VehicleVerdict

2004 Dodge Ram 3500 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

The 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 carries two red flags at once: 276 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA — 1.7× the Ram 3500 norm — and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: Air Bag Inflator Rupture). It is one of the Ram 3500 years to avoid. Complainants reported 28 injuries in total across these filings.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across transmission (66), airbags (43), and steering (41), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

276

NHTSA complaints

7

Recalls

8

Investigations · 1 open

52

Crash-involved

5

Fires reported

28

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2004 compare to other Ram 3500 years?

See all Ram 3500 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Transmission6624%
Airbags4316%
Steering4115%
Suspension3011%
Visibility & Wipers155%
Electrical System155%
Fuel System135%
Body & Structure93%
Brakes83%
Engine83%
Other73%
Tires & Wheels73%
Lighting73%
Speed Control41%
Seat Belts21%
Latches & Locks10%

Does the 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

14V770000AirbagsDecember 3, 2014 · 250,896 units

Defect

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2004-2005 Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500, 2004-2005 Dodge Durango, 2005 Dodge Dakota, 2005 Dodge Magnum and 2005 Chrysler 300, 300C and 300 SRT8 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa are addressed by this recall. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. For vehicles that were sold, or are currently registered, in Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, owners were notified and the recall began on December 5, 2014. For all other vehicles, Chrysler notified owners and the recall began on February 3, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P40 Expanded. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall 16V-352. This recall superseded the passenger air bag portion of recall 14V-354.

13V528000SteeringNovember 6, 2013 · 706,664 units

Defect

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Dodge RAM 2500 4x4 and 3500 4x4, model year 2007-2008 Dodge RAM 3500 4x2 Cab Chassis and model year 2006-2008 Dodge RAM 1500 Mega Cab 4x4 trucks manufactured February 12, 2002, through February 13, 2008. The left tie rod assembly may break.

Consequence

A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Chrysler notified owners and launched its recall campaign in January 2014. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N62.

11V350000SteeringJuly 6, 2011 · 242,780 units

Defect

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 2500/3500 4X4, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH MARCH 28, 2011; MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 3500 CAB CHASSIS 4X2, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH MARCH 28, 2011; AND MODEL YEAR 2008 DODGE RAM 1500 MEGA CAB 4X4, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH AUGUST 15, 2008, BECAUSE THE LEFT TIE ROD BALL STUD MAY FRACTURE. THIS CONDITION TENDS TO OCCUR DURING LOW SPEED PARKING LOT TYPE MANEUVERS WHEN THE CUSTOMER IS MAKING A TIGHT TURN. ADDITIONALLY, MODEL YEAR 2003-2008 DODGE RAM 2500/3500 VEHICLES MAY HAVE RECEIVED THE AFFECTED TIE ROD ASSEMBLY AS A REPLACEMENT PART DURING NORMAL SERVICE.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL STABILITY IN THE LEFT HAND FRONT WHEEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TIE ROD ENDS FOR RELATIVE ORIENTATION AND REPLACE THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD AS REQUIRED AND PERFORM A FRONT END TOE ALIGNMENT AS NEEDED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 3, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

10E013000SteeringMay 3, 2010 · 1,500 units

Defect

FABTECH IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT PITMAN ARMS, P/NOS. FTS93001 AND FT44039, INSTALLED FOR USE ON CERTAIN 2003 THROUGH 2008 DODGE 2500 4WD, 3500 4WD, AND 1500 4WD MEGA CAB VEHICLES. THE PITMAN ARM CAN FRACTURE AND BREAK AWAY FROM THE STEERING BOX CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Consequence

STEERING LOSS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMAGE, INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy

FABTECH WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND AUTHORIZED INSTALLERS WILL INSPECT FOR DEFECTIVE PITMAN ARM AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FABTECH AT 1-877-432-2832.

07E104000Visibility & WipersDecember 11, 2007 · 1,657 units

Defect

CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT(S) MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY SHATTERED GLASS.

Remedy

SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIMBURSE WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS FOR CURRENT INVENTORY AND AT A SPECIFIED RATE FOR REPLACING THEIR CUSTOMER'S GLASS. WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE'S WHOLESALE DIVISION, SERVICE AUTOGLASS TOLL FREE AT 1-888-246-6298. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008.

07E009000SuspensionFebruary 1, 2007 · 3,350 units

Defect

CERTAIN LKI ENTERPRISES, INC., BRAND NAME SUPERLIFT SUSPENSION, PITMAN ARMS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 2003-2007 DODGE RAM 2500 AND 3500 4X4 LIGHT TRUCKS. DUE TO INADEQUATE HEAT TREATMENT DURING PRODUCTION, THE AFFECTED PITMAN ARMS MAY DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE UPPER SPLINED ATTACHMENT ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING OUTPUT SHAFT. MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE PITMAN ARM AND THE OUTPUT SHAFT MAY DEFORM SPLINES, RESULTING IN PREMATURE WEAR AND FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE AFFECTED PITMAN ARM.

