375 of the
4,040 complaints filed about the Dodge RAM 3500
are about the transmission —
9% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2004.
375
Complaints
9%
Share of all complaints
64
Crashes
12
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
Driving my 2012 dodge ram 3500, just as I was crossing one of the busiest intersections in my town my truck lost all power and dropped from 35mph to 5 mph. Barley made it acrossed and pulled over. As soon as I pulled over the engine light comes on, checked code, and U010C lost coms with turbo actuator comes up. Turned truck off and rest code and everything back to normal. About a week later it happened again, luckily not as busy of a spot. Called dealer and soonest appointment was in April. Meanwhile I look up code and see hundreds of post for same issue, bad actuator replace. 28 years as a diesel mechanic for the military, so I found the part online and ordered. Replaced the actuator, drove about 50 miles, light comes back on. Finally get my appointment with dealer and they say my turbo is bad, they want $8k to fix. I ordered the turbo and replaced it myself along with another actuator, test drove. Light still comes on but have not lost power yet?? Dealer is not helping. This is a major issue that is all over the internet! The truck just goes to limp and your in the middle of traffic. If this has not caused an accident it’s only a matter of time before it does. The dealer ship just wants to replace big parts for lots of money. I’m already $2500 into this and still having an issue
NHTSA complaint #11734962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 13V528000 (Steering), 16V352000 (Air Bags), 15V313000 (Air Bags), and 05V462000 (Power Train); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available while the vehicle was in for service. The local dealer was made aware of the issue, and an appointment was scheduled to repair the vehicle. The vehicle remained with the dealer for a week before the contact was informed that parts for the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that on several occasions, while the vehicle was in park(P), the vehicle unexpectedly rolled without warning. The brake pedal was depressed with extra force while shifting to park(P). The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11726711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V462000 (POWER TRAIN). The vehicle was taken to a tire specialist to install larger tires on the vehicle. The contact was informed that the tires were too big and could not be installed on the vehicle. The contact stated that the employees switched the tires and added two low-drive tires on the front end and two larger tires in the rear. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH back to the residence, the vehicle vibrated violently. The contact almost crashed three times. The contact stated that while the vehicle jerked, the steering wheel was difficult to control. In addition, the odometer failed to function as intended. The contact called the tire shop and asked the contact to drive the vehicle to the shop for an inspection. The contact had safety concerns about driving the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #11703233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The wireless ignition module loses connection internally and the truck will lose power while driving. It usually happens when hitting a small bump and the key in the ignition moves. Truck loses electrical power which shuts the engine off which means loss of power steering and brakes.
NHTSA complaint #11644035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving uphill at 55 MPH, the contact became aware that the vehicle was not exceeding 55 MPH. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact continued driving to the destination. The vehicle was parked; however, upon inspection, the contact became aware that there were damages on top of the front driver’s side ball joint, the rear driver’s side axle leaf spring shackle, and the driver’s side overload spring. Additionally, there were metal fragments found in the engine oil, and a diagnostic scan retrieved DTC: P0087, P0471, U029D. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was inspected; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 215,000.
NHTSA complaint #11642736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hash shifting during acceleration and deceleration and aggressive braking during decelerating...was only doing this during acceleration in the beginning but now does it all the time . This has not left me stranded yet but, I feel like this is going to be a major problem if this problem does not get remedied soon . Started doing this about a month ago or so..
