Your vehicle report
1996 Dodge RAM 3500
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 124
- Received Jul 1996 to Jul 2019
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines13 complaints · 10% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed11 complaints · 8.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Radiator transmission cooler leaks fluid into transmission8 complaints · 6.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #99V024000Vehicle 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 5 crashes, 10 fires, 3 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 13 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 8 |
| 1997 | 19 |
| 1998 | 17 |
| 1999 | 6 |
| 2000 | 15 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 124 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 13 | 10% | – | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 11 | 8.9% | – | |
| Radiator transmission cooler leaks fluid into transmission | 8 | 6.5% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 7 | 5.7% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 7 | 5.7% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 7 | 5.7% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 6 | 4.8% | – | |
| Dashboard cracks near passenger airbag | 5 | 4.0% | – | |
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 5 | 4.0% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 4 | 3.2% | – | NHTSA recall #99V024000 |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 4 | 3.2% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 4 | 3.2% | – | |
| Water leaks into cabin during rain | 3 | 2.4% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #99V024000February 5, 199979,366 vehicles affected
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.
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1996 Dodge RAM 3500.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN