1996 Ram 2500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
365 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1996 Ram 2500, alongside 1 recall campaign and 2 defect investigations. It scores 13/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Brakes & stability leads the reports.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 1996 Ram 2500 has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 1996 sits among all 2500 years
What owners report
“Vehicle swerves excessively to the right under moderate braking, front wheel locks, and front brakes squeel after moderate use. Vehicle braking is unpredictable when trailer towing despite an electric trailer brake control.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1996 2500
“Drive shaft/cruise control, and battery malfunctioned. The original tires on the vehicle wore out within 20 months after it was purchased. The keyless entry system does not always operate properly. Owner indicated a "2-point belt"restraint system.however, the equipment listing a unibelt restraint…”— owner report to NHTSA, 1996 2500
“Transmission will not shift from 2nd to 3rd gear must let off of gas in order to shift. Garage told me that 3rd gear is gone and must be replaced. Other people w/ 96 dodge rams are also having this problem”— owner report to NHTSA, 1996 2500
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 94 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 136,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 90,000 and 203,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (1)
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS, P/NOS. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, AND 57-1530. ALSO, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THESE KITS WERE SOLD UNDER THE MOPAR PERFORMANCE PARTS BRAND NAME (P/NOS. P5007069 AND P5007070). ALL…
Fix: K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 01V037000.
Technical service bulletins
13 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on body & structure and electrical — are on file for the 1996 Ram 2500. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1996 Ram 2500 reliable?
The 1996 Ram 2500 drew 365 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 13/100, scored against the model's worst year (2018).
What are the most common 1996 Ram 2500 problems?
The top reported problems for the 1996 Ram 2500 are brakes & stability (91 complaints), electrical (48), and transmission & drivetrain (46).
At what mileage do 1996 Ram 2500 problems show up?
Owners most often report 1996 Ram 2500 problems around 136,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 90,000 and 203,000 miles.
Does the 1996 Ram 2500 have recalls?
1 recall campaign applies to the 1996 Ram 2500. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.