2004 Dodge Ram 2500 Body & structure Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK FOR THE DRIVER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE ELECTRONIC REMOTE LOCK WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MANUALLY OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE KEY, BUT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN AND UNLOCK THE DOOR. IN ORDER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER HAD TO ENTER THROUGH THE REAR DOOR AND CLIMB OVER TO REACH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11130327

Incident

Sep 3, 2018

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO HOLD ONTO THE ROOF HANDLE, THE HANDLE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.

NHTSA ID

11093770

Incident

May 1, 2006

Mileage

230,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE CONTROL MODULE ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRAILER WIRING SHORT CIRCUITING. THE FAILURE PREVENTED THE TRAILER FROM BEING HAULED. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING WIRES. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER FOR THE PART, WHICH WAS MORE THAN EIGHT MONTHS AGO. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/04/16*LJ

NHTSA ID

10896845

Incident

Nov 10, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKING. THE CONTACT FELT UNSAFE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID

10825472

Incident

Jan 30, 2016

Mileage

105,000 mi

THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WON'T UNLOCK OR OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. IT ONLY OPENS FROM THE INSIDE.

NHTSA ID

10735538

Incident

Jul 17, 2015

Mileage

72,000 mi

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. HAD TO OPEN USING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. KEY WOULD NOT UNLOCK OR THE REMOTE ALSO. SAFETY HAZARD WITH CHILDREN INSIDE AND KEYS INSIDE THE VEHICLE! HAVE READ WHERE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SOME TIME WITH DODGE RAM WITH THE DRIVERS DOOR. SHOULD HAVE A RECALL. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10617999

Incident

Jul 24, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

VEHICLE WENT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT OF THE GAS TANK STRAPS AND ALSO THE EXHAUST STRAPS. WAS NOTIFIED BY DEALERSHIP THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT THEIR FIST THROUGH THE HOLE. CAR WAS NEVER IN A SITUATION WERE RUST LIKE THAT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. AT THIS TIME THEY ARE STATING THAT STRAPS ARE NOT COVERED DUE TO RUST. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE FRAME BY WELDING A PLATE OVER THE HOLE. NOT SURE HOW SAFE THAT IS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10614834

Incident

Jul 18, 2014

Mileage

90,000 mi

BRAKE JOB 10-21-2010 BRAKE LINES 1-3-2014 9-24-2013 NEW OIL PAN 60.45 2 NEW REAR BRAKE ROTORS 213.45 L. REAR BRAKE HOSE 24.42 OIL PAN GASKET 37.45 1 SET CERAMIC BRAKE PADS 54.88 RT. REAR BRAKE HOSE 24.42 8QT OIL 40.00 1 SET PARKING BRAKE SHOES 64.59 1 3/16X36" BRAKE LINE 8.00 1 OIL FILTER 6.50 1 HARDWARE KIT 49.33 1 L. FRONT BRAKE HOSE 56.54 L. EXHAUST MANIFOLD 217.00 381.80 1 R. FRONT BRAKE HOSE 56.54 OTHER PARTS 320.06 TAX 19.09 BRAKE FLUID 5.00 1414.95 3 HRS. [email protected] 580.89 TAX 9.62 +2.5 [email protected] 346.54 DODGE SAID SORRY NINE YEARS OLD AND NINE MAINE WINTERS! IF I KNEW AT THE TIME ABOUT THE NINE WINTERS GEE I WANT A TRUCK LONGER THAN NINE WINTERS, I GUESS MOVING MY DODGE TRUCK SOUTH, HOW MANY YEARS WILL IT LAST NOW DODGE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10559197

