Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
ENGINES NEEDING CAM SHAFTS LIFTERS TIMING CHAINS THEY OVER HEAT ELECTRIC FANS NOT WORKING BATTERIES EXPLODE TRANSMISSIONS STOP SHIFTING BAD VALVE BODIES BAD ELECTRICAL PARTS THESE TRUCKS ARE DRIVEN AROUND ONE LOCATION AT 35 MPH OR LESS 24-7 AND PARKED FOR LONG TIMES AT IDLE. NO CITY OR HWY DRIVING 4 DIFFERENT TRUCKS AT DEALERSHIPS SINCE 9/16/2020 STILL NOT REPAIRED
TRUCK BURST INTO FLAMES JUST SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. TRUCK HAD BEEN PARKED AND NOT STARTED IN 5 DAYS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING AT A NORMAL RATE OF SPEED, VARIOUS FUEL INJECTORS BURNED THE PISTONS WITHOUT WARNING AND DAMAGED THE MOTOR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KEN GARFF WEST VALLEY CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM FIAT (4175 W 3500 S, WEST VALLEY CITY, UT 84120) AND DOUG SMITH CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (523 W MAIN ST, AMERICAN FORK, UT 84003) WHERE THE INJECTORS AND ENGINE WERE REPLACED ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE BLEW UP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND PAID $15,000 TO HAVE THE MOTOR REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS, AND GAUGES FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIPM MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
AFTER CHANGING THE OIL I NOTICED A QUARTER SIZE RUST BUBBLE ON THE SIDE OF THE OIL PAN ABOUT 1/2" FROM THE BOTTOM. I TOOK A RAG AND WIPED IT OFF IN AN ATTEMPT TO SPRAY SOME PAINT ON IT BUT AS SOON AS I WIPED IT THE NEW OIL STARTED RUNNING OUT AT A SLOW DRIP. I ULTIMATELY ENDED UP REPLACING THE OIL PAN. AFTER I HAD THE PAN OF IT LOOKED LIKE THE PAN HAD BEEN PAINTED WITH RUST ON THE OUTSIDE. THE INSIDE OF THE PAN WAS FINE BUT I HAD 10 OR 15 RUST SPOTS THAT WERE BUBBLING UNDER THE PAINT.
THE OIL PAN HAS A SILVER DOLLAR SIZED RUST-THROUGH FORMING AT THE BOTTOM, REAR, RIGHT CORNER AND IS NOW LETTING OIL SEEP THROUGH. I DISCOVERED THIS WHEN I NOTICED A SMALL PUDDLE OF OIL UNDER THE TRUCK AND INSPECTED IT. LUCKILY, I CAUGHT THIS BEFORE IT CAUSED A MAJOR PROBLEM. HAD I NOT NOTICED THIS DEFECT AND IT FAILED WHILE DRIVING, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE BY ALLOWING OIL TO BLOW ON TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. ALTERNATIVELY, IT ALSO COULD HAVE ALLOWED 12 QUARTS OF OIL TO LEAK ON TO THE HIGHWAY, DESTROYED MY TURBO AND/OR ENGINE, OR CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED UP. DODGE INFORMS ME THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST IN EXCESS OF $1,400.00. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE OIL PAN SHOULD RUST THROUGH LIKE THIS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH A CONDITION IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAT I HAVE OWNED. *TR
EXCESSIVE VIBRATION SINCE PURCHASES TRUCK NEW IN 2005. REPLACED SERPENTINE BELT 5 TIMES AND TENSIONER PULLEY 2 TIMES, WHICH IS ABOUT EVERY 30K MILES. CHRYSLER AGREED TO PAY FOR THE LAST BELT AND PULLEY ACKNOWLEDGING SOMETHING WAS WRONG CAUSING THE ISSUE. THE ISSUE WAS NOT KNOWN UNTIL RECENTLY. THE VIBRATION OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME CAUSED SEVERAL BOLTS/MOUNTS TO WORK LOOSE AND ALLOWED PARTS TO SHIFT. THE COOLING FAN SHIFTED INTO THE RADIATOR BREAKING THE FAN BLADES AND BUSTING THE RADIATOR. THE RADIATOR, FAN ASSEMBLY AND FAN HAD TO BE CHANGED. DURING THESE REPAIRS THE VIBRATION SOURCE WAS FOUND. THE FLYWHEEL WAS BAD. CHANGED FLYWHEEL, CLUTCH AND THROW OUT BEARING. THE BEARING IN THE FLYWHEEL WAS BAD AND CAUSING SLACK WHICH CAUSED THE VIBRATION. THE EXCESSIVE VIBRATION ALSO CAUSED A 5" CRACK IN THE BELL HOUSING AND BROKE THE EXHAUST PIPE IN TWO. MUFFLER SHOP SAID THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN A BREAK IN THE EXHAUST LIKE THIS. CHRYSLER IS SAYING ALL OF THESE ITEMS ARE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, DISREGARDING THE FACT THAT EARLIER CHRYSLER AGREED TO REPLACE A SERPENTINE BELT AND TENSIONER PULLEY. UJOINTS IN THE SAME VEHICLE HAVE BEEN CHANGED MULTIPLE TIMES. VERY POOR HEADLIGHTS. SO BAD IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE NOT ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO ADEQUATELY SEE IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING DURING THE NIGHT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE STARTED TO HEAR A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD OVERHEATED AND TWISTED, CAUSING THE BOLTS TO FRACTURE. AS A RESULT BOTH MANIFOLDS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
2005 DODGE 2500 DIESEL TRUCK. REPLACED SERPENTINE BELT 4 TIMES DUE TO FRAYING. THE LAST TIME IT WAS CHANGED THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME A PULLEY HAD A NICK ON IT AND NEEDED REPLACED. I PAID TO REPLACE THE SERPENTINE BELT AND PULLEY. I HAVE 120,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND THE 4TH BELT IS NEEDING CHANGED DUE TO FRAYING. THE EDGE TOWARDS THE FAN IS THE ONE THAT GETS FRAYED. I EMAILED DODGE A WEEK AGO AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT. *TR
MY 2005 DODGE RAM 2500 IGNITED AND BLEW UP WHILE UNDER 7 YEAR 70K WARRANTY AND CHRYSLER DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IMMEDIATELY, SMOKE AND VAPORS APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT USED A 10-POUND FIRE EXTINGUISHER, BUT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN EXTINGUISHING THE FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. BOTH A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 28,400.
MY VEHICLE WILL STALL WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES TO THE VEHICLE. THIS IN TURN CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKING. MY TRUCK IS A FAIRLY LARGE VEHICLE, AND WHEN YOU START TO BRAKE IN ADVANCE AND THE VEHICLE STALLS, ESPECIALLY WHEN ICY OUTSIDE ITS VERY HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO MY DEALERSHIP AND BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN ENDLESS TIMES, IT HAS SAT THERE FOR SEVERAL DAYS WHILE THEIR TECHNICIANS SIT AROUND AND TRY TO FIGURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS... EVERYTIME THEIR ANSWER IS, WERE NOT SURE BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST ANYONE HAS EVER HEARD OF IT. WE FIXED "WHATEVER" BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT REALLY IT. EVERYTIME I THEN TAKE THE VEHICLE, IT STALLS, I'VE ALMOST KILLED A PEDESTRIAN AND REAR ENDED A TRUCK... WHAT WILL IT TAKE, SOMEONE TO GET KILLED BEFORE DODGE TAKES THIS AS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM? *TR
AFTER DELIVERING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE INTER COOLER HAD FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR IT BECAUSE OF THE INSTALLATION OF AFTER MARKET PARTS. THE 2005 MODEL YEAR WAS THE ONLY YEAR TO USE PLASTIC END CAPS ON THE INTER COOLER. THE REPLACEMENT INTER COOLERS ARE WELDED ALUMINUM. THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT HE HAD REPLACE OTHER INTER COOLERS ON STOCK VEHICLES SUFFERING THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD. NOT HAVING ANY SUCCESS WITH THE DEALERSHIP I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE OF THE REPORTED AFTER MARKET PARTS I AM NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT I AM NOT EVEN ELIGIBLE TO BRING MY VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR THEIR OPINION. THE VEHICLE IS A 2005 DODGE RAM DIESEL WITH 20,500 MILES ON IT. I HAVE PICKED THE TRUCK UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND WILL BE INSTALLING AN INTER COOLER MYSELF.