE EMEREGENCY BRAKE DID NOTHING. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 11, 2006Service brakes, hydraulicCrash reportedODI 10167911

Power train

43 reports1 crash1 fire
“AFTER OPERATING VEHICLE UNDER HEAVY LOAD (SNOWPLOWING), THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE RUPTURED WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED AND THE HYDRAULIC FLUID IGNITED ON THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM. NOTE: THERE WAS A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99V115000 ) ISSUED FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR TRUCK WITH A V10 ENGINE VERSES THE V8. THE HEAT FROM THE NEARBY EXHAUST PIPE EXCEEDED THE TEMPERATURE RATING OF THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE MATERIAL CAUSING IT TO RUPTURE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 23, 2012Power trainFire reportedODI 10444959

Electrical system

26 reports8 fires
“THE STEERING COLUMN ON THIS TRUCK HAS GOTTEN VERY HOT UNDER THE IGNITION SWITCH AREA. SO HOT IN FACT THAT THE WIRES AND PLASTIC COLUMN COVER HAVE SMOKED AND MELTED THROUGH. I FEEL THERE MAY BE A FIRE SOON. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG WITH MY MODEL YEAR BUT THE MELTED HOLE IN MY STEERING COLUMN SAYS OTHERWISE I'VE READ THERE WAS A RECALL OF THIS NATURE BUT WAS TOLD IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE HELPING ME. HELP... *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 4, 2013Steering, Electrical systemFire reportedODI 10510595

Tires

23 reports
“ON A BUSY STREET, IN DAYLIGHT, IN GOOD WEATHER, TRAVELING AT SLOW SPEED....THE SPARE TIRE JUST FELL OFF INTO THE ROAD. INSPECTION BY OWNER SHOWS THE CABLE THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE BROKE. THANKFUL NOT TO BE AT HIGH SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 15, 2014TiresODI 10588595

Suspension

22 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45-55 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE FRONT END SHAKES AND VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING OVER GROOVED PAVEMENT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER URNESS MOTORS (505 CHERRY HEIGHTS ROAD, THE DALLES, OR. 97058) AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,000. *DT*JB*DT CONSUMER ASKS FOR SAFETY RECALL AND STATED HE COULD NOT DRIVE ON OPEN FREEWAY.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 10, 2020Steering, SuspensionODI 11308269

Steering

20 reports1 crash1 fire
“I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DOING ABOUT 55MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED TO HAVE A BAD VIBRATION. IT CAUSED THE WHOLE TRUCK TO SHAKE. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER IT AND ALL AROUND IT BUT FOUND NOTHING. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT AND IT DROVE FINE. EVERY TIME IT GETS AROUND 55 IT STARTS THE SHAKING. I KEEP FINDING ONLINE THAT IT IS CALLED THE "DEATH WOBBLE" AND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE CASES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 1, 2013Steering, Suspension, Unknown or otherODI 10538294
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.