2005 Dodge Magnum Body & structure Problems

I was braking when the brakes didn't stop the tires and it slid into a curve.

NHTSA ID

11458483

Incident

Feb 14, 2022

THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON JUST AFTER PURCHASE AND UPON LOWERING THE TILT WHEEL AND DID SO AFTER EVERY SUPPOSED REPAIR. I HAD THIS IN FOR REPAIR 7 TIMES 5 OF WHICH WERE DONE AT WARRENSBURG CHRYSLER IN WARRENSBURG, MISSOURI. BY THE TIME THEY HAD TRIED 5 TIMES AND TORN MY DASH APART SCRATCHING ALL THE LOWER KICK PANELS AND LEAVING ME WITH A DASH THAT RATTLES THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND REFUSED TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE. I THEN CALLED THE DISTRICT REP AND WAS TOLD QUOTE: (WE AIN'T DOING [XXX] ABOUT IT!) AT THIS POINT I GAVE UP BUT DID CONTACT THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AND NEVER RECEIVED A REPLY. SEEMS AS THOUGH CHRYSLER NEEDS TO MAKE THIS RIGHT AS IT IS A FAULTY SQIB1 & 2 CABLE THAT IS THE ISSUE LEAVING THE AIRBAG INOPERABLE AND A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM TO TELL AN OWNER OF A VEHICLE WHAT I WAS TOLD SHOWS A TOTAL DISREGARD FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY OR ANY PASSENGER ONBOARD INCLUDING CUSTOMERS THAT ARE OFTEN IN MY VEHICLE. NOTE THAT THE DATE I HAD TO SHOW AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS FORM IS AN APPROXIMATE AND THE DEALER WILL HAVE THE ACTUAL ATTEMPTED REPAIR DATES. NHTSA (NVS-210) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11163638

Incident

Oct 6, 2006

Mileage

15,000 mi

DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WENT OFF ROAD AND HIT TREE WAS KILLED. UNKNOWN CAUSE OF CRASH MAY RELATE TO AIRBAG EXPLOSION. CAR EXPLODED ON IMPACT UPDATED 12/04/17*BF *CN

NHTSA ID

10934940

Incident

May 21, 2006

A DRIVER SUDDENLY STOPPED IN FRONT OF WHILE I WAS MOVING RESULTING OF ME HITTING HER IN THE BACK. FRONT OF MY CAR IS TOTALED. THE SHOCK WAS VIOLENT BUT THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. THANK GOD I WAS NOT GREATLY HURT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10714190

Incident

May 1, 2015

Mileage

114,521 mi

MY 2005 DODGE MAGNUM R/T BURNED THROUGH THE UNIBODY FRAME RAILS DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. THIS CAUSED THE FRAME TO DEVELOP RUST PERFORATIONS. DAMAGE IS THE SAME ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR, CONCENTRATED WHERE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS MEET THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. THIS IS A DIFFICULT AREA TO SEE, LET ALONE INSPECT DUE TO TIGHT CONFINES AND HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. IT WAS FOUND WHILE CHANGING THE OIL DIPSTICK TUBE. THE REST OF THE CAR IS EXCEPTIONALLY CLEAN AND HAS NEVER BEEN UNDERCOATED, IN AN ACCIDENT OR WINTER DRIVEN. NUMEROUS TECHNICIANS LOOKED AT THE PROBLEM AT CHRYSLER AND INDEPENDENT GARAGES. ALL OF THEM AGREED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY HEAT FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS BURNING AWAY THE FACTORY RUST PROTECTION AND THEN ACCELERATING RUSTING OF THIS STRUCTURAL AREA. THE CHRYSLER DEALER BODYSHOP QUOTED OVER $8000 TO REPLACE THE ROTTED FRAME RAILS, MOSTLY LABOR BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, EXHAUST, FRONT SUBFRAME AND MUCH OF THE INTERIOR. THE CHRYSLER DEALER SERVICE MANAGER SENT IN A REPORT TO HIS DISTRICT SERVICE REP. I ALSO FILED A REPORT WITH CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CARE, CASE FILE NUMBER 25844173. THEY INFORMED ME THAT SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CHRONIC WITH MAGNUMS AND THE CAR WAS PAST ITS 3-YEAR RUST PERFORATION WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE CAR OR HELP WITH REPAIR COSTS. THIS IS A MAJOR STRUCTURAL DEFECT WITH THE FRAME OF THE CAR, NOT A MERE RUST HOLE IN A BODY PANEL! I SUSPECT THE PROBLEM MAY BE FOUND IN OTHER CHRYSLER LX-BODY MODELS OF 2005 MODEL YEAR. OUT OF CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF THESE VEHICLES I WALKED AROUND A LOCAL JUNKYARD AND FOUND A 2005 MODEL CHRYSLER 300 STARTING TO SHOW CORROSION PROBLEMS IN THE SAME FRAME AREAS ADJACENT TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. I HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTING AND PHOTOGRAPHING ALL OF THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10651144

