2004 Dodge 1500 Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced transmission failure, and the brake lines were rusted. The contact was trapped in the desert for hours with his dog. The contact stated that two independent mechanics had determined that the idler pulley needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that six injectors and the ECM needed to be rebuilt. While driving, the vehicle went into the death wobble, and several linkages were damaged. Additionally, the front seat belts were inoperable with the seat belt warning light illuminated. The vehicle became inoperable. The vehicle was repaired under warranty previously, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 228,510.

NHTSA ID

11728619

Incident

Mar 1, 2026

Mileage

228,510 mi

Driving on freeway , lost power Cruise control automatically shut off yellow light shape of a motor came on ; on the upper left side of the dashboard, had to pull over on side of freeway. Able to restart after a little bit. Another time sitting at traffic light shuts off , same light again . Another time had to wait from 11 pm to 3 am before it started and had called a tow truck.. THE RECALL IT FALLS UNDER IS #20V475000 CRANKSHAFT SENSOR , called and filed claim defect # is11686607 . Please Reply

NHTSA ID

11686970

Incident

Jul 10, 2025

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal and stalled. In addition, the vehicle vibrated before losing power. The vehicle stalled at an intersection. The contact was stopped for hours, and the vehicle failed to restart. After six hours, the tow truck arrived, and the contact restarted the vehicle. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the yellow warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact's brother, a mechanic, inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the crankshaft position sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V475000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 312,000.

NHTSA ID

11686607

Incident

Aug 27, 2025

Mileage

312,000 mi

I recently figured out a problem with my truck that is an extreme danger. When you fill up the fuel tank at any gas station, it seems that the fuel enters the vapor canister and makes the engine stall for about a mile before it starts running properly. After several close encounters after filling the tank, I looked upon other threads of Dodge Ram owners and found this to be a common problem that was never addressed by Chrysler and never acted upon by NHTSA. Please look into this and advise a course of action to have Chrysler repair this problem.. It is a matter of time before either I or another with the same problem are seriously injured or killed due to this defect. Many Thanks In Advance!!

NHTSA ID

11488971

Incident

Oct 11, 2022

My family has owned 3 5.7 HEMI vehicles all ranging from the years of 2002-2006 and they have all had the engine randomly seize up on us while driving almost causing major accidents, two of these vehicles are still owned one in an auto shop. I do not believe that this is a coincidence, I believe this is a manufacturer fault that needs to answer to and possibly pay back everyone effected by this event. The auto shop I have the truck at is Lott's auto in Junction City, KS and they themselves know of this fault as well. This needs to be answered to, it is a safety issue and a waste of money to people who trust Dodge with these vehicles, the auto shop informed me this is with the 5.7 HEMI from all years between 2000-2011. Please investigate this and hold Dodge accountable.

NHTSA ID

11447422

Incident

Jan 12, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND BRAKING IN TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOSS POWER STEERING AND BRAKING FUNCTIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXTRA EFFORT WAS NEEDED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND ALSO TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED FOR APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN MINUTES BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. BUCKEYE CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (278 MANSFIELD AVE, SHELBY, OH 44875, (419) 347-5222) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND SINCE THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 201,732.

NHTSA ID

11362752

Incident

Sep 21, 2020

Mileage

201,732 mi

ENGINE STALLS WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED AND WHEN IN IDLE. THIS STARTED HAPPENING APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AGO. CHECK ENGINE HAS NEVER TURNED ON.

NHTSA ID

11191006

Incident

Mar 16, 2019

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE AND THEN DECELERATE WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BERGEY'S CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (408 HARLEYSVILLE PIKE, SOUDERTON, PA 18964, (215) 721-3470) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,870.

NHTSA ID

11110767

Incident

Jul 9, 2018

Mileage

78,870 mi

ENGINE SHUTS OFF AT LOW SPEEDS WHILE DRIVING, VERY HAZARDOUS. NOTICE ESPECIALLY AFTER I FILL THE GAS TANK UP. WHEN ENGINE SHUTS OFF, YOU LOOSE POWER STEERING ADN BRAKES. HELP.

