2004 Dodge RAM 3500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
214 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
61,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 144 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 42 of 214 complaints (19.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 40 | 18.7% |
| Braking behavior | 24 | 11.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 23 | 10.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 4.2% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 3.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 42 |
| Steering | 37 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 34 |
| Suspension | 18 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Power Train | 13 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift | 6 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 6 |
Air Bags: 42; Steering: 37; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 34; Suspension: 18; Electrical System: 13; Power Train: 13; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift: 6; Visibility/Wiper: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 45 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 16 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 23 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 27 |
| 150,000 and above | 13 |
Under 25,000: 45; 25,000 to 49,999: 16; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 23; 100,000 to 149,999: 27; 150,000 and above: 13
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (45). 70 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 | 25 |
| 2005 | 31 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2015 | 32 |
| 2016 | 17 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2004: 25; 2005: 31; 2006: 12; 2007: 12; 2008: 4; 2009: 3; 2010: 12; 2011: 9; 2012: 3; 2013: 8; 2014: 18; 2015: 32; 2016: 17; 2017: 13; 2018: 7; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2022: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 40 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 23 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 10102614 · 2004-12-10 (December 10, 2004)
LOAD CLUNKING NOISE FROM FRONT AXLE, AND NOTICABLE INSTABILLITY IN STEERING ON BUMPY ROADS THAT ONLY STARTED WHEN THE FRONT BALL JOINTS DEVELOPED WHAT I BELEIVE TO BE EXCESSIVE WEAR. I MEASURED .033 VERTICLE FREE PLAY OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE, BUT MINIMAL LATERAL PLAY. ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYSLER, THE -QUOTE- "NEW WAY OF CHECKING PLAY" ONLY REGISTERS .010 FREEPLAY, AND THE BALL JOINT HAS TO HAVE .060 TO BE DECLARE DEFECTIVE. AS SUCH DAIMLERCHRYSLER DENIED MY REPAIR. IN MY OPINION BY THE TIME THE LATERAL PLAY MEASURES .060, THE VERTICLE PLAY…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10110771 · 2005-02-18 (February 18, 2005)
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TIRE DEALER FOR NEW TIRES, AND THE DEALER INDICATED THE FRONT END WAS COMPLETELY WORN OUT. THE VEHICLE HAD 49000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. TOOK TO DEALER FROM WHOM PUCHASED AND TOLD VEHICLE WAS OUT OF 36000 MILES WARRANTY.*AK DEALER AUTHORIZED TO REPLACE PARTS AT A TOTAL COST OF $1555.24. RACK -STEERING GEAR,UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND LOWER CONTROL BALL JOINTS REPLACED. DEALER INDICATED HE TALKED WITH DISTRICT MANAGER TO SEE IF ANY RECALLS OR PROBLEMS REPORTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 51,114 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110771 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081010 · 2004-07-13 (July 13, 2004)
ABS LIGHT CAME ON. AIR CONDITIONER WENT OFF AND ON. WENT TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION , AND HEARD A POP, AND BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. FINALLY STOPPED WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE. A MAN CAME RUNNING SAYING GET OUT THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. CALLED THE FIRE DEPT. THIS IS A NEW TRUCK WITH 8,000 MILES ON IT. WE ARE WAITING FOR A REP FROM CHRYSLER TO INVESTIGATE. THEY WOULD NOT EVEN PUT US IN A RENTAL UNTIL THEY GOT TO IT. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR KILLED SOMEONE ELSE. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE OUT OF TOWN AT BRUBAKER BUT HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A LO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10081010 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088579 · 2004-08-25 (August 25, 2004)
MY 2004.5 DODGE 3500 TRUCK WHILE IN PARK WITH ENGINE RUNNING SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THREE VEHICLES. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE TRANSMISSION HAS JUMPED OUT OF PARK, THE FIRST TWO I THOUGHT MAYBE I DIDN'T HAVE IT ALL THE WAY IN PARK, SO I BECAME AWARE TO CHECK IT, WHICH I DID BEFORE THIS LAST EPISODE. ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T HAVE THE PARKING BRAKE ON, I BELIEVE THIS POSES A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM, WHICH OTHERS MAY BE EXPERIENCING AS WELL.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 16,140 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088579 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087180 · 2004-08-20 (August 20, 2004)
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT IDLING IN THE PARK POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO A TREE. *AK *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116256 · 2005-04-02 (April 2, 2005)
NOTICED A VIBRATION WHEN REACHING SPEEDS OVER 72 MILES PER HOUR. CONTACTED LOCAL DEALER REGARDING PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THE TRUCK WAS IN FOR SERVICE THE LOCAL DEALER DECIDED TO PUT IN A NEW DRIVE LINE AND ALIGNED IT. AFTER THIS SERVICE THE VIBRATION STILL EXISTED. SOON AFTER THE TRUCK STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY DUE TO A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL INJECTOR PUMP. I BELIEVE THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE EVER PRESENT VIBRATION. SECOND TIME LOCAL DEALER SAW THE TRUCK THEY REPLACED THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP AND TRIED TO RE-ALIGN TO FIX THE VIBRATI…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121352 · 2005-05-18 (May 18, 2005)
DT: VEHICLE STALLED ON HIGHWAY DUE TO BAD FUEL PUMP. 2004 DODGE PICKED UP AND STALLED ON HIGHWAY MORE THAN ONCE. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPLACE THE ORIGINAL FUEL PUMP BECAUSE DAIMLER/CHRYSLER SAID THE ORIGINAL FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE, AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO IT IN THE FUEL TANK AND REWIRE IT. FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 126,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10099641 · 2004-11-08 (November 8, 2004)
VEHICLE STALLED INADVERTENTLY. VEHICLE COULD BE DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED AND THIS DEFECT COULD OCCUR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10099641 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105576 · 2005-03-30 (March 30, 2005)
THE BRAKES LOCKED AT 35 MPH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION INTO A DITCH. *AK THERE WERE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE IN WHICH THE MECHANICS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE. THE CONSUMER HIT A FENCE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WOULD JUST STALL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,949 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105576 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129277 · 2005-07-19 (July 19, 2005)
EXHAUST SMELL FROM FRESH AIR VENTS, MAINLY WHILE IDLING MY 2004 DODGE RAM 3500 4X4 WITH CUMMINS ENGINE. I NOTICED THE SMELL WITHIN DAYS OF PURCHASE, TOOK IT TO SEVERAL DEALERS, AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. END SUGGESTION WAS A CITRUS OIL ADDITIVE TO MAKE THE EXHAUST SMELL LIKE CITRUS. (NO JOKE) FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE, FILLING CRANKCASE WITH DIESEL, CAUSING ROUGH RUNNING AND EVENTUAL OIL PRESSURE LOSS. DEALER, UPON ADVISMENT FROM "TECH DEPARTMENT" CHANGED THE OIL, REPLACED THE FAULTY INJECTOR AND GOT ME OUT …
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129277 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160398 · 2006-06-21 (June 21, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MODULATOR VALVE OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM KEEPS RUNNING EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS THE IGNITION OFF WHICH TAKES BATTERY TO FULL DISCHARGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT ONLY THE DEALERSHIP IS ABLE TO REPAIR IT. UPDATED 7/18/2006 - IN ORDER TO KEEP THE BATTERY FROM TOTALLY DISCHARGING THE CONSUMER HAD TO UNPLUG THE WIRING TO THE ABS MODULATOR WHICH CAUSE THE CRUISE CONTROL, SPEEDOMETER, TRIP COMPUTER AND ABS TO STOP WORKING.*NM
Owner-reported narrative. 43,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160398 at NHTSA ↗