2005 Dodge RAM 3500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
196 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
82,251 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 137 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 51 of 196 complaints (26.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 51 | 26.0% |
| Braking behavior | 23 | 11.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 17 | 8.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 3.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 3.6% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 2.6% |
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 | 51 |
| Air Bags | 33 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 25 |
| Suspension | 14 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 7 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
Steering: 51; Air Bags: 33; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 25; Suspension: 14; Electrical System: 13; Visibility/Wiper: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Unknown Or Other: 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 | 32 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 28 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 29 |
| 150,000 and above | 22 |
Under 25,000: 32; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 28; 100,000 to 149,999: 29; 150,000 and above: 22
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (32). 59 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 | 1 |
| 2005 | 25 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 30 |
| 2015 | 24 |
| 2016 | 22 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
2004: 1; 2005: 25; 2006: 14; 2007: 9; 2008: 6; 2009: 4; 2010: 13; 2011: 7; 2012: 4; 2013: 9; 2014: 30; 2015: 24; 2016: 22; 2017: 12; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 3; 2021: 3; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2025: 3
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 51 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 17 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 10127004 · 2005-06-29 (June 29, 2005)
DT: CONSUMER STATED STEERING BOX MALFUNCTIONED. WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL, IT DIDN'T TURN STRAIGHTEN BACK UP ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. ALSO, CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER, AND WAS TOLD THEY DID NOT HEAR OF THE PROBLEM. HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE TO FIND OUT IF THEY COULD HELP WITH THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER NOTICED THE PROBLEM JUNE 28, 2005. HE HAS A FRIEND WHO HAS THE SAME VEHICLE, AND TOOK VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. HE FELT IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10127004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131632 · 2005-08-04 (August 4, 2005)
A WEEK BEFORE TAKING IN MY 2005 RAM 2500 TRUCK TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING HAD CHANGED. THE TRUCK WANDERED, THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND MID WAY THROUGH A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP. THREE DAYS BEFORE TAKING IN MY TRUCK INTO THE DEALER, THE STEERING GEAR BOX STARTED TO MAKE A GROWLING NOISE. AFTER TAKING MY TRUCK IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, THE ASE TECH THAT WAS GIVEN TO WORK ORDER FOR MY TRUCK DECLARED IT SAFE FOR ROAD USE. 8 HOURS LATER AFTER PLEADING WITH THE HEAD SERVICE MANAGER TO TAKE MY…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131632 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117808 · 2005-04-12 (April 12, 2005)
PROBLEMS WITH CONTINUOUS ACCELERATION ON 2005 DODGE RAM 2500 EVEN AFTER CRUISE CONTROL IS DISENGAGED.*MR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON BUT NOT ENGAGED DUE TO BRAKING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF THEN TURNED BACK ON THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117808 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135127 · 2005-09-01 (September 1, 2005)
DODGE REPRESENTS THE 3500 RAM I PURCHASED TO BE A HEAVY DUTY TOW VEHICLE CAPABLE OF SAFELY TOWING NEARLY 16000 LBS. UPON MY PURCHASE I QUICKLY DISCOVERED THAT THEY HAVE REMOVED THE BASIC OVERDRIVE LOCK OUT FEATURE FOUND ON MOST IF NOT ALL VEHICLES IN THIS CLASS OF AUTOMOBILE. THE COMPUTER PROGRAM AND TRANSMISSION CONTROLS WILL COMMAND THIS VEHICLE INTO OVERDRIVE REGARDLESS OF TERRAIN OR LOAD BEING TOWED OR CARRIED AT THE TIME. BOTTOM LINE IF YOU TOUCH THE GAS WHILE GOING DOWN A GRADE PULLING A 16000 LB TRAILER YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF IN OVERD…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135127 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10110289 · 2005-02-10 (February 10, 2005)
