Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2004 Dodge Ram, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system10
- Power train8
- Tires6
- Air bags5
- Vehicle speed control5
- Structure5
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Steering5
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Suspension3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 8 injuries and 2 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 281 2004 Ram vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 145 people died inside them, and 78 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2004 Dodge Ram failed the safety check 1.78% of the time — 19% less often than the average 2004 passenger car (2.21%). Median odometer at inspection: 159,943 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 119 of these cars first registered in 2004 took their annual MOT test. 77% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2004 the figure was 56%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2004 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.9% | 21.8% |
| Brakes | 5.9% | 13.8% |
| Suspension | 5.0% | 17.2% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.2% | 7.5% |
| Steering | 4.2% | 4.5% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 3.4% | 9.1% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In New Zealand
5 2004 cars are on the New Zealand register; 80% arrived as used imports, 20% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
13 Transport Canada recalls for the 2004 Dodge Ram.
| 2016265 27 May 2016 | Airbag On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, could eventually degrade the propella… |
| 2015228 27 May 2015 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the driver frontal airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. Increased pressure may cause the inf… |
| 2015094 3 Mar 2015 | Airbag Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Canada is conducting a voluntary Safety Improvement Program involving Takata passenger airbag inflators installed in certain veh… |
| 2015093 3 Mar 2015 | Airbag Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Canada is conducting a voluntary Safety Improvement Program involving Takata driver and/or passenger airbag inflators installed … |
| 2015003 6 Jan 2015 | Airbag Chrysler Canada is conducting a voluntary Safety Improvement Campaign concerning the driver's airbag inflator on certain vehicles equipped with Takata airbags. … |
| 2013395 7 Nov 2013 | Steering A safety defect may exist in aftermarket steering linkage equipment sold as service replacement parts for 2500 and 3500 4x4 pickup trucks. If the drag link ass… |
| 2011253 14 Jul 2011 | Steering On certain 2008-2011 Ram 2500 and 3500 4x4, Ram 3500 cab chassis 4x2 and 4x4, and 2008 Ram 1500 Mega Cab 4x4 vehicles, the left outer tie rod ball stud could fr… |
| 2009081 11 Mar 2009 | Electrical Certain aftermarket replacement windshield wiper motor assemblies, sold during the '08 and '09 calendar year for use as service equipment on 2002-2009 Dodge Ram… |
| 2009019 21 Jan 2009 | Steering Defective aftermarket steering drag links many have been sold as service replacement parts for 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks. The drag link assemblies in questio… |
| 2005307 12 Oct 2005 | Other Certain Dodge Ram 2500/3500 Heavy Duty pickup trucks equipped with a diesel engine and automatic transmission may experience inadvertent rearward movement. The… |
| 2004277 4 Aug 2004 | Electrical On certain pickup trucks, the alternator wiring harness may interfere with a valve cover stud and short circuit, which could result in an underhood fire. Corre… |
| 2004150 5 May 2004 | Label Certain pickup trucks do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 120. The tire, wheel and inflation pressure information printed on the vehicle certification… |
| 2003321 8 Dec 2003 | Powertrain On certain pickup trucks, the transfer case to transmission attaching fasteners may be below the specified torque. This may cause the transmission adapter or t… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN PICK-UP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 4.7L ENGINES, THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS MAY SHORT CIRCUIT DUE TO CONTACT WITH A VALVE COVER STUD.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Dodge told its dealers about the 2004 Dodge Ram: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10033546 | DODGE: ELECTRONIC FUEL CONTROL ACTUATOR (FCA) AVAILABLE FOR SERVICE/NEW DIAGNOSTICS AVAILABLE FOR DTC P0251. ENGINE SURGES AT IDLE OR MIL ILLUMINATION. FURTHER INVESTIGATION MAY IDENTIFY DTC P0251-CP3 PUMP REGULATOR CONTROL-DIESEL. IF P0251 IS PRESENT, FOLLOW THE DIAGNOSTICS IN THIS SB. IF OTHER DTC'S ARE PRESENT, REPAIR AS NECESSARY BEFORE PROCEEDING FURTHER. MODEL RAM TRUCK. *PE |
| 10024083 | POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) SYSTEM FREEZES IN EXTREME COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES -- INVOLVES INSTALLING REVISED PCV SYSTEM COMPONENTS. *NJ |
| 10021687 | TRAILER TOWING MIRROR - NEW MIRROR GLASS LOCKING TAB - NEW REMOVAL PROCEDURE. *KB |
| 10021685 | ENGINE OFF-IDLE SPEED LIMIT FEATURE TO PROTECT TURBOCHARGER WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING. *KB |
| 10021684 | GENERIC POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROCEDURE. *KB |
| 10021423 | 5.9L TURBO - DIESEL ENGINE SYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS. *KB |
| 10021239 | POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE INITIALIZATION. *KB |
| 10020924 | AXLE FLUID LEVEL. *KB |
| 10020919 | FRONT END SHIMMY ON 4X4 VEHICLES WHEN TRAVELING OVER ROUGH SURFACES IN THE ROAD. *KB |
| 10020213 | 5.9L TURBO-DIESEL ENGINE SYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS. *TT |
| 10020139 | REAR SUSPENSION VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TT |
| 10019529 | POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) SYSTEM FREEZES IN EXTREME COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. *TT |
| 10017000 | 45RFE/545RFE TRANS - DELAYED ENGAGEMENT DUE TO COOLER RETURN FILTER REPLACEMENT. *SC |
| 10016021 | CUMMINS DIESEL DIAGNOSTICS. *TT |
| 10016020 | ELECTRONIC FUEL CONTROL (EFC) ACTUATOR AVAILABLE FOR SERVICE. *TT |
| 10015802 | ALL VEHICLES - EVAPORATIVE LEAK DETECTION MONITOR ENHANCEMENT; RAM QUAD CABS VEHICLES HAVE COLD START ROUGH IDLE AND MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATION WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0330, AND/OR P0740. *TT |
| 10015075 | NEW WATER PUMP FOR 3.7L ENGINE - NO LONGER COMMON WITH 4.7L. ADVANCED SERVICE INFORMATION #05-002. *TT |
| 10015068 | THROTTLE BODY COKING. *TT |
| 10015067 | EMISSIONS RECALL E09 - NEW VECI LABELS. *TT |
| 10015060 | LONG CRANK TIMES IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING. *TT |
| 10015058 | IDLE FLUCTUATION/DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES. *TT |
| 10013996 | MINIMUN REAR ROTOR THICKNESS. *EH |
| 10013994 | STABILIZER BAR LINK NUT TORQUE SPECS CHANGED. *EH |
| 10013780 | TRANSIT FILM REMOVAL. 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER, AND 2005-2006 RAM TRUCK *SC |
| 10013731 | POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE INITIALIZATION. *SC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE STALL
FALSE PARK
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation