This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle was vibrating abnormally. The contact stated that the rear wheels locked up and the vehicle skidded sideways. The contact stated that the rear driveshaft had detached. The contact stated that oil was leaking from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V796000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was contacted but provided no additional assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000.
Three different occasions when I would park somewhere with the automatic transmission selector in park, the truck would take off backwards. Once at shop at home, I was close enough to catch it, without incident. Second time I was at a convenient store, had been in there5 to ten mins. It took off across busy state hiway. Thitd time in a lake. Witnesses on last 2.
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500. While the vehicle was in park, the gears independently shifted into reverse at a high rate of speed. As a result the contact crashed into two vehicles and the rear bumper was damaged. There were no injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic for further diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000. Updated 05/31/17 consumer stated vehicle was running but in park mode. On a level street at the end of a culdesac. Vehicle slipped out of park and accelerated backwards into 2 other vehicles. Found out recall was done for this problem between 2004 and 2005. I don't believe this vehicle was ever recalled. Updated 6/28/18
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 05V462000 (power train), 09E001000 (steering), 13V528000 (steering), and 15V313000 (air bags). However, the parts needed were not available. In addition, the contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the four wheel drive was engaged and the vehicle started to spin out of control. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced. However, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000.
2004 Dodge Ram 2500 has an unknown transmission problem. Shifts okay from cold start, but sporadically it will not shift into 2nd gear when engine is warm. Once the engine is warm, if the engine is turned off and then is restarted (such as a stop at a store, gas station, etc.), it goes into first gear okay, but then winds out and will not shift into 2nd gear. The only way to get it to shift again is to turn the engine off and then restart it. Then it will shift correctly. This is dangerous because many times when we pull out into traffic there is no place to safely pull to off the road to stop the engine. We have had to pray for red lights so we could shut off the engine off for a moment. We have had the governor pressure sensor replaced twice and have also replaced the transducer and the transmission solenoid and the problem remains.
- Carmichael, CA, USA
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The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact received NHTSA campaign numbers: 05V462000 (power train), 09E001000 (steering), 13V528000 (steering), and 14V817000 (air bags); however, the parts needed for the repair were unavailable. While driving at an unknown speed, the steering wheel began to vibrate and a loud grinding noise emitted from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the front driver and passenger side universal joint front axles were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for recall repairs. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Fracture of the pitman arn at the steering box/ had to replace entire steering box/ fracture was found while undergoing wheel aligment/ was only a matter of time before it would have failed. Replace water pump/ 120000 replace rear universal joint for bad bearings/ 121,000 entire engine fan with pulley sheared off while on a trip/ 118000 replaced entire wiper mechanism due to complete failure/122000 poorly engineered vehicle/ wouldn't buy another Dodge lots of safety issues.
Approached gate across driveway; stopped 2004 Dodge cummins 2500 truck, put in park, opened gate, proceeded through 12' gate. Pulled truck forward to provided enough room for gate to close; put vehicle in park on level ground. Exited my truck, it was stationary, with normal idle. Walked past the rear of the truck to close the gate. Had just latched the gate when I heard a click that made me raise my head as I wondered what the noise was. Then the engine roared in acceleration and the truck flew backwards toward me. I moved out of the way, the truck hit the closed gate, crashed through it, proceeded in reverse down the drive way approximately 10 yards, veered off the driveway through 4 cemented fence posts and horse fencing boards that are 2X6 (very substantial boards). Took out 2 sections of fencing before it met an incline in the pasture which caused the runaway truck to come to a stop. If I had not heard the truck make the clicking noise which was it coming out of the park gear, I would not have had time to get out of its way. After reading multiple other similar incidences, I implore Dodge to stand behind its trucks and rectify the situation for consumers in the future and those of us with financial damages incurred now!!!
10 minutes after start up I began to travel in drive gear of automatic transmission. Upon acceleration the pedal was dead, I.e. no power. The engine was running fine. After the truck decelerated to about 10 mph the pedal was back and working. This happened again after about 20 seconds. This behavior continued for 30 minutes and stopped. It was colder that morning (10 degrees F). The pedal also had run away acceleration at times before the pedal went dead. I thought it was fuel related but that doesn't explain the run away acceleration. I believe it an electrical problem with the apps system? very scary though. I hope it doesn't die crossing and intersection.
While driving at 70 mph on freeway, transfer case exploded and fell out on roadway along with part of the drive shaft rendering vehicle completely undriveable.