Incident

Oct 16, 2014

Mileage

95,985 mi

THE REAR HATCH DOES NOT STAY UP WHEN LIFTED. AT TIMES THE HATCH FALLS WITHOUT WARNING AND HAS HIT ME IN THE HEAD SEVERAL TIMES. THIS IS AN INJURY WAITING TO HAPPEN AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641352

Incident

Oct 3, 2014

I TOOK MY DODGE MAGNUM INTO THE LARRY MILLER DODGE DEALERSHIP (AVONDALE DODGE WAS BROUGHT OUT BY LARRY MILLER DODGE WHO DID NOT KEEP RECORDS FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNERS). TO HAVE SOME WORKED DONE ON THE COIL. WHEN I GOT MY CAR BACK THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED. THEY STATED IT WAS SUN DAMAGE THAT OCCURRES MOST DODGE MAGNUMS AND REFUSED TO FIX IT. I CALLED DODGE WHO STOOD BEHIND THE DEALERSHIP AND REFUSED TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS 2005 DODGE MAGNUM AND STATED IT WAS COMMON IN 2005 DODGE MAGNUMS. THEY ALSO SUGGESTED THAT I SHOULD BUY A DASH COVER TO COVER THE DASHBOARD. *JS

NHTSA ID

10617108

Incident

Jul 7, 2012

Mileage

12,000 mi

I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 3 OF THE ISSUES OF THE COMPLAINTS I AM SEEING HERE AND WONDERING WHY THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS ISSUED: 1) CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR IT WOULD DIE AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK. WENT ON LINE AND FOUND OTHERS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEM. FIX: DO NOT FILL YOUR GAS TANK UP ALL THE WAY AND ALSO DO NOT LET IT GET TOO CLOSE TO EMPTY. 2) NEITHER THE BACK HATCH OR THE HOOD WILL STAY UP ON THEIR OWN. HAVE BEEN HIT IN THE HEAD WITH THE BACK HATCH NUMEROUS TIMES - SOMETIMES IT WORKS. 3) COULD NOT GET CAR OUT OF PARK. AGAIN WENT ON LINE AND EVEN FOUND A YOUTUBE VIDEO EXPLANING HOW TO REMOVE THE PINK THINGY FROM THE GEAR COUNSEL AND ALL WILL BE OK. SAVED HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS BUT NOW NO SAFETY DUE TO THE FACT THAT CAR CAN BE TURNED OFF IN ALL GEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10560078

Incident

Jul 25, 2012

Mileage

145,000 mi

I HAVE NOT HAD A COMPLETE FAILURE. WAITING ON THAT TO HAPPEN. I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2005 DODGE MAGNUM SXT WITH V6, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN 2005 FROM A DEALERSHIP. IT HAD APPROXIMATELY 36 MILES ON IT. I HAVE NOT HAD THE PULLING TO THE RIGHT EVERYONE ELSE HAD, BUT IT DOES MAKE A FUNNY SCRUBBING SOUND WHILE DRIVING AS IF THE TIRE WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE CAR ON THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER SIDE AND SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS THAT ARE COMMON. I HAVE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE AND FELT VIBRATIONS FROM PEDAL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CAR DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO STOP COMPLETELY. I EVEN GOT OUT TO LOOK,THINKING I HIT SOMETHING. A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE POWER OUTLET LOCATED INSIDE THE ASTRAY STOPPED WORKING. IT BLEW A FUSE, I REPLACED IT. THEN, TWO WEEKS AGO, THE POWER OUTLET IN THE CONSOLE STOPPED WORKING. JUST TWO DAYS AGO, THE BATTERY WENT DEAD FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THREE MONTHS. I REPLACED THE BATTERY AGAIN. NOW ALL THE SUDDEN THE AC/HEATER STOPPED WORKING. YOU CAN HEAR IT TRYING TO COME ON, BUT THE FAN MOTOR DOESN'T SEEM TO BE COMING ON. WE'VE NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS SEEM TO SURGE AT NIGHT. I WILL BE TAKING OUR CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP, ALONG WITH COPIES OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER CONSUMERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10491454

