13 of the
240 complaints about the 2005 Dodge RAM 3500 are about the
engine — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
85,000 miles.
Driver ran over tire rubber debris causing a thud under truck. Five minutes later a very loud thud noise occurred, no warning lights on dash, driver pulled off the highway immediately and exited truck. The grass was on fire underneath the truck. Explosion occurred. The entire inside of truck was gutted. Local fire department responded and put out the fire. Texas Department of Safety refused to respond since collision not involved. The truck is at a towing company awaiting salvage and has been inspected by a mechanic.
NHTSA complaint #11535177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 183,000 milesAndover, MAFire
ENGINE
ON JULY 20, 2017 FAMILY AND I WERE RIDING IN OUR METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED 2005 RAM 3500 AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN THE CAPE COD REGION OF MASSACHUSETTS. AFTER AN HOUR TRUCK RUNNING GREAT, OUTSIDE TEMP 92 DEGREES. 30 SECONDS LATER WE HAD A CATASTROPHIC EVENT WHICH PUT US ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.12 QUARTS OF OIL ON THE GROUND, FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD, AND A HOLE IN BLOCK. REMOVED WIFE AND DAUGHTER FROM VEHICLE, EXTINGUISHED FIRE THANKS TO A STATE TROOPER, FIRE AND POLICE APPARATUS. GIVEN THIS IS MY DAILY DRIVER AND A BUSINESS VEHICLE I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE MOTOR COSTING $18K. CUMMINS AND CHRYSLER INSPECTED VEHICLE. DID NOT INVESTIGATE CAUSE. REFUSED COPIES OF INSPECTION REPORTS. CUMMINS TIED UP VEHICLE FOR A MONTH. DELAYED REPAIR AND USE AS DAILY DRIVER AND CRITICAL BUSINESS NEED. ATTACHED CHRYSLER/CUMMINS RESPONSES SHOW NEGLIGENCE. RESEARCH HAS EXPOSED LATENT DEFECT WHEREBY DODGE APPLICATION OF CUMMINS DOES NOT USE ADEQUATE FUEL FILTRATION. RESULTS IN OVER FUELING OF THE INJECTORS THAT MELT OR HYDRO LOCK PISTONS, OVERLOADING RODS, DESTROYING BLOCK, SPILLING OF OIL, RESULTING IN FIRE. MANY ON LINE EXAMPLES OF SEVERELY DAMAGED ENGINES WELL BEFORE B50 LIFE OF 350K MILES. REPEATED REQUESTS TO ADDRESS SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH IGNORED. PERSONAL ENGINE INSPECTION SHOWED PUDDLED FUEL ON CRACKED PISTON 3 AND PISTON 4, INDICATING THE HYDRO LOCKED PISTON CAUSED THE ROD AND BLOCK FAILURE. REFER TO YOUTU LINK HTTPS://M.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=_BKDZXO6UNO THAT DEMONSTRATES CONSEQUENCES OF OVER FUELING. SUDDEN FAILURE ON WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE RESULTING IN FIRE ON HIGHWAY WARRANTS ROOT CAUSE INVESTIGATION. CAUSE IS LIKELY INADEQUATE FUEL FILTRATION LATENT DEFECT.7 MICRON INSTEAD OF 3.THERE ARE NO CHRYSLER DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS OR MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES TO PROTECT THE CUSTOMER. LATENT DEFECT LIABILITY IS NOT LIMITED BY WARRANTY PERIOD. MUST ADDRESS SAFETY!
