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 3500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
My 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 will go out of park and into reverse on its own and I was not told that this is an ongoing problem with this particular truck my truck went on its own one day over 250 feet and drove into my neighbors yard. The truck parking pawl was not completely in as I was told and this truck has the ability to do it on its own I find this unacceptable and a hazard to my health as long with my neighbors. Could you please look into this because there was not a recall sent to me or anything told to me when I purchased this from the Chrysler Dodge at the dealer I believe that people need to know what they're getting into and possible hazards that are linked to this could you please email me back with any information on this problem.
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. …
I have had a vibration and "death wobble" on my truck since I purchased it. It has been to two different Chrysler dealers for a total of 5 or 6 times without resolution of the issue. The issue is two fold, one is when I hit a large bump at speeds greater than 45 MPH the steering wheel shakes violently, and the other this speeds over 60 MPH there is a vibration. I have spoken to Chrysler about the issues about a year or so ago. They tried to offer buy back because the issue could not be resolved, but then told me I was not qualified because I was the second owner. I also had to have the steering gear box replaced under warranty, and they replaced all the tie-rod ends ect. The issues is still the same without resolution. Now my warranty is up, and the truck still has this potential dangers issues and I have no where to go. Anytime I have the truck looked at now it cost me a lot of money. …
I stop at the ranch at one of our barns to talk to some client about there horse. I placed the truck in park and exited the vehicle. I spoke with them in front of pickup to use the headlights to see. After 7 to 10 min we proceeded to walk through the barn and after we got half way we heard someone yell, then a loud crash!!. We came running only to find our truck 60 yards away from where I left it, stopped only by a tree. The damage was extensive to the right rear of the truck. When we notified Dodge Chrysler about the problem they sent someone out to investigate and there report said they had not heard about this happening before and deemed it to be human error. They stood there and blamed us when all along knowing there was a problem. 3 weeks later we received the a recall in the mail. …
Tl contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that the gears shift from park to reverse, causing the vehicle to roll without warning. The first incident occurred when the parked vehicle suddenly rolled and struck a concrete pillar. The contact called the manufacturer about the failure and a representative inspected the vehicle. The representative was unable to find any failures. One year later, the contact received recall letter # 05V462000 (power train:automatic transmission). The dealer stated that many customers are removing the remedy because it does not help. The contact also stated that her husband was involved in a crash during one of the failures and injured his back. The vehicle has sustained damage during three out of the four failures. The current mileage is 90,000 and failure mileage was 300.
I parked the vehicle in front of my gate, placed it in park and exited to open the gate. After being out of the vehicle for approximately 2-3 minutes, I noticed the vehicle moving backwards. I tried to catch the vehicle but was unable due to recent a knee injury. The truck hit my neighbor's fence and stopped. The gear shift had moved into reverse while the truck was idling @ gate. This was the second incident, but during the first I thought I May have not put it completely into park. Thereafter, I had always ensured the park position before exiting. I had the vehicle checked @ my Dodge/Chrysler dealer & they said everything OK. I paid for $1,000.00 in damages to my truck, repairs done by dealers body shop. I received a recall notice on 3/30/06 but daimler Chrysler is refusing to pay damages.
I purchased a 2004.5 Dodge Ram 3500 diesel new last year. About 4 months age I was getting fuel and was parked at a gas station with the truck in park and running. My wife was sitting in the vehicle. As I was about to fuel the truck suddenly went into reverse and struck a vehicle that was behind me also getting gas. No damage or injuries. On 05/02/05, I exited my truck to give mail to a letter carrier. I exited the truck and waited for the carrier to come out of a store. All of a sudden the truck went into reverse. I started to run after the truck and fell causing my shoulder to be dislocated. The truck ran into the parked mail truck that was behind me. I also injured my other arm (left), my two knees, and my forhead.
Consumer noticed that the vehicle shifted gears on it own. While the vehicle was parked it shifted into reverse. Consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and pulled over. Also, while applying the accelerator pedal vehicle failed to accelerate. After applying the accelerator pedal numerous times vehicle accelerated uncontrollably. However, consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection. Mechanic could not duplicate the problem. The consumer parked the vehicle and was walking behind the vehicle and it started rolling backwards catching the consumer between the bumper and the car 8-10 feet behind it. The consumer was injured.
My brother was drving my 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 vehicle to pull my boat out of the water from the boat landing. We were both in the vehicle as we pulled up to a flat area to clean the boat off vehicle was placed in park with engine running. I the owner got out first to go talk to the people ahead of us while my brother was in truck for about a minute before he exited the vehicle. We were talking with the other people for about 2-3 minutes when one of them noticed the truck going in reverse, we all turned and saw it going in reverse as it jackknifed the trailer and stopped. It caused damage to the bumper, fender, tailpipe of the vehicle and damage to the boat trailer in one area. No damage to boat.
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…
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 3500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2004 Dodge Ram 3500?
NHTSA has 64 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2004 Dodge Ram 3500, 30% of the model year's 214 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (34 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 05V-462 (column shift, Oct 6, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 16,000 miles, and 63% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 33 crashes, 1 fire and 12 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.