RoadVitals

1996 Dodge Ram 3500 Brakes Problems

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

Data refreshed

Brakes 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.
38
Latest Sep 16, 2010
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.
31%
of 124 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.
2
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 service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 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 brake

The 25 most recent of 38, in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Sep 16, 2010

BRAKE FAILURE, DUE TO BRAKE LINE TO REAR WHEELS RUSTED OUT IN FRAME CLIP BEHIND FUEL TANK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10355895
Incident
Sep 8, 2010
Mileage
65,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 21, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO RUST IN THE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED; HOWEVER,THE CONTACT WILL PERFORM THE REPAIR HIMSELF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,753 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ID
10235147
Incident
Mar 9, 2008
Mileage
103,753 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 9, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS ADAPTIVE BRAKE CONTROL UNIT (PART NUMBER 56029032AB) HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED BY THE MANUFACTURER. HE STATED THAT THE PART WAS NEEDED TO REPAIR HIS VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 211,000.

NHTSA ID
10198996
Incident
Jul 1, 2007
Mileage
211,000 mi
BrakesFuel systemTransmission
Filed Jul 25, 2007
Crash reported

BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION ALSO CORROSION OF TRANSMISSION AND FUEL LINES 1996 DODGE RAM 3500 PICKUP 4WD EXT CAB. *TR

NHTSA ID
10197437
Incident
Feb 15, 2007
Mileage
115,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jun 5, 2007

I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN 2003 AND THE DASH WAS CRACKED. IT SHAKES AND RATTLES WHENEVER I HIT ANY BUMPS IN THE ROAD. DODGE WILL DO NOTHING BUT TRY TO SELL ME ANOTHER DASH AT A SKY HIGH RATE. I'M AFRAID THE DASH WILL COMPLETELY FALL APART WHILE MY WIFE OR I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I AM NOW EXPERIENCING A VACUUM PROBLEM WITH SOME LINES UNDER THE DASH CAUSED BY THIS SINCE THE DASH MOVES SO MUCH. MY ABS LIGHT IS ON, MY CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK AND THE AIRCONDITIONING ONLY BLOWS OUT OF THE DEFROST VENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10192493
Incident
Jun 2, 2007
Mileage
85,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 29, 2003

WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE ON AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED VEHICLE ROLLED. HOWEVER, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. *AK

NHTSA ID
10037966
BrakesDriver assistanceFuel system+2 more
Filed Jun 15, 2003

BRAKES PULL TO RIGHT, CALIBERS AND PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. REAR BRAKES DON'T SEEM TO WORK WELL ANTILOCK ALLOWS YOU TO ROLL TO FAR. STEERING COLUMN GOES BAD AFTER WARRANTY IS UP ( 100,000 MILES ). FUEL PUMP SHUT DOWN SOLENOID AND RELAY HAVE ALSO GONE OUT ON BOTH OF MY TRUCKS. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED ON BOTH TRUCKS AT THE 70000-75000 MILES . *NLM

NHTSA ID
10023089
Incident
May 15, 2003
Brakes
Filed Sep 16, 2002

DEALERSHIP ONLY REPLACED RUBBER BOOTS, AND NOT VACUUM LINES, RESULTING IN OIL PUMPING INTO VACUUM LINES.*AK

NHTSA ID
8018692
Brakes
Filed Aug 15, 2002

HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE LEAKING FLUID, MAKING IT HARD FOR CONSUMER TO STOP. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8016422
Incident
Jul 16, 2002
Brakes
Filed Nov 13, 2001

WHEN THIS PROBLEM FIRST HAPPENED IN 1998, WE TOOK IT TO THE DODGE DEALER HERE IN CHEYENNE, WY AND THEY SAID THE CALIBRATER WAS BAD AND FIXED THE RIGHT SIDE ONLY. WHEN IT STARTED PULLING ON THE LEFT SIDE, IT WAS WORSE. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FRONTAGE ROAD WHEN A CAR STOPPED SHORT IN FRONT OF HER TO MAKE A TURN AND SHE HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES HARD AND IT JERKED HER INTO THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THERE WAS ALMOST A HEAD ON COLLISION. WE TOOK IT TO OUR MASTER MECHANIC AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND HE TOLD US THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. HE ALSO SAID YOU CAN'T ONLY FIX ON SIDE. THE FACT THAT MY WIFE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THAT CHRYSLER REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT IS VERY UPSETTING. THE COST TO FIX THIS WAS $500.00 AND THAT WAS ONLY BECAUSE MY WIFE WORKS AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS FIXED. OUR MECHANIC HAD COME FROM THE DODGE DEALERSHIP AS A MASTER TECHNICIAN AND ALSO DRIVES A DODGE. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH CHRYSLER AND THEY NEED TO HELD RESPONSIBLE AND FIX THE PROBLEM. WE DON'T NEED TO LOSE OUR LOVED ONES BECAUSE CHRYSLER DOES'NT FEEL THIS IS A PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
754471
Incident
Aug 19, 1998
BrakesSuspension
Filed Jan 18, 2001