NHTSA complaint #11625308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 90 IN WASHINGTON STATE, TRAVELING AT ABOUT 60 MPH I NOTICED A HAZE BEHIND THE TRUCK THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR MIRROR. AT THE TIME, THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS BY INSTRUMENTS OR WARNING LIGHTS THAT ANYTHING WAS AMISS WITH THE TRUCK. WONDERING IF IT WAS COMING FROM THE TRUCK I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER TO CHECK. AS SOON AS I STOPPED I SMELLED HOT OIL, SO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, RELEASED THE HOOD LATCH AND CHECKED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPON LIFTING THE HOOD OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED FLAMES BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND FIRE WALL. I RETRIEVED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM THE CAMPER THE TRUCK WAS HAULING AND ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. TWO MOTORISTS WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHERS STOPPED TO HELP AND THE COMBINED USE OF THREE DRY CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHERS WOULD NOT PUT THE FIRE OUT AND THE TRUCK AND CAMPER COMPLETELY BURNED. WHEN I REPORTED THIS TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY WE DISCOVERED AN ERROR IN THE VIN NUMBER ON MY INSURANCE POLICY. OUT OF CURIOSITY I RESEARCHED THAT VIN NUMBER AND WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT SAME STYLE TRUCK HAD ALSO BURNED. IT'S VIN IS 3D7MU48C84G269656 AND CAN BE SEEN IN THE 7TH PHOTO THAT IS UPLOADED TO THIS REPORT. BOTH WERE 2004 DODGE DIESEL TUCKS WITH LOW MILEAGE. IT SEEMS TOO MUCH OF A COINCIDENCE AND I WONDER IF THERE IS A DEFECT THAT CAUSED THIS AND HOW MANY OTHER OF THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #11461850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My husband, our son, and I were traveling down the highway at about 60-65mph when we started hearing a low winding sound. Seconds later, before my husband could get the truck over to the shoulder of the road, there was a loud banging sound coming from underneath the truck that sounded like something was coming through the floorboard. He was finally able to get the truck pulled to the shoulder of the road but wasn't able to put the truck in the park position. He had to use the park brake to get the truck to completely stop. Once the tow truck safely lifted the truck, you could clearly see gears hanging amd what looked to be remains of the transfer case. The truck was towed to a body shop where several codes were discovered, which all pertained to the truck going into 4wd by itself without any warning and unknowing to the driver. This glitch is what appears to have caused the transfer case to grenade, further causing damage to the drive shaft and smashing the fuel line. We, as owners, had the transfer case serviced and fluids flushed just two weeks prior to this happening After further investigation and conversations with the local Dodge dealer, it appears that this has happened in several situations yet no safety recalls have been issued. There is a national backorder for transfer cases for our particular year which is a red flag. We're now left with an over $8100.00 bill and everyone pointing the finger at each other. This could have ended tragically had there been more traffic on the road when the truck began stalling on the busy interstate.
NHTSA complaint #11427230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My family and I were traveling down the interstate about 60-65mph in 2 wheel drive when out of nowhere we started hearing a whining/roaring noise that quickly got louder. Seconds later, there was a loud rumbling noise that sounded like something was coming through the floorboard of the truck. Luckily, I was able to steer the truck to the shoulder of the road and get it to stop, but the truck would not go into park. I had to use the park brake to make sure that it wouldn't roll. After the tow truck arrived and safely jacked the truck up, we immediately noticed that it was the transfer case that had exploded. Gears were hanging out in plain site and it caused a bend in my front driveshaft. There were no warning signs and I had just had the transfer case and my transmission serviced and flushed 2 weeks prior. This put my family's and other lives in danger because had there been more traffic on the road at the time this happened, I wouldn't have had time or room to maneuver my truck safely to get it off the road. We could have been rear ended or had broken parts fly off the truck, that would have been out of my control. The truck was towed to the shop where I had the transfer case serviced, but as of now there's a national backorder on transfer cases for this truck. In speaking with the dealer and doing my own research, I've also learned that there has been a recall on the transfer cases of 2016 and newer Ram 3500 trucks. This needs to be looked into asap. Codes pulled from the truck at the auto shop where the truck currently is are c1404, c1405, c140d stating that the transfer case motor puts the system in 4wd by itself while driving without any warning.
NHTSA complaint #11425835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE INTEGRATED BRAKE CONTROLLER IS INTERMITTENT AT BEST. I PURCHASED A TRAILER AND IT HOOKED UP FINE. WORKED FINE TOWING UNTIL I DISCONNECTED THE TRAILER AND SEVEN PIN CONNECTOR. NOW THE CONTROLLER TELLS ME THERE IS NO TRAILER ON THE CONTROLLER AND THE DASH ALERTS. UPON PULLING THE TRAILER AGAIN THE CONTROLLER TELLS ME I'M NOT TOWING WHEN I AM. ??
