RoadVitals

2004 Dodge Ram 2500 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
581
+1 complaint in 30 days
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
56
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
3
Reports on file since Jan 16, 2004

What this page shows

Our database holds 581 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Dodge Ram 2500. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 581 · page 1 of 24

ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 12, 2026
Crash reportedFire reported

In the past 6 months my steering and suspension components failed causing me to wreck and also somehow my engine bay deteriorated in turn having started a fire

NHTSA ID
11756595
Incident
Feb 6, 2026
Airbags
Filed Jul 8, 2026

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram. The contact received notification of NTHSA Campaign Number: 16V352000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experience a failure.

NHTSA ID
11749180
Incident
Jul 8, 2026
AirbagsSteering
Filed May 4, 2026

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram. The contact was informed that the vehicle had four notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 13V528000 (STEERING), 16V352000 (AIR BAGS), 15V313000 (AIR BAGS) and 09E001000 (STEERING). However, the parts to do the recall repairs for both air bags are not available. Two local dealers were contacted and confirmed that the recall parts were on back order and it was unknown how long it would take for them to be delivered. The recall part for the passenger side was the part that is on national back order. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID
11735654
Incident
May 4, 2026
AirbagsSteering
Filed Mar 10, 2023

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 13V528000 (Steering) and 16V352000 (Air Bags) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11511204
Incident
Nov 6, 2011
Steering
Filed Aug 21, 2022

My vehicle had wat is known as the 3rd gen steering assembly. Which is known and reported by multiple consumers to cause wat everyone calls a death wobble " Death wobble happens in Jeeps, 4x4s, and trucks when rapidly rotating steering wheel components cause your steering wheel to move rapidly from side to side. This causes your vehicle to feel like it's about to fall apart and you want to hold onto the steering wheel for dear life." Which cause me to nearly crash multiple times and the only way to get it to stop is to slow to speeds below 30. So I did research on how to correct this problem I found the only true fix would be to redo the whole assembly with the 4th gen assembly. Now that my issue is fixed I'm now worried about other drivers of the same vehicles safety. And wonder why no recall was made even though the dealer know of the issue thus coming up with the 4th gen assembly.

NHTSA ID
11480423
Incident
Jul 20, 2022
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 21, 2022

When driving over some overpasses on highways the "bump" causes the whole front end to shake and makes steering very hard to maintain. I have heard this called "the Dodge death wobble" and has been reported by many other Dodge Ram owners. I have had all of the ball joints and tie rod replaced. This is a highly disturbing occurrence when traveling at a speed of 65-70 mpr on a highway. This has happened to me more than once and is a very scary feeling, thinking my front tires are coming off. Is there a recall to correct this?

NHTSA ID
11475198
Incident
Jul 18, 2022
SteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 22, 2022

dodge death wobble. this death wobble started prior to my 100000mile warranty expired, but by the time i drove the truck home, it was over the milage. After a lot of bs and a fee, Dodge "fixed" my problem. ( for a while) They have refused to re-repair their bad design since. .I've spent many hours and money temporarily repairing their front end design. If i hit a bump in the road while exceeding 55 mph the truck violently shakes and i cannot control the direction. I went off the freeway in Salt Lake this last weekend after putting new tie rods (again) on the front end. You know what this is ! Dodge has never remedied this situation. !

NHTSA ID
11453513
Incident
Feb 19, 2022
Fuel system
Filed Oct 18, 2021

While the NHTSA is looking at the later Dodge diesel pickups, the 5.9 engines commonly fail at low mileage (mine was at 100,000 miles) by the intank pump failing. Mine shut off at 45mph in traffic on State 33 in Idaho without warning.. My truck was towed to repair facility and waited 4 weeks for a substitute pump to be installed. The Turbo Diesel Register magazine commonly has articles of the hundreds of Doidge Ram owners who have been stranded and sometimes lives endangered by the pump failure. Dealers are aware of the problem, give a wink and a nod and as the part is not available, I paid nearly $1400 for a r & r fuel tank, labor, and a FASS brand pump/filter to get back on the road. This happened in August 2020 and didn't run till Sept 2020. Work order available. Truck has had 3,000 mile service it's existance, at Dodge 5 Star Dealer

