10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
41,232 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 Ram 3500 engine problems

engine problem

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2005 Dodge Ram 3500 Owner Comments

problem #5

Jul 172021

Ram 3500

  • miles

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

A massive amount of people in forums have encountered the same problem. When you start the vehicle it will idle pretty rough with black smoke. If and when you press the accelerator pedal it will continue to throttle up on its own. In park or driving! FORUM POST: #1. While driving my 04 Dodge 3500 Cummins down the street, at a speed of around 45mph, all of a sudden it went to wide-open throttle. It completely caught me off guard and the first thing I did was hit the brake. It had very little effect on what was happening. In less than 1 block I was well over 70mph with the brake on in a 45mph zone. #2. I had the same exact thing happen, I was at 90 mph on a 40 mph road when I finally had to put it in neutral, the pedal had no effect on rpm as I coasted to a stop the engine sat pegged at the rev limiter, and stayed there until I shut the motor down. I did not have cruise control on or showing as ready to go into the cruise, ie cruise light on in the instrument panel. I had some codes, but not sure when. FUEL PRESSURE TOO HIGH and another I forget. It was scary with the family in the truck. waited a few minutes trying to see that all connections were tight and they were, restarted and all was back to normal. 2 complaints of 1000's. I've been in the mechanical world for 50 years. Everything from motorcycles to heavy equipment and this one took me over a year to figure out. Generally, there are no codes thrown as in mine. The fuel pressure regulator malfunctions and forces pressure on the fuel rail. This feeds the injectors too much fuel and the computer will not default and shut down. I was traveling at 55mph with a 45-foot king pin trailer on my truck. Went to accelerate a bit and took off. At 75 mph, loaded (45000 lbs) I turned the ignition off. How many people has this killed and the possible reason was driver error?

- Bend, OR, USA

problem #4

Feb 222015

Ram 3500

  • 119,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Ram 3500. While driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact also stated that the ability to steer and brake seized. The contact crashed into the center divider before coming to a stop. The frontal air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained a dislocated right arm, which required medical attention. The contact did not specify if a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technician was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000.

- Huntington Beach , CA, USA

problem #3

Nov 052010

Ram 3500

  • 86,161 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 diesel. The contact stated was attempting to park the vehicle 5 mph in a residential driveway. The vehicle was placed in park and then into drive when there was an abnormal acceleration. The contact depressed the brakes and shifted into reverse yet the vehicle continued to accelerate. The contact shifted into park and was able to stop the unintended acceleration yet the engine continued to exhibit an unusual increase in rpms. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnosis of the failure or repairs. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer where they would inspect the failure. The contact inquired with the manufacturer to have the vehicle towed to the dealer at their expense but they refused. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 86,161.

- Reno, OH, USA

problem #2

Jan 052005

Ram 3500 4WD 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,000 miles
Dodge Ram with cummins diesel engine. The consumer was unable to decelerate when letting off of the throttle. Had one minor fender bender, and a near miss as a result of feeling as though the motor was still pulling. No repairs, but has been to dealer twice. Contacted Chrysler, who stated this was programmed into the computer to do this due to the automatic transmission which magnified the problem. Had no plans to change this design. Currently this is still a problem.

- Birmingham, IA, USA

problem #1

Apr 012005

Ram 3500 4WD 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Problems with continuous acceleration on 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 even after cruise control is disengaged. Prior to this incident the consumer had been driving with the cruise control on but not engaged due to braking. When the vehicle was turned off then turned back on the vehicle continued to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but they were unable to locate the cause of the problem.

- Centennial, CO, USA

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