Incident

Dec 27, 2013

Mileage

27,000 mi

I HAVE A 2004 DODGE RAM 2500. MY TRUCK IS TAKEN CARE OF VERY WELL. I BELIEVE IT WAS IN JUNE 2008 WHEN I FIRST STARTED TO NOTICE SMALL CRACKS IN THE CENTER OF MY DASH. AT THAT TIME I WAS THE PARTS MANAGER FOR A GENERAL MOTORS DEALERSHIP THAT ALSO OWNED A DODGE DEALERSHIP NEXT DOOR. I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND DODGE WOULD REPLACE THE DASH FOR A $100.00 DEDUCTIBLE. I LEFT THAT JOB AND NEVER HAD THE DASH REPLACED. I LATER WENT TO A DODGE DEALER NEAR MY HOME AND WAS TOLD TO CONTACT CHRYSLER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. CHRYSLER TOLD ME THEY WOULD ONLY PAY 50% OF THE REPAIRS. I DID NOT AGREE TO THE OFFER. IT WOULD COST ME $700 TO $800 OUT OF MY POCKET. I PUT A CARPETED MAT OVER THE TOP OF THE DASH TO COVER UP THE HOLES. THERE ARE ACTUALLY HOLES AND BIG PIECES OF PLASTIC UPPER DASH FALLING INTO THE DASH. IN OCTOBER 2013 I WENT BACK TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER TO TELL THEM IF THEY PAID FOR THE PARTS I WOULD DO THE LABOR MYSELF. THEY HAVE CHANGED THEIR OFFER AND ONLY WANT TO PAY 50% OF PARTS NOW. MY PART WOULD BE $495.00. I TRIED A DIFFERENT DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT CHRYSLER WOULD NOT GIVE ANY HELP. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE TEXAS HEAT. THAT IS NOT TRUE BECAUSE IT IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES. THERE NEEDS TO BE A SAFETY RECALL OPENED BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THESE VEHICLES ARE IN A ACCIDENT TO WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS DEPLOYED IT IS GOING TO FILL THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WITH FLYING PIECES OF PLASTIC THAT MAY IMPALE ITS PASSENGERS. MAYBE CHRYSLER IS WAITING ON A FEW ACCIDENTS TO WHERE THE PASSENGERS HAVE PLASTIC STICKING OUT OF THEIR BODIES. MAYBE A COUPLE OF LAWSUITS WILL GET THEM OFF THEIR REARS. I SPENT OVER THIRTY YEARS IN GENERAL MOTORS AND DODGE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. I DO HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE OF THESE THINGS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10555236

Incident

Jun 10, 2008

PROBLEM 1) THE ENGINE HAS A EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAK. THIS IS DUE TO DODGE USING INADEQUATE BOLTS ON THE HEAD AND THE BOLTS BROKE. THE REMOVAL OF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD REQUIRES THE BOLTS TO BE DRILLED AND TAPPED OUT. DODGE SHOULD HAVE CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT. PROBLEM 2) THE VEHICLE LEAKS PROFUSELY IN THE CAB. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE THE CAB HAS LEAKED. IT LEAKS UNDER THE REAR SEAT AND IT LEAKS FROM THE FRONT VISOR AS WELL. I HAVE TRIED TO SEAL WITH RTV SINCE DODGE COULD NEVER FIX THE PROBLEM. IT STILL LEAKS. PROBLEM 3) THE PASSENGER FRONT WINDOW WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AT BEST. PROBLEM 4) THE REAR DOORS WILL NOT RELEASE THE CHILD LOCK FUNCTION. I HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES BUT APPARENTLY THE SWITCH IN THE DOOR DOES NOT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10551234

Incident

Sep 1, 2008

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WELL HAD BECOME CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10519509

Incident

Jun 12, 2012

Mileage

145,000 mi

I WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT AND HEARD A LOUD SNAP AND A CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD SNAPPED OUT AND A PIECE OF PLASTIC ALSO WAS POPPED OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10492196

Incident

Jan 8, 2013

Mileage

134,240 mi

GOT IN TO THE TRUCK AND NOTICED THE DASH WAS CRACKED STRAIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10465449

Incident

Jul 2, 2012

Mileage

95,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE AFTER EXITING WHETHER USING THE KEYLESS ENTRY FOB OR THE MANUAL KEY. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THE WINDOW OPEN AND REACH THROUGH THE WINDOW TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO ENTER. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 191,000.

