Brake complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 | 4% | 10,000 miles |
| 2008 | 3 | 12% | 25,000 miles |
| 2007 | 2 | 12% | 36,000 miles |
| 2005 | 5 | 13% | 11,000 miles |
| 2004 | 6 | 10% | 20,000 miles |
| 2003 | 26 | 14% | 12,000 miles |
| 2002 | 34 | 10% | 26,000 miles |
| 2001 | 44 | 10% | 46,000 miles |
| 2000 | 25 | 16% | 108,000 miles |
| 1999 | 88 | 21% | 70,000 miles |
| 1998 | 118 | 23% | 97,000 miles |
| 1997 | 81 | 20% | 106,000 miles |
| 1996 | 177 | 28% | 98,000 miles |
| 1995 | 151 | 24% | 65,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
On a misty morning our truck began to skid as we attempted to accelerate after yielding to exiting traffic on an access road on ih 10. My husband tried to control the skid by steering into it, but we just kept skidding out of control. He purposely remembers not applying the brake in an attempt to lessen the loss of control. We continued the skid across 2 lanes of access road to the right, then spun around 180 degrees and skidded back across 3 lanes of access road to the left. We came to stop facing oncoming traffic after hitting a concrete retaining wall first with the right front of the truck and then with the right rear of the truck. I remember hearing the tires continuing to spin and smelled burning rubber. This caused over $6500 damage to the truck and has caused our insurance rates to increase. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Dodge caravan. The contact stated that when he applied pressure on the break pedal at 55 MPH, he heard a grinding noise and the vehicle shimmied. Break failure can lead to increased stopping distances, which can cause a vehicle crash. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and a technician replaced the front rotors. The failure mileage was 25,000. The current mileage was 29,000.
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.
I have a 2003 caravan and a 2004 Ram and have had ongoing issues with my brakes. I beleive that the factory must have used faulty rotors. Last August, to my amazement I had to have the rotors turned when the dealer put new pads on my caravan (26,000 miles). I begrudgingly paid over 200 dollars for this. 9 months later the brakes and steering wheel are pulsing again and the dealer is telling me the rotors must be turned again even though the pads are fine. I expected that the dealer would take care of this since they were just serviced 9 months ago but they said I was 200 miles over the limit. I also had the same issue with my Ram and even though I had more than 50% of my pads left I had warped rotors and had to pay the dealer to have them turned. …
I drive a Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab slt 4x4. An electrical fire was observed in the wiring harness leading from ABS control unit. In the past, I have had two problems with the ABS sensor and wiring harness. On one occasion, the harness was replaced along with the sensor. On the first occasion, only the sensor was replaced. In a documented diagnosis, the dealer's mechanic stated that there was moisture present in the wiring harness necessitating replacement. The vehicle is currently at the dealer awaiting authorization for repair. I had found a recall notice on autorecalls.org (NHTSA number 04v18500), but apparently my vehicle's VIN is not covered under this recall.
I own a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 quad cab slt VIN 1d7-hu18n53s-188168 assembly point, warren, michigan. The truck stalled while in traffic making a 10-15 MPH right turn. The second occurence was july15, 2004. Very close call here. I was in the smokey mountains camping. The six hour drive home towing my popup was nerve racking to say the least. Especially, since my 13, 6 and 3 year old were in the truck. I mentioned that the truck runs extremely rough intermittently to the dealer morgan Dodge durham north carolina on at least two occasions. I am also experiencing an intermittent shudder that seems to be coming from the transmission, also mentioned to the dealer on at least two occasions. The dealer simply said that they could not reproduce the shudder or stall. I also had a severe brake pulsation. They did replace front pads and calipers and cut rotors. …
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at various speeds, the ABS warning light illuminated and the vehicle seized. The contact managed to coast the vehicle to the shoulder of the road and place the vehicle in park. The contact exit the vehicle to inspect the engine and without warning when the front hood was open 4-foot flames shoot out from the hood. The contact sustained burns to the right hand. No medical attention was sought. The contact ran to the rear of the vehicle open the trunk and poured water that he had in a bucket on the flames. No police report was made. The fire department was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. No dealer was contacted nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. Damages were to the wire harness, ABS module, and connecting rod. The failure mileage was approximate 220,000.
Related recalls (6)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2010 left hand drive Jeep liberty, Dodge nitro and Ram 1500 truck; right and left hand drive Jeep wrangler vehicles. These vehicles May have been built with an improperly formed master cylinder to hydraulic control unit (hcu) brake tube assembly end flare.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake tubes free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during August 2010. Owners May contact Chrysler toll-free at 1-800-853-1403.
Service brakes, hydraulic
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2010 Chrysler sebring; Dodge avenger and nitro; Jeep liberty, commander and grand cherokee; and model year 2009-2010 Dodge Ram truck. These vehicles May have been built with an improperly formed or missing brake booster input rod retaining clip.
Remedy: Chrysler will replace the brake booster input rod retaining clip free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during February 2010. Owners May contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
On certain van and wagon vehicles equipped with 4-wheel antilock brake systems (ABS), aftermarket batteries May leak electrolyte onto the ABS control module connector, which can compromise sealing integrity of the connector.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ABS control module connector for electrolyte damage and replace the connector as necessary. The recall will begin on September 27, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS). Some vehicles May have inadequate clearance between the front tire/wheel and the brake hose/ABS sensor wire assembly. During full lock turns, it is possible for the tire or wheel to contact the brake hose/ABS sensor wire assembly.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front brake hose assemblies, and the ABS sensor wire will be inspected and replaced if necessary. Owner notification began March 8, 2001.
Service brakes, air › Disc › Rotor
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. The brake rotor material strength is not sufficient causing a hub fatigue fracture.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the brake rotors and if necessary, replace these rotors.
Show 1 more recall
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with diesel engines. The engine driven vacuum pump can allow engine oil into the vacuum hoses due to the absence of an internal check valve. The oil can cause the hose to deteriorate and partially collapse, reducing the vacuum supply to the brake booster.
Remedy: Dealers will add a vacuum pump check valve to the vacuum pump. In addition, the vacuum hose connected to the vacuum pump will be replaced with a hose that is engine oil resistant.
NHTSA investigations
Clutch hydraulic line failure
Alleged clutch line May melt and leak hydraulic fluid in the vicinity of the exhaust manifold.leaked hydraulic fluid could ignite and cause a vehicle fire.
Clutch hydraulic line
Alleged plastic clutch tube May fail from exposure to exhaust heat, resulting in loss of clutch function and possible vehicle fire.
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Ram years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1996 (177), 1995 (151), 1998 (118), 1999 (88) and 1997 (81) model years. Brake complaints make up 28% of all complaints for the 1996.
Is there a recall for Dodge Ram brake problems?
Yes — 6 recalls, including 10V-315 (master cylinder, Jul 7, 2010); 10V-009 (service brakes, hydraulic, Jan 11, 2010); 04V-185 (control unit/module, Apr 12, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Dodge Ram brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 41,000 miles; 68% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (368 mentions), followed by the foundation components (98).
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.