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that the recall notice associated with NHTSA campaign id number 05V462000 (power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift) was received in the mail. The vehicle was not experiencing any failures, but it was taken to an authorized dealer for repair. After the repairs were completed, the contact stated that the out of park alarm would emit a loud sound every time the vehicle was in park. The dealer and manufacturer denied assistance with repairs of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 75,000 and the current mileage was 102,000.
My differential has went out twice in my 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel truck. The first time it went out at 48K miles (May 2008) (covered by warranty) and the second time at 137K miles. Both times the failure began with a winding sound from the differential, then followed by differemential slip. If not corrected right away the differential will begin rattling before coming apart. The potential harm is that the differential can lock up when going down the road. The repair action is to replace all bearings and gears in the differetntial $1800). I do not tow anything with this heavy duty truck. I have kept up with the recommended manufacturer maintenance schedules. I have reported this to Dodge and they do not recognize the problem as common. I have only 1K miles on the 2nd rebuilt differential and I already have to take it in for winding and slipping of the differential. I have it scheduled for 28 Jan 2011 to have it looked at again.
Clicking and shaking when in 4X4 mode. Sounded like U joints. After having it checked by a mechanic, he found both sides needed ball joints and the U joints on the axle was worn out. This was an expensive repair of over $1200. Also the tie rod ends needed replacement. He said that the weight of the diesel engine was the cause. He said that all of these front ends with the diesel engine needed to be replaced after about 70K miles. I am disappointed.
Dodge death wobble. I have a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 that has the death wobble. I see not many have been reported, but everyone ends up with it at one point. Read message boards. They all talk about their experiences. I have to pay 300 bucks to replace parts that are recommended to possibly solve the problem. It is not deadly if handled correctly, but it causes you to have to stop immediately. I had to stop 3 times on the pa turnpike over the weekend. Just got back from dealer. Only suggested to try changing the steering dampener. That is not the issue though.
Driving down the freeway the truck became harder to steer and it felt like it was in 4 wheel drive. The indicator light did not show that it was. A little farther and the transfer case fell out on the freeway. About 3 weeks previous I also had the same feeling of it being hard to turn like it was in 4 wheel after I started it up, but it went right away. I was on vacation and had to have it towed 75 miles to dealership. They have said they don't know how this could happen, unless there was no fluid in the transfer case or it got put into reverse. Neither was the case. I was going down the freeway at 65 miles per hour and there was fluid all over the road after I got it pulled over. I have two tow truck drivers who can verify that. I feel that it went into 4 wheel drive mode on it's own and am lucky to be alive. I just had to have the whole computer system replaced about six months ago on this same vehicle and feel that I have an unsafe and dangerous vehicle. The resolution is a bill for $4028. I do have the old parts.
2004 Dodge Ram 2500 qslt 4 X 4 diesel excessive vibration in steering, seats, floorboards and mirrors at highway speeds around 70 to 75 mph. Vehicle has been to dealer twice for a total of 12 days. Technician has duplicated problem and dealer has tried to rectify problem. Dealer has replaced U-joints, drive shaft, tried rebuilding the differential, even swapped known good wheels and tires from a new vehicle. Tried adjusting air pressures and rotating wheels. Dealer has contacted S.T.a.R. technical center. The center gave them a lengthy recommendation for isolating this vibration only to seem to have made the vibration worse. At this time the dealer has been told by the manufacturer that they are not authorizing any more attempts to repair this problem. When contacting the customer service center at Chrysler I was told to work with the dealer. I was finally told by the dealer that Chrysler is aware of this problem and is supposedly working to resolve it. If you ask me, after researching the internet, I have seen this complaint by several consumers of this particular model, and it dates back over a year and a half.
2004 3/4 ton diesel truck involved in rollback accident which killed consumer's wife.** answer required***. the vehicle was placed in park with the engine running, the consumer exited the vehicle in which he thought his wife was going to join him, however a few minutes later, the consumer noticed his wife was not by his side and the vehicle was rolling in reverse and his wife was laying in front of the truck. The police investigation revealed that the truck was defective, in that the gear shifter indicated that when the truck is in park for 15-20 seconds it suddenly and without notice drops into reverse.
Upon putting the gear in park, the vehicle would automatically place itself into reverse and take off in that position. The consumer contacted the dealer and was told there was nothing wrong with the vehicle.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Farmingham, MA, USA