Incident

May 24, 2012

Mileage

87,546 mi

WHEN THE TAIL GATE WAS LIFTED TO RETRIEVE THE ITEMS PLACED INSIDE THE CAR THE TAIL GATE FAILED TO KEEP OPEN AND CAME DOWN ON MY HEAD. THE HOOD SUPPORTS STARTED TO FAIL 2 YEARS AGO SO WE PUT A SUPPORT (BROOM HANDLE) TO HOLD IT OPEN TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL IN THE MOTOR. THIS WAS A ENGINEERING GOOF WHEN THE CAR WAS DESIGNED, SPRINGS WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS EXPENSIVE THAN THE SUPPORTS AND HAVE BEEN USED FOR YEARS WITHOUT FAILING. I WAS VERY LUCKY AS THAT TAIL GATE MUST WEIGH AT LEAST 200 LBS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10484797

Incident

Nov 2, 2012

Mileage

80,200 mi

BOTH REAR HATCH SUPPORT RODS AND HOOD SUPPORT RODS INTERMITTENTLY GIVE OUT, CAUSING THE HOOD/ REAR LATCH TO FALL ONTO PEOPLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10365366

Incident

Nov 11, 2010

Mileage

53,000 mi

THE BACK HATCH CLOSES SUDDENLY IN COLD WEATHER. IT HIT ME IN THE HEAD AND CAUSED A CONTUSION AND A GREAT DEAL OF PAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10354906

Incident

Nov 27, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

REAR HATCH OFTEN CLOSES SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION, IT HAS STUCK SOMEONE IN THE HEAD AS HE WAS UNLOADING GROCERIES. MINOR INJURIES LIMITED TO BRUISING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10347523

Incident

May 1, 2010

Mileage

39,000 mi

WITH MY FULL ATTENTION ON THE CARGO BEING REMOVED FROM VEHICLE, THE REAR LIFTGATE STRUTS FAILED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING LIFTGATE TO FALL ON MY HEAD AND NECK. THE LIFTGATE IS APPROXIMATELY 125 POUNDS AND LEVERAGED TO ACCELERATE DURING CLOSING. THE LIFTGATE STRUTS ARE INSUFFICIENTLY SIZED FOR THE APPLICATION AND NO FAIL SAFE EXISTS TO PREVENT FREE FALL. THE LATCH MECHANISM STRUCK ME DIRECTLY ON THE SPINE AT THE BASE OF THE SKULL CAUSING TEMPORARY UNCONSCIOUSNESS. THIS COULD EASILY BE A FATAL IMPACT, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, INFANTS OR THE ELDERLY. REPLACEMENT STRUTS ARE EXPENSIVE AND WILL SIMPLY FAIL AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO REPAIR THESE DEFECTS REGARDLESS OF WARRANTY OR MILEAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10336417

Incident

Jun 12, 2010

Mileage

40,000 mi

REAR LIFTGATE STRUTS FAILED SUDDENLY, CAUSING GATE TO FALL ON MY NECK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10336057

Incident

Mar 16, 2010

Mileage

56,000 mi

BOTH HOOD AND REAR LIFTGATE STRUTS HAVE FAILED INDEPENDENTLY OF EACH OTHER. THE REAR GRADUALLY FAILED. THE HOOD STRUTS FAILED SUDDENLY CAUSING THE HOOD TO FALL ON MY HEAD AND NECK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10328453

Incident

Feb 1, 2010

Mileage

70,000 mi

BOTH HYDRAULIC STRUTS FOR HOOD AND REAR LID, WORN OUT AND WITHOUT ANY NOTICE, WILL FAIL HITTING ANYONE IN THE HEAD. SHOULD BE A RECALL CAR HAS 15K MILES ON 05 MAGNUM R/T. SHOCKS SHOULD LAST LONGER SINCE BOTH ARE NOT OPENED ON A REGULAR BUSINESS. SPECIALLY WITH COLD WEATHER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10325532

Incident

Mar 1, 2010

Mileage

15,663 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE MAGNUM. THE REAR HATCH FELL AND HIT THE CONTACT ON THE BACK WHILE SHE WAS TAKING THINGS OUT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR HATCH WOULD NOT STAY IN THE UPRIGHT LOCKED POSITION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. ONE WEEK LATER, THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND IT WOULD NOT STAY UP. A LOCAL DEALER REPAIRED THE HOOD AND REPLACED THE SHOCKS. THE HATCH HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS UNHAPPY BECAUSE SHE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30000. UPDATED 06/16/10

