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

2004 Dodge RAM 2500

Typical pattern

6% of complaints about the 2004 Dodge RAM 2500 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 7.7 yr in service. The most-reported system is steering (142 complaints), typically at 10.3 yr or about 94,972 miles.

Complaints
753
Median age at failure
7.7 yr
Median mileage
74,000 n=555
Crash / fire / tow
10% of reports
Safety recalls
9

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Steering
142 reports · 94,972 mi
10.3 yr
4.2%
Suspension
114 reports · 62,400 mi
5.9 yr
1.8%
Power train
111 reports · 25,900 mi
2.1 yr
41.4%
Air bags
90 reports · 130,000 mi
12.0 yr
2.2%
Electrical system
48 reports · 84,000 mi
7.7 yr
8.3%
Structure
37 reports · 75,000 mi
5.8 yr
8.1%
Engine cooling
27 reports · 21,122 mi
2.1 yr
7.4%
Exterior lighting
26 reports · 109,000 mi
8.1 yr
0%
Visibility
19 reports · 82,000 mi
7.4 yr
0%
Speed control
17 reports · 90,000 mi
5.8 yr
11.8%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

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.

13V528000 2013-11-06
Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Dodge RAM 2500 4x4 and 3500 4x4, model year 2007-2008 Dodge RAM 3500 4x2 Cab Chassis and model year 2006-2008 Dodge RAM 1500 Mega Cab 4x4 trucks manufactured February 12, 2002, through February 13, 2008. The left tie rod assembly may break.

A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

11V350000 2011-07-06
Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 2500/3500 4X4, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH MARCH 28, 2011; MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 3500 CAB CHASSIS 4X2, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH MARCH 28, 2011; AND MODEL YEAR 2008 DODGE RAM 1500 MEGA CAB 4X4, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH AUGUST 15, 2008, BECAUSE THE LEFT TIE ROD BALL STUD MAY FRACTURE. THIS CONDITION TENDS TO OCCUR DURING LOW SPEED PARKING LOT TYPE MANEUVERS WHEN THE CUSTOMER IS MAKING A TIGHT TURN. ADDITIONALLY, MODEL YEAR 2003-2008 DODGE RAM 2500/3500 VEHICLES MAY HAV

THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL STABILITY IN THE LEFT HAND FRONT WHEEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

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.

07E009000 2007-02-01
Suspension

CERTAIN LKI ENTERPRISES, INC., BRAND NAME SUPERLIFT SUSPENSION, PITMAN ARMS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 2003-2007 DODGE RAM 2500 AND 3500 4X4 LIGHT TRUCKS. DUE TO INADEQUATE HEAT TREATMENT DURING PRODUCTION, THE AFFECTED PITMAN ARMS MAY DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE UPPER SPLINED ATTACHMENT ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING OUTPUT SHAFT. MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE PITMAN ARM AND THE OUTPUT SHAFT MAY DEFORM SPLINES, RESULTING IN PREMATURE WEAR AND FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE AFFECTED PITMAN ARM.

PITMAN ARM WEAR OR FAILURE MAY LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

05V462000 2005-10-06
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, IN AN ATTEMPT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE QUICKLY WITHOUT SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND REMOVING THE KEY, THE DRIVER MAY INADVERTENTLY LEAVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL IN INDICATED REVERSE.

THIS ERROR IS AN UNINTENDED ACTION THAT MAY RESULT IN A LACK OF TRANSMISSION PARK PAWL ENGAGEMENT AND POSSIBLY DELAYED REARWARD MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE.

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

Power train mileage not reported 4 mo in service crash / fire / tow
2004 DODGE DIESEL 3/4 TON PICKUP....JUMPED INTO REVERSE AND PINNED ME BETWEEN A GATE AND A BARN, FRACTURING 14 RIBS AND AN ULNA. *AK
Power train 10,197 mi 9 mo in service crash / fire / tow
I PARKED THE TRUCK AND GOT OUT TO CLOSE A GATE WHEN I TURNED AROUND THE TRUCK HAD SLIPPED INTO REVERSE AND WAS COMING TOWARD ME. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. THE TRUCK RAN INTO A FENCE POST DAMAGING THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR AND DENTING THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE FENDER. *AK
Power train 300 mi 10 mo in service
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGED. AS A RESULT, TURNING BECAME DIFFICULT.*AK
Structure mileage not reported 3 mo in service
THE CONSUMER NOTICED A DISTINCT VIBRATION ON THE TRUCK THAT GETS WORSE WHEN TRAVELING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *LA THE DEALER/REGIONAL SERVICE EXPERT ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE VEHICLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE DEALER HAD TWO OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. DODGE 2500 2004 *SC *JB

Other RAM 2500 model years

201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

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