2004 Dodge 1500 Powertrain (other) 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

I was driving to work that morning traveling about 40 into the city when all of a sudden I heard a loud noise, I barely could handle the steering wheel to coast it to the side before it came to a complete hault, I look out my window and my drive shaft broke in 2 pieces was passing me on the main road. Front end was on the side shoulder, back end was out in the road. I jumped out of the truck and grabbed up both ends of my drive shafts and put in the back of my 04 dodge ram truck, then started directing traffic on this busy road of morning commuters. Fluid was everywhere on the road so I'm trying to put sand from the side of the road onto the fluid that was on the road that had leaked out my truck all while directing traffic to keep from creating an accident. An law officer came ask was I alright, I answered explained what had happened and he never took a report instead replied with "Seems like you got everything handled" and got back in his car and drove off. I called for a tow service for their assistance and requested it be took to a shop. Where it now sits unrivaled. It was inspected by the mechanic and learned that the pinyin nut had came off cause my rear end to lock up which caused my drive shaft to come out and when it hit broke it smooth into 2 pieces that caused damage to my transmission case. This could have ended very badly for me that day, I'm thankful that it didn't. But now my truck is tore up do to a faulty manufacturers pinyin nut. And I need my truck fixed so I can work and support my family. This was not my doings. I love my truck very much and desperately need it back up and running

NHTSA ID

11588596

Incident

Apr 25, 2024

The driveline driveshaft fell out there’s a pinion nut that came loose and suddenly locked my rear end up without warning. Cant move it

NHTSA ID

11513034

Incident

Mar 20, 2023

MY NAME IS [XXX] I PURCHASED MY 2004 1500 Dodge Ram7 yrs. ago From A Private Owner Not knowing it was a Lemon Due To Transmission Problem That’s Why I’M Unable To Drive It To Get The Airbag Fix Of The Recall I Read On Line Today That The Main Problem Is A Defective TORQUE CONVERTERS THAT ARE NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY CAUSED BY SHIFTING WHICH ITS THE PROBLEM WE ARE HAVING I SAW IT WAS POSTED ON LINE AUGUST 22019 I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX SOMEONE ELSIE MANUFACTURE PROBLEMS PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION OF WHAT CAN BE DONE MY TRUCK STILL HAVE VA.Tags And Insurance On It But I Cannot Drive It[XXX] home [XXX] cell [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11475632

Incident

Jul 9, 2020

I was driving from Colorado to Indiana and all the sudden I heard a noise so I pulled over to the right side of the road. When a man came across the median and got a fire extinguisher from his truck and stated for me and my 3 dogs to get out because my truck was on fire. He stated that the driver shaft was on fire with flames by my gas tank.

NHTSA ID

11439721

Incident

Nov 6, 2021

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON LOOKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS RELATING THIS ISSUE TO AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000

NHTSA ID

11417747

Incident

May 11, 2021

Mileage

160,000 mi

THE PINION NUT HAS LOOSENED UP AND THAT CAUSED THE DRIVESHAFT TO BECOME UNSTABLE AND IT HAS CAUSED PROBLEMS THAT HAVE TO BE CHANGED SUCH AS (CRUSH SLAVE, INNER AND OUTER BEARINGS,SPACERS, AND PINION NUT) ALL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THIS SAME ISSUE HAPPENED TO THE 2005 DODGE RAM AND THEY RECALLED THOSE TRUCKS JUST NOT THE YEAR OF MINE. I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR MY FAMILY AND I AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD WAY IF THE DRIVESHAFT BECAME UNATTACHED OR THE REAR-END LOCKED UP ON ME.

NHTSA ID

11390120

Incident

Jan 2, 2021

Mileage

146,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PINION NUT LOOSENED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVE SHAFT TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED JEFF D'AMBROSIO DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP DOWNINGTOWN (1221 E LANCASTER AVE, DOWNINGTOWN, PA 19335) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 274,000.

