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2004 Dodge Ram 1500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 1,099 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Dodge Ram 1500, most often about the air bags (34% of complaints, typically around 101,500 miles). It is 4th of 14 Ram 1500 model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory2 recalls for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 problems
Air bags
368 complaints · 34%Half of these problems showed up before 101,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck. The contact was driving at relatively low speeds when a child passenger was able to remove himself from the child safety seat. The child climbed onto the driver's lap; fell onto the accelerator pedal which caused the vehicle to crash into the contact's home at full…
I was traveling north on highway 47 following a van and some other vehicles when all of a sudden everyone locked up and by the time I saw the vehicle in front of me hit the brakes I slammed on my brakes and slid into him damaging his rear panel doors and the front end of my truck. No airbag deployed either on the…
Engine
190 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
I have a 2004 Dodge ram with the 5.7 hemi motor. The engine stalls and dies for no reason when I am slowing down and preparing to turn.
I bought my truck used approximately dec 1, 2005 with 49,500 km on the odometer. It is a 2004 Dodge quad cab 1500 with a 5.7l hemi engine. Approximately 3 weeks ago the engine stopped. I was driving along a residential street at between 20 and 30 km/hr. My foot was barely on the accelerator and the engine stopped.…
Transmission
181 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 120,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline, axle assembly, manual transmission.
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. While driving approximately 70 MPH the transfer case cracked. He stated transmission fluid leaked from the vehicle and he heard a loud, unusual bang. The vehicle stalled and he was able to push the vehicle off the roadway with assistance from others. The vehicle was towed to his…
Engine stalled while braking to turn left in a busy intersection. Lost power steering and brakes. Narrowly missed crashing into a light pole. The engine stalling occurred for the first time about three weeks ago. At that time it occurred twice in one week. Took the car to shop where spark plugs were replaced but the…
Electrical
99 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, ignition, horn, starter assembly.
The anti-lock brake controller in my 2004 Dodge ram pickup truck caught fire and burned. The wiring harness completely melted through wires and all, and the brake control mechanism itself melted and burned. The part was inspected by chrysler but in their determination since I am the second owner of the vehicle they…
Tl contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. While the contact was driving approximately 30 MPH, a fire ignited from the instrument panel without warning. Immediately, the engine was turned off; and the contact exited the vehicle. There were no personal injuries. The fire department was called to the scene. A police report…
Steering
86 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 59,500 miles. Parts named most often: rack and pinion, hydraulic power assist, linkages, hydraulic power assist system.
1.) loss of power steering fluid 2.) failure of rack and pinion seal, loss of steering, very dangerous situation 3.) replacement of rack and pinion steering, new part from dealer was only one available, cost exceeding $800.
The power steering on my truck has gone out twice in the last week. The dealer replaced the p.s. Hoses with newly designed (crimped end in place of hose clamps) ones. This worked fine for a couple of days. As I left work on the 30th, the front seal on the rack blew, and I almost hit other parked cars do to a lack of…
Suspension
66 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear, multiple axle.
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. While the contact was driving approximately 35 MPH into a curve, the steering wheel began to slightly vibrate with a noise coming from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was driven to the side of the road and inspected. The contact was able to resume; however, the failure…
At 80,000 miles city driving both left and right hubs failed. Left hub locked up almost sending me into center concrete wall. Damage to ft end was extensive. Called dealership to find out if I had 2 wheel or 4 wheel ABS, give them my VIN number.. Looooooong story shot, the dealership could not tell me if I had 2 or 4…
Fuel system
62 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 83,500 miles. Parts named most often: fuel injection system, delivery.
While filling tank fuel kicks back shutting off pump handle. Apparent orvr valve problem requiring entire fuel tank replacement. Seems to be fairly common problem on Dodge trucks.
I have a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 when I get gas and fill up until the pump clicks (I do not top off tank) then upon pulling out of the gas station my truck stalls. If I stop for a red light truck stalls again and it continues to stall every now and then at low speeds, at a complete stop, when braking, slowing down, or at…
Brakes
53 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 35,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, disc, fluid.
Abs module failed. Water leaking from hood caused ABS connector to corrode up resulting in failure of the instrumentation panel (all gauges) including windshield wipers and overhead information center. No anti lock brakes.
