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 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the gear shifter was shifted to the selected gear, but the vehicle would not move. Additionally, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
The truck with attached trailer was parked on an inclined driveway. The truck was placed in park and the key was removed from the ignition. I proceeded to load a compact tractor approximately 2500 lbs. The truck started to roll down the hill and crashed thru a fence doing extensive damage to the truck. I did not try to start the truck and waited for mechanic to assess any mechanical damage. The mechanic came to my place and when he got in the truck the transmission indicated that it was still in park. Dodge told me that there was no recall on this type vehicle with the transmission not holding. The representative told me that there had been similar problems with gas powered engines but not the diesel. I would like to know if this can be evaluated for recall. No one got hurt in this instance but caused extensive damage to the truck mechanically and cosmetically.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving approximately 57 MPH, the drive shaft dislodged from the vehicle causing the contact to crash in to a wall. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the rear assembly, frontal transfer case, both front axles, cv units, ball joints and control arms needed to be replaced. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V796000 (power train). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 173,000.
May 2018, put truck in park and left it running to go in to get something. We were in an rv park at the time. A minute or so later, it went in reverse and backed into a trailer causing damage to both. Gearshift showedit was still in 'p'. Alarm has since been put in under recall e17 after we requested it. (had asked when air bags were changed out in December 2017, if any other recalls, and were told no). A Dodge rep came on June 12, 2018 and looked at the truck. As of 12/10/2018, we have not been notified of results.
Dt*: the contact stated while the vehicle's gear position indicator was in park the vehicle rolled backward. While standing outside of the vehicle with the engine running it rolled and hit a parked vehicle. Although the gear position indicator was in park, when the indicator was inspected after the incident, the position indicator was found in reverse. The police filed a report at the scene. However, no injuries were reported. The vehicle sustained damage to the bumper with additional property damage to the other vehicles. The vehicle was taken to the local dealership for inspection. The dealership could not duplicate the problem. The contact claimed wife was in the passenger's seat at the time of crash, but could not get to gear shift in time to stop vehicle.,she had left arm in a sling due to rotator cuff surgery. …
2005 Dodge 2500 4x4 crew cab with cummins diesel does not indicate the transmission is in park even with the shift lever in the park detent position. I complained to the servicing dealer in 12/06 and numerous parts were changed in the transmission. The changes helped temporarily but the problem came back. I returned the truck to the dealer in 2009 for the same issue and was told the transmission was performing to specs and no work was performed to correct the problem. On 11/14/2011 I exited the vehicle with the transmission lever in the park detent position and the engine running. After about 15 seconds the truck shifted into reverse backed into a vehicle and a building. Chrysler investigated the incident and informed me that the vehicle is out of warranty with 118000 miles even though no repairs were done when requested while under warranty. …
Dt*: the contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the gear shifter indicator jumped into reverse and ran over the contact and crashed into a fence. The contact received minor injuries; however, the police were not contacted since this happened on private property. The damage to the fence was additional property damage. Two days later, the contact received a recall notification on NHTSA # 05V462000, concerning the automatic transmission. The manufacturer was alerted about the accident and sent a representative to investigate. The investigator determined the transmission had gone in reverse and was the cause of the failure. The investigator rechecked the vehicle after this recall work was performed and deemed the vehicle "unsafe". …
I have had continuous issues with my 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 I have stated to Dodge that I have stalling issues constantly they say their is nothing wrong and the steering issues are life threatening I have spent at least 4 or 5 grand on this truck trying to fix it make it safe to drive being Dodge can't and now there is more recalls on air bags with no time frame to when they can fix and with the newest recall of the buy back theirs no recognition of it to the dealers as of yet like do I need to be the person that's just driving to work and crash due to steering loss and have the airbag deploy metal shards into my body to get some attention from these ppl would like to see Dodge do something about this
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V313000 (air bags) and 05V462000 (power train). While exiting the vehicle, the horn began to sound and the warning indicators began to flicker independently. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (b&b Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram 125 grandview avenue, honesdale, pa 18431), but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The contact also stated that the failure was not present prior to the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the failure was being investigated. The failure mileage was approximately 375,321.
I purchased a 2005 Ram 2500 in July. I had a similar problem with mine jumping from park to reverse. No people were hurt, but it destroyed the entire side of my pickup. When it jumped from park to reverse the truck went across the street and hit another truck. This issue happened a few time before, but I was in the truck these times. I think Dodge has a serious problem to take care of before someone gets killed. Now my truck has been in the body shop longer than I got to drive it. Hope Dodge is going to take care of all of us. An independent investigator has looked at my truck and Chrysler is supposed to contact me with the results of his investigation.
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.
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…
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 2005 Dodge Ram 2500?
NHTSA has 63 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2005 Dodge Ram 2500, 15% of the model year's 422 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (30 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 05V-462 (column shift, Oct 6, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 25,000 miles, and 49% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 17 crashes, 0 fires and 7 injuries 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.