Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500. While the vehicle was in park, the gears independently shifted into reverse at a high rate of speed. As a result the contact crashed into two vehicles and the rear bumper was damaged. There were no injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic for further diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000. Updated 05/31/17 consumer stated vehicle was running but in park mode. On a level street at the end of a culdesac. Vehicle slipped out of park and accelerated backwards into 2 other vehicles. Found out recall was done for this problem between 2004 and 2005. I don't believe this vehicle was ever recalled. Updated 6/28/18
I own a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 xlt and on 03 25 06 I put my truck in park motor running to get a ice chest on patio. Turned right back around and truck was gone. It was backing up hill still in park. I ran hollering to keep someone from getting hit. A maintenance man of the park jumped in and pushed the brake down with his hand it was still in park. While I turned the key off. Well a 100 yards later the whole left side of the truck was damaged as it ran into a park model trailer and damaged the right side of the park model home if looking from front. It damaged the side panels of the trailer while putting a large hole in it along with the skirting. And possibly moving the trailer to the left. I believe that this is a serious problem and needs something done. It was a miracle no one was hit as we live in a very active 55 plus community and live on one of the busiest streets in the park. …
Approached gate across driveway; stopped 2004 Dodge cummins 2500 truck, put in park, opened gate, proceeded through 12' gate. Pulled truck forward to provided enough room for gate to close; put vehicle in park on level ground. Exited my truck, it was stationary, with normal idle. Walked past the rear of the truck to close the gate. Had just latched the gate when I heard a click that made me raise my head as I wondered what the noise was. Then the engine roared in acceleration and the truck flew backwards toward me. I moved out of the way, the truck hit the closed gate, crashed through it, proceeded in reverse down the drive way approximately 10 yards, veered off the driveway through 4 cemented fence posts and horse fencing boards that are 2x6 (very substantial boards). …
Dt: on a couple of occasions vehicle was running and it popped into reverse. Second time this happened wa son February 8, 2005, a trailer was attached to vehicle. While at store, pacific feed store 554 east osage, pacific, mo. 63069 vehicle popped into reverse. Trailer jackknifed and caused damage to the side of the vehicle above the rear passenger side wheel and tailgate. No police report on incident because no other vehicles were involved. Dealer told consumer to have truck serviced, consumer done so immediately, then contacted manufacturer. Dealer found problem with linkage for transmission. Dealer repaired problem. Manufacture rwas supposed to send an inspector to inspect vehicle. …
Vehicle is a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 with automatic transmission and a diesel engine. I exited the vehicle to check an issue with home construction. Put the vehicle in neutral on a flat street in phoenix opened the door and walked approximately 20 feet. A coworker yelled at me as my truck took off in reverse , wasn't rolling. While going backwards the door hit palates of roof tile and bent the door back. The truck eventually rolled into a home and stopped. The gear was still in neutral. Called Dodge, was told there was no problem with truck and there was nothing to correct. A year later, there was a recall for this same problem. Called Dodge to make a claim, and was told that this vehicle was not included in the recall due to the VIN although my truck and options match the recall description. I want my vehicle fixed, and the insurance company reimbursed for the repairs $3000. …
Dt: the consumer stated that 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 went into reverse by itself. The truck was parked and was idling. The consumer left the truck with his grand child in the back asleep. The truck knocked itself into reverse and ran across a parking lot and hit a sign and crashed. After the truck hit the sign it stopped but was still running. Resulted in $7,200.00 damage. The child was not hurt. The consumer left the truck in park and when he returned to the truck it was in reverse. And the child was still asleep. The child had not knocked the truck out of gear. A police report was taken gave no indication of the cause. The truck bent a water valve besides the sign with some property damage. The consumer was in shock over this incident. The consumer was contact by another car owner that faced a similar situation. The consumer had refectories of the accident. …
2004 Dodge Ram 2500 has an unknown transmission problem. Shifts okay from cold start, but sporadically it will not shift into 2nd gear when engine is warm. Once the engine is warm, if the engine is turned off and then is restarted (such as a stop at a store, gas station, etc.), it goes into first gear okay, but then winds out and will not shift into 2nd gear. The only way to get it to shift again is to turn the engine off and then restart it. Then it will shift correctly. This is dangerous because many times when we pull out into traffic there is no place to safely pull to off the road to stop the engine. We have had to pray for red lights so we could shut off the engine off for a moment. We have had the governor pressure sensor replaced twice and have also replaced the transducer and the transmission solenoid and the problem remains.
