2005 Dodge 1500 Body & structure Problems

Significantly rusted out truck bed framing. I purchased the truck from a private seller a couple of years ago, and the bed had a rubber mat and plastic side panels in the bed. I was unaware of what was underneath at that time. On 06/28/2023, I removed the rubber mat, and side plastic panels to reveal major rusting with the truck bed. The bed is at major risk of separating from the frame. If this issue is not resolved, the truck bed will experience separation from the truck frame; causing the bed to separate at highway speeds, causing property damage, injuries, or even death. Upon searching for a good used bed from salvage yards, none exist that are in good condition in a 500 mile search radius and/or they are $800.00 to multiple thousands in cost to obtain. Multiple beds on the search have major rusting/wasting of the bed frame as well. This should constitute a major safety defect with poor rust proofing.

NHTSA ID

11529694

Incident

Jun 29, 2023

The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH, there was a banging noise followed by a dragging noise coming from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was immediately stopped and upon inspection it was discovered that the fuel tank straps had failed and the fuel tank had fallen to the ground and was being dragged while the vehicle was being driven. The contact stated that the fuel tank straps were severely rusted. The contact stated that the fuel tank was filled with gasoline during the failure. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 158,000.

NHTSA ID

11522802

Incident

May 18, 2023

Mileage

158,000 mi

18V160000 recall..Also, the entire bottom of frame is rusted out..its parked inside of garage.no repair shop can fix it..they stated due to rusted frame belt on gas tank is off and gas tank will fall..they told me to junk my vehicle. This is my transportation to work. I've had it towed to shops every one said dodge makes rusted vehicles and dont care...due to rust now right front tire turnt in..I dont know if that's bearings or tirerod.i just want my vehicle to run..can you please help please..

NHTSA ID

11458475

Incident

Dec 3, 2021

HI MY NAME IS [XXX] I OWNED MY 2005 DODGE SINCE 2006 TOOK GOOD CARE OF IT AN I JUST REALIZED MY FRAME HAS 3 SPOTS THAT'S ROTTING OUT BAD SUCKS BECAUSE TRUCK RUNS AN DRIVE'S GREAT NOW I NEED TO BUY A NEW FRAME TO FIX I WANT TO SEE IF THIS IS A RECALL ON MY TRUCK I LOVE THIS TRUCK I PUT LOTS OF TIME AN MONEY IN TO IT I HATE TO HAVE TO SELL IT BUT IT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO GET A NEW FRAME A SWAP EVERYTHING OVER INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR

NHTSA ID

11156471

Incident

Dec 5, 2017

FRAME IS RUSTING AND PIECES OF METAL ARE FALLING OFF. EMERGENCY CABLE BRACKET BROKE WHILE SITTING ON A BOAT RAMP CAUSING THE VECHILE TO JUMP BACKWARDS.

NHTSA ID

11119447

Incident

Aug 4, 2018

Mileage

113,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT INTO THE CABIN. THE CONTACT MERGED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY A STATE HIGHWAY EMPLOYEE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FIREWALL INSULATION UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE HAD SEPARATED AND FELL ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

NHTSA ID

10883618

Incident

Jul 5, 2016

Mileage

144,000 mi

THE TRUCK IS FALLING APART. THE WELDS ARE COMING APART & THE WHOLE BODY IS ROTTING FASTER THAN I CAN FIX IT. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET ANOTHER INSPECTION STICKER. I HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSFER CASE, WATER PUMP, SERPENTINE BELT & PULLEYS, REAR DRIVE SHAFT, UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS, TYRODS AND THE WHOLE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE TRUCK NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ID

10860336

Incident

Apr 19, 2016

THE LOCK/LATCH ASSEMBLY FAILED IN DRIVERS SIDE FRONT DOOR. THE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH KEY, REMOTE, I CAN'T UNLOCK WITH THE KNOB EITHER IT IS FROZE IN THE DOWN (LOCK) POSITION. I AM WAITING FOR QUOTE FROM DEALER SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO BE $250 OR SO TO FIX.

NHTSA ID

10836557

Incident

Feb 16, 2016

Mileage

109,000 mi

DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR LOCK IS STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION AND WILL NOT OPEN. SINCE IT'S THE REAR DOOR THERE IS NO KEY HOLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WITH REMOTE DOOR OPENER EITHER.

