CarComplaints.com Notes: This is a classic example of why you should avoid the first model year of a new car. Sure, it's new and shiny but there's going to be some growing pains.

The 2005 Magnum has problems with the gear shifter getting stuck, a shaky and sometimes stalled engine and transmission failure at 75,000 miles.

Let someone else deal with those headaches.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
77,109 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Dodge Magnum drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2005 Dodge Magnum Owner Comments (Page 4 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #14

Sep 182011

Magnum 6-cyl

  • 98,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car is stuck in park and it appears it will be the same problem as many other folks. The geico customer service person even said many cars were being recalled because of this plastic piece that was being changed to metal. Apparently, many are breaking down! I will never by another Dodge.

- Roanoke, VA, USA

problem #13

Aug 242011

Magnum

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Magnum. The contact stated after several attempts the gear selector would not shift from the park position into drive. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where the gear shift box was currently being replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.

- Abingdon, IL, USA

problem #12

Mar 192011

Magnum

  • 56,980 miles
On March 19, 2011, I was cruising with some friends of mine through belton, tx. As we were driving along, the malfunction light came on in my car. I was wondering what was going on. I pulled the car over to the side of the road and turned it off. I waited a few seconds and then started the car again. I placed the car into "drive" and continued on. As I was driving along, I was lightly pressing the accelerator with my right foot. You can hear the engine revving up but the car wasn't moving. I pulled the car over to the side of the road again and turned it off. I waited a few more seconds and started the car again. When I placed the car in drive and pressed the accelerator the car didn't move at all. I then tried the car in reverse. Again the engine was revving up but the car wasn't moving. I called a tow truck and had it towed to a Dodge dealership. Upon inspection by the mechanics, the torque converter went out and spread metal through the whole transmission. I had this car a little over a month with 56,980 miles on it and now this happens. This is ridiculous!!!!! with the car in the shop I have no car to get back and forth to work. I feel like I have been robbed!!!!!!!

- Copperas Cove, TX, USA

problem #11

Feb 152011

Magnum

  • 98,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Magnum. While driving approximately 65 mph, the engine overheated without warning and caused the vehicle to stall. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who performed a diagnostic test which located the failure at the engine cooling module. The dealer advised that the engine would need to be replaced. The transmission gear shifter had also failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileage was 98,500.

- Philadelphia , PA, USA

problem #10

Nov 152010

Magnum

  • 59,623 miles
Dodge Magnum 2005 shifter broken wont shift out of park had to replace shifter because of a little broken plastic piece seems to be a common problem. Can not even use the override button! checking on the computer seems to be alot of these shifters being replaced. I have worked on cars for over 35 years have yet to replace a shifter assembly.there should be recall on this or a class action law suit.

- Lakeside, CA, USA

problem #9

Aug 302010

Magnum

  • 74,000 miles
Shift interlock system the factory lock out mechanism is known weakness of 2005 to 2007 transmissions on Dodge and Chrysler cars the most common symptom of this factory failure is the vehicle not being able to get out of park when you engage your transmission. Due to a plastic part a.K.a. (pink little clip) and a $0.50 spring the guy from the tow truck company told me that he tows at least 1 or 2 cars with this problem every day. The dealer told me that the only way to fix this is to replace the gear shifter... $450 I bought he extended guarantee from Dodge to cover my car for 5 years or $100,000 miles but of course that part is not covered and even if it was still under warranty, I will get another shifter that will eventually fail due to poor engineering looks to me like it should have been a recall by now.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #8

Aug 292010

Magnum

  • 60,958 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car stuck in park. Shifter will not move out of park.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #7

Aug 142010

Magnum

  • 24,500 miles
There is a obvious defective part regarding the shift assembly on Dodge Magnums, Chrysler 300's & Dodge chargers. A plastic gearpiece on the shift assembly is known by service advisors at Dodge & tow truck operators that bring in several cars to Dodge dealerships with the same problem. The issue is once this flimsy piece of plastic is broken, it prevents the vehicle from shifting into any gear. The repair to fix this known issue is about $500 dollars at a Dodge dealership. Something needs to be done to make Dodge be responsible for its vehicles.

- Rancho Cordova, CA, USA

problem #6

Aug 042010

Magnum 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
Car was changing gear by its self so they rebuild my trans change my catalytic converter same problem now its suck in park and cannot move I call they recall line 1800 853 1403 because I say a recall online for my 2005 Dodge Magnum 2.7L V6 but they say they no recall can someone help me.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #5

Jul 102010

Magnum

  • 116,596 miles
Things such as hair, liquids, dust, dirt and other debris falls down into the gear shifter of the Dodge model cars causes shifter problems. The gear shifter will lock in park, and will not move to any of the other gears. Dodge service department manager confirms that this is a common problem in all of the Dodge model cars. The only way to correct the failure permanently is to replace the gear shifter. This can cost anywhere from the low end of $325 to high end $425 including parts and labor. To force the car to shift gears you will have to manually remove the console over the shifter and manually shift which uses the gears from under the dashboard. This is not the way a car designed to drive and is not safe to shift gears from the dashboard. There are forums online regarding this failure in addition to other consumer complaints. Please visit www.lxforums.com/board/showthread.php?P=1538277.

- Lithia Springs, GA, USA

problem #4

Jan 092009

Magnum

  • 43,900 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My 2005 Dodge Magnum's gear shift was stuck in park and would not allow me to operate the vehicle leaving us stranded away from home. It cost over $600 to repair. A check of the internet shows this has happened to many others and thus is probably a manufacturing defect that Dodge should correct.

- Upper Marlboro, MD, USA

problem #3

May 252008

Magnum

  • 50,000 miles
The car stalls on turns. This has happened several times over the course of a month. Found out on June 12, 2008 that Dodge has a "service bulletin" out to update the computer to stop the car from stalling! when were they going to tell the customers after we have an accident! I am just lucky that I haven't been hit from this stalling problem. This is the 4 recall of something on this car and I am very sorry that I ever bought this Dodge Magnum.

- Roanoke, VA, USA

problem #2

Dec 142005

Magnum 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 7,316 miles
Recently bought a 05 dodger Magnum on Dec. 13, 2005 and have been back Dec. 14,22,23,26 for alignment my key transmitters gave out the rear window stopped operating at these times the car was serviced and problems still occur. Have been back to the shop Jan. 17 and a few more times since then for the same reasons only now my key still won't work but won't go in keyhole either the air bag light comes on while driving. It is in the shop now and has been there since Saturday I cannot continue to pay for a car that me and my children are not safe in. I have called the 1800 # for Dodge and am waiting for a response I am also making a complaint with the Texas attorney general and also the txdot motor vehicle board since the BBB didn't want anything to do with this complaint. These problems are recurring problems that the dealership will not acknowledge I have tried to give them a written complaint but they would not accept it as to there attorney did not write it I am not an attorney just a consumer why wouldn't they accept my letter I have it here along with all work orders and still no help. The letter was written on Dec. 26 and was supposed to be taken when the car was put in the shop so they can see I am not going to be pushed over to the side and that's what has happened the car salesman lied from day one come to find out after I made the complaint with BBB he was terminated for "drug use". great now we are buying cars from liars and the mangers of this car lot wont acknowledge me or my problem he sends a car salesman to me I don't want to discuss the problem with a salesman I want an owner a manager or even the manufacturer but no they hide. Thank you for letting me complain on this website maybe it will help others to not get a Magnum they are dangerous and Dodge doesn't care at our expense.

- Amarillo, TX, USA

problem #1

Oct 072005

Magnum 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,000 miles
The consumer has a new Dodge Magnum with less than 2,000 miles on it and the tires are showing tread wear. Specifically the front two tires on the outer edge. The consumer had taken the vehicle to the dealer in which they realigned and rotated the tires from side to side. On the work order the dealer stated that the alignment was not one hundred percent. (11/16/05) the vehicle pulled to the right and there was a chatter when driving from reverse.

- Warminster, PA, USA

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