NHTSA ID

11098693

Incident

May 10, 2018

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL BANGING NOISE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED OIL LEAKING UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS MISSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NORMANDIN CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM FIAT (900 CAPITAL EXPRESSWAY AUTO MALL, SAN JOSE, CA 95136) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW DRIVE SHAFT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.

NHTSA ID

11084317

Incident

Mar 14, 2018

Mileage

171,000 mi

AFTER FILLING TRUCK, AND NOT TOPPING OFF, THE TRUCK ENGINE WILL "DIE" WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING AFTER EVERY FILL-UP NOW. I HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL THEN IT WILL RESTART. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION BUT I HANDLE IT WELL. OUR DODGE CARAVAN DID THE SAME SAME THING IN 2016 AND DODGE REPLACED THE FUEL TANK, FILTER CANISTERS. IT CURED THE PROBLEM. I JUST CALLED DODGE AND THEY LOGGED MY PROBLEM BUT THAT WAS IT! ANYONE ELSE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IT DOES NOT THROW A CODE BY THE WAY! CAN ANYONE HELP? THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, CITY STREET ETC. I HAVE A NEW ENGINE AND THE PROBLEM WAS THE SAME AFTERWORDS. THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM ON TEST DRIVES.

NHTSA ID

11078970

Incident

Mar 3, 2018

Mileage

243,435 mi

ENGINE STALLS AT ALL SPEEDS ON AN INTERSTATE WHILE GOING 75 MPH WITH NO CONTROL OF STEERING DUE TO LOST OF POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. SOMETIMES IT WILL RESTART OF SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T RIGHT AWAY BUT AFTER ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES IT WILL RESTART. THIS IS ALSO TRUE OF PARKING LOTS AND CITY STREETS. WITH NO CODES OR ENGINE CHECK LIGHT TO REFER TO.

NHTSA ID

11031536

Incident

Oct 1, 2017

Mileage

174,656 mi

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY STARTED TO HEAR TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT PASSENGER SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD FOUND TWO BROKEN EXAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS THAT WERE MAKING THIS TAPPING NOISE. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 90,OOO + MILES ON IT HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER ON THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED EVER, AND KNOW THIS HAPPENS PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS EXHAUST LEAKING PROBLEM. WHY WOULD THIS HAPPEN,I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS KIND OF PROBLEM BEFORE, ME AND MY WIFE ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT EXHAUST FUMES KNOW DRIVING AROUND TOWN WHAT SHOULD WE DO. A MECHANIC IS TRYING TO CHARGE ME OVER $500.00 FOR THIS FIX AND NO GUARANTEE THAT NEW BOLTS ARE NOT GOING TO BREAK AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

11015449

Incident

Aug 12, 2017

Mileage

75 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR OVER TWENTY-FOUR HOURS, WITHOUT BEING STARTED OR DRIVEN, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR WAS DISPATCHED FROM FCA TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND NO DETERMINATION OF WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 30972693 BY THE INVESTIGATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED.

NHTSA ID

11002361

Incident

Jan 21, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

A MALFUNCTION IN THE UNDER HOOD ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED A FIRE WHICH DESTROYED THE ENGINE, FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND SEVERELY DAMAGED THE INTERIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON MY DRIVEWAY AND HAD NOT BEEN STARTED NOR DRIVEN IN OVER 24 HOURS UP TO THE TIME THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.

NHTSA ID

10946862

Incident

Jan 17, 2017

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,100. UPDATED 05/17/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID

10946363

Incident

Dec 5, 2016

Mileage

90,100 mi

ON 9/9/2016 MY WIFE ENTERED OUR GARAGE TO GET SOMETHING AND FOUND THE GARAGE FILLED WITH EXHAUST FUMES DUE TO MY 2004 DODGE RAM 1500 ENGINE RUNNING. OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS PARKED WITHOUT ANYONE IN IT. HOWEVER, NO ONE HAD THE KEYS IN THEIR HANDS AND THERE WAS NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. IT RANDOMLY STARTED ON IT'S OWN. I FILED A COMPLAINT BEFORE ABOUT IT RANDOMLY LOCKING AND UNLOCKING DOORS, AND IT RANDOMLY HAVING ALL LIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. THIS ONE, A RANDOM START WHEN PARKED IN A GARAGE COULD TURN FATAL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10905182

