10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
22 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,618 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 3500 transmission problems

transmission problem

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2004 Dodge Ram 3500 Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #18

May 312005

Ram 3500 4WD 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,356 miles

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

2004 Dodge Ram 3500 transmission slipped from park to reverse.

- Abilene, TX, USA

problem #17

Jul 172005

Ram 3500 4WD 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,800 miles
PE04039 is an exact description of what happened to my my 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 cummins turbo diesel with automatic transmission. Witnesses saw me get out of the truck, enter a store, and then saw my truck go into reverse long after I was in the store. When I exited the store, my truck had run into the porch of a house across the street.

- Milan, MI, USA

problem #16

Jul 122005

Ram 3500 4WD 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 4,108 miles
The consumer stated on July 12,2005 without warning the vehicle went into drive from park on its own. The vehicle was idling with no one in it and it went into gear and hit a barn and almost ran over three people. The dealer said to make sure it was in park and take the keys out.

- Punta Gorda, FL, USA

problem #15

May 222005

Ram 3500 4WD 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,160 miles

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

I parked the truck, with the motor running and put the automatic transmission in park. I left the truck to mail some letters. I was gone less than a minute and when I returned to the truck, it was across the street and up against a large tree. I know I had put the truck in park, because it was not moving when I got out of the truck. I have two bad knees and I get out of the truck slowly.

- Adams, WI, USA

problem #14

May 022005

Ram 3500 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 19,000 miles
I purchased a 2004.5 Dodge Ram 3500 diesel new last year. About 4 months age I was getting fuel and was parked at a gas station with the truck in park and running. My wife was sitting in the vehicle. As I was about to fuel the truck suddenly went into reverse and struck a vehicle that was behind me also getting gas. No damage or injuries. On 05/02/05, I exited my truck to give mail to a letter carrier. I exited the truck and waited for the carrier to come out of a store. All of a sudden the truck went into reverse. I started to run after the truck and fell causing my shoulder to be dislocated. The truck ran into the parked mail truck that was behind me. I also injured my other arm (left), my two knees, and my forhead.

- Palm Coast, FL, USA

problem #13

Feb 252005

Ram 3500 4WD Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Shifter moved from park to reverse while parked with the engine running.

- Wellington, CO, USA

problem #12

Apr 092005

Ram 3500 4WD Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 8,500 miles

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

My brother was drving my 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 vehicle to pull my boat out of the water from the boat landing. We were both in the vehicle as we pulled up to a flat area to clean the boat off vehicle was placed in park with engine running. I the owner got out first to go talk to the people ahead of us while my brother was in truck for about a minute before he exited the vehicle. We were talking with the other people for about 2-3 minutes when one of them noticed the truck going in reverse, we all turned and saw it going in reverse as it jackknifed the trailer and stopped. It caused damage to the bumper, fender, tailpipe of the vehicle and damage to the boat trailer in one area. No damage to boat.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #11

Mar 172005

Ram 3500 4WD 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,485 miles
Owner using 2004 Dodge 3500 truck in farming operation. Pulled thru gate @20' in level area, put in park, shut door with engine running, proceeded to walk back and was in process of shutting gate. Truck apparently jumped into reverse, backed over owner and proceeded to travel @500 ft in reverse across pasture and hit tree. Rear duals ran over both legs and front wheel over right ankle. Owner was hospitalized with injuries. Truck could not have been in reverse when 72 yr old owner exited truck because of time lapse before backing up. Owner has been driving on farm for over 50 years with no similar accident. It is common practice to put in park while opening and shutting gates.

- Boonville, MO, USA

problem #10

Nov 172003

Ram 3500 4WD 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,000 miles
The vehicle slipped out of the park gear and had gone into reverse, causing the vehicle to crash into a building. The manufacturer was contacted by the consumer. See also 10111596.

- Dupont, IN, USA

problem #9

Nov 102004

Ram 3500 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,400 miles
Vehicle was parked and running idle. Consumer entered a building. When the owner exited the building found the vehicle 300 feet away from where it was originally parked.

- Turlock, CA, USA

problem #8

Aug 152004

Ram 3500 4WD 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,000 miles

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

I own a 2004 doge Ram 3500 with an automatic transmission, I have found that on some occasions the transmission will not engauge in park even though it says it is in park. When this happens it will go back into reverse, usually when you have exited the truck and it starts going backwards.

- Eureka, MT, USA

problem #7

Oct 082004

Ram 3500 Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,500 miles
When putting the vehicle in drive or reverse the dash illuminated and the wheels will began to free roll. The owner took the vehicle to the dealer who stated that all the vehicles performed that way and that there was nothing else they can do. Provide further details.

- Missoula, MT, USA

problem #6

Sep 052004

Ram 3500 4WD 8-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50 miles
New Dodge Ram 3500 with only 35 miles went into reverse on its own knocked me over then proceeded on its own out the driveway and across the street before I was able to get back up and catch it. The truck will not go into park, and when the shift lever is in the park position and the indicator reads reverse. Drive and neutral seem to operate correctly but the dash indicator does not show it to be in neutral at times.

- West Valley, UT, USA

problem #5

Aug 252004

Ram 3500 4WD 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 16,140 miles
My 2004.5 Dodge 3500 truck while in park with engine running shifted into reverse, causing damage to three vehicles. Fortunately no one was hurt. This is the third time the transmission has jumped out of park, the first two I thought maybe I didn't have it all the way in park, so I became aware to check it, which I did before this last episode. Although I didn't have the parking brake on, I believe this poses a very serious safety problem, which others may be experiencing as well.

- Moss Landing, CA, USA

problem #4

Aug 042004

Ram 3500 4WD Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,300 miles
While parked on an incline, the vehicle slipped out of park. This caused the vehicle to roll backwards, causing a minor collision. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

- Gray, TN, USA

problem #3

Jul 142004

Ram 3500 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 6,000 miles
When the vehicle was left idling in the park position, the transmission slipped into reverse and the vehicle rolled into a tree.

- Homestead, FL, USA

problem #2

Jun 172004

Ram 3500

  • Automatic transmission
  • 16,000 miles
Consumer was under the impression that the vehicle was in park. After leaving the vehicle running vehicle slipped into reverse and rolled backwards, colliding with a vehicle behind it. When the gear shifter was put in park consumer was unaware that the shifter needed to be hooked over and seated to the right. There were no injuries involved. Police arrived, but, no one was cited.

- Heath, TX, USA

problem #1

May 032004

Ram 3500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 56,000 miles
The engine light keeps coming on. When we took it to the service center the first time we were told that the problem was with the transmission; the colinoid was then replaced. The second time we took it in to the service department because the engine light came on we were told that the computer is sending the exact same code. We were told we would need a new computer, at 56,000 miles. It was installed. The third time we took it in to the service department for the engine light being on we were told once again that the computer is indicating the same problem. After three days of being without transportation we were told that a ball bearing in the valve body was in the wrong spot, to quote the service manager. We told this was fixed so we took our vehicle home. One mile from our home (we had just left the dealership having the transmission "fixed") the temperature gauge climbed quickly to hot. Once we arrived at home, we opened the hood to find a perfectly straight slice on the upper radiator hose. Of course, I am sure you are aware that the only place to purchase a new hose is at the dealership. We replaced the hose ourselves for a grand total of $32 because we were told by the service depatment, when we went back the next day, that it was considered regular maintance and was not covered under the warranty. I can accept that except for the fact that three ase certified mechanics that we spoke to regarding this hose told us it should have held up for at least 100,00 miles (not 59,000).

- Citronelle, AL, USA

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