Consequence

PITMAN ARM WEAR OR FAILURE MAY LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

LKI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PITMAN ARM, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LKI AT 1-800-551-4955.

05V462000TransmissionOctober 6, 2005 · 250,433 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, IN AN ATTEMPT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE QUICKLY WITHOUT SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND REMOVING THE KEY, THE DRIVER MAY INADVERTENTLY LEAVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL IN INDICATED REVERSE.

Consequence

THIS ERROR IS AN UNINTENDED ACTION THAT MAY RESULT IN A LACK OF TRANSMISSION PARK PAWL ENGAGEMENT AND POSSIBLY DELAYED REARWARD MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL PERFORM A SOFTWARE MODIFICATION TO EQUIP THESE VEHICLES WITH AN OUT-OF-PARK ALARM. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Open NHTSA investigations

EA15001

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.Nonetheless, at ODI's insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation.The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, areas with high absolute humidity and climatic conditions believed to be a significant factor in the inflator ruptures.As part of the recall actions, inflators removed from remedied vehicles are to be returned to Takata for testing.Takata's initial test results on passenger inflators from remedied vehicles indicated a much higher than anticipated rupture frequency for inflators returned from Florida.Accordingly ODI requested all 10 manufacturers expand the regional recalls for passenger inflators to include other geographic areas where high absolute humidity conditions exist, including the Gulf States and other coastal areas.Takata's testing of the passenger inflators to date continues to indicate this geographic area as having the highest risk, with no ruptures occurring from inflators returned from outside the expanded recall regions.During PE14-016 four additional passenger inflator field events occurred, all in vehicles from the same expanded geographic region.Also during PE14-016 four additional driver inflator field events occurred including two in vehicles from regions not known for high absolute humidity, specifically California and North Carolina.Accordingly, ODI requested all five of the affected vehicle manufacturers currently using the subject Takata driver inflators expand to nationwide recalls.Significantly, neither of the affected vehicle manufacturers or Takata provided any explanation to account for these two driver air bag inflator ruptures outside the area of high absolute humidity.Takata testing of returned driver inflators indicates a lower rupture frequency as compared to passenger inflator testing.All test ruptures reported by Takata to date have occurred on inflators returned from high absolute humidity areas.The investigation now includes all manufacturers and vehicles known to be affected at this time.ODI's investigation will focus on, among other things, root cause analysis, other potential defect consequences, identification of affected vehicles scope, and adequacy of the remedy.The five ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10537899, 10568848, 10585224, 10605877, 10651492

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

PE04039 IS AN EXACT DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENED TO MY MY 2004 DODGE RAM 3500 CUMMINS TURBO DIESEL WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WITNESSES SAW ME GET OUT OF THE TRUCK, ENTER A STORE, AND THEN SAW MY TRUCK GO INTO REVERSE LONG AFTER I WAS IN THE STORE. WHEN I EXITED THE STORE, MY TRUCK HAD RUN INTO…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · July 17, 2005 · crash

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION (WEST TO EAST), I WAS STRUCK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE, PUSHING ME TO THE RIGHT INTO A TRAFFIC LANE HEADING NORTH WHERE I THEN STRUCK A VEHICLE HEAD ON CAUSING FRONT END DAMAGE. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT. THIS SECOND VEHICLE WAS MOVING FORWARD…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · February 19, 2014 · crash

TRAVELING 55 MPH, TRUCK HIT A SMALL BUMP . TRUCK STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY LEFT AND RIGHT, COULD NOT CONTROL IT. STARTED TO PULL OFF ROAD WHEN HIT A WALL DUE TO STEERING. NO WAY TO CONTROL THIS TRUCK. HAS BEEN MAINTAINED FORM DODGE ALWAYS. STAY AWAY FROM THESE TRUCKS. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · May 1, 2014 · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A POTHOLE AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE,…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · September 22, 2009

ABS LIGHT CAME ON. AIR CONDITIONER WENT OFF AND ON. WENT TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION , AND HEARD A POP, AND BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. FINALLY STOPPED WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE. A MAN CAME RUNNING SAYING GET OUT THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. CALLED THE FIRE DEPT. THIS IS A NEW TRUCK WITH 8,000 MILES ON IT. WE ARE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · July 10, 2004 · fire

2004 Dodge Ram 3500 — common questions

Is the 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 276 complaints put the 2004 model at #6 of 22 Ram 3500 years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the Ram 3500 years to avoid.

What are the most common 2004 Ram 3500 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are transmission (66 complaints), airbags (43 complaints), steering (41 complaints).

Does the 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 2004 Dodge Ram 3500. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 under NHTSA investigation?

Yes — an investigation remains open (Air Bag Inflator Rupture). An open ODI action means NHTSA is actively assessing a possible defect.

Which Dodge Ram 3500 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Ram 3500 years to avoid are 2012, 2006, 2003, 2011, 2007, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2009. The cleanest record among Ram 3500 years belongs to 1991.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.