NHTSA ID
11437265
Incident
Oct 18, 2021
Filed Aug 3, 2020

THE FRAME ON MY TRUCK IS RUSTING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH OF ITS SELF, WHICH IS LEADING TO CRACK IN SPOTS. THE DATE PROVIDED BELOW IS AN ABOUT DATE. I TOOK MY TRUCK IN FOR TIRE WORK AND ASKED THE GUYS IF HE COULD LOOK OVER MY TRUCK TO SEE IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT I MIGHT HAVE MISSED, I DO IT QUARTERLY. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY FRAME WAS CRACKED AND ROTTING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH OF ITS SELF. I CAN'T FIND ANYONE THAT WILL FIX IT,

NHTSA ID
11342892
Incident
Feb 7, 2020
Mileage
148,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 16, 2020

VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ON 3/2/2020. AT THE BOTTOM OF INSPECTION STATEMENT WAS A RECALL ADVISORY NOTICE. I SUBMITTED INFO. ON WEBSITE, BUT I'VE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. TODAY THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON THE DASH AND IT REMAINS ON. WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO AT NO CHARGE TO ME. IS THIS A RECALL??

NHTSA ID
11318248
Incident
Mar 16, 2020
Mileage
133,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 4, 2020

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. REPLACED BULBS HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT CONTROL MODULE WAS BAD. REPLACED FRONT CONTROL MODULE WITH A NEW ONE. 13 MONTHS LATER NOW THE HORN WILL STOP WORKING A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK A MOUTH VERY INTERMITTENT. TURN SIGNALS ARE INTERMITTENT ALSO. ENGINE WILL NOT START ALL THE TIME JUST CRANKS TELL YOU CYCLE THE KEY. WAS TOLD THIS IS ALL RELATED TO ANOTHER FRONT CONTROL MODULE GOING BAD. NEW MODULE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE. I FILL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE . I HAVE HEARD LOTS OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER DODGE RAM OWNERS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES

NHTSA ID
11316000
Incident
Jul 28, 2018
Mileage
173,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Dec 5, 2019

THIS THE THE SECOND ATTEMPT BY ME TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM. IT IS KNWN AS THE DODGE DEATH WOBBLE AND THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM NOT ONLY FOR THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS ANYONE ELSE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS OCCURS.HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=WA8FJFMH1PA THIS THE SECOND DODGE 200 THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS WITH. THE VEHICLE TOTALLY LOSES CONTROL AND YOU HAVE TO GET OFF THE ROAD TO STOP IT. THERE ARE COUNTLESS VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE OF IT.

NHTSA ID
11287190
Incident
Dec 5, 2019
Steering
Filed Aug 17, 2019

THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED WHEN I PURCHASED THE TRUCK, THE COMPLETE FRONT TIE RODS AS A KIT WERE REPLACED THIS WEEK NOW TO GET A WHEEL ALIGNMENT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE LOWER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ON THE STEERING COLUMN? I WENT TO DODGE AND WAS TOLD THE STEERING SHAFT IS AVAILABLE BUT WOULD NOT WORK AS I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE UPPER AS WELL AS IT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE THAT DODGE UPGRADED THE ITEM? THE TOTAL COST WOULD BE $600+ FOR BOTH? IF THE STEERING COMPONENTS FOR DRIVING HAVE BEEN UPGRADED AND THE ORIGINAL IS NO LONGER MADE AVAILABLE WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL? IF THE U-JOINT FAILS THE TRUCK IS GOING TO BE UNSTEER ABLE? WHY WAS AN UPGRADE DONE AND NO ONE INFORMED? WHY DOES THE COST GO TO ME WHEN I SHOULD BE ABLE TO BUY THE OEM SECTION THAT WAS MADE IN 2004? IT IS DISCONTINUED EVERY WHERE ON LINE FOR PURCHASE. THERE FORE THERE IS A DEFECT OR ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AND NOT SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC!