I was driving on the bypass and was turning on to the off ramp went to slow down because of red light and other traffic brakes would not respond had to swerve into the ditch to keep from hitting other traffic brakes would still not engage then I hit a advertisement sign and it stopped me the ambulance came and took me…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 Dodge Ram 1500 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the chrysler, dodge, jeep and ram owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on march 27, 2017. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is s43. Note: this recall supersedes recall 14v-7700.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 ram 2500 trucks produced at the st. Louis north assembly plant. With this change, chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 ram 1500, 2005-2009 ram 2500, 2006-2009 ram 3500, 2007-2010 ram 3500 cab chassis, 2008-2010 ram 4500 and 5500 cab chassis, 2004-2009 dodge durango, 2007-2009 chrysler aspen, 2007-2012 jeep wrangler, 2008-2012 dodge challenger, 2005-2008 dodge magnum, 2005-2012 chrysler 300, 2006-2012 dodge charger, 2005-2011 dodge dakota, and 2006-2009 mitsubishi raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in al, ca, fl, ga, hi, la, ms, sc, tx, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, chrysler is also recalling 2004-2008 ram 1500, 2005-2009 ram 2500, 2006-2009 r
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected chrysler and dodge owners and mitsubishi will notify the affected raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began for chrylser on june 8, 2015. The recall for mitsubishi started on june 24, 2015. Chrysler and dodge owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Mitsubishi owners may call 1-888-648-7820. Chrysler's number for this recall is r25. Note: this recall supersedes recall 14v817 in its entirety.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 dodge ram 2500, 2004-2008 dodge ram 1500 and durango, 2006-2009 dodge ram 3500, 2008-2010 dodge ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 chrysler aspen, 2005-2010 chrysler 300, 300c, 300s, and srt8, 2006-2010 dodge charger, 2005-2008 magnum, 2005-2011 dodge dakota, and 2006-2009 mitsubishi raider vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Air bags
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengerâs frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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 p
Full defect summary
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.
Equipment: labels
Risk: Installing the incorrect tire/rim sizes and loading the vehicle to the weights shown on the label can cause tire failure and result in a crash without warning.
Fix: Owners will be provided with vehicle certification label overlays containing the corrected information relative to vehicle tire and rim size, and recommended inflation pressure. This recall began on may 5, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
The vehicle certification label on some pickup trucks lists incorrect tire, wheel, and recommended inflation pressure information which does not conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, 'tire selection and rims for vehicles other than passenger cars.'
Transmission: automatic transmission
Risk: Continued operation can result in propeller shaft separation and damage to fuel system components, which could lead to a fuel leak. Fluid and/or fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can cause an underbody fire.
Fix: Dealers will retighten the transfer case to transmission fasteners. Owner notification began on december 22, 2003. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-992-1997.
Full defect summary
On certain pickup trucks, the transfer case to transmission attaching fasteners may not be tightened correctly. This could cause the transmission adapter or transfer case housing to crack and leak fluid.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Air bag inflator rupture
Summary
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 in
Air bag inflator rupture
Summary
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 in
Engine stall
Summary
Analysis of the complaint, field report and warranty data shows that the majority of stalling incidents in the subject vehicles appear to be related to the engine calibration concerns that daimlerchrysler addressed with service bulletins releasing revised PCM software.analysis of the complaints and odi's survey of owners of vehicles that received engine management software updates under tsb #18-013-05 show that these stalling incidents have the following characteristics: - they occur at low speeds, often during parking lot ordriveway maneuvers; - they occur during decelerations, such as braking for a stop sign or traffic signal; and - the operator is almost always able to immediately restart
Engine stall
Summary
On may 16, 2005,odi opened preliminary evaluation pe05-027 to investigate complaints of engine stalling in model year 2004-05 dodge durango suvs and ram 1500 series pickups equipped with the 5.7l v8 engine.information provided by daimlerchrysler during pe05-027 indicated that a large percentage of the complaints are related to an idle undershoot condition that may cause the engine to stall during turning maneuvers.in february 2005, daimlerchrysler revised the powertrain control module software in production vehicles and issued a technical service bulletin (tsb 18-013-05) releasing the new software as a service remedy for the idle undershoot condition.the bulletin was superceded by tsb 18-013
Questions about the 2004 Dodge Ram 1500
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Dodge Ram 1500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (368 complaints, typically around 101,500 miles); engine (190 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles); transmission (181 complaints, typically around 120,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 24, 2016 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the Dodge Ram 1500?
- It is 4th of 14 Ram 1500 model years by number of complaints, with 1,099 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.