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2004 Dodge Ram

The Verdict

5 Total Klunk

The 2004 Dodge Ram has 1,137 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (439 complaints) and body (248 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 5/100, it earns a "Total Klunk" rating. If you're shopping for a Dodge Ram, consider the 2000 model year which has 41% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2000 has 41% fewer complaints

View the 2000 Dodge Ram dashboard →

5

Klunk Score: Total Klunk

Among the most complained-about vehicle years on record. Strongly consider alternatives.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 1

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

04V385000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

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.

Risk

A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE GENERATOR HARNESS CAN CAUSE AN UNDER HOOD FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ALTERNATOR WIRING INSULATION FOR DAMAGE AND REPAIR AND ADD A TIE-STRAP CLIP TO THE VALVE COVER STUD TO RETAIN THE WIRING. THIS RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2004. OWNERS SHO...

Reported Mar 8, 2004

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2000405491025559
200190083216113129
200252444157104112
200349089509104134
200424845439238167

By Category

Electrical
439
Body
248
Engine
238
Transmission
167
Brakes
45

By Severity

1
490
2
518
3
12
4
114
5
3

Worst Problems

Complaints

Electrical 1

I am the owner of a Dodge Ram truck that is currently under an active and urgent Stellantis "Stop-Drive" safety warning due to the defective Takata airbag inflator recall. I am writing to file an official complaint regarding the manufacturer's failure to provide a remedy within a reasonable timeframe, as required by federal law.I contacted an authorized dealership to schedule the recall repair. I was initially told the wait for the replacement part would be two weeks. It has now been over three months, and the dealership still has not received or provided the necessary repair parts.Because of the official "Stop-Drive" order issued by the manufacturer, I cannot legally, safely, or responsibly drive my vehicle. However, I am still forced to pay ongoing auto insurance premiums for a truck that has been rendered completely unusable for a quarter of a year due to this parts shortage. The manufacturer is failing its statutory obligation to remedy this critical safety defect in a timely manner, and they have not proactively provided me with alternative transportation or a mobile repair solution to resolve this dangerous situation.

12d ago
Electrical 2

See attached document for complaint.

1mo ago
Electrical 1

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers 16V352000 (Air Bags) and 15V313000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted; however the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. 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.

1mo ago
Electrical 1

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram. The contact stated that the recall notification letter for NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V352000 (Air Bags). The contact was unable to register the vehicle at the DMV. The local dealer was contacted, who informed him the part was backordered. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure.

1mo ago
Electrical 1

Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2004 Ram 1500. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 16V352000 (Air Bags) and 15V313000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact was concerned about his safety because of the "Do Not Drive Warning," and the vehicle was unable to pass state vehicle inspection due to unrepaired recalls. The dealer and a second dealer, Royal Chrysler Motors, Inc. (3961 Waverly Rd, Owego, NY 13827), were made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

2mo ago
Engine 2

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced transmission failure, and the brake lines were rusted. The contact was trapped in the desert for hours with his dog. The contact stated that two independent mechanics had determined that the idler pulley needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that six injectors and the ECM needed to be rebuilt. While driving, the vehicle went into the death wobble, and several linkages were damaged. Additionally, the front seat belts were inoperable with the seat belt warning light illuminated. The vehicle became inoperable. The vehicle was repaired under warranty previously, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 228,510.

3mo ago
Electrical 2

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V352000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact was informed that parts were on back order for the recall repair. 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.

4mo ago
Electrical 1

Louisville Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. 5311 Dixie Hwy, Louisville, KY 40216. I took my truck into this dealership to have the airbags replaced due to a recall and to have a keyless entry remote programmed. The service tech told me it was going to take a day or two to get the airbags replaced and warned me about possibly breaking my dashboard (without replacement or reimbursement) due to the known cracking dashboards on this truck. I told them to be careful (as the dashboard was in pristine condition) and go ahead with the programming and airbag recall. This was my only ride as I live an hour away, and they did not have a courtesy car for me to use, so they ended up calling an Uber to get me home. A few hours later, I got a text from the service tech saying everything was done and I could come pick up the truck. I asked if everything was done, remote programmed and airbags replaced. They said no...The next day I tried to text the tech to get a ride back to the dealership but no one responded. I called the dealership multiple times and finally got ahold of a person who had no clue what was going on. They then told me that the tech went on vacation and reassigned my truck to another tech. They couldn’t get an Uber back to the dealership, so I ended up driving there with my wife. They gave me a report of the inspection that they did on the truck and it said that the battery terminals were OK even though it has a sheetrock screw holding it in place. On arrival, the truck looked like it wasn't touched. Cover screws still had dust on them and the driver airbag cover was the same. I called them out on it and they reassured me that it was indeed replaced and the driver airbag cover was reused. Many months later I got a Carfax report from this dealership and I looked at it to find out that I still have a passenger airbag recall on the truck. I got a letter also saying I should stop driving the truck because of the airbag recall.

