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 3500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
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. …
Dt*: the contact stated while at a stop light the vehicle came out of gear. It was taken to the dealership however, they where unable to duplicate the problem. The vehicle was driven for a short amount of time before the problem occurred a second time. The vehicle was parked with a trailer behind it; the vehicle came out of gear once again and hit the trailer causing damage. The vehicle was then taken to the dealership where the rooster tail in the transmission was replaced. The vehicle was driven once again for a short amount of time before the problem happened. The vehicle was taken back a third time and the dealer was unable to duplicate the problem. The contact received a recall letter concerning the power train automatic transmission. The NHTSA campaign id # 05V462000. The manufacturer has been alerted.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that there was a noise heard frequently from the front driver's side tire area. Additionally, the ger slipped while in park and the vehicle rolled away, crashing into a telephone pole. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA campaign id number:13V528000 (steering) but was advised by the dealer that the parts needed to complete the repair were not available. The contact received the notice several years ago. The contact stated after the first recall notice was received, there was an attempt to schedule repairs with two different dealers who could not service the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 105000.
Dt: the vehicle was parked and idling and without warning or occupancy of driver it popped from park to reverse, striking another car. This was the only incident with the vehicle. Took vehicle to dealer, and they could not demonstrate what had happened. It was as though when it was in park it was not always in park and the same was when in reverse. A police officer witnessed the entire incident. There was a police report due to the fact that the vehicle that was hit had passengers in tow. The dealer did not take this seriously. However, the service representative witnessed how one could place the car in reverse and there was no movement. However, in repair shop they could not duplicate the problem.
Dt*: the contact stated the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle was placed in park with the engine running and the driver exited. Shortly after the driver exited the vehicle rolled backwards into a concrete truck. The police were not contacted the consumers vehicle sustained 1500.00 of damaged. The vehicle was inspected by the dealer who was unable to determine what caused the vehicle to roll backwards. The contact received NHTSA recall 05v46200 concerning the transmission. Vehicle is currently at the dealership awaiting repair. The contact felt this recall did not address the issue, a possibility of rollback while in park without warning. Updated on 05/30/06.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 quadcab 4x4 swb. While placed in park, the vehicle rolled backwards into the woods with the keys in the ignition and the motor running. The contact injured his arm. The vehicle sustained $4,000 worth of damages. The vehicle was included and repaired under NHTSA campaign id number 05V462000 (power train:automatic transmission). The dealer was notified. The current mileage was 96,000 and failure mileage was 30,000. Updated 11/12/08 the consumer stated the transmission shifted from park to reverse by itself. Updated 11/18/08.
My 2005 Dodge Ram hd diesel w/auto trans. Come out of park with my 2 year old son inside. He is not tall enough to reach the brake, however he was able to pull it out of park into r and the truck rolled off the hill into the wood and crashed into several saplings. My son was not severely injured, he struck his right cheek, chest and abdomen somewhere in the vehicle during the crash. The vehicle now will come out of park without touching the brake at all. The vehicle was not running at the time of the incident and had been parked for approximately. 10 min.
Dt when putting the vehicle into park it will jump into reverse. On one occasion the vehicle rolled away, and over top on the consumer, across a street, and hit a parked vehicle. Consumer had cuts and bruises on his knees from avoiding the rolling vehicle. On other occasions, could not get the key out of the ignition when it shifted into park. Did this intermittently. This has happened a dozen times. This happened around January 15, 2005. Had not contacted the dealer. An engineering firm was sending someone to look at vehicle.
Dt: Dodge Ram with cummins diesel engine . The consumer was unable to decelerate when letting off of the throttle. Had one minor fender bender, and a near miss as a result of feeling as though the motor was still pulling. No repairs, but has been to dealer twice. Contacted Chrysler, who stated this was programmed into the computer to do this due to the automatic transmission which magnified the problem. Had no plans to change this design. Currently this is still a problem.
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 3500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2005 Dodge Ram 3500?
NHTSA has 32 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2005 Dodge Ram 3500, 16% of the model year's 196 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (25 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 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 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 14,000 miles, and 66% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 13 crashes, 0 fires and 6 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.