2004 Dodge Ram 1500: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1359 complaints
1359
Total Complaints
70,000mi
Median Mileage
AIR BAGS
Top Issue
114
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

34,250 25th Percentile
70,000 Median Mileage
128,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

AIR BAGS
344
POWER TRAIN
126
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
74
ENGINE
73
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
57
STEERING
57
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
40
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
38
SUSPENSION
36
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
36

Severity Assessment

114
Crashes
42
Fires
153
Injuries
1
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED, VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER SAID THERE WAS A TRACTOR TRAVELING CLOSE BEHIND AND ALMOST RESULTED IN A REAR END COLLISION. *LA"
"A TWO YEAR OLD 38 POUND TODDLER WAS CLIMBING UP THE TAILGATE AND WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE TAILGATE. AS A RESULT THE CHILD'S ARM BROKE. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE TAILGATE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN RELEASED SO EASILY. THIS INCIDENT ALSO PUT A DENT IN THE TAILGATE. *NM"
"WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH CONSUMER FELT THAT VEHICLE STARTED RESPONDING SLUGGISHLY. AFTER A FEW MILES, CONSUMER NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY CONSUMED BY THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO THE SCENE. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28