Complaints
905
Crashes
84
Fires
26
Injuries
53
Fatalities
2
Recalls
0
Worst 1996 Dodge Ram Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#192 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Crash-related:14
#276 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:71,079 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:1
#332 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1996 Dodge Ram.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 92 | 14 | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 76 | 3 | 1 | 71,079 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 32 | 2 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 27 | 24 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 24 | 2 | 5 | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 24 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 23 | 4 | — | 78,000 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 21 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 18 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 16 | — | 1 | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines | 16 | — | 2 | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 16 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 16 | 3 | — | 63,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 14 | — | 2 | — | |
| Tire Defects | 14 | 1 | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 13 | 3 | — | — | |
| Airbags | 11 | 4 | — | 52,000 mi | |
| Brake Master Cylinder | 11 | 2 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 11 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 10 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 10 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 9 | — | — | 69,000 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 9 | — | — | 85,000 mi | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 9 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cables | 8 | 1 | — | — |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
92
complaints
Crashes
14
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
76
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
71,079
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
32
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
27
complaints
Crashes
24
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
24
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
5
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
24
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
23
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
78,000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
21
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
18
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
16
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines
16
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
16
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
16
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
63,000
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
14
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
13
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
11
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
52,000
Brake Master Cylinder
11
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
69,000
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
85,000
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Cables
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1996 Dodge Ram. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Dodge Ram Years
1996 Dodge Ram — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1996 Dodge Ram reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 1996 Dodge Ram has 905 NHTSA complaints, 84 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip with 92 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1996 Dodge Ram?
Top reported problems: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (92 complaints); Automatic Transmission (76 complaints, avg 71,079 mi); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components (32 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1996 Dodge Ram?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 70,569 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1996 Dodge Ram?
NHTSA complaints for the 1996 Dodge Ram include 84 crash-related reports, 26 fire reports, 53 injuries, and 2 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1996 Dodge Ram have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1996 Dodge Ram as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1996 Dodge Ram?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 1996 Dodge Ram shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Dodge Ram reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1996 Dodge Ram
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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