NHTSA ID
11244636
Incident
Aug 14, 2019
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jun 18, 2019

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 70MPH AFTER HITTING THE SLIGHTEST OF BUMPS OR BRIDGE JOINTS THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK WOULD VIOLENTLY SHAKE SO BAD THAT I COULDN'T CONTROL IT AND SENT THE TRUCK SIDEWAYS ALMOST FLIPPING IT AND HITTING A TRACTOR TRAILER BUT THANK GOD I DIDNT. MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE DRIVING IT AND AT 60 HIT A BUMP AND SHE ALSO ALMOST WRECKED IT WITH OUR KIDS IN THE TRUCK! ITS BEEN IN THE SHOP AND AT THIS POINT IM PAYING SOMEONE ELSE TO OWN IT. IM A FORD GUY AND STEPPED OUT TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND AM NOW WASTING MY HARD EARNED MONEY AND IM PISSED. I WANT MY F250 BACK.

NHTSA ID
11221067
Incident
May 28, 2019
Mileage
143,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 20, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT LITHIA CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM OF CORPUS CHRISTI (4313 STAPLES ST, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78411) FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE EFFECTIVELY PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS). THE AIR BAG FAILURE IMPACTED THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A DASHBOARD REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTIFICATION FOR THE SAME RECALL, BUT THE DEALER FAILED TO COMPLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN MORE THAN 100 MILES AWAY TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN ALLEN, TX WHO HAD NOT SCHEDULED THE RECALL REPAIR WITHIN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME AND INDICATED THAT THE DASHBOARD MAY NEED TO BE TAKEN APART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11208651
Incident
May 24, 2016
Filed Apr 1, 2019

I HIT A BUMP GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 65 MPH THE WHOLE FRONT END STARTED SHAKING SO BAD I COULDN'T SEE THE ROAD I FINALLY GOT IT TO STOP WHEN I GOT SLOWED DOWN TO 40 MPH I HAVE BEEN REPLACING FRONT END PARTS BUT NO LUCK WHAT IS GOING ON

NHTSA ID
11193206
Incident
Jun 9, 2018
Mileage
178,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 17, 2019

DEATH WOBBLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED.

NHTSA ID
11187353
Incident
Mar 10, 2019
Mileage
65,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 7, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER AVAILABLE. WOODHOUSE CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM FIAT (2101 6TH ST, SIOUX CITY, IA 51101, (712) 277-3221) PERFORMED THE RECALL REPAIR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE HIM TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000. *TT*JB

NHTSA ID
11175063
Incident
Jan 7, 2019
Mileage
230,000 mi
BrakesFuel systemSteering
Filed Jan 14, 2019

MY TRUCK IS ONLY USED FOR TOWING A FIFTH WHEEL, THUS THE LOW MILEAGE. ON A TRIP, THE TRUCK STALLED WITH NO WARNING ON THE FREEWAY, LOST POWER, POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING IN THE 2ND FROM RIGHT LANE. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO PULL IT OVER AND STOP, IN AN UNSAFE AREA. 4 HRS LATER A TOW FOR TRUCK AND 5TH WHEEL WAS ARRANGED. THE TACOMA DODGE DEALER REPLACED THE LIFT FUEL PUMP WITH AN IN TANK LIFT FUEL PUMP. APPARENTLY THE BLOCK MOUNTED PUMP "ALWAYS FAILS AROUND 70K MILES", WHICH IS WHAT MY TRUCK HAS LOGGED. THE HEAT KILLS THE PUMP. I PAID $2106.47 FOR THE REPAIR. THE NEW PUMP FAILED IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OR 2K MILES. THE EVERETT DWAYNE LANE DEALER HAS THE TRUCK NOW FOR TWO WEEKS, AND CANNOT GET THE WARRANTED PUMP REPLACED FOR ANOTHER 2 WEEKS DUE TO BACK ORDER FROM MOPAR. I BELIEVE THE PUMP TO BE A DEFECT CAUSING EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD, AS NO WARNING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES ARE AFFECTED. SENIORS OFTEN DRIVE RV'S, MANY WOULD NOT BE ABLE PHYSICALLY TO HANDLE THE RIG WITH THIS FAILURE. EVENTUALLY A DEATH WILL OCCUR, AND PROBABLY MANY ALREADY HAVE THAT I AM UNWARE OF. RECALL SHOULD BE IMMEDIATE. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CW *TR

