10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
11 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
12 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,818 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2004 Dodge Ram 1500 Owner Comments (Page 3 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #15

Jul 102010

Ram 1500 4WD

  • 56,000 miles

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

I have a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 4X4 regular cab pickup w/ 20" wheels & oem Goodyear Wrangler hp tiers 5.7 hemi. Vehicle is 100% stock and unmodified and maintained meticulously. At random intervals on the highway between 60 & 65 mph. The vehicle will abruptly develop a massive shaking sensation. Violent enough to make it feel like it may loose control or have a flat tire. Then if you slow down the truck ride smoothes as glass and will be fine till it starts to build again, or a bump sets it off. This problem is well known throwout the internet and commonly called "death wobble". this condition seems to affect primarily Ram 1500-2500 from 2003-2008.

- Sover, MA, USA

problem #14

Jul 032010

Ram 1500

  • 80,000 miles
I was traveling 70mph on interstate 70west and my front passenger side tire rim and axle came off my 2004 Dodge 1500 quad cab pick up there is only 80 plus thousand miles. It tore up my front fender and door. I did not hit anything in the road. There was no warning of a problem, except that my cruise control kick off and would not reset. Than my brake warning and ABS warming lights came on about 2 mins later my steering started to shimmy and than wheel assemble came off. I was lucky the vehicle did not grab and flip. I was able to get to side of road safely.

- Lafayette, IN, USA

problem #13

Mar 072010

Ram 1500 6-cyl

  • 66,000 miles
The power steering in my 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 locked up while switching lanes cause my vehicle to cross the road strike a electric pole then coming to a rest. The right side lower arm ball joint was found in the roadway.

- Chanute, KS, USA

problem #12

Jan 062010

Ram 1500

  • 163,496 miles

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

I bought a 2004 Dodge 1500 a month ago. The truck has been good till yesterday when I was going to pickup my son when the power steering was not working. Took it into dealership $1400 for new rack and pinion. If I am still lucky it will not be a pump as well. Truck had 162460km when I bought it and has 163496km now. The thought of a clear safety on the truck and just over 1000km put on it and the rack and pinion needing to be replaced is not looking good for the dealership. Just wanted to let people know that this issue continues.

- Calgary Alberta, 00, USA

problem #11

Feb 022007

Ram 1500 8-cyl

  • 20,001 miles
Engine stalling by 2004 Dodge Ram 1500-5.7L V8 engine. This has been a recurring issue and directly led to an accident causing over $10,000 in damage and near fatal injuries. Further, this vehicle (and others I have become aware of) have been serviced at the dealership on time/schedule but this issue has never been addressed nor have they been recalled or repaired despite numerous complaints. Fortunately the repairs were covered by insurance but the vehicle still has the same problem for which neither the local dealer nor Chrysler-Dodge et, al. Has addressed this issue (although reading the files it is clear they spent hundreds of thousands of dollars and man hours to refute/dismiss this matter.

- Mt. Pleasant, SC, USA

problem #10

Apr 202009

Ram 1500

  • 50,000 miles
Braking on the highway led to engine stall and full loss of power to vehicle. Vehicle stalled in left lane and nearly caused a crash. Also, rack and pinion steering began to fail at 50,000 miles. Replaced at 54,000.

- Wilmington, MA, USA

problem #9

Apr 132004

Ram 1500

  • 18,000 miles

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

Excessive play at steering wheel make it difficult to keep vehicle under control shame on Dodge beautiful truck but impossible to keep control at high speed wandering all over the place I was told by dealer my tires where worn at that's why it was loose $1,200 dollars later for a new set of 20' inches tires still have the same problem truck now has 50K and problem start when it was 18,000 miles I hope Dodge it will do something about it.

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

problem #8

Apr 132009

Ram 1500

  • miles
Excessive play on steering wheel I have a 2004 stl Dodge Ram 1500 5.7 hemi engine on it since I bough this truck I noticed some play on steering wheel which getting worst as you driving making almost at some point loosing control is not responsive when steering the vehicle. I have a truck check up but can't find a problem truck has only 36,000 miles this is a safety issued I hope Dodge can do something about it.

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

problem #7

Mar 152009

Ram 1500

  • 48,500 miles
Serious shake in steering and ability to control steering.

- Piney Point, MD, USA

problem #6

Jan 152009

Ram 1500

  • 38,000 miles
www.carcomplaints.com/Dodge/ram_1500/2002/steering/rack_and_pinion_failure.shtml consider this a safety defect lost steering while driving and also a manufacturer defect that Chrysler lcc is not standing behind. Please go to the website above and see all the common complaints. I believe this is a known problem not being addressed by Dodge or by pressure of the NHTSA to have Dodge reimburse and recall this common problem. If Chrysler is going to ask for a bailout then they need to use some of our money to make this right with the american public and NHTSA needs to pressure them to get this safety, poor engineering problem fixed! I filed with BBB of auburn hills, mi. They only look at warranty issues. Vehicles should not have their power steering and rack and pinion going out at 36K miles! Chevy, Ford, Nissan, Toyota doesn't! look at the website complaints and do your job NHTSA...I am forwarding this onto the us attorney general's office. Maybe with a new vision and new president we can start fixing these problems and start helping the people who help fund all these government organizations and government in general..if I sound '!@#$% yes I am...I cannot afford to pay $800 to fix something that shouldn't be going out and I have two 2004 Ram 1500S and both have this problem? not a coincidence...jack blair.

- Woolstock, IA, USA

problem #5

Nov 132008

Ram 1500

  • 41,000 miles

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

Today 11/13/08 my husband was driving his 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab, purchased new. While driving, the steering completely gave out almost causing a very serious accident. It took all his strength to get the steering to turn enough to avoid crashing. Upon taking it to a dealer he was told the manifold shield was rusted and fell into the linkage. Although this is being repaired under warranty by the dealer I am not ready to leave it at that, I expect some kind of explanation from Dodge why something this dramatic would happen to a very high end vehicle only 4 years old. The thought of what may have occurred because of this neglect on Dodge part is unthinkable. I expect this incident to be fully examined and will also be contacting Dodge regarding this unacceptable fault in their vehicle. No warranty can cover damaged lives and possible death that is failure almost caused. I am now and in the future very entrusting of Dodge products and can only hope that my reporting this may help avoid injury to another Dodge owner.

- Coventry, CT, USA

problem #4

Nov 272007

Ram 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,500 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. While driving 15 mph, the vehicle would stall when turning or while stopped. The power steering would fail and no warning lights were present. The failure only occurred in cold weather. The dealer inspected the vehicle and found no failures. The purchase date was unknown. The current mileage was 26,250 and failure mileage was approximately 25,500.

- Schenectady, NY, USA

problem #3

Dec 082003

Ram 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35 miles
This happen to me three times the first time December 2003 two months after I got the vehicle. The second time it happened June 2004, and the third time it happened September 2004. The first time it happened. I was driving down the highway in 4 wheel drive high about 30 to 35 mph when the truck stalled. I had no indication that it stalled except for loss of power steering. The second time this happened I was driving down a gravel road about 35 to 40mph. I was coming up on a curve in the road, and the vehicle stalled again. Again I lost power steering, and came close to going into the ditch with my 1 year old boy. The third time this happened I was stopped at a stop light when the vehicle stalled. I have taken the vehicle in twice for this, and the dealership said the computer in the engine probrably just reset itself, and there is nothing they can do about it. I have written a letter to Dodge, and sent it in with their survey after the last incident, and haven't heard back.

- Jefferson City, MO, USA

problem #2

Jan 012005

Ram 1500 10-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
My 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 srt-10 (1/2 ton P/U w viper engine & 22 inch wheels) is subject to very serious over-steering. Tku

- Sea Girt, NJ, USA

problem #1

Jun 012004

Ram 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 700 miles
2004 Dodge 1500 Ram quad cab truck purchased the truck has a vibration during speeds 60-70 mph - team Dodge stone mountain, where we purchased, has tried to service twice before and now the service manager, tom hudson, and the Chrysler factory representative say this truck cannot be repaired. We have requested a buy back since Dodge did not offer a temp vehicle while this was trying to be repaired or not even now as they have had this vehicle since 7-1. we have purchased another vehicle, different make and model, and are now out a great deal of money. This was done because they said they would purchase this automobile back. Here we sit 7-13 and nothing has been accomplished. NHTSA needs to know this problem because Dodge is not saying what the problem is just that it is unrepairable. We are concerned that if this problem continues whithout notification to other Dodge truck owners, there may be an accident. There may be a situation where this vibration causes the driver uncontrolable steering. Please advise someone. Consumer seeking full repurchase funds for the vehicle.

- Stone Mountain, GA, USA

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