3 times this has occurred. After putting my Dodge Ram 2500 diesel into park, leaving the motor running and stepping out of the truck, the transmission has jumped out of park and into reverse. The first time it ran over a gate and crushed the driver door. Dodge paid the repair bill. The second time I was testing the vehicle to see if it would do it again. It did. The third time my wife was assisting me at my farm and stepped out of the truck after putting it in park. We looked up and the truck was traveling backward at a fairly fast pace. I was able to get the door open and put in park, however, it was a very close call. We could have both been run over in addition to the pens that were just a few feet away.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact received NHTSA campaign numbers: 05V462000 (power train), 09e001000 (steering), 13V528000 (steering), and 14V817000 (air bags); however, the parts needed for the repair were unavailable. While driving at an unknown speed, the steering wheel began to vibrate and a loud grinding noise emitted from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the front driver and passenger side universal joint front axles were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for recall repairs. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Dt: without warning the vehicle came out of park. The consumer took it to the dealer and they said there was nothing wrong with it. 6 months ago the dealer said they could not duplicate the problem and they tried it and they could get into park. The consumer said it was sporadic. The consumer stated last night(July 24, 2005) he and his wife pulled up in front of his gate and he exited the vehicle to open the gate and the vehicle came out of park with his wife still in it and it ran into a ditch and then into his fence and was stopped by a tree. His wife was not hurt. The consumer will be calling the manufacturer after this call. This has happened more than 18 times.
Related recalls
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.
Remedy: Dealers will perform a software modification to equip these vehicles with an out-of-park alarm. Owners May contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
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.
Remedy: Dealers will retighten the transfer case to transmission fasteners. Owner notification began on December 22, 2003. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-992-1997.
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE STALL
On May 16, 2005,odi opened preliminary evaluation pe05-027 to investigate complaints of engine stalling in model year 2004-05 Dodge durango suvs and Ram 1500 series pickups equipped with the 5.7l v8 engine.information provided by daimlerchrysler during pe05-027 indicated that a large percentage of the complaints are related to an idle undershoot condition that May cause the engine to stall during turning…
FALSE PARK
There have been 50 complaints to odi and daimlerchrysler alleging incidents of reverse powered rollaway in subject vehicles that were parked with the engine running and the parking brake disengaged.the incidents are alleged to have resulted in 42 crashes and 3 injuries.
ENGINE STALL
Analysis of the complaint, field report and warranty data shows that the majority of stalling incidents in the subject vehicles appear to be related to the engine calibration concerns that daimlerchrysler addressed with service bulletins releasing revised PCM software.analysis of the complaints and odi's survey of owners of vehicles that received engine management software updates under TSB #18-013-05 show that…
FALSE PARK
The subject vehicles are heavy duty pickup trucks with diesel engines and automatic transmissions commonly used for commercial and work purposes.a column mounted shift lever is used for gear selection and an electronic PRNDL on the instrument panel provides gear position information to the driver.the subject vehicles are also equipped with a brake-transmission shift interlock that prevents the shift lever from being…
Transmission complaints in other Ram 2500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2004 Dodge Ram 2500?
NHTSA has 110 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2004 Dodge Ram 2500, 19% of the model year's 582 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (58 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 05V-462 (column shift, Oct 6, 2005); NHTSA recall 03V-503 (automatic transmission, Dec 4, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 27,000 miles, and 48% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 39 crashes, 0 fires and 8 injuries and 3 deaths to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.