Most common 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 problems
Share of the 124 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Ram 3500 complaints by model year
Best Ram 3500 years: 2002, 2000, 1999. Years to avoid: 2012, 2011, 2006, 2007, 2008. Compare all years →
1996 Dodge Ram 3500 recalls (1)
Exterior lighting › Headlights › Switch
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the headlamp switch including a relay in the park lamp wiring circuit.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1996 Dodge Ram 3500:
Loss of throttle control
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.
Seat back failure
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.
What 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 owners say
Brakes all 38 →
Tl contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram 3500. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle slowed down after several attempts. The brake warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was driven onto the side of the road and towed to the contact's residence. The failure was related to rust in the brake line system. The failure occurred on two separate occasions. The vehicle has not been repaired; however,the contact will perform the repair himself. The failure mileage was 103,753 and current mileage was 104,000.
I purchased this truck in 2003 and the dash was cracked. It shakes and rattles whenever I hit any bumps in the road. Dodge will do nothing but try to sell me another dash at a sky high rate. I'm afraid the dash will completely fall apart while my wife or I am driving down the road. I am now experiencing a vacuum problem with some lines under the dash caused by this since the dash moves so much. My ABS light is on, my cruise control doesn't work and the airconditioning only blows out of the defrost vent.
Transmission & drivetrain
Consumer contacted manufacturer to verify if manufacturer's recall 722 repairs were done. Manufacturer insisted that repairs were performed but they had no records of it done. Vehicle was then involved in a fire which was caused by the transmission cooling unit and line quick connection melting . There were no injuries.
1st time fire occurred in transmission while towing trailer, 2nd time fire occurred in transmission while backing out of driveway. Had taken vehicle to dealer who replaced plug 1st time, but did nothing 2nd time. Sending copies of invoices.
Suspension
Steering 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.
Death wobble. Violent shaking of the truck. Simply google "death wobble" and Dodge truck. Hope you do something before someone does get killed.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 a good car?
Based on 124 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Ram 3500 rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Ram 3500 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Dodge Ram 3500?
The brakes — 38 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (19) and suspension (16).
How many recalls does the 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 have?
There is 1 recall for the 1996 Dodge Ram 3500, the most recent from February 5, 1999 (switch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Ram 3500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2002, 2000 and 1999. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2012, 2011, 2006, 2007 and 2008. See the full Dodge Ram 3500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 115,000 miles; 9% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.