1996 Dodge Ram 1500: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 407 complaints
407
Total Complaints
111,500mi
Median Mileage
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Top Issue
22
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

88,606 25th Percentile
111,500 Median Mileage
141,250 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
33
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
24
STRUCTURE
20
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
16
SUSPENSION:FRONT
11
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
11
STEERING
9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
9
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
8

Severity Assessment

22
Crashes
17
Fires
18
Injuries
4
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"DURING VEHICLE OPERATION THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON, WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED DURING NORMAL STOPS, THE BRAKES FADE IN AND OUT. A DELAY IS EXPERIENCED.*AK"
"THE BACK BRACKET WHICH HOLDS THE FUEL TANK, BROKE AND CAUSED THE TANK TO ALMOST FALLL OFF.*AK"
"FRONT DRIVER LUGS AND BOLTS STRAPPED OFF, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO COME OFF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28