RoadVitals

1996 Dodge Ram 2500 Suspension Problems

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

Data refreshed

Suspension 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.
23
Latest Feb 10, 2020
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.
8%
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

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 23 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 suspension

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

SteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 10, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45-55 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE FRONT END SHAKES AND VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING OVER GROOVED PAVEMENT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER URNESS MOTORS (505 CHERRY HEIGHTS ROAD, THE DALLES, OR. 97058) AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,000. *DT*JB*DT CONSUMER ASKS FOR SAFETY RECALL AND STATED HE COULD NOT DRIVE ON OPEN FREEWAY.*JB

NHTSA ID
11308269
Incident
Feb 1, 2020
Mileage
176,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 7, 2016

DEATH WOBBLE

NHTSA ID
10883372
Incident
Jul 6, 2016
Mileage
254,762 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Sep 1, 2013

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DOING ABOUT 55MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED TO HAVE A BAD VIBRATION. IT CAUSED THE WHOLE TRUCK TO SHAKE. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER IT AND ALL AROUND IT BUT FOUND NOTHING. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT AND IT DROVE FINE. EVERY TIME IT GETS AROUND 55 IT STARTS THE SHAKING. I KEEP FINDING ONLINE THAT IT IS CALLED THE "DEATH WOBBLE" AND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE CASES.

NHTSA ID
10538294
Incident
Aug 9, 2013
Mileage
203,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 31, 2006

I HAVE A 1996 DODGE RAM 2500 4X4 WITH 5.9L TURBO DIESEL. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SPRING/SHOCK TOWER IS RIPPING FROM THE FRAME, DRIVER SIDE IS CRACKED. DODGE WILL DO NOTHING BE CAUSE IT DOESN'T FALL WITHIN THEIR RECALL DATES. SAFETY RECALL NO.835. THIS AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED MEANS NOTHING, MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT EARLY SUMMER OF 1995, NOT SURE EXACTLY. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE. CHRYSLER TOLD ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT, AND SO I AM. [XXX]. THANKS, [XXX]. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
10149109
Incident
Jan 25, 2006
Mileage
236,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 5, 2005

RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V596000 CONCERNING BALL JOINT WEAR. VEHICLE WAS MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS, POT HOLES OR UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT HIS VEHICLE PROBL WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID
10117481
Incident
Apr 1, 2005
Mileage
102,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 18, 2003

DODGE EX CAB 2500 4X4 SHAKES VIOLENTLY ON THE HIGHWAY, JUST ALIGNED BY THE DEALER I WAS TOLD IT WAS A NORMAL DODGE PROBLEM AND HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FACTORY FRONT END PARTS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10010719
Incident
Mar 17, 2003
Mileage
58,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 21, 2002

FRONT AXLE SHIMMIES AND VIBRATES VIOLENTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED. PLEAS PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8006130
Suspension
Filed Jan 17, 2002

WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE PULLS HARD TO THE LEFT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8002348
Incident
Jan 9, 2002
Suspension
Filed Oct 23, 2000

WHEN TRUCK IS BEING DRIVEN AT 65 MPH, AND A BUMP IN THE ROAD IS HIT, DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL BOUNCES OUT OF CONTROL. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR. DEALERESHIP IS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURHTER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
873621
ElectricalSuspensionTransmission
Filed Apr 12, 2000

FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, WHICH CAUSED FRONT END TO DROP. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, OCCUPANT RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE WIRING HARNESS WHICH HE NEVER HAD REPAIRED, AND LOST THE RECALL NOTICE. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN WIRING HARNESS RECALL. ALSO, 5TH GEAR QUIT FOR THE SECOND TIME, FIRST TIME COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, THIS TIME OWNER MUST PAY FOR REPAIR. CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED AN UPDATED NUT FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
860158
Incident
Apr 10, 2000
Suspension
Filed Apr 12, 2000
Crash reported

ALL OF THESE APPLIED TO MY MOMS TRUCK OF WAS BUILT ONLY MONTHS BEFORE MINE AND OF CHRYSLER WILL NOT AUTHORIZE TO FIX, THE SUSPENSION IS THE LATEST., IT BROKE ON MONDAY AND MY MOMS RECEIVED HER NOTICE LAST FRIDAY, CHRYSLER WILL NOT AUTORIZE DEALER TO FIX EVEN THOW THEY ARE AWARE IT IS THE SAME AS RECALL.????? WHY ???? THEY SAY THE CUTOFF IS MARCH OF 95 AND MY TRUCKS CLEARING DATE IS 9/95, ITS THE SAME PROBLEM AND IS VERY DANGEROUS, THE SPRING PERCH IS BROKEN IN HALF ON DRIVERS SIDE, THIS IS WERE ALL THE WEIGHT OF THE TRICK SITS ON THE FRONT AND THE PASS SIDE IS CRACKED, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I WILL FAX THE RECALL NOTICE AND PCITURES OF MY TRUCK. THANKS. *AK

NHTSA ID
721392
Incident
Apr 10, 2000
Suspension
Filed Feb 19, 2000

KNOCKING NOISE IN RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION ALSO NOTICED ITS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS. IT SHOULD BE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
718965
Incident
Dec 20, 1999
BrakesSuspension
Filed Jan 21, 2000

BETWEEN JAN.1998 THROUGH OCT. 1999 VEHICLE HAS BEEN THROUGH EIGHT SETS OF BRAKES, FRONT ROTORS TURNED THREE TIMES, REAR DRUMS TURNED ONCE, EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE BRAKE COMPONENTS. *MJS

NHTSA ID
550512
BrakesSuspension
Filed Jul 19, 1999

DEALERSHIP AND CHRYSLER HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN FAULT AND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN FILED WITH NHTSA YET THEY REFUSE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM CITING THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MODIFIED WITH AN AFTERMARKET LIFT KIT. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH ONE OTHER DODGE VEHICLE OWNER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HIS NAME IS RICHARD HARDY (714) 964-0483. HE HAS ALSO BEEN DENIED WARRANTY WORK. HE, ALONG WITH A LOCAL SUSPENSION SHOP HAVE WORKED TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES AND SUSPENSION. UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM, HE SUBMITTED TO DODGE'S DEMOANDS OF REMOVING THE LIFT KIT ( THIS IS A DIFFICULT 6 HOUR PROCESS). THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED WHEN THE LIFT KIT WAS REMOVED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO MR. HARDY AFTER THE WARRANTY WORK WAS COMPLETED IT STILL EXHIBITS THE SAME PROBLEM. AS THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND EXISTED PRIOR TO THE INSTALLATION OF THE LIFT KIT, I HAVE REFUSED TO REMOVE MY LIFT KIT AS IT HAS NO BEARING ON REMEDYING THE PROBLEM. I AM APPEALING TO YOU TO HELP ME RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *AK

NHTSA ID
708807
Incident
Sep 15, 1996
Suspension
Filed Nov 30, 1998

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH FRONT END SUSPENSION. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED JUMPING. THE CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO GET IT FIXED 5 TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
831416
Incident
Sep 9, 1996
Suspension
Filed Oct 3, 1998

PROBLEMS WITH FRONT END SHAKING VIOLENTLY AT 60MPH AFTER GOING OVER A SERIES OF BUMPS IN THE ROADWAY.

NHTSA ID
780670
Incident
Oct 3, 1998
Suspension
Filed Sep 22, 1998

VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING, PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND WEARS OUT FRONT BRAKE PADS FREQUENTLY.

NHTSA ID
541572
Suspension
Filed Feb 25, 1998

VEHICLE VIBRATES SO SEVERELY IT GIVES DRIVER A FALSE SENSE OF CONTROL.

NHTSA ID
531375
Suspension
Filed Jan 12, 1998

BOTH FRONT TIRES SEVERELY CUPPED AND THIS WAS DUE TO INADEQUATE SHOCKS IN THE FRONT.

NHTSA ID
528310
Suspension
Filed Dec 5, 1997

WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND HITTING A SERIES OF BUMPS IN THE ROAD, THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK BEGINS TO SHAKE AND IT'S VERY HARD TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. HAVE TO SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY TO ABOUT 25MPH IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. *AK

NHTSA ID
817321
Incident
Aug 25, 1997
Suspension
Filed Aug 27, 1997

SHOCKS FAILED.

NHTSA ID
603730
Incident
Dec 12, 1996
SuspensionVisibility
Filed Mar 25, 1997

VEHICLE VIBRATES.

NHTSA ID
515916
Suspension
Filed Feb 12, 1997

REAR WHEEL BEARING SEAL FAILED TWICE.

NHTSA ID
602833
Incident
Oct 1, 1996

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 .