VEHICLE NEEDS A TOWER BRACKET. ALSO, BRAKES ARE BAD, THEY HAVE TO BEE REPLACED EVERY 15 THOUSAND MILES. *AK THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER WHEN BRAKING WHILE BACKING DOWN HILL. *YH

NHTSA ID
878453
Incident
Jan 14, 1994
Brakes
Filed Jul 20, 1999
Crash reported

BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS NO BRAKING ABILITY WHICH CAUSED A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER 3 TIMES. PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
842702
Incident
Feb 1, 1999
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed May 5, 1999

FRONT END WAS SHAKING & VIBRATING. WHILE EXITING OFF ROAD THERE WAS A LOT OF VIBRATION IN STEERING. TOOK TO DEALER & COUPLING, BRAKES, LOWER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, VIBRATION STILL CONTINUED. TOOK BACK TO DEALER & NOTHING FOUND. WAS LOWERING VEHICLE & NOTICED FRONT END WAS CRACKED. *AK

NHTSA ID
837503
Incident
Jul 17, 1997
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+2 more
Filed Dec 23, 1998

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 5TH GEAR,CAUSE UNKNOWN, ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS REPLACED,ELECTRICAL SHORT WITH ABS AND CONSUMER ALSO STATES RADIO IS INOPERATIVE. *ADJ

NHTSA ID
832637
Incident
Nov 7, 1997
Brakes
Filed Dec 1, 1998

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH AND COMING OFF A RAMP, CONSUMER WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. CONSUMER WASN'T ABLE TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN, AND HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
831525
Incident
Jul 21, 1998
BrakesHeating & air conditioning
Filed Nov 3, 1998

ABS FAILED CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BE HARD.

NHTSA ID
542393
Incident
Oct 8, 1998
Brakes
Filed Oct 7, 1998

THE FRONT BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED BRAKE PADS/ROTORS AND CALIPERS EVERY 10,000 MILES. THE DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID
827668
Incident
Sep 1, 1996
Brakes
Filed Sep 1, 1998

BRAKES OVERHEAT AND CRACK THE BRAKE PADS WHICH FELL OFF WHILE TOWING A VERY LARGE TRAILER.

NHTSA ID
540478
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
Brakes
Filed Jun 24, 1998

CONSUMER COMPLAINING OF BRAKE LINING WEARING OUT TOO SOON AT 10,000 MILES. CONSUMER BELIEVES CONDITION IS NOT NORMAL FOR THIS SITUATION. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP FOR MORE THEN THREE TIMES AND CONDITION STILL OCCURS. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR WITHOUT COST TO THE CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ID
824632
Incident
Jun 22, 1998
Brakes
Filed Jun 1, 1998

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
823805
Incident
Oct 1, 1995
Brakes
Filed May 14, 1998

FRONT BRAKES HAVE GONE OUT FOR THE FIFTH TIME WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY ON WET AND DRY PAVEMENTS. THE BRAKES GO DOWN TO THE PEDAL. SEVERAL DEALERS HAVE MENTIONED THAT A BULLETIN WAS PUT OUT 28-MAR-97, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. IN ADDITION, BACK BRAKES ARE INOPERATIVE BECAUSE WHEEL CYLINDERS ON BACK ARE TOO SMALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
822819
Incident
Mar 24, 1998
Brakes
Filed Apr 22, 1998

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT.

NHTSA ID
534477
Brakes
Filed Feb 27, 1998

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE FRONT BRAKE SHOES PADS. HAS REPLACED THE PADS AND SHOES EVERY 7,000 MILES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SHOES AND PADS, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
821728
Brakes
Filed Nov 25, 1997

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE STEERING PULLS TO THE LEFT.

NHTSA ID
525377
Brakes
Filed Nov 24, 1997

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE REAR BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE, CAUSING THE FRONT BRAKES TO OVERHEAT. WHEN THE FRONT BRAKES OVERHEAT THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
819442

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .