RoadVitals

1996 Dodge Ram 2500 Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jan 23, 2012
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 291 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Dodge Ram 2500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Jan 23, 2012
Fire reported

AFTER OPERATING VEHICLE UNDER HEAVY LOAD (SNOWPLOWING), THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE RUPTURED WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED AND THE HYDRAULIC FLUID IGNITED ON THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM. NOTE: THERE WAS A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99V115000 ) ISSUED FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR TRUCK WITH A V10 ENGINE VERSES THE V8. THE HEAT FROM THE NEARBY EXHAUST PIPE EXCEEDED THE TEMPERATURE RATING OF THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE MATERIAL CAUSING IT TO RUPTURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10444959
Incident
Jan 20, 2012
Mileage
96,998 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 20, 2010

PULLING LOADED CARGO TRAILER ON A HOT DAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC KIN SAN ANTONIO, TX. ALL A SUDDEN TRUCK STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. STOPPED AND LOOKED UNDER AND TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS COMING OUT OF TRANSMISSION ON TO HOT EXHAUST. THE HOT TRANSMISSION FLUID MELTED THE PLASTIC/NYLON MATERIAL AT THE FLUID LINE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED FLUID TO SPRAY ALL OVER THE EXHAUST AND UNDER SIDE OF TRUCK AND ONTO THE PAYMENT. TRANSMISSION AND LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS RECALL AS I HAD NEVER BEEN CONTACTED. I WISH I HAD, I WOULD HAVE SAVED ABOUT $4000.00!!!!

NHTSA ID
10371708
Incident
Jul 12, 2009
Mileage
155,831 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 4, 2003

THE AXLE SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10009712
Incident
Feb 27, 2003
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 14, 1999

I WAS PARKED NEXT TO A CURB IN A LOT AT WORK CARE WAS BEHIND ME. HAD TO GO OVER CURB AT 1-2MPH HEARD BANG TIRE BLEW OUT. DROVE ACROSS STREET, PULLED INTO LOT, GOT OUT, GAS TANK DRAGGING GROUND AND SLOSHED GAS ALL OVER ROAD. DRIVESHAFT HAD BEEN TURNING AGAINST METAL PLATE ON SIDE OF TANK-STRAPS BROKE-HAD NO WARNING OF ANYTHING WRONG-HAD TO HAVE TRUCK TOWED-SLOSHED GAS ALL OVER TRAILER-DRIVERS' PARTING WORDS "PRAY FOR ME". I CALLED DODGE TOLD THEM I WASN'T PAYING FOR A SAFETY DEFECT, AND THAT I WASN'T HAPPY. THEY CALLED DEALER DEALER TOOK CARE OF IT NO CHARGE. VERY UPSETTING HAVING GAS TANK FALL OFF OF WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A HEAVY DUTY TRUCK. APPEARS ONLY ONE STRAP HOLDING TANK UP -NO SECONDARY SUPPORTS. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE THIS TYPE OF THING HAPPENED TO THEM? I CAN'T IMAGINE BEING IN A WRECK IF IT IS THAT FRAGILE. *AK

NHTSA ID
714767
Incident
Aug 27, 1999
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Seat belts+2 more
Filed Sep 11, 1998

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 SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID
540782
Incident
Dec 11, 1997
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 21, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE REAR AXLE DISASSEMBLED AND SEPARATED FROM THE TRUCK. DEALER SAYS NO EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION. *AK

NHTSA ID
823553
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 27, 1997

TRANSMISSION FAILED IN REVERSE.

NHTSA ID
605531
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+5 more
Filed Jul 20, 1997

PREMATURE WEAR AND FAILURE OF REAR BRAKE SHOES. BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY REPAIRED; PROBLEM STILL EXIST.

NHTSA ID
515731

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .