2004 Dodge Ram 3500: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 275 complaints
275
Total Complaints
69,184mi
Median Mileage
AIR BAGS
Top Issue
52
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

19,737 25th Percentile
69,184 Median Mileage
115,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

AIR BAGS
41
STEERING
37
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
34
SUSPENSION
18
POWER TRAIN
13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
13
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
6
VISIBILITY/WIPER
6
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
5
STRUCTURE
5

Severity Assessment

52
Crashes
5
Fires
28
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"DODGE RAM 3500 WITH CUMMINS DIESEL. I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK ON AN ABSOLUTELY FLAT PARKING LOT, BELIEVING IT TO BE IN PARK. WALKED 30-40 FEET AND THEN VEHICLE BEGAN MOVING IN REVERSE GEAR AT IDLE AND HIT A CAR. DODGE PERSONNEL HAVE TOLD ME THAT DUE TO THE HIGH TORQUE, IT IS PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE ..."
"THERE IS AN EXHAUST LEAK COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS WHEN THE HVAC FAN IS TURNED ON. I WAS A LITTLE DIZZY & HAD A HEADACHE LAST NIGHT AFTER A LONG DRIVE BACK HOME FROM NORTH FLORIDA. AFTER TALKING TO A PHYSICIAN ABOUT MY CONDITION, HE FELT THAT THE CAUSE WAS MOST CERTAINLY CARBON MONOXIDE POISO..."
"CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT FRONT DRIVESHAFT PROBLEM. IT WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE DRIVE SHAFT PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT AT A TIME WHICH WAS NOT CONDUCIVE TO THE CONSUMER.*AK *TC"

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