10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,504 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.

2004 Dodge Ram 1500 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2004 Dodge Ram 1500 Owner Comments

problem #8

Jun 132011

Ram 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 64,950 miles

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

Driving down road and felt and heard a loud bang under truck. Emergency brake and ABS lites came on and speedometer stopped working. Immediatly went to the garage to have it checked. Mechanic told me that the speed senser was broken and gear oil was leaking from the senser. When he removed the speed senser he noticed that the under side was distroyed. He then removed the differential cover and found that the retaining clips had come out and destroyed the differential unit. The differential unit and bearings were replaced with new Dodge parts.

- Millville, NJ, USA

problem #7

Dec 082010

Ram 1500

  • 74,000 miles
The rear end/differential blew out on my 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 and is causing me to miss work and having to rent a car. My truck has 74000 miles on it is just out of the power warranty. My family needs/depends on this vehicle to get to work and around town. Can not afford the repair bills. I am currently (fighting) Chrysler warranty department please help!

- Grayslake, IL, USA

problem #6

Jul 182009

Ram 1500

  • 71,297 miles
Driving at approximately 20 miles per hour across railroad tracks and heard a loud noise and my truck stopped. I had to have it towed and the garage said that the entire rear end is completely torn to shreds.

- Harrisville, NY, USA

problem #5

Mar 172009

Ram 1500

  • 36,000 miles

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

Bought a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 with 19,000 miles by 36,000 miles the ABS light comes on thought it was a sensor dirty or bad, but took it to a garage and they said there was metal shavings on the sensor. None the less need to say is that the rear end is slowly going out. I put my faith in Dodge never again! I will go and buy a Ford.

- Dauphin, PA, USA

problem #4

Feb 182004

Ram 1500

  • 43,520 miles
Mileage: 43,520 dealer performing service: Vals summit Dodge I have a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. Approximately 2 months ago I had to have both U-joints replaced due to squeaking. Then today, I had to have the drive shaft replaced. The service manager informed me that the shaft was twisted and could not provide a reason for the twisting other than to explain that the drive shaft is made from a very light aluminum tube and this happens. There was no dings or damage. He also informed me that this is a very common problem with this truck and that he replaces 4-5 drive shafts per week. I was charged $108 as part of the deductible for the replacement for the drive shaft. This appears to be an obvious issue with the quality of the component. I spoke with Chrysler customer service who could not assist me other than to tell me to send everything to the customer assistance center and they would see what they can do.

- Syracuse, NY, USA

problem #3

Jun 042008

Ram 1500

  • 32,605 miles
Informed by dealer service advisor that rear axle needs to have clutches replaced. Failure to have this service completed may result in catastrophic failure of rear end axle shafts which may cause axle shafts to fall out of housing resulting in possible injury and repairs amounting to several thousand dollars. This condition was reported to me while my vehicle was in for an oil change. My vehicle only has 32,000 miles on it but dealer said that this was a problem affecting my vehicle type. I feel that Dodge should repair this problem immediately as it is appears that this is a defective serious condition.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #2

Feb 192007

Ram 1500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,659 miles
For the past couple weeks, my wife claimed to hear a strange sound from '04 Ram 1500 quad cab. Yesterday, while traveling on the turnpike with my children, she started to smell something burning, then heard a strange noise, finally some vibrations. She promptly began to pull off of the road, at this point the rear-end locked up, snapped the drive shaft, and a fire broke out beneath the truck. I'm not religious, but thank god the drive shaft broke from the rear end and not the transmission. I think we all know what could have happened then.

- Key West, FL, USA

problem #1

Nov 012004

Ram 1500

  • miles
While traveling at a high rate of speed on the highway, I wanted try out my Dodge hemi power. A loud tapping noise emerged from under hood. I was so startled I slammed on the brakes and went off the road into a ditch flipping the vehicle over many times. The problem was a bad lifter + valve.

- Trenton, NJ, USA

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