NHTSA complaint #11040197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 143,000 milesCleburne, TX
ENGINE
DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY CAR IN FRONT WAS SLOW WHEN I PASSED CAR FAN CUT MY WIRE ON CLUTCHFAN ENGIN LIGHT CAME ON GOT HOME A FEW MINITES AFTER LOOK UNDER HOOD SEEN WIRE WAS CUT THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAPPENED IN 2 DAYS
NHTSA complaint #10716367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 124,000 milesHolden, MO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRES TO THE CLUTCH FAN WERE SEVERED BY THE FAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS PERSONALLY REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10556220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 89,000 milesWallkill, NYFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND HAD AN ENGINEER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINEER DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE BEGAN IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 05/16/2014*LJ STATUS UPDATE. 02/26/15.*JB
NHTSA complaint #10551555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,000 milesEastend, MT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
EXPERIENCED PUFF PUFF SOUND FROM UNDERSIDE OF MOTOR. UPON INSPECTION ONE OF THE MANIFOLD BOLTS TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS BROKEN OFF. NO ACCIDENT/INCIDENCE CAUSED THIS. UPON REPAIR, MECHANIC FOUND 3 AND 4 GASKETS ON EACH PORT (TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM) NOT ONE GASKET AS IT SHOULD BE. THE MANIFOLD HAD WARPED AND BOLT HOLES BETWEEN THE MANIFOLD PORTS AND EXHAUST NO LONGER LINED UP. SINCE THE MANIFOLD HAD NEVER BEEN TOUCHED BEFORE THIS, IT WAS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED AND/OR MANUFACTURED WITH MULTIPLE GASKETS TO FORCE THE BOLTS TO INCORRECTLY LINE WITH THE EXHAUST. WHEN HEATED THE MANIFOLD THEN WARPED AND THE FIRST BOLT BROKE OFF. UPON CONTACTING DODGE CUSTOMER CARE, THEY CLAIMED THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED (BASIC IF 5 YRS OR 150,000 KM) AND SINCE IT WAS NOW 7YRS WITH ONLY 120,000KM THEY WOULD NOT COVER REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. CLEARLY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. CUSTOMER CARE INQUIRED WHY THIS HAD NOT BEEN DISCOVERED EARLIER; THEIR IGNORANT ATTITUDE REFLECTED THAT THEY BELIEVED CUSTOMERS SHOULD CHECK THE BOLTS AS OFTEN AS THEY CHECKED THEIR OIL! SUCH AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT SHOULD BE COVERED BY DODGE, AS IT CONTRADICTS CURRENT VEHICLE EMISSION REGULATIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10473865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 62,000 milesBryan, TX
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
NO PHYSICAL HARM WAS CAUSED, BUT ON MY 2005 DODGE P/U THE A/C QUIT BLOWING COLD, AND STARTED MAKING A LOUD RUMBLE, AFTER CHECKING ON THE INTERNET, I NOTICED 100'S OF PEOPLE BLOGGING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, SOME PEOPLE SAY THEY PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED AND IT RE OCCURS, EVIDENTLY THE DOOR ON THE AC UNIT IS FALLING OFF BLOCKING COLD AIR AND CAUSING THE AC NOT TO FUNCTION AS WELL, ALTHOUGH NO BODILY HARM HAS BEEN CAUSED IT SEEMS LIKE THIS PROBLEM OCCURS MORE THEN NOT, DODGE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE.
NHTSA complaint #10392916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 290,000 milesFoley, AL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED ALONG CENTER CAUSING EXHAUST TO ENTER CAB AREA UNKNOWN TO DRIVER UNTIL SICKENED LATER. AFTER CONSULTING WITH SEVERAL PARTS SUPPLIERS AND MECHANICS IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THESE MODEL YEARS AND CHRYSLER CORP. HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10367555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 81,000 milesPlacitas, NM
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
2005 DODGE RAM 3500 4X4 CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINE #4 INJECTOR TUBE (LINE) CRACKED AND SPRAYED ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITH FUEL DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT HAPPENED WILE DRIVING THE UNDER CARRIAGE WAS FUEL SOAKED ALSO. I HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR. DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND I WAS CHARGED FOR REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10344692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 76,000 milesFlorissant, CO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE RAM 3500. WHEN HE STARTED HIS VEHICLE WHEN IT IDLED HIGH AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THIS CAUSED THE BELL HOUSING TO BLOW OUT, WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CAB. IT ALSO RIPPED THE EXHAUST FROM UNDER THE CAB AND RIPPED OUT SOME WIRING. THE CLUTCH AND OTHER PARTS DISENGAGED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 76,000. UPDATED 09/18/07
NHTSA complaint #10199604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 156,850 milesWichita, KS
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE RAM 3500. DURING AN INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,850.*AK. SPOKE WITH CONSUMER 10/16/07 UPDATED CORRECT INFORMATION . NEED TO RESEND FORM. *LJ LEFT MESSAGE 11/01/07.
NHTSA complaint #10186536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,000 milesWilmington, DE
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT AND COMMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN IT STALLED OUT. I WAS RUNNING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND CUMMING TO A STOP IN A LEFT TURN LANE IT STALLED OUT. THIS IS A DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB SHORT BED.
NHTSA complaint #10122165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,450 milesAcampo, CACrashFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I WAS DRIVING MY PICKUP IN MY DRIVEWAY, AND HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND EXIT THE VEHICLE LEAVING THE MOTOR RUNNING. ABOUT 10 SECONDS AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE IT STOPPED RUNNING. I HAVE SEEN ON INTERNET FORUMS THAT THIS IS A RELATIVELY COMMON OCCURANCE, AND IT UNFORTUNATELY HAPPENS ON THE ROADWAYS SO I FEEL SO FAR I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE.
NHTSA complaint #10121777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.