2004 Dodge Ram 2500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (80) · Steering (78) · Power Train:automatic Transmission (56)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Dodge Ram 2500 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
406 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Air Bags 2014-12-03 · campaign 14V770000 · 250,896 vehicles
Defect: 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 Sam
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. For vehicles that were sold, or are currently registered, in Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, owners were notified and the recall began on December 5, 2014. For all other vehicles, Chrysler notified owners and the recall began on February 3, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P40 Expanded
Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly 2013-11-06 · campaign 13V528000 · 706,664 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler notified owners and launched its recall campaign in January 2014. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N62.
Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly 2011-07-06 · campaign 11V350000 · 242,780 vehicles
Defect: 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 CUSTO
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL STABILITY IN THE LEFT HAND FRONT WHEEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TIE ROD ENDS FOR RELATIVE ORIENTATION AND REPLACE THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD AS REQUIRED AND PERFORM A FRONT END TOE ALIGNMENT AS NEEDED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 3, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Steering:gear Box:shaft Pitman 2010-05-03 · campaign 10E013000 · 1,500 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: STEERING LOSS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMAGE, INJURY OR DEATH.
Fix: FABTECH WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND AUTHORIZED INSTALLERS WILL INSPECT FOR DEFECTIVE PITMAN ARM AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FABTECH AT 1-877-432-2832.
Service bulletins (39)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Service Brakes 2026-06-26 · S1203000003 REV.A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
trac-rite operation diagnosis, chatter, shudder, moving from a stop and turning
Power Train 2024-10-30 · 101232 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
plate - planetary
Electrical System 2022-07-09 · S2208000136 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
security module lock out after entering the pin to unlock the wireless control module (wcm)
Electrical System 2022-07-09 · S2208000136 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
security module lock out after entering the pin to unlock the wireless control module (wcm)
Electrical System:ignition:anti-Theft:immobilizer/Proximity:key/Sender 2020-07-22 · 9004275 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
key, master if replacing the key/fobik on a wj, kj, tj, or pt cruiser, use the "ac" nic level part number. the "ab" nic level will not program to these platforms. for all other platforms, if the "ab" nic level will not program to the vehicle, use the "ac" nic level part and submit a part warranty.
Electrical System:ignition:anti-Theft:immobilizer/Proximity:key/Sender 2020-07-22 · 9004275 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
key, master if replacing the key/fobik on a wj, kj, tj, or pt cruiser, use the "ac" nic level part number. the "ab" nic level will not program to these platforms. for all other platforms, if the "ab" nic level will not program to the vehicle, use the "ac" nic level part and submit a part warranty.
Showing the 6 most recent of 39 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-11 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2004 dodge ram 2500. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v352000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the contact was unable to renew the registration with the unrepaired recall. the manufacturer was contacted by phone. the contact was informed that parts were unavailabl…”
2026-08-12 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 💥 crash · 🔥 fire“in the past 6 months my steering and suspension components failed causing me to wreck and also somehow my engine bay deteriorated in turn having started a fire …”
2026-07-08 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2004 dodge ram. the contact received notification of nthsa campaign number: 16v352000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the local dealer was contacted. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was not mad…”
2026-05-04 · Steering“the contact owns a 2004 dodge ram. the contact was informed that the vehicle had four notifications of nhtsa campaign numbers: 13v528000 (steering), 16v352000 (air bags), 15v313000 (air bags) and 09e001000 (steering). however, the parts to do the recall repairs for both air bags are not available. two local dealers were contacted and confirmed that…”
2023-03-10 · Steering“the contact owns a 2004 dodge ram 2500. the contact received notifications of nhtsa campaign numbers: 13v528000 (steering) and 16v352000 (air bags) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. the manufacturer was made aware of…”
2022-08-21 · Steering“my vehicle had wat is known as the 3rd gen steering assembly. which is known and reported by multiple consumers to cause wat everyone calls a death wobble " death wobble happens in jeeps, 4x4s, and trucks when rapidly rotating steering wheel components cause your steering wheel to move rapidly from side to side. this causes your vehicle to feel lik…”
2022-07-21 · Suspension“when driving over some overpasses on highways the "bump" causes the whole front end to shake and makes steering very hard to maintain. i have heard this called "the dodge death wobble" and has been reported by many other dodge ram owners. i have had all of the ball joints and tie rod replaced. this is a highly disturbing occurrence when travelin…”
2022-02-22 · Suspension“dodge death wobble. this death wobble started prior to my 100000mile warranty expired, but by the time i drove the truck home, it was over the milage. after a lot of bs and a fee, dodge "fixed" my problem. ( for a while) they have refused to re-repair their bad design since. .i've spent many hours and money temporarily repairing their front end de…”
2021-10-18 · Fuel/Propulsion System“while the nhtsa is looking at the later dodge diesel pickups, the 5.9 engines commonly fail at low mileage (mine was at 100,000 miles) by the intank pump failing. mine shut off at 45mph in traffic on state 33 in idaho without warning.. my truck was towed to repair facility and waited 4 weeks for a substitute pump to be installed. the turbo diesel …”
2020-08-03 · Unknown Or Other · 148,000 mi“the frame on my truck is rusting out from underneath of its self, which is leading to crack in spots. the date provided below is an about date. i took my truck in for tire work and asked the guys if he could look over my truck to see if there is something that i might have missed, i do it quarterly. they told me that my frame was cracked and rottin…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.