4mo ago
Electrical 4

The contact owned a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while making a right turn into oncoming traffic, the vehicle rear-ended a semi-truck in front, where it came to a stop. No warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy during the collision. Additionally, the seat belts became inoperable and failed to restrain the contact, causing the contact to strike the windshield. The contact sustained a 2-inch cut that required 15 stitches, an eyelid injury that required 7 stitches, multiple bruises, and whiplash injuries, and was transported to a local emergency room for medical treatment. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000. The VIN was not available.

8mo ago
Engine 1

Driving on freeway , lost power Cruise control automatically shut off yellow light shape of a motor came on ; on the upper left side of the dashboard, had to pull over on side of freeway. Able to restart after a little bit. Another time sitting at traffic light shuts off , same light again . Another time had to wait from 11 pm to 3 am before it started and had called a tow truck.. THE RECALL IT FALLS UNDER IS #20V475000 CRANKSHAFT SENSOR , called and filed claim defect # is11686607 . Please Reply

10mo ago
Engine 1

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal and stalled. In addition, the vehicle vibrated before losing power. The vehicle stalled at an intersection. The contact was stopped for hours, and the vehicle failed to restart. After six hours, the tow truck arrived, and the contact restarted the vehicle. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the yellow warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact's brother, a mechanic, inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the crankshaft position sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V475000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 312,000.

10mo ago
Engine 2

I tried to get the service done Iam a one vehicle owner the dealership told me I had to pay out of pocket for the rental car with no set day of service The dealership didn’t care whether I got the recall done cause of the year of the vehicle they provided no transportation solution

25mo ago
Transmission 1

I was driving to work that morning traveling about 40 into the city when all of a sudden I heard a loud noise, I barely could handle the steering wheel to coast it to the side before it came to a complete hault, I look out my window and my drive shaft broke in 2 pieces was passing me on the main road. Front end was on the side shoulder, back end was out in the road. I jumped out of the truck and grabbed up both ends of my drive shafts and put in the back of my 04 dodge ram truck, then started directing traffic on this busy road of morning commuters. Fluid was everywhere on the road so I'm trying to put sand from the side of the road onto the fluid that was on the road that had leaked out my truck all while directing traffic to keep from creating an accident. An law officer came ask was I alright, I answered explained what had happened and he never took a report instead replied with "Seems like you got everything handled" and got back in his car and drove off. I called for a tow service for their assistance and requested it be took to a shop. Where it now sits unrivaled. It was inspected by the mechanic and learned that the pinyin nut had came off cause my rear end to lock up which caused my drive shaft to come out and when it hit broke it smooth into 2 pieces that caused damage to my transmission case. This could have ended very badly for me that day, I'm thankful that it didn't. But now my truck is tore up do to a faulty manufacturers pinyin nut. And I need my truck fixed so I can work and support my family. This was not my doings. I love my truck very much and desperately need it back up and running

26mo ago
Electrical 2

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram Quad Cab. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V352000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the recall was not completed. The manufacturer was not contacted. Parts distribution disconnect.

28mo ago
Electrical 5

The contact owned a 2004 Dodge Ram. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 30 MPH, another driver in an unknown truck ran a red light and crashed into the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained injuries to his thigh; medical attention was provided, but he later succumbed to his injuries. A police report was filed. There was no reported fire. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V313000 (Air Bags). The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

29mo ago
Electrical 1

Refuse a loaner car while the recall gets done

31mo ago
Engine 1

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 used to haul a 2018 Keystone Passport Ultra Lite Grand Touring. The contact stated that the thermostat in the RV failed to operate as needed. The RV was taken to the dealer, where the thermostat was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The RV was taken back to the dealer, where the thermostat was replaced a second time. Additionally, the contact stated that the RV interior structure had detached in several areas, and the RV was leaking an unknown substance. The contact stated that a nearby camper repair facility inspected the RV and opened the release valve, where water had accumulated underneath the RV. The RV was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown

35mo ago
Electrical 4

Got in a accident and the airbags did not deploy

39mo ago
Transmission 2

The driveline driveshaft fell out there’s a pinion nut that came loose and suddenly locked my rear end up without warning. Cant move it

40mo ago
Electrical 4

On 3/24/2022 my mother, Helen Mallazzo was involved in an accident in Queen Creek, Arizona. Police were called and a report was filed. When this accident occurred the seatbelts failed to restrain her and her dog and the airbags did not deploy, resulting in both of their heads hitting the windshield and leaving two large cracks in the windshield.

41mo ago

1137 total

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