NHTSA complaint #11388248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SOMETHING IN TRANSMISSION (68RFE) FAILED AND DUMPS FLUID OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION DIP STICK TUBE ONTO THE TURBO WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET IN THE TOWN I LIVED.
NHTSA complaint #11361986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER BOYFRIEND WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, HE HAD PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. WHILE HE WAS RETRIEVING ITEMS FROM THE TRUNK, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO INDEPENDENTLY ROLL BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT'S BOYFRIEND ATTEMPTED OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR THROUGH THE WINDOW BUT FAILED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING IN MOTION, HE DODGED OUT OF THE VEHICLE'S PATH. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY HIT TWO ROAD SIGNS BEFORE IT CAME TO A HALT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT'S BOYFRIEND SUFFERED A ROAD RASH AS A RESULT OF DASHING OUT OF THE WAY OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED BUT A PARK RANGER ARRIVED AND TOOK PICTURES OF THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT'S BOYFRIEND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM THE SCENE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE ACCIDENT. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON HER VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V462000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE SERVICED FOR THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,891. *DT
NHTSA complaint #11353047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IN A HARD RAIN OR EVEN WASHING UP UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK THE 4WD SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON AND IT WILL SAY IT'S TRYING TO TRANSFER OVER TO 4WD AND WHEN IT TRIED WITH ME I WAS RUNNING AROUND 55 MPH! IT JERKS THE [XXX] OUT OF THE TRUCK WITH A LOUD HAMMER NOISE! IT WILL CAUSE A PERSON TO WRECK IF YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING IT ! IT WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 2019 AND STARTED THE 4WD CRAP AT 4,500 MILES NOT TO MENTION THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER DOESN'T WORK EITHER NOW, FOUND THAT OUT THE HARD WAY WITH 22 ROLLS OF HAY AND NO IT'S NOT THE TRAILER MY FORD TRUCK HAS TRAILER BRAKES, SAME TRAILER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11342811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED HARD SHIFTING WITH, SERVICE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE BEGAN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.
NHTSA complaint #11330463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING BECAME LOOSE AND HAD 1-2INCHES OF SLACK BEFORE GUIDING THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. REPLACED WITH NEW STEERING UNIT. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO LOW GEAR AT BUSY INTERSECTION ENTERING FREEWAY. *TR STARTED IN SECOND OR THIRD REQUIRED COSTLY REBUILD. FUEL GAUGE READS EMPTY REQUIRED NEW UNIT IN FUEL TANK.
NHTSA complaint #11329101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE REAR AXLE LOCKED UP AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SKID. THE CONTACT CALLED SHIELDS MOTOR CO INC., (814 W CHERRY ST, CHANUTE, KS 66720, (620)-431-0483), AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,503.
NHTSA complaint #11325572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE REAR AXLE LOCKED UP AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SKID. THE CONTACT CALLED SHIELDS MOTOR CO INC., (814 W CHERRY ST, CHANUTE, KS 66720, (620)-431-0483), AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,503.
NHTSA complaint #11325572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY/ROADS EVERY SO OFTEN THE TRUCK WOULD SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. BEEN DOING THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES. LUCKILY I NEVER GOT INTO A WRECK BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. NOW THE TRUCK WON?T START AND IT HAPPENED AT HOME. AFTER TROUBLESHOOTING THE PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND THE WIRELESS IGNITION NODE TO BE BAD. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THIS I CAME UP ON A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE SAME IGNITION SYSTEM ON OTHER DODGE?S AND WAS WONDERING WHY THE DODGE RAM WAS LEFT OUT. RECALL NUMBER R03/NHTSA 14V-373.
NHTSA complaint #11323833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC SHOWS MULTIPLE FAULT CODES. MECHANIC AND DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE OF CODES. REPLACED EVERY SENSOR AND COMPUTER 2 TIMES STILL HAS THE SAME CODES.
NHTSA complaint #11292153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.