NHTSA ID

10315537

Incident

Jan 8, 2010

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE MAGNUM. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE REAR LIFTGATE OPENED AND REMAINED IN A STATIONARY POSITION. UNEXPECTEDLY, THERE WAS AN ABRUPT CLOSURE OF THE LIFTGATE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A MINOR INJURY TO THE NECK AND SHOULDER AREA AS A RESULT OF THE UNEXPECTED CLOSURE OF THE LIFTGATE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10297705

Incident

Dec 27, 2009

FOUR YEAR OLD 55,000 MILE CAR. HOOD WILL NOT STAY OPEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261962

Incident

Mar 10, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE MAGNUM. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT BOLTS FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVE SHAFT TO FAIL. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE DRIVE SHAFT, DRIVE SHAFT BOLT, TRANSFER CASE PAN, YOKE AND CRACKED THE TRANSMISSION PAN AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION FILTER. AS OF JULY 19, 2007, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 25,123. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE PLASTIC SHIELD ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE FELL OFF. UPDATED 09/05/07. *JB

NHTSA ID

10196863

Incident

Jul 12, 2007

Mileage

25,523 mi

I PURCHASED MY 2005 DODGE MAGNUM NEW IN OCTOBER OF 2004. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A RIGHT PULL/DRIFT SINCE IT WAS NEW. CONVENTIONAL ALIGNMENTS HAVE NOT CORRECTED PROBLEM. THE DEALER NOW INFORMS ME THEY NEED TO REALIGN THE SUB FRAME AND THEN REALIGN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A $300.00 OR MORE REPAIR AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO CHRYSLER AND THEY WILL NOT COVER REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. THE TIRES HAVE PREMATURE WEAR ALSO. WITH LESS THAN 25,000 MILES I NEED NEW TIRES NOW. *NM

NHTSA ID

10170332

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

2005 DODGE MAGNUM MAKE S A BUZZING NOISE FROM THE TRUNK AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. *TS ***NAR*** THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE INNER PANELING AROUND THE HATCH DOOR WAS NOT CUT PROPERLY. ONE SIDE WAS FLUSH, INSIDE THE GROOVE AND THE OTHER SIDE WAS SLIGHTLY SEPARATED, WHICH CAUSED THE VIBRATION. THE CONSUMER PLACED SMALL PIECES OF CUSHION INSIDE THE OPEN AREAS TO HOLD THE PANEL STEADY. THE FABRIC MOLDING AROUND THE WINDOW WAS SAGGING. THE WINDOW CONTROLS ON THE REAR LEFT SIDE SUNK INTO THE DOOR AND THE WINDOW LOCKED ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE A RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION AND THE DEALER HAD THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE ALL DAY AND FAILED TO INFORM THEM THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO THEIR VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10151953

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

DT: OWNER FEELS THAT IT IS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT THERE IS A BLIND SPOT BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK OUT TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, THE VIEW IS BLOCKED BY THE POSITION OF THE REARVIEW MIRROR. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOTICED WHEN THE OWNER WAS DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD. THE OWNER HAS REPORTED TO DEALER WHO STATES THERE IS A DESIGN OF LOW BUCKET SEATS AND THAT THE VEHICLE FITS WITH ALL FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS. THE MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED AND REPORTED THE SAME AS DEALER. OWNER IS ALSO PURSUING THE LEMON LAW ABOUT THIS CAR. 2005 MAGNUM HAD TO BE CHOSEN EVEN THOUGH IT IS A 2006 VEHICLE, DAIMLER CHRYSLER HAD NO LISTINGS IN 2006. *NM

NHTSA ID

10128265

Incident

Jul 6, 2005

Mileage

15 mi

WHILE LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE AT A DEALER, THE HACHBACK DOOR OPENS TOO FAST UNTIL SLAMMING TO THE END AND IT BUMPED A LITTLE UP AND DOWN WHEN COMPLETLY OPEN, IT APPEARS THE TWO LITTLE SHOCK ABSORBERS OR WHATEVER THEY ARE CALLED DO NOT HELP THE DOOR TO OPEN SLOW. I NOTICED THE BODY OF THE CAR ON THE SIDES (BETWEN THE WINDOWS AND THE ROOF AT THE LEVEL WHERE THE HINGES ARE) THERE WAS A LITTLE LINE AND IT WAS BENT TO THE OUTSIDE A LITTLE AND IT WAS ABOUT TWO INCHES LONG ON EACH SIDE. I TOLD THE SALES PEOPLE IN CASE THEY SALE THE CAR WITHOUT FIXING IT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10078835

Incident

Jun 7, 2004

Mileage

10 mi