RoadVitals

1996 Dodge Ram 3500 Transmission Problems

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

Data refreshed

Transmission 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.
19
Latest Jul 25, 2007
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.
15%
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.
4
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 the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 19 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 transmission

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

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
Transmission
Filed Nov 19, 2004
Fire reported

CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER TO VERIFY IF MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 722 REPAIRS WERE DONE. MANUFACTURER INSISTED THAT REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED BUT THEY HAD NO RECORDS OF IT DONE. VEHICLE WAS THEN INVOLVED IN A FIRE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT AND LINE QUICK CONNECTION MELTING . THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK

NHTSA ID
10101398
Incident
Nov 19, 2004
Transmission
Filed Apr 1, 2004

AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT COOLING LINE CLIPS WERE DAMAGED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10065437
Incident
Mar 23, 2004
Mileage
69,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 23, 2003

THE PLASTIC TRANSMISSION LINES BECAME HOT AND LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE LEAK CAUSED INTERNAL DAMAGE AND NOW IT MUST BE REBUILT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10051996
Mileage
230,000 mi
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
Transmission
Filed Sep 17, 2002

PLASTIC TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE MELTED, AND CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND REPLACE IT WITH A METAL LINE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8018877
Incident
Jun 15, 2002
Transmission
Filed Aug 28, 2000

BEFORE RECALL 97V084000, RECALL COMPENENT FAILED CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION LINE TO SEPARATE WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND, CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT (CONSUMER IS AN ATTORNEY). *SLC

NHTSA ID
554078
Incident
Aug 3, 2000
Transmission
Filed Jan 19, 2000

TRANSMISSION: FOUND A LARGE PUDDLE OF WHAT I THOUGHT WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID UNDER THE TRUCK. CHECKED LEVEL AND FOUND IT APPROXIMATELY 1 TO 1 1/2 QUARTS LOW. WE USE THE TRUCK TO TOW A LARGE FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER PERIODICALLY. DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 97V08400 WHICH DEALT WITH HIGH LOAD CONDITIONS AND SUBSTANDARD CONNECTORS. CALLED CHRYSLER (800-853-1403) AND WAS INFORMED THIS RECALL WAS ONLY FOR GAS ENGINE VEHICLES. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPUTABLE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THEY CONTACTED DODGE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE REPLACEMENT SEALS ARE NO LONGER OFFERED. THEY THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER REP AND WAS TOLD THE PREFERRED METHOD OF REPAIR WAS TO REPLACE THE TUBES COMPLETELY WITH AN UPDATE KIT ($451.05). THEY REPLACED THE SEALS WHICH LEAKED, THE SPEED SENSOR WHICH LEAKED, AND AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SERVICE. THE COST OF THIS TRANSMISSION SERVICE WAS $260.28. FRONT BRAKES: AT 31487 MILES THE FRONT BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS NOT DISCOVERED BY THE NORMAL SQUEAL BARS BUT BY THE METAL OF THE PAD COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR. THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP STATED THE SQUEAL BARS HAD BEEN BENT BACK. THE REAR BRAKE SHOES STILL HAD MORE THAN 50 PERCENT LIFE LEFT. THE COST OF REPLACING THE PADS, TURNING THE ROTORS, AND GREASE SEALS WAS $189.02.

NHTSA ID
717571
Incident
Apr 1, 1999
Transmission
Filed Oct 18, 1999

TRANSMISSION GEARS GET STUCK IN SECOND GEAR AND WILL NOT COME OUT OF SECOND. VEHICLE HAD TO BE STOPPED, TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED BACK ON IN ORDER FOR THE GEARS TO SHIFT. DEALER COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. *AK

NHTSA ID
850990
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
Transmission
Filed Oct 1, 1998

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO JUMP/SHAKE DUE TO ERRATIC SHIFTING OF GEARS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
828439
Incident
Jul 20, 1998
Transmission
Filed Sep 23, 1998

TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION: QUICK CONNECTOR ON FLUID COOLING LINE AT TRANSMISSION HOUSING.

NHTSA ID
540264
Incident
Aug 7, 1998
Transmission
Filed Apr 21, 1998
Fire reported

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LINES FAILED CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK ONTO TURBO CHARGER CAUSING VEHICLE FIRE.

NHTSA ID
534423
Incident
Jan 14, 1998
Transmission
Filed Jan 14, 1998

TRANSMISSION AND INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILURE; INCLUDING FUEL, OIL, AND TEMPERATURE GUAGE.

NHTSA ID
528871
Incident
Oct 23, 1996
BrakesTransmission
Filed Aug 27, 1997

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL SEVERELY PULL TO THE RIGHT. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE FIVE TIMES THE VEHICLE NOW PULLS TO THE LEFT. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND THE CALIPERS WITH NO REMEDY. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN 2 TIMES MORE AND STILL PROBLEM EXISTS. VEHICLE HAS AN INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE WON'T SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, RESULTING IN RED LINING THE MOTOR AND SEVERE JERKING IN TRAFFIC. *SLC

NHTSA ID
815720
Incident
Aug 23, 1996
Heating & air conditioningDriver assistanceEngine+3 more
Filed Jul 11, 1997

ENGINE STALLED.

NHTSA ID
519352
Incident
Nov 11, 1996
Transmission
Filed Jun 27, 1997

THE VEHICLE DOES NOT GO INTO 5TH GEAR. WHEN 5TH GEAR IS APPLIED THE CAR JUMPS OUT OF GEAR. HAS BEEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE NUT THAT HOLDS THE 5TH GEAR IS A RIGHT HAND THREAD, THE GEAR TURNS LEFT, WHICH LOOSENS THE NUT ALLOWING THE GEAR TO BACK OFF.*JB

NHTSA ID
813592
BrakesInterior & seatsExterior lighting+3 more
Filed Apr 14, 1997

TRANSMISSION DEFECTIVE CAUSING TORQUE CONVERTER TO LOCK UP, REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NECESSARY. MJS

NHTSA ID
516398
Incident
Feb 7, 1996
Transmission
Filed Jan 16, 1997
Fire reported

1ST TIME FIRE OCCURRED IN TRANSMISSION WHILE TOWING TRAILER, 2ND TIME FIRE OCCURRED IN TRANSMISSION WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO REPLACED PLUG 1ST TIME, BUT DID NOTHING 2ND TIME. SENDING COPIES OF INVOICES. *AK

NHTSA ID
807794
Incident
Jan 4, 1997

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 .