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NHTSA vehicle safety data

1996 Dodge Ram 3500 Recalls & Complaints

The 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 124 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Dodge dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1996 Dodge Ram 3500. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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1996 Dodge Ram 3500 owner complaints

Owners have filed 124 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Dodge Ram 3500, describing incidents dated September 1, 1995 to July 22, 2019.

Most-cited components

  • Service Brakes 35 complaints
  • Power Train 17 complaints
  • Suspension 15 complaints
  • Structure 11 complaints
  • Electrical System 10 complaints
  • Steering 10 complaints

Of the 124 complaints on file, 5 report a crash and 10 a fire; across all 124 complaints, owners report 3 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11233910 · Filed

    DASH IS ALL CRACKED UP ALLOWING SHARP PLASTIC PROJECTILES IN AND ABOUT THE CAB THAT CAN CUT YOU IN A WRECK SUN GETTING ON ELECTRICAL WIRES DESTROYING THEM AND NOW SHORTS AND SOMETIMES DONT WORK RIGHT

  • ODI #11022149 · Filed

    "TAKATA RECALL" THE DASH ON MY TRUCK IS ALL CRACKED UP AND I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY TRUCK. IO CAME ACROSS AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE DODGE DASH'S I WENT RIGHT OUT SIDE AND PULLED MY DASH COVER BACK AND TOOK A LOOK AND TO MY SURPRISE MY DASH IS ALL CRACKED UP IN MANY PIECE'S . AND I HAVE HAD IT COVERED…

  • ODI #11002913 · Filed

    HEAT CAUSED THE DASH TO DRY OUT AND CRACK INTO LARGE JAGGED PIECES, THAT COULD HAVE FATAL CONSEQUENCES IF IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT.

Read all 124 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

DAIMLERCHRYSLER/HEADLAMP SWITCH

NHTSA #99V024000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights — Switch · NHTSA notice

Reported February 5, 1999 · DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 79,366 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 819 · Owners notified June 14, 1999 · Vehicles built July 31, 1993 – October 31, 1996 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

IF THE LIGHTS FAIL, A VISIBILITY PROBLEM COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP SWITCH INCLUDING A RELAY IN THE PARK LAMP WIRING CIRCUIT.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 1999.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-992-1997. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Other Dodge Ram 3500 model years

Check your 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Dodge Ram 3500 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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