45 of the 182 complaints about the 1996 Dodge RAM 3500 are about the braking system — 25% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 103,753 miles.
45
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE FAILURE, DUE TO BRAKE LINE TO REAR WHEELS RUSTED OUT IN FRAME CLIP BEHIND FUEL TANK.
NHTSA complaint #10355895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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 complaint #10235147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
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 complaint #10198996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION ALSO CORROSION OF TRANSMISSION AND FUEL LINES 1996 DODGE RAM 3500 PICKUP 4WD EXT CAB.
NHTSA complaint #10197437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
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.
NHTSA complaint #10192493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE
WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE ON AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED VEHICLE ROLLED. HOWEVER, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #10037966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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 complaint #10023089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
DEALERSHIP ONLY REPLACED RUBBER BOOTS, AND NOT VACUUM LINES, RESULTING IN OIL PUMPING INTO VACUUM LINES.
NHTSA complaint #8018692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE LEAKING FLUID, MAKING IT HARD FOR CONSUMER TO STOP. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #8016422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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.
NHTSA complaint #754471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
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.
NHTSA complaint #754471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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.
NHTSA complaint #878453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED. MJS
NHTSA complaint #516398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
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.
NHTSA complaint #842702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
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.
NHTSA complaint #842702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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.
NHTSA complaint #837503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
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.
NHTSA complaint #827668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
BRAKES OVERHEAT AND CRACK THE BRAKE PADS WHICH FELL OFF WHILE TOWING A VERY LARGE TRAILER.
NHTSA complaint #540478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:INTERCONNECTING ASSEMBLY(WIRING)
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 complaint #832637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
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.
NHTSA complaint #831525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS FAILED CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BE HARD.
NHTSA complaint #542393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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.
NHTSA complaint #824632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS
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.
NHTSA complaint #824632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #823805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT.
NHTSA complaint #534477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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.
NHTSA complaint #822819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS
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.
NHTSA complaint #822819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
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.
NHTSA complaint #821728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI LOCK BRAKES PULSE/PULL TO THE RIGHT WHEN TOWING.
NHTSA complaint #524703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE STEERING PULLS TO THE LEFT.
NHTSA complaint #525377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.