Most common 2005 Dodge Ram problems
Share of the 40 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Ram complaints by model year
Best Ram years: 2011, 2009, 2007. Years to avoid: 1996, 1998, 2001, 1997, 1999. Compare all years →
What 2005 Dodge Ram owners say
Engine & cooling
Tl contact owns a 2005 Dodge Ram. The contact was traveling 70 MPH when the vehicle began smoking. The contact pulled to the side and opened hood and found fluids draining from the engine. The contact was assisted by roadside assistance who discovered that the fourth cylinder was leaking from the engine. The vehicle was then towed to a mechanic. The technician advised that the computer should have shut down the engine when as pressure was lost. The contact had the cylinder replaced. The failure mileage was 113,000 and the current mileage was 115,758.
Purchased a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 on a 3-year lease. The vehicle has 24,000+/- miles. During the last of jan. 2008 the engine in the vehicle started knocking. I took the vehicle back to the leasing dealer on February 4, 2008. The next day or so, I received a phone call from the dealer service rep. Wanting "proof" of oil changes. I explained that I would not be able to provide receipt's since I do the oil & filter changes myself. I am a farmer and have my own pit built specifically for that purpose. I did not hear anything for another week, I called back and they were still asking for service receipts. Finally contacted Chrysler and a representative said they would have an answer within 24 hours. They called 2 weeks later saying they would not honor the warranty because the oil was filled with sludge and that it was my fault that the engine had failed. …
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2005 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH the vehicle had nearly come to a stop as if the brake pedal had been depressed. The contact stated that his foot had been on the accelerator pedal and he had tried to accelerate but the vehicle was not responding. The contact stated that the steering wheel jerked to the left as the contact heard an abnormal grinding, popping, and bang sound had come from the rear. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle had crashed into a concrete street divider with the left front wheel which had burst on contact. There was minor damage to the exterior and driver's door, however the contact said that there was damage to the driver's side rear wheel to the wheel well. The contact was unhurt and had called a tow truck. …
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was wobbling. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that there was a thumb-sized crack on the driveshaft. The two universal joints and the driveshaft assembly were replaced. The contact later was made aware that NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V796000 (Power Train) was associated with the VIN and was related to the failure. The contact requested reimbursement from the manufacturer however, the manufacturer denied the contact's request for reimbursement stating that the vehicle was outside the warranty period and had no active service contract. The contact was also informed that the case opened did not meet the criteria for reimbursement, and that the parts requested for reimbursement was not a part of the recall repair parts. …
Brakes
2005 Dodge Ram 1500 p/u truck bought new in 12/2005...brought to dealer @ 5,655 miles with warped rotors, causing the truck to shake when braking. Brake rotors were cut...problem temporarily solved. Returned to dealer @ 9,712 miles....for the same problem. This time the rotors were replaced...but the original brake pads were re-installed. At 17,000 miles....trucks begins to shake again while braking... Returned to the same dealer @ 20,727 miles...they said the front rotors were warped again...though it was out of warranty. After I expressed unhappiness with their answer, they did take another look at the vehicle. They said the front seemed to be OK....and now the rear rotors were warped, though of course it is not covered any longer by the factory warranty. At this point, the truck is 15 months old...has slightly over 20,000 miles and is not safe to drive...with no help from Dodge.
My 2005 Dodge Ram truck with 31,700 miles on it began shuttering and having braking problems. A Dodge dealership identified that both front rotors on the vehicle were warped and needed to be replaced. Replacement was required at my expense to correct although the vehicle was still under warranty. It was denied warranty replace due to being a brake component and subject to normal ware. The brake pads and brake components themselves still had 80% usage available. I disagree that front rotors should fail at 30K miles on a new vehicle but normal brake components do not. I consider this a defect in manufacturing and a safety concern.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Dodge Ram a good car?
Based on 40 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Ram rates better than average: 76% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Ram at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Dodge Ram?
The engine & cooling — 16 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (11) and brakes (5).
How many recalls does the 2005 Dodge Ram have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2005 Dodge Ram. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Ram?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2009 and 2007. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1996, 1998, 2001, 1997 and 1999. See the full Dodge Ram years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Dodge Ram problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 24,000 miles; 69% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.