NHTSA ID

10745571

Incident

Aug 1, 2015

Mileage

128,892 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A METAL GRINDING TYPE NOISE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE NOISE WAS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE CAUSE OF THE SOUND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,500.

NHTSA ID

10695008

Incident

Mar 10, 2015

Mileage

84,500 mi

I HAVE A 2005 DODGE RAM 1500,4X4,I HAVE HAD THIS FOR 5 YEARS AND THE WHOLE BACK OF THE WHEEL WELL IS ROTTED OUT,REALLY REALLY BAD. AS I DRIVE AROUND I SEE ALL THESES SAME YEAR DODGES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE NOTICED UNDERNEATH THE WHEEL WELL THERE IS HOLES THEY NEVER FILLED IN WHEN TRUCK WAS BUILT THAT'S WHERE THE RUST AND CORROSION BUILDS UP FROM THE SALT ,WATER, AND SNOW,,VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS SITUATION. WAS HOPING THERE CAN BE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM NOW I HAVE TO FIX THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10694413

Incident

Mar 19, 2013

SON WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON ST. RD. 25 JUST NORTH OF LOGANSPORT IN. ,IT WAS RAINING AND THE TRUCK HYDROPLANED AND WENT OFF THE ROAD AND STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON AT ABOUT 30 MPH,TOTALING THE TRUCK. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10649530

Incident

Sep 17, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE CORROSION UNDER THE BED OF THE VEHICLE NEAR BOTH REAR WHEELS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10563749

Incident

May 15, 2013

Mileage

80,000 mi

2005 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB. DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION. WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE. POSSIBLE DEFECT AND VERY COMMON PROBLEM PER DODGE DEALER. SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10558559

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

119,878 mi

WHILE TRUCK WAS PARKED AND SECURED, A FIRE STARTED IN THE WIRE HARNESS ABOVE THE GAS TANK. FIRE WAS CONTAINED BEFORE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED. FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS MADE. INSURANCE COMPANY INVESTIGATED. DETERMINED WIRE HARNESS OVERHEATED AND IGNITED GAS VAPOR LEAKING FROM PLASTIC FUEL SYSTEM LINES. DUE TO USE OF PLASTIC MATERIALS, FIRE SPREAD RAPIDLY, INCLUDING THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK MELTING. TRUCK HAS BEEN REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID

10538027

Incident

Apr 29, 2013

DRIVE SIDE LOCK GOT STUCK IN LOCK POSITION, AND IT CAN ONLY BE OPENED BY USING THE INSIDE HANDLE ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10511502

Incident

May 10, 2013

STARTED HEARING A ROARING NOISE FROM FRONT END OF TRUCK, VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AND JERKING WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS. REPLACED HUB BEARING ASSY AND NOISE QUIT. DODGE RECALLED THE 2006 MODEL BUT NOT THE 2005 WHICH USES THE SAME PART. CALLED DODGE AND ALL THEY TOLD ME WAS THERE WAS NOT RECALL ON THAT VEHICLE. I SAID I KNOW, THAT IS THE PROBLEM. FIXED AT MY OWN EXPENSE...FEEL PART WAS DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10372440

Incident

Dec 9, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

NOTICED WATER LEAKING INTO MY TRUCK, FROM THE TOP PART OF THE REAR WINDOW. IT MAKES ITS WAY AROUND THE WINDOW, THEN DOWN TO THE CAB FLOOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10345562

Incident

Aug 1, 2007

THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL BROKE OFF AT LOW SPEED. SEEMS THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM (AXLE) JUST SNAPPED IN TWO. NO OTHER VEHICLES WHERE INVOLVED, POT HOLES OR CURB. THE WHEEL BROKE OFF PULLING EVERYTHING APART INSIDE THE WHEEL WELL EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE LINE. THE TRUCK LANDED ON TOP OF THE WHEEL PREVENTING IT FROM FLIPPING OVER. I SPOKE WITH CHRYSLER DODGE AND ALL THOUGH ADMITTING THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SHOULD NEVER BREAK SAID THAT IT WASN'T A DEFECTED PART BECAUSE I HADN'T HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP . THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM. IF IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN FOR ONLY DOING 15MPH WHEN IT HAPPENED IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY AND POSSIBLE DEATH. DODGE HAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FAULTY BALL JOINTS BUT DON'T SEEM TO CARE ALL THOUGH THIS MAY HAVE BEEN A PRELIMINARY PROBLEM LEADING UP TO THE AXLE BREAKING IN TWO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10267742

Incident

May 1, 2009

Mileage

57,000 mi

RUBBER DOOR SEAL ON FRONT DOORS TEARING FROM OPENING AND CLOSING THE DOOR. VEHICLE IS 2005 MODEL RAM 1500 WITH LESS THAN 32,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261805

Incident

Mar 1, 2009

Mileage

31,000 mi

I HAVE HAD (2)TWO CLOSE CALLS FROM A 2005 DODGE RAM 1500 DUE TO EQUIPMENT FAILURES. (1) THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED DURING A SNOWSTORM AND SKIDDED ME OFF THE ROAD. (2) RECENTLY WITH JUST 44,000 MILES ON THE RAM THE WHEELBEARINGS SEIZED AND THE DRIVERSIDE TIRE BLOWOUT SENDING ME AGAIN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A SMALL CULVERT. EVEN THOUGH UNDER WARRANTY DODGE IS DELAYING FIXING IT BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THESE EQUIPMENT FAILURES. I'VE NOTICED MANY COMPLAINTS AND EVEN LIMITED RECALLS REGARDING DODGE WHEELBEARINGS BEING DEFECTIVE. IF YOU ARE INVOLVED WITH EITHER OF THESE EQUIPMENT FAILURES YOU'D KNOW HOW CATASTROPHIC IT COULD BE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10231895

Incident

Jun 6, 2005

Mileage

44,000 mi

KEPT HEARING A NOISE IN THE DASH OF MY TRUCK AFTER INVESTIGATING THE NOISE I FOUND THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD BECOME UNGLUED AND WAS COMPLETELY LOOSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10225791

Incident

Apr 20, 2008

Mileage

21,000 mi

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT INSPECTION WAS DONE ON VEHICLE AND THE HOOD WAS FOUND TO BE CORRODED. RUSTING ACTIVITY WAS PRESENT AT TIME OF PURCHASE. THERE WAS AN EXHAUST PIPE LEAK MID-POINT UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK. THE INSPECTOR STATED THAT THIS WAS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN DUE TO POSSIBLE INTRUSION INTO CAB AREA WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, EXHAUST SYSTEM MUFFLER,CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND PIPE SHOWED SIGNS OF EXTREME OVERHEATING. HEAVY DEPOSITS OF DRY FLUFFY CARBON WAS EVIDENT INSIDE THE TAIL PIPE. INDICATION OF RICH FUEL MIXTURE THAT WILL CAUSE OVERHEATING WITH POSSIBILITY OF FIRE. SUPPOSE TO BE NEW 2005 4X2 RAM SINGLE CAB.*AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10118852

Incident

Mar 19, 2005

Mileage

2,000 mi

2005 DODGE RAM 1500 EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH PREMATURE TIRE WEAR, RUSTED COMPONENTS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, LOOSE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING, SPEEDOMETER INACCURATE, AND PROBLEMS WITH THE BODY PAINT. *MR THE RIDE HEIGHT WAS LOW IN THE FRONT, THERE WAS STIFF SUSPENSION, THERE WAS A LOOSE STRIP RUBBER ABOVE THE LEFT DOOR, THE SUSPENSION BAR MAY HAVE BEEN CRACKED, THERE WAS ABNORMAL SCALLOPING ON THE FRONT TIRE OUTSIDE TREAD, THERE WAS AN EXHAUST PIPE LEAK, THE EXHAUST SYSTEM COMPONENTS SHOWED SIGNS OF OVERHEATING. THE LOWER PORTION OF THE RIGHT SIDE STEERING KNUCKLE SHOWED A VISIBLE LINE THAT COULD POSSIBLY CRACK. THE ENGINE IDLING WAS HARSH WHEN MOVING THE SHIFT INTO REVERSE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10122601

Incident

May 1, 2005

Mileage

2,522 mi