What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2004 Dodge RAM 1500

Typical pattern

5.6% of complaints about the 2004 Dodge RAM 1500 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2004 vehicle — around the middle of the 236 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 10.5 yr in service. The most-reported system is air bags (365 complaints), typically at 11.7 yr or about 101,000 miles.

Complaints
1,365
Median age at failure
10.5 yr
Median mileage
70,000 n=942
Crash / fire / tow
13.8% of reports
Safety recalls
8 2 do not drive

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Air bags
365 reports · 101,000 mi
11.7 yr
13.7%
Power train
188 reports · 120,000 mi
11.4 yr
15.4%
Engine cooling
116 reports · 43,673 mi
3.4 yr
2.6%
Electrical system
98 reports · 57,000 mi
6.3 yr
18.4%
Steering
88 reports · 59,300 mi
7.0 yr
14.8%
Engine
74 reports · 110,000 mi
11.2 yr
8.1%
Suspension
68 reports · 80,000 mi
9.3 yr
16.2%
Structure
53 reports · 64,406 mi
6.7 yr
28.3%
Fuel / propulsion
38 reports · 110,000 mi
11.8 yr
2.6%
Service brakes, hydraulic
37 reports · 14,000 mi
1.9 yr
10.8%
Other
36 reports · 128,000 mi
11.6 yr
11.1%
Exterior lighting
30 reports · 69,500 mi
8.2 yr
6.7%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

16V352000 2016-05-24 Do not drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2012 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2012 Chrysler 300, 2006-2012 Dodge Charger, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, o

These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants

15V313000 2015-05-27 Do not drive
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

14V770000 2014-12-03
Air bags

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2004-2005 Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500, 2004-2005 Dodge Durango, 2005 Dodge Dakota, 2005 Dodge Magnum and 2005 Chrysler 300, 300C and 300 SRT8 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa are addressed by this recall. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive i

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

10E040000 2010-08-23
Wheels:hub

FEDERAL-MOGUL IS RECALLING CERTAIN CARQUEST, NATIONAL, AND PERCISION BRAND WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS 515073 AND 515073, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2008 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCKS. THE INBOARD ROLL FORM USED TO MAINTAIN THE HUB ASSEMBLY CAN FATIGUE RESULTING IN NOISE AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION ON THE TWO WHEEL DRIVE (2WD) APPLICATIONS. THE RISK OF THESE ISSUES DO NOT OCCUR ON THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) APPLICATIONS, AND INSTALLATION ON THE 4WD APPLICATIONS ARE NOT PART OF THIS RECALL.

A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR IF THE WHEEL SEPARATES FROM THE VEHICLE.

10E013000 2010-05-03
Steering:gear box:shaft pitman

FABTECH IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT PITMAN ARMS, P/NOS. FTS93001 AND FT44039, INSTALLED FOR USE ON CERTAIN 2003 THROUGH 2008 DODGE 2500 4WD, 3500 4WD, AND 1500 4WD MEGA CAB VEHICLES. THE PITMAN ARM CAN FRACTURE AND BREAK AWAY FROM THE STEERING BOX CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

STEERING LOSS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMAGE, INJURY OR DEATH.

07E104000 2007-12-11
Visibility:glass, side/rear

CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT(S) MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY SHATTERED GLASS.

04V221000 2004-05-06
Equipment:other:labels

THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL ON SOME PICKUP TRUCKS LISTS INCORRECT TIRE, WHEEL, AND RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE INFORMATION WHICH DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, 'TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS.'

INSTALLING THE INCORRECT TIRE/RIM SIZES AND LOADING THE VEHICLE TO THE WEIGHTS SHOWN ON THE LABEL CAN CAUSE TIRE FAILURE AND RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

03V503000 2003-12-04
Power train:automatic transmission

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE TRANSFER CASE TO TRANSMISSION ATTACHING FASTENERS MAY NOT BE TIGHTENED CORRECTLY. THIS COULD CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION ADAPTER OR TRANSFER CASE HOUSING TO CRACK AND LEAK FLUID.

CONTINUED OPERATION CAN RESULT IN PROPELLER SHAFT SEPARATION AND DAMAGE TO FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A FUEL LEAK. FLUID AND/OR FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN CAUSE AN UNDERBODY FIRE.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 800 mi 4 mo in service crash / fire / tow
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH CONSUMER FELT THAT VEHICLE STARTED RESPONDING SLUGGISHLY. AFTER A FEW MILES, CONSUMER NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY CONSUMED BY THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO THE SCENE. *AK
Electrical system mileage not reported 1.1 yr in service
THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE FIVE TIMES, AND THEY STILL DO NOT WORK. THE CONSUMER CANNOT SEE THE SPEED, MILEAGE AND OTHER GAUGES.*AK
Electrical system 8,457 mi 1.1 yr in service
REGARDING THE STALLING PROBLEM ON A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB HEMI SPORT TRUCK. CURRENTLY THIS IS THE SIXTH TIME IT HAS STALLED. THE LATEST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN I ROUNDED THE CORNER TO EXIT THE AIRPORT PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE HAD NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES AS OF THE RESULT OF STALLING AND WAS HARD TO CONTROL. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND EVEN THE DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER FOR CHRYSLER HAS LOOKED AT IT, BUT CANNOT DUPLICATE OR FIND ANY CODES. *AK
Air bags 500 mi 3 mo in service crash / fire / tow
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED SPINAL INJURIES. *AK

Other RAM 1500 model years

201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

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