NHTSA ID

10448853

Incident

Feb 18, 2012

Mileage

191,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBER LIFT FOR THE FRONT HOOD FAILED, CAUSING THE HOOD TO FALL AND DROP ON THE CONTACT BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNINJURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS MOST PROMINENT IN COLDER WEATHER AND THE SHOCK ABSORBER WAS UNABLE TO HOLD THE WEIGHT OF THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 01/11/12*LJ UPDATED 01/19/12

NHTSA ID

10440643

Incident

Dec 18, 2011

Mileage

25,000 mi

2004 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL 4X4. LAST FRIDAY THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR JUST STOPPED WORKING. CANNOT OPEN DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE WITH THE KEY FOB OR BY TURNING THE KEY. THE PLUNGER THINGY MOVES UP A BIT, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO UNLOCK THE DOOR - AND YOU CANNOT PULL IT UP MANUALLY. JUST LOOKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE MANY MANY MANY REPORTS OF THE SAME THING. WOULD BE INTERESTED IF THERE WERE A COVERED RECALL FOR THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10436641

Incident

Nov 18, 2011

Mileage

120,000 mi

AC DOES NOT BLOW COLD ON PASSENGER SIDE AND FREEZES UP LOSING POWER; TOOK IT TO DEALER UNDER WARRANTY ON TWO OCCASIONS AND THEY SAID THEY COULD "NOT DUPLICATE COMPLAINT". I ALSO HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND COMPLAINED THAT THE DRIVERS DOOR NEVER SEALS PROPERLY AND THE WIND NOISE IS RIDICULOUS! THEY SAID THEY HEARD NOTHING AND "COULD NOT DUPLICATE" MY COMPLAINT. I HAVE REPLACED THE RUBBER DOOR STRIP WHICH DID NOTHING. THE DASH BOARD CRACKED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALER SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $600 EVEN UNDER WARRANTY. ONLINE YOU CAN FIND THAT DODGE CLEARLY HAD A RESIN PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS CAUSING THEIR PLASTICS TO CRACK PREMATURELY. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE FOR ALL OF THESE ISSUES AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OUT THERE FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS. NO I HAVE NO WARRANTY AND STILL ALL THE SAME ISSUES. *KB

NHTSA ID

10425678

Incident

Aug 1, 2008

Mileage

50,000 mi

CRACKED DASHBOARD ON DODGE TRUCK WITH SHARP EDGES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10373450

Incident

May 10, 2008

Mileage

18,000 mi

I'VE HAD MY DASH CRACKED FOR OVER 3 YEARS NOW AND IT'S GETTING WORSE - IT MAY JUST CAVE IN SOON. I PRICED IT THREE YEARS AGO AND IT WAS $500.00, THEN I PRICED IT AGAIN 3 WEEKS AGO AND THEY SAID IT IS OVER $3,000 DUE TO A DEFECT AND THEY HAD TO REMANUFACTURE THE NEW ONES A LITTLE SMALLER, WHICH IS WHY THE PRICE IS HIGHER NOW! THAT'S A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED, RIGHT? *TR

NHTSA ID

10361029

Incident

Mar 11, 2007

Mileage

71,000 mi

MY 2004 DODGE RAM 2500 SUDDENLY HAVE CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD. STARTED SMALL NOW ALL OVER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10349989

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

Mileage

69,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 2500 QUAD CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD BEGAN TO EXHIBIT SIGNS OF CRACKING AND PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO PURCHASE A NEW DASHBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID

10347814

Incident

Jan 10, 2010

Mileage

75,000 mi

I HAVE A 2004 DODGE RAM 2500 QUAD CAB 4X4, AND IN JULY 2009, THE DASH CRACKED, WITH WHAT I AM LEFT TO GUESS IS DUE TO SUNLIGHT DESTROYING ON THE PLASTIC CHRYSLER USES TO MAKE THE DASH. I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL REGIONAL DEALERS ABOUT THE COST OF REPLACING THE DASH, WITH THE LOWEST COST AS A CONSUMER AT $829.65 I WAS CLEANING THE DASHBOARD JULY 2010, I'LL TYPICALLY CLEAN MY TRUCK EVERY 2-3 WEEKS, AND AS I WIPED OFF THE DASH, ONE OF THE SHARP EDGES ON THE DASH CUT THE PALM OF MY HAND. THIS WAS NOT CARELESS USER ERROR, I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT DUE TO POOR MATERIAL CHOICE FOR CONSTRUCTING A DASH. I DO KEEP THE DASH COVERED WITH A SUN SHIELD IN PARKING LOTS WHERE THE SUN IS INTENSE, AND I HAVE WINDOW TINTING ON THE SIDE AND REAR WINDOWS, AND A STRIP ON THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD, IN HOPES OF PREVENTING FURTHER DAMAGE. FOR THE PAST YEAR I HAVE HAD THE DASH CRACK, IT HAS CAUSED MORE CRACKS, CAUSING UNSIGHTLY DAMAGE AND A CUT ON THE HAND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10343862

Incident

Jul 18, 2010

Mileage

134,759 mi

I HAVE A 2004 DODGE RAM 2500. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING DEATH WOBBLE FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR NOW. I HAVE SPENT APPROX. $1000 REPLACING BALLJOINTS (AVAILABLE), TRACKBAR BUSHINGS, STEERING STABILIZER, AXLE U-JOINTS, COMPLETE 2008 DODGE STEERING SYSTEM TO INCLUDE TIE-ROD ENDS, PITMAN ARM, AND LINKAGE (AVAILABLE), AND SHOCKS (AVAILABLE) WITH NO SUCCESSFUL RESULTS. AT THIS POINT I AM AT A LOSS OF WHERE TO GO NEXT. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER HAVE TO USE IT FOR TRANSPORTATION EVERYDAY. AFTER EXPERIENCING THIS FOR SO LONG I WORRY EVERYDAY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT MANY OTHER DODGE OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND RECEIVING NO HELP FROM THE DEALERSHIPS. PLEASE REVIEW THIS AND HELP US DODGE OWNERS REPAIR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10342087

Incident

Jun 1, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

GRAB-HANDLE ON WINDSHIELD PILLAR PULLED OUT OF IT'S ATTACHMENT BOLTS, POTENTIALLY ALLOWING DRIVER TO FALL FROM VEHICLE UPON ENTERING VEHICLE. GRAB-HANDLE IS TOTALLY PLASTIC, NOT REINFORCED WITH METAL. ASSUMING THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE GRAB-HANDLE IS MADE THE SAME WAY. DRIVER WEIGHED APPROXIMATELY 180 POUNDS. THIS IS A 4WD TRUCK, AND SITS VERY HIGH OFF THE GROUND. THE WINDSHIELD MOUNTED GRAB-HANDLES ARE NECESSARY TO PULL ONESELF UP INTO THE CAB. THESE GRAB-HANDLES ARE MADE AS IF THEY ARE COSMETIC ITEMS, AND NOT PROPERLY REINFORCED. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THIS WAS THE CASE, AND FEEL IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY FLAW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332603

Incident

May 27, 2010

Mileage

27,233 mi

I HAVE A 2004 DODGE RAM 2500 WITH SEVERAL CRACKS IN THE TOP DASHBOARD. IN RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, I READ THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH DODGE VEHICLES. I ALSO READ THAT THE CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED INTO HOLES. THE DEBRIS FROM THE DISINTEGRATING DASHBOARDS FALLS INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND ALSO BETWEEN MOVING PARTS. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT SUNLIGHT ENTERING THROUGH THE CRACKS AND HOLES RESULTED IN MELTED WIRES AND ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO BY SEVERAL OWNERS. ALSO, A TV STATION IN ORLANDO DID AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUES AND THE DODGE SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE DASHBOARDS BEFORE AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION CAUSES A FIRE OR LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS WHICH MAY CONTRIBUTE TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10284382

Incident

Jul 15, 2009

Mileage

65,000 mi