NHTSA ID

11349060

Incident

Aug 6, 2020

Mileage

274,000 mi

WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 55 MPH AND HEARD A NOISE WHILE EXITING AND WE THOUGHT WE HIT A LARGE HOLE. BEFORE WE REACHED THE END OF THE OFF RAMP TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH BUT GIVING THE TRUCK SOME GAS TO ACCELERATE WE HEARD A VERY LOUD POP AND IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING HIT THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK.WE PULLED OFF TO SIDE AND CHECKED UNDER THE TRUCK TO SEE THE SLIP YOLK AND U JOINT OF THE DRIVELINE WERE BROKEN AND THE FLANGE NUT ON REAR END WAS BACKED OFF AND THE REAR END WAS SHATTERED. ALSO THE FUEL VAPOR RECOVERY LINES WERE BROKE FROM THE SLIP YOLK AND U JOINT BREAKING. IS THIS ISSUE RELATED TO RECALL NUMBER 14V79600

NHTSA ID

11340810

Incident

Jul 19, 2020

Mileage

201,000 mi

WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, EXITED TO A SIDE ROAD 30 MPH AND HEARD AN UNUSUAL WHINING COMING FROM THE REAR END. THEN BANG! WHEELS LOCKED UP, NO POWER STEERING. DRIVE SHAFT DISCONNECTED AT THE REAR OF THE TRUCK. HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE. WAS VERY LUCKY THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN TWO MINUTES EARLIER ON THE EXPRESSWAY OR LIVES MAY HAVE BEEN LOST.

NHTSA ID

11309681

Incident

Feb 5, 2020

Mileage

190,000 mi

I WAS TRAVELING ON ROADWAY THERE WAS A LOUD BANG, TRUCK SKIDDED TO STOP AND WOULD NOT MOVE.TRUCK HAD TO BE TOWED, APPEARS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL PINION SHAFT HAS SNAPPED OFF. THE TRUCK IS CURRENTLY PARKED IN A SNOW BANK UNTIL I CAN EVALUATE WHAT NEEDS REPAIRED/REPLACED. THERE HAVE HAVEN BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND RECALLS ON DODGE DIFFERENTIALS, I CAN ASSUME DUE TO THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE CLUTCH PACK RETAINER CLIPS FAILING THAT THEY FAILED CAUSING SHOCK LOAD TO THE RING AND PINION GEARS AND THEREFORE SNAPPING THE PINION SHAFT AND WEDGING PINION GEAR AND RING GEAR. THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED, OFF ROADED OR DONE ANY HEAVY TOWING, HAD SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS AND OR TOWING A TRAILER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC.

NHTSA ID

11288629

Incident

Nov 10, 2019

Mileage

80,000 mi

TRUCKS TRANSFER CASE HOUSING CRACKED AND LEAK FLUID WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY HEADING HOME. TRUCK WAS IN TWO WHEEL DRIVE. WHICH THERE IS A RECALL FOR THAT WE NEVER KNEW ABOUT.

NHTSA ID

11222425

Incident

May 4, 2019

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING, A HUMMING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE PASSENGER FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF HESITATION TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING. THE DRIVER COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT DID NOT NOTICE A FAILURE AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE, WITHIN 20 FEET DOWN THE ROAD A RUMBLING AND DRAGGING NOISE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THE DRIVESHAFT WAS DETACHING INTO PIECES. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED A MILE DOWN THE ROAD BY A STATE TROOPER. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE BUT WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID

11206513

Incident

May 6, 2019

Mileage

135,000 mi

2004 DODGE RAM 1500 DATE OF MFR IS 02 - 04 (FEBRUARY 2004), WHICH FALLS IN THE RECALL ON THE PINION NUT, NHSTA RECALL 14V796000, CHRYSLER RECALL P77, WHICH STATES PINION NUT MAY COME LOOSE DUE TO UNDERSIZE SPLINE ON THE PINION GEAR. THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE FOR THE RECALL FALLS BETWEEN JANUARY 28, 2004 THROUGH AUGUST 3, 2005. THE RECALL STATEMENT ONLY STATES 2005 MODEL YEARS, YET THE DATE RANGE FOR THE RECALL ALSO INCLUDE 2004 AND 2006 MODEL YEARS. RECENTLY I HAVE HAD THE PINION NUT ON MY TRUCK COME LOOSE TO THE POINT THE DRIVE SHAFT FELL OFF AND THE RESULT OF IT ALSO ENDED UP A DESTROYED TRANSFER CASE. UNAWARE OF THE RECALL BECAUSE I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE RECALL ONLY INCLUDED 2005 MODEL YEARS, WHEN IN FACT 2004, 2005, AND 2006 MODEL YEARS ARE EFFECTED BY THE RECALL AND OWNERS OF ALL YEARS SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE BUT DID NOT, DUE TO THE VERBAGE OF THE RECALL. I WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS RECALL THROUGH OTHER MEANS AFTER THE INCIDENT OF THE PINION NUT COMING LOOSE ON MY TRUCK SEVERAL DAYS LATER. THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE REVISED TO INCLUDE 2004 AND 2006 MODEL YEARS WHERE THE DATE OF MFR INCLUDES 01-04 TO 08-05 (JANUARY 2004 THROUGH TO AUGUST 2005). THIS RECALL EFFECTS THE DODGE RAM PICKUPS WITH CHRYSLER CORPORATE 9.25 REAR AXLES. AT THE TIME OF MY INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, AS I WAS ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE CITY STREET INTO A PARKING LOT. MY TRUCK IS CURRENTLY BEING WORKED ON MY BY MECHANIC AND WILL REMAIN SO. I AM HIGHLY DISAPPOINTMENT AT CHRYSLER IN THE FACT THAT THIS ISSUE WAS OVERLOOKED AND CONSUMERS ARE IN 2004 AND 2006 MODEL YEARS AND MAY BE UNAWARE OF THE SITUATION. THE DATE OF MFR ON MY TRUCK IS 02-04, FALLING WITHIN THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE VEHICLES FOR THE 14V796000 RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11206378