NHTSA ID
11170035
Incident
Jun 18, 2018
Mileage
68,531 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 23, 2018

STEEL BRAKE LINE BEHIND GAS TANK WHICH CONNECT TO RUBBER HOSE LINE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT ALMOST GET KILLED BY SLAMMING ONTO A TREE TO STOP

NHTSA ID
11153435
Incident
Nov 15, 2018
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Sep 20, 2018

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
Steering
Filed May 30, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING GEAR BOX SIDE BOLT SHEARED IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT OF A POSSIBLE RECALL, BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE RECALL INFORMATION AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED LITHIA CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE OF GRANTS PASS (1421 NE 6TH ST, GRANTS PASS, OR 97526) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,073.

NHTSA ID
11098803
Incident
May 26, 2018
Mileage
152,073 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 14, 2018

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
EngineFuel system
Filed Feb 24, 2018

TRUCK DIES WHILE DRIVING AND MAKES IT EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER ! SEEMS TO BE SOME SORT OF FUEL PROBLEM ! THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND I DON'T TRUST IT TO ATTEMPT TO DRIVE IN TRAFFIC TO A DEALER FOR REPAIRS ! THE TRUCK CURRENTLY HAS APPROX. 87,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT ! PROBLEM SEEM TO START SHORTLY AFTER LAST DEALER VISIT IN 2008 FOR REPLACEMENT OF A/C DUCTING UNDER DASH ! DEALER SHUT DOWN RIGHT AFTER OUR PRESIDENT TOOK OFFICE, AS DID MANY OF THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERS ! TO ME, IT ACTS AS IF THE FUEL JUST SHUTS OFF. HARD TO RESTART OR STEER - DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD ! WHILE SURFING THE INTERNET FOR LIKE COMPLAINTS, MOST ALL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE, SAY THAT DODGE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WILL DO NOTHING ! I'M A 100 % SERVICE CONNECTED DOUBLE AMPUTEE, AND NEED THIS VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTATION AND TRAVEL TO THE VA HOSPITAL 45 MILES AWAY FROM WHERE I LIVE ! I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ID
11074695
Incident
Jun 15, 2008
Mileage
70,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Dec 10, 2017

I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK BRAND NEW AND NEVER BEEN ABUSED BUT BACK ON 4/03/2004 MY TRUCK GAUGES WOULD FLICKER AND GO TO ZERO AND THEN GO BACK ALL IN A MILLISECOND. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. IT KEEPS DOING IT TO THIS DAY. YOU COULD BE DRIVING THE TRUCK AT LOW SPEED AND HIGH SPEEDS WHEN IT DOES IT THE GERMLIN DASH SHAKE. IT HAPPENS SO FAST THAT I CAN'T GET A PICTURE OF IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER NURMIOUS TIMES AND THEY SAID THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. BUT YET YOU LOOK AT ALL THE DODGE FORUMS AND EVERYONE THAT'S OWNS A 2003 TO 2005 DODGE RAM CUMMINS 2500 OR 3500 THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THEM. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE GAUGES CAUSE THE TRUCK TO SHUT DOWN AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED? I HAVE LOOKED OVER ALL THE RECALLS AND THINK A INVESTAGATION SHOULD BE DONE ON THIS. I CURRENTLY ONLY HAVE 106,000 MILES ON MY 2004! DODGE RAM 2500. LIKE I SAID THIS HAS GONE ON SINCE APRIL OF 2004 AND TO THIS DAY STILL DOES IT. LIKE I SAID I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER NURMIOUS TIMES AND THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG AND NO THEY SAY THEY CAN FIX IT FOR A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY SINCE IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID
11053781
Incident
Apr 3, 2004
Mileage
3,200 mi

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