2005 Dodge Ram 1500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (500) · Air Bags (154) · Suspension (42)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Dodge Ram 1500 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
678 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (6)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2016-05-24 · campaign 16V352000 · 4,648,270 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2012 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2012 Chrysler 300, 2006-201
Risk: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S43. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-7700.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2015-05-26 · campaign 15V313000 · 4,077,169 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time,
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began for Chrylser on June 8, 2015. The recall for Mitsubishi started on June 24, 2015. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Mitsubishi owners may call 1-888-648-782
Power Train:driveline:differential Unit 2014-12-16 · campaign 14V796000 · 257,065 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 trucks manufactured January 28, 2004, to August 3, 2005. In the affected vehicles, the rear axle pinion nut may loosen due to an undersized spline on the pinion gear.
Risk: If the pinion nut loosens, the rear axle may seize, and/or the driveshaft may detach resulting in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a retention feature to the pinion nut, free of charge. The recall began on June 26, 2015, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P77.
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
Wheels:hub 2010-08-23 · campaign 10E040000 · 34,604 vehicles
Defect: FEDERAL-MOGUL IS RECALLING CERTAIN CARQUEST, NATIONAL, AND PERCISION BRAND WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS 515073 AND 515073, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2008 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCKS. THE INBOARD ROLL FORM USED TO MAINTAIN THE HUB ASSEMBLY CAN FATIGUE RESULTING IN NOISE AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION ON THE TWO WHEEL DRIVE (2WD) APPLICATIONS. THE RISK OF THESE ISSUES DO NOT OCCUR ON THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) APPLICATIONS, AND INSTALLATION ON THE 4WD APPLICATIONS
Risk: A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR IF THE WHEEL SEPARATES FROM THE VEHICLE.
Fix: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND TECHNICIANS WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED HUB ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 1-877-489-6659.
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 (37)
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.
Power Train 2024-10-30 · 101232 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
plate - planetary
Power Train 2021-04-07 · 9004009 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
transmission kit with torque converter 1. all promaster (vf) 3.6l/62te equipped vehicles. if the transmission bracket to the transmission case fasteners are removed during servicing, the fasteners (part number 06511385a$) are one-time usage. vehicles built prior to 10/23/2015 requires service kit p
Power Train 2021-03-31 · 9004009 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
transmission kit with torque converter 1. all promaster (vf) 3.6l/62te equipped vehicles. if the transmission bracket to the transmission case fasteners are removed during servicing, the fasteners (part number 06511385a$) are one-time usage. vehicles built prior to 10/23/2015 requires service kit p
Power Train 2021-02-22 · 9001784 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
mechanical rocker arm, intake, 1.7 ratio.
Equipment 2021-02-22 · 9001784 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
mechanical rocker arm, intake, 1.7 ratio.
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 37 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-21 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2005 dodge ram 1500.the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v352000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the local dealer was contacted and declined to perform the recall repair, due to parts not being available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a …”
2026-10-20 · Power Train“the truck broke down on the side of the road and it was determined that the driveshaft fell off. once it arrived at wilson motors, the representative told me the vehicle broke due to a nut and bolt that held the driveshaft onto the rear axle. this faulty issue was known by dodge and there was a recall on these parts in 2014. i was not the original …”
2026-10-16 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“my vehicle was involved in a severe frontal collision where i t-boned another vehicle that failed to yield the right-of-way while i was traveling at approximately 30 mph. the impact caused significant structural front-end damage to my truck. despite a direct frontal collision at a clear deployment speed threshold (30 mph), the airbags completely fa…”
2026-10-09 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2005 dodge ram 1500. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v352000 (air bags). the contact stated that several local dealers were contacted by phone, and the contact was informed that the parts would be available within 2-3 months. the contact stated that the vehicle was unable to be registered with an unr…”
2026-09-25 · Unknown Or Other“was driving down xxx around 3 am when my truck started shaking and vibrating severally and then my rearend blinded an my driveshaft snapped all the ears off causing my driveshaft to fail. leaving in a very dangerous way. so dangerous that they got a tow truck to in ten minutes the vehicle was loaded with us still inside because of the dangerous sit…”
2026-08-31 · Unknown Or Other“i believe that the pinion nut loosened causing my rear end to lock up snapping the ears off my driveshaft at 75mph on [xxx] causing me to fishtail and nearly hitting the guard rail. coming to a stop on a bridge right outside of [xxx]. it's pitch black outthere. and with semi tru cks able to do 75mph every time they pass just shakes your whole vehic…”
2026-08-25 · Air Bags“dealer says part has been backordered for 165 days. my vehicle is not currently legal to drive because the nys inspection has expired. .getting a huge runaround from the dealer …”
2026-08-05 · Unknown Or Other“the pinion bolt loosend driveshaft started shaking badly then blew up causing the rearend to bind up causing loss of control. leaving me in a dangerous situation on i40 so dangerous that they got a tow truck to me within 10 minutes which is unheard of.had my truck towed to ascot automotive specialist. which is my mechanic for my truck. had it fixe…”
2026-07-07 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2005 dodge ram 1500. 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 dealer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was not made…”
2026-06-24 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2005 dodge ram 1500. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v352000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of ti…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.