2005 DODGE RAM 3500 CUMMINS DEISEL WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TRANSMISSION FAILED AT ONLY FIVE THOUSAND MILES. DEALER REPLACED FRONT PUMP, COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF TRANS., REPLACED TORQUE CONVERTER TWICE, AND REPLACED VALVE BODY BEFORE SUCCESS AFTER ELEVEN DAYS IN SHOP. SERVICE DEPT. ADVISED THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED TRANS. FAILURE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126686 · 2005-08-01 (August 1, 2005)
DT: DODGE RAM WITH CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINE . THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DECELERATE WHEN LETTING OFF OF THE THROTTLE. HAD ONE MINOR FENDER BENDER, AND A NEAR MISS AS A RESULT OF FEELING AS THOUGH THE MOTOR WAS STILL PULLING. NO REPAIRS, BUT HAS BEEN TO DEALER TWICE. CONTACTED CHRYSLER, WHO STATED THIS WAS PROGRAMMED INTO THE COMPUTER TO DO THIS DUE TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHICH MAGNIFIED THE PROBLEM. HAD NO PLANS TO CHANGE THIS DESIGN. CURRENTLY THIS IS STILL A PROBLEM. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152342 · 2006-03-09 (March 9, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS, HEAD LIGHTS AND THE DOME LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FLICKERED IN AND OUT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DETERMINED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD A DEFECT; HOWEVER IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152342 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10199604 · 2007-08-14 (August 14, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE RAM 3500. WHEN HE STARTED HIS VEHICLE WHEN IT IDLED HIGH AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THIS CAUSED THE BELL HOUSING TO BLOW OUT, WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CAB. IT ALSO RIPPED THE EXHAUST FROM UNDER THE CAB AND RIPPED OUT SOME WIRING. THE CLUTCH AND OTHER PARTS DISENGAGED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 76,000. UPDATED 09/18/07 *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199604 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10328062 · 2010-04-29 (April 29, 2010)
THE NEXT TOYOTA IS IN YOUR LAP FOUR TIMES NOW MY DODGE TRUCK WITH A CUMMINGS DIESEL MOTOR HAS HAD A FUEL LINE BURST AND SPRAY FUEL ALL OVER A HOT MOTOR AND EXHAUST PIPES. THE LAST TIME, THIS RESULTED IN A FIRE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK THAT I PUT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. DODGE CLAIMS THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, YET THE CUMMINGS DIESEL FORUMS ON THE INTERNET HAVE THOUSANDS OF POSTS ON THIS PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.CUMMINSFORUM.COM/FORUM/3RD-GEN-POWERTRAIN/189520-GUYS-CHECK-YOUR-4TH-INJECTOR-LINE-STICKY.HTML DODGE SAYS T…
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328062 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10344692 · 2010-07-22 (July 22, 2010)
2005 DODGE RAM 3500 4X4 CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINE #4 INJECTOR TUBE (LINE) CRACKED AND SPRAYED ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITH FUEL DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT HAPPENED WILE DRIVING THE UNDER CARRIAGE WAS FUEL SOAKED ALSO. I HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR. DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND I WAS CHARGED FOR REPAIR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10344692 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118757 · 2005-04-30 (April 30, 2005)
2005, DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 QUAD CAB 5.7L, 3.92 GEARS INTERMITTENTLY STALLED. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED AN ALMOST IDENTICAL 2003. IT HAD A 4.7L / 3.55 GEARS. SO FAR THE TRUCK STALLED TWICE WHILE IDLING IN FRONT OF THE MAILBOX. ONCE WHILE IDLING WAITING ON LINE TO PICK MY CHILD UP FROM SCHOOL. ONCE WHILE IDLING WAITING FOR MONEY AT AN ATM MACHINE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 4,729 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118757 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10122165 · 2005-05-25 (May 25, 2005)
I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT AND COMMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN IT STALLED OUT. I WAS RUNNING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND CUMMING TO A STOP IN A LEFT TURN LANE IT STALLED OUT. THIS IS A DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB SHORT BED.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10122165 at NHTSA ↗