Incident

May 3, 2019

Mileage

172,000 mi

DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN THE BACK WHEELS LOCKED UP AND DRIVE SHAFT FELL OUT. CAUSING ME TO SKID UNCONTROLLABLY TO A STOP.

NHTSA ID

11187378

Incident

Mar 16, 2019

Mileage

180,000 mi

REAR AXLE LOCKED UP, ALL THE FLUID LEAKED OUT.

NHTSA ID

11161962

Incident

Nov 6, 2018

Mileage

167,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE DRIVESHAFT FELL TO THE GROUND AND THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ID

11157271

Incident

Dec 8, 2018

Mileage

155,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR ROADWAY IN ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL., WITH NO WARNING, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED AND SEIZED, LOCKING UP THE REAR WHEELS AND SHEARING THE DRIVESHAFT, AND SLAMMING ME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME WERE ABLE TO AVOID HITTING ME. I HAD MY TRUCK TOWED TO TIRES PLUS SHOP. THEY EVALUATED THE PROBLEM AND STATED "THE PINION NUT CAME OFF AND DROPPED INTO THE GEARS". NOW THIS IS COSTING ME $3000 TO FIX!!!!

NHTSA ID

11142670

Incident

Oct 23, 2018

Mileage

204,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE DRIVESHAFT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HAYES CHRYSLER GAINESVILLE (3115 FRONTAGE ROAD, GAINESVILLE, GA 30504, 855-439-2860) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,075. *TT*JB

NHTSA ID

11128779

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Mileage

240,075 mi

NOISE FROM REAR END. GARAGE FOUND CHUNKS OF METAL INSIDE, PASSENGER SIDE CARRIER RETAINER LOOSE, C CLIPS LOOSE, PINION RETAINER LOOSE. CLUTCHES SLIPPING. VEHICLE IN.MOTION GRINDING NOISE..

NHTSA ID

11124023

Incident

Jul 14, 2018

Mileage

128,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR ROADWAY IN CONCORD, NC, WITH NO WARNING, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED AND SEIZED, LOCKING UP THE REAR WHEELS AND SHEARING THE DRIVESHAFT, AND SLAMMING ME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME WERE ABLE TO AVOID HITTING ME. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP CURRENTLY EVALUATING THE PROBLEM HAS STATED "THE PINION NUT CAME OFF AND DROPPED INTO THE GEARS". THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR ON 2005 RAM 1500 PICKUPS, BUT NOT THE 2004 MODELS.

NHTSA ID

11113050

Incident

Jul 20, 2018

Mileage

243,450 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON STREET THE REAR AXLE PINION NUT LOOSENED AND JAMMED THE REAR END WHICH RESULTED IN THE TRUCK TIRES LOCKING UP.

NHTSA ID

11103884

Incident

Jun 6, 2018

Mileage

210,000 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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE REAR AXLE SEIZED AND THE DRIVE SHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. PAUL BAILEY'S DODGE (425 TEN ROD RD, RT 102, NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI 02852, (401) 295-8855) WAS CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

NHTSA ID

11079056

Incident

Mar 13, 2018

Mileage

168,000 mi

PINION NUT CAME OFF CAUSING REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO LOCK UP AND ALMOST CAUSE AN ACCIDENT

NHTSA ID

11052411

Incident

Oct 12, 2017

Mileage

130,000 mi