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#BS-2004-DODRAM-50DA

2004 Dodge Ram 2500Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 760 owners and 9 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
760
Crashes
56
Fires
10
Recalls
9
TSBs
40
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 760 complaints, 56 crashes, 10 fires, and 9 recalls. This is the worst model year for this vehicle.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

death wobble

35 complaints • Severity 9.4/10

$X,XXX
2

cracked dashboard

32 complaints • Severity 7.4/10

$X,XXX
3

no defrost or floor heat

4 complaints • Severity 9.5/10

$X,XXX
4

rust

4 complaints • Severity 7.5/10

$X,XXX
5

fuel pump failed

4 complaints • Severity 7.5/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the SteeringHIGH

135 owners reported steering issues — failures commonly reported around 74K miles.

!Inspect the AirbagsMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

119
0–30K
99
30–60K
121
60–90K
80
90–120K
70
120–150K
66
150K+

Peak failure range: 60–90K miles (121 reports) • Median: 74K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Steering (135 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Steering135 (18%)
Airbags90 (12%)
Suspension59 (8%)
Power Train:automatic Transmission58 (8%)
Electrical42 (6%)
Suspension:front35 (5%)
Fuel System27 (4%)
Visibility26 (3%)

2004 Dodge Ram 2500: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Steering Issues

Steering complaints account for 18% of all reports filed for the 2004 Dodge Ram 2500, with 135 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 74,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 74K-mile mark.

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 12% of all reports filed for the 2004 Dodge Ram 2500, with 90 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Suspension Issues

Suspension complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2004 Dodge Ram 2500, with 59 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to suspension-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Power Train:automatic Transmission Issues

Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2004 Dodge Ram 2500, with 58 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to power train:automatic transmission-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

36
04
65
05
56
06
41
07
34
08
25
09
54
10
61
11
44
12
35
13
81
14
101
15
50
16
39
17
7
18
12
19
4
20
1
21
5
22
2
23
7
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2004 Dodge Ram 2500. Recent trend: increasing.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (9 recalls)

03V503000Dec 2003

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE TRANSFER CASE TO TRANSMISSION ATTACHING FASTENERS MAY NOT BE TIGHTENED CORRECTLY. THIS COULD CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION ADAPTER OR TRANSFER CASE HOUSING TO CRACK AND LEAK FLUID.

04V221000May 2004

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL ON SOME PICKUP TRUCKS LISTS INCORRECT TIRE, WHEEL, AND RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE INFORMATION WHICH DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, 'TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS.'

05V462000Mar 2006

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, IN AN ATTEMPT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE QUICKLY WITHOUT SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND REMOVING THE KEY, THE DRIVER MAY INADVERTENTLY LEAVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL IN INDICATED REVERSE.

07E009000Mar 2007

SUSPENSION

CERTAIN LKI ENTERPRISES, INC., BRAND NAME SUPERLIFT SUSPENSION, PITMAN ARMS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 2003-2007 DODGE RAM 2500 AND 3500 4X4 LIGHT TRUCKS. DUE TO INADEQUATE HEAT TREATMENT DURING PRODUCTION, THE AFFECTED PITMAN ARMS MAY DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE UPPER SPLINED ATTACHMENT ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING OUTPUT SHAFT. MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE PITMAN ARM AND THE OUTPUT SHAFT MAY DEFORM SPLINES, RESULTING IN PREMATURE WEAR AND FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE AFFECTED PITMAN ARM.

07E104000Jan 2008

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."

+ 4 more recalls in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

Unlock

NHTSA Defect Investigations (8)

1 investigation still open: NHTSA is examining whether a defect warrants a recall.

AQ14003ClosedOpened Oct 2014 · closed May 2016

Chrysler's execution of 13V-528 & 529

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

EA04025ClosedOpened Aug 2004 · closed Dec 2005

FALSE PARK

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

EA05018ClosedOpened Nov 2005 · closed Aug 2007

ENGINE STALL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

EA15001OpenOpened Feb 2015

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

AIR BAGS

PE04039ClosedOpened Apr 2004 · closed Aug 2004

FALSE PARK

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

+ 3 more in the full report

This is the worst model year for the Dodge Ram 2500 according to owner complaint data. The biggest problem area is accessories - interior.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 760 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 9 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026.

Other Dodge Ram 2500 Model Years

2012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997199619951994199319921991
View all Dodge Ram 2500 years →

2004 Dodge Ram 2500: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2004 Dodge Ram 2500?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 is related to the steering, with 135 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 reliable?
The 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 has 760 complaints, 56 crash reports, and 10 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 have any recalls?
Yes, the 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 has 9 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Dodge Ram 2500 problems start?
Based on 555 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 74,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 60–90K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 760 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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