2004 Dodge RAM 2500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
581 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 406 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 135 of 581 complaints (23.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 110 | 18.9% |
| Braking behavior | 62 | 10.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 46 | 7.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 22 | 3.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 22 | 3.8% |
| Engine operation | 19 | 3.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 135 |
| Air Bags | 89 |
| Suspension | 59 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 58 |
| Electrical System | 42 |
| Suspension:Front | 35 |
| Exterior Lighting | 20 |
| Power Train | 18 |
Steering: 135; Air Bags: 89; Suspension: 59; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 58; Electrical System: 42; Suspension:Front: 35; Exterior Lighting: 20; Power Train: 18
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 82 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 64 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 73 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 59 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 80 |
| 150,000 and above | 48 |
Under 25,000: 82; 25,000 to 49,999: 64; 50,000 to 74,999: 73; 75,000 to 99,999: 59; 100,000 to 149,999: 80; 150,000 and above: 48
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (82). 175 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 32 |
| 2005 | 54 |
| 2006 | 50 |
| 2007 | 28 |
| 2008 | 27 |
| 2009 | 19 |
| 2010 | 41 |
| 2011 | 44 |
| 2012 | 31 |
| 2013 | 24 |
| 2014 | 59 |
| 2015 | 77 |
| 2016 | 42 |
| 2017 | 29 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2004: 32; 2005: 54; 2006: 50; 2007: 28; 2008: 27; 2009: 19; 2010: 41; 2011: 44; 2012: 31; 2013: 24; 2014: 59; 2015: 77; 2016: 42; 2017: 29; 2018: 5; 2019: 8; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2022: 3; 2023: 1; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 110 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 62 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 46 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10090700 · 2004-09-09 (September 9, 2004)
DRIVE TRAIN VIBRATION (HIGH FREQUENCY DROAN) THAT CAN BE FELT IN STEERING WHEEL, PEDALS AND EVEN IN THE SEAT. PURCHASED IN APRIL 04, STARTED TRYING TO GET DODGE TO FIX IT IN MAY AND HAVE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO NO AVAIL. OBTAINED COPY OF FAX FROM S.T.A.R CENTER CASE REPORT THAT APPARENTLY THIS IS A FLEET WIDE PROBLEM WITH MY PARTICULAR MODE. FAX STATES " THIS CONDITION IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY DODGE TRUCK DIVISION. TSB / OTHER MAY BE ISSUED WHEN CORRECTIVE ACTION PROCEDURE IS DEFINED." SINCE FIRST TRY TO CORRECT IN MAY 04 THE VIBRA…
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090700 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095729 · 2004-10-13 (October 13, 2004)
PURCHASED DODGE RAN 2500 2004 4WD HEMI NEW IN JANUARY OF 2004 AND FOUND A VIBRATION IN DRIVE TRAIN AND COMING THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AND SEE THE VIBRATION THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AS DISTORTION.I HAVE UNSUCCESFULLY HAVE GOT A FIX FROM MY DEALERSHIP AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THEM FIX THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE.I DO NOT LIKE HAVING A VIBRATION LIKE THIS AT 60 + MILES PER HOUR.THIS IS A HAZARD. PUT THE TRUCK INTO 4WD AND THE WHOLE FRONT END SHAKES WHEN TURNING THE WHEELS AND HARD TO GET BACK INTO 2 WD FROM LOW 4WD. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055325 · 2004-01-16 (January 16, 2004)
2004 DODGE RAM 2500 PICKUP.*MR (NAR) WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID ODOR, AND ELECTRICAL BRAKES INSTALLED. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10055325 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089151 · 2004-08-18 (August 18, 2004)
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING BUT IN THE PARKED POSITION, IT AUTOMATICALLY SLIPPED INTO REVERSE. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED TWICE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO RUN AND JAM THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089151 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088824 · 2004-08-30 (August 30, 2004)
PURCHASED DODGE RAM 2500 2004 4WD HEMI BRAND NEW 2 WEEKS AGO, 7/30/04. PUT THE TRUCK IN 4WD AND DROVE FOR 1 MILE. TOOK THE TRUCK OUT OF 4WD, WENT TO 2WD AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. LEFT ME STRANDED FOR 2 1/2 HOURS WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK WHEN I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON VACATION. NO RENTAL CAR AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT GIVE US ONE - NEW TRUCK, UNDER WARRANTY, FIRST TIME IN 4WD. WE WERE 3 HOURS FROM HOME IN OUTER BANKS AND CLOSEST DEALER WOULD NOT WORK ON TRUCK BECAUSE HE STATED, "YOU SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT YOUR TRUCK FROM ME". WE …
Owner-reported narrative. 750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088824 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089024 · 2004-09-02 (September 2, 2004)
ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS I THOUGHT I PUT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND LATER REALIZED IT WAS IN REVERSE. DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG HERE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108729 · 2005-01-24 (January 24, 2005)
THE WEATHER STRIPPING IN THE DOOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN BECAUSE THEY ARE PINCHING. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE LEAKS, WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE RE-DESIGNED THE WEATHER STRIPPING IN THE NEWER MODEL YEAR TRUCKS WHICH IS MADE OUT OF A DIFFERENT MATERIAL BUT FAILS EVEN QUICKER THAN THE ORIGINAL ONE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165987 · 2006-08-18 (August 18, 2006)
I OWN A 2004.5 DODGE CUMMINS DIESEL. AT 7000 MILES THE TRUCK BURNED UP 6 FUEL INJECTORS. DODGE CLAIMED IT WAS CONTAMINATED FUEL. I ONLY BUY FUEL IN ONE PLACE SO I HAD AZ DEPT. OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES CHECK THE STATION. THEIR FUEL WAS FINE. I LATER ($5000.00 DOLLARS LATER)FOUND THAT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK HAS A RECESS THAT FILLS WITH WATER AND HAS AN AIR INLET THAT IS LOWER THAT THE WATER LINE. WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE FUEL TANK WILL PULL WATER IN AS FAST AS YOU BURN FUEL WHICH IN TURN WILL BURN UP THE INJECTORS. DODGE KNOWS ABOUT THIS PRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165987 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095607 · 2004-10-12 (October 12, 2004)
THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE AND THE ONLY THING THEY DO IS RESET THE COMPUTER AND BEFORE I GET HOME IT COMES BACK ON. THIS MAKES THE TRUCK STALL AND AFFECTS THE BRAKES. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095607 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121969 · 2005-05-23 (May 23, 2005)
TODAY STALLED AGAIN WHILE TURNING INTO INTERSECTION. FAILURE OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT. 6TH TIME IN LAST 2 MONTHS. DEALER FLASHED COMPUTER 2X AND REPLACED MAP SENSOR PER DAMLER CHRYSLER ENGINEERS. STILL NOT FIXED.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121969 at NHTSA ↗