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE RAM 2500 REGCAB SWB. ON MARCH 31, 2007 WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE'S CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED AND HE ATTEMPTED TO SWITCH LANES. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWERVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND EVENTUALLY CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT THEN SMELLED DIESEL FUMES AND NOTICED A LEAK COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE NEXT DAY HE FOUND A LEAK IN THE HIGH PRESSURE INJECTION LINE WHICH CAUSED THE CLAMP THAT HOLDS THE LINE TOGETHER TO BECOME LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT OUT AN INVESTIGATOR TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INVESTIGATOR DID NOT OFFER ANY REASON AS TO WHY THE FAILURE OCCURRED, OTHER THAN THE WEATHER. CHRYSLER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL DEFECT AND THAT THE PART WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY FOR REPAIR. HE STATED THAT WHEN HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 23,679 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
DT: 2005 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL - THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON. THE TRUCK WILL SPUTTER AND THEN IT WILL FINALLY STALL OUT. THIS WILL HAPPEN AT ANY TIME NO MATTER WHAT THE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE TRUCK IS IN THE SHOP NOW; IT HAS BEEN THERE FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE LAST TIME THE ENGINE STALLED OUT, WAS AFTER LEAVING THE GAS STATION, THE TRUCK STARTED TO SPUTTER AND THEN IT STALLED OUT. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR CRASHES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP STATED IT WAS A COMPUTER PROBLEM. THEY DID SOME ADJUSTMENTS, BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, A NEW COMPUTER WAS ORDERED AND INSTALLED AND NOW THE TRUCK IS NOT RUNNING AT ALL. THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT TELL THE CONSUMER HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO REPAIR THE TRUCK. *JB
I OWN A 2005 DODGE RAM SLT SPORT WITH A 5.7L HEMI. I HAVE OWNED IT APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS AND IN THOSE 4 MONTHS IT HAS HAD COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STILL WORKS, BUT THE VEHICLES STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. BOTH TIMES HAVE BEEN AT RED LIGHTS AND IN PARKING LOTS. I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THE TRUCK LOOKED AT AND I PLAN ON ASKING FOR A BUYBACK ON IT SINCE I HAVE LOST TRUST IN THE TRUCK.
WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE (AUTO TRANS) ENGINE STALLS. THIS HAS HAPPENED UPON FOUR SEPERATE OCCASIONS.
I HAVE AN 05 RAM 2500 QUAD CAB HEMI TRUCK WITH 3,200 MILES ON IT. SINCE NEW THE TRUCK HAS HAD AN ERRATIC IDLE AND WOULD OCCASIONALLY DIE WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. THE PCM HAS BEEN FLASHED, THE THROTTLE BODY IS PROJECTED TO BE REPLACED NEXT. THIS PROBLEM IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS THE TRUCK RECENTLY STALLED IN TRAFFIC THREE TIMES IN A TEN MINUTE PERIOD. I WILL ALSO BE FILLING A SIMILAR COMPLAINT FOR MY 05 HEMI DURANGO LIMITED.
PURCHASED 3/4 TON PUCK-UP TRUCK. THE HEMI ENGINE HAS A NOISY VALVE TRAIN. THE DEALERSHIP PLACED NEW HEADS ON THE ENGINE PER THE NEW DODGE SERVICE BULLETIN AFTER 7,000 MILES. WITH THE NEW HEADS ON THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE AMOUNT OF NOISE THE ENGINE MADE. THE SERVICE BULLITEN INDICATES A CLEARANCE ISSUE REGARDING THE VALVE DIAMETER. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES REGARDING THIS ISSUE.*AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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