Incident

Sep 10, 2016

Mileage

119,736 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKE, THE CHECK ENGINE, THE ABS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V313000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V352000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT AND VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10893038

Incident

Aug 3, 2015

Mileage

157,000 mi

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN TURNING OFF LATELY, WHILE IN TRAFFIC, MAKING TURNS OR PARKING. MY CAR LOSES RPMS, THE LIGHTS DIM, AND THEN THE CAR CUTS OFF. I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURN IT OFF, AND RESTART THE ENGINE AND PROCEED ON TO MY DESTINATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BE REPEATEDLY OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, I DON'T FEEL SAFE BEING IN MY TRUCK.

NHTSA ID

10854277

Incident

Apr 5, 2016

Mileage

194,000 mi

CONSTANT IDLE PROBLEMS WITH STALLING IN PARK AND LOW SPEEDS

NHTSA ID

10837344

Incident

May 4, 2015

Mileage

147,000 mi

THE TRUCK STALLS AT STOPS AND TURNS AFTER FUEL FILL UP

NHTSA ID

10837069

Incident

Feb 18, 2016

Mileage

81,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED AND REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V313000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL FROM THE OIL PAN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE SECOND AIR BAG. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE FOR THE LEAKING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

NHTSA ID

10825553

Incident

Sep 1, 2015

Mileage

1,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V770000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V313000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10825388

Incident

Feb 23, 2015

Mileage

132,000 mi

VEHICLE STALLS WITHIN 2-4 SECONDS AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS PROBLEM FIRST MANIFESTED ITSELF IN 2010, IT OCCURRED ONCE AND DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL SIX MONTHS AGO, OCCURRING ONCE A MONTH OR SO. IT HAS NOW BECOME NEARLY A DAILY OCCURRENCE THIS MONTH. THERE ARE NO OTHER INDICATIONS SUCH AS WARNING LIGHTS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR TROUBLE CODES. THE VEHICLE WILL USUALLY START RIGHT BACK UP BUT ON 01-07-2016 IT TOOK ALMOST AN HOUR BEFORE IT WOULD RESTART, THAT WAS AFTER BLOCKING TRAFFIC AT A BUSY INTERSECTION FOR 40 MINUTES AND A 20 MINUTE TOW.

NHTSA ID

10820069

Incident

Jan 7, 2016

Mileage

127,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 TO 65 MPH THE RED LIGHTNING BOLT LIGHT ON THE DASH BEGINS TO FLASH, THE VEHICLES ENGINE BECOMES ERADIC, SOMETIMES IT DIES, OTHER TIMES IT REVS HARD AND WON'T CHANGE INTO ANOTHER GEAR, ALL CONTROL OF THE FUEL SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE LOST CAUSING A SERIOUS SITUATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS HAPPENS TO THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY, SOME DAYS YOU CAN DRIVE 70 MILES WITH NO PROBLEMS OTHER DAYS IT WILL GO CRAZY AS DESCRIBED WHEN THE LIGHT FLASHES. WHEN THE VEHICLE DIES ON THE HIGHWAY, IT IS VERY HARD TO STEER IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR STOP IT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN 5 DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS AND THE FIFTH BEING A DODGE SERVICE CENTER. THIS DODGE SERVICE CENTER HAS HAD MY VEHICLE FOR 4 WEEKS ABOUT TO ENTER THE FIFTH WEEK AND THEY CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. THE THROTTLE BODY WITH TPS SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR REPLACED TWICE, EGR VALVE REPLACED, PCV VALVE CLEANED AND INSPECTED, PCM REPLACED AND RE FLASHED, THE BATTERY REPLACED, ALTERNATOR REPLACED, ALL 4 O2 SENSORS REPLACED AND THE WIRING HARNESS AND ALL CONNECTORS TESTED AND INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE STILL IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT GAVE UP AND TOLD ME TO COME AND GET MY TRUCK. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND GOT THEM INVOLVED, THEY'RE RESOURCE TECHNICIANS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOW FOR 2 WEEKS AND STILL NO ANSWERS AND I STILL HAVE NO VEHICLE. CHRYSLER CASE #28169313

NHTSA ID

10794868

Incident

Sep 14, 2015

Mileage

131,500 mi