general problems of the 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 - part 1

I tried to get the service done iam a one vehicle owner the dealership told me I had to pay out of pocket for the rental car with no set day of service the dealership didn’t care whether I got the recall done cause of the year of the vehicle they provided no transportation solution.

I was driving to work that morning traveling about 40 into the city when all of a sudden I heard a loud noise, I barely could handle the steering wheel to coast it to the side before it came to a complete hault, I look out my window and my drive shaft broke in 2 pieces was passing me on the main road. Front end was on the side shoulder, back end was out in the road. I jumped out of the truck and grabbed up both ends of my drive shafts and put in the back of my 04 Dodge ram truck, then started directing traffic on this busy road of morning commuters. Fluid was everywhere on the road so I'm trying to put sand from the side of the road onto the fluid that was on the road that had leaked out my truck all while directing traffic to keep from creating an accident. An law officer came ask was I alright, I answered explained what had happened and he never took a report instead replied with "seems like you got everything handled" and got back in his car and drove off. I called for a tow service for their assistance and requested it be took to a shop. Where it now sits unrivaled. It was inspected by the mechanic and learned that the pinyin nut had came off cause my rear end to lock up which caused my drive shaft to come out and when it hit broke it smooth into 2 pieces that caused damage to my transmission case. This could have ended very badly for me that day, I'm thankful that it didn't. But now my truck is tore up do to a faulty manufacturers pinyin nut. And I need my truck fixed so I can work and support my family. This was not my doings. I love my truck very much and desperately need it back up and running.

Engine stalls when driving at low speed and when in idle. This started happening approximately 3 years ago. Check engine has never turned on.

Tl- the contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving out of the driveway, an abnormal squeaking noise occurred coming from the steering wheel. The contact also stated that when making turns, an abnormal scraping noise occurred coming from the steering wheel. There was no warning lights illuminated. In addition, the contact also stated that while the driver was at a stop sight and to go the vehicle jurk then failed to accelerate. The contact coasted to the side of the road powered off the engine. The vehicle was restarted and was able to drive normal. No warning lights illuminated. The contact called hayes Chrysler Dodge Jeep ram of gainesville dealer at (770) 535-2835, located at 3115 frontage rd, gainesville, GA 30504, and it was informed the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 301,932. Aw.

The contact owned a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. While driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle veered into the other lane, spun around, drove into a ditch, and crashed into a tree. The contact was injured and received medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000.

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. While driving approximately 50 mph, the steering wheel shook violently and the rear driver side tire shook. The vehicle began to spin and the contact could not gain control of the steering wheel. As a result, the contact crashed into a guardrail. A police report was filed. There were minor injuries, which required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 155,000.

I own a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 whenever it gets wet it shuts down and it starts by the steering getting hard then dash light ( check gage ) comes on then I'm a sitting duck and it won't move. I have had alot of work done by the garage as they said this and that was the issue $2,300 latter it still does the same issue. I'm lost and I know at least 15 other truck owners with the same issue .

When ever it rains I can't drive as water splashes up under the truck from the road my check gage light comes on and then steering gets stiff and you can't turn the steering wheel . I had to have it towed 3 times to a garage and once it sat inside out of the rain and dryer out the wheel was able to turn. This has almost caused accidents and deaths as I couldn't steer and in 2 cases I had to stop in the middle of a freeway as I couldn't turn around the bend in the road .

The truck stalls at stops and turns after fuel fill up.

I recieved a letter stating a recall.

Tl- the contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while approaching a stop light the front drivers side wheel bearing seized and fractured with no warning while at a low rate of speed. The front fender was damaged, the drivers side hub assembly and the front drivers side tire was destroyed when the failure happened. The vehicle was towed to the contacts residence and was to be inspected and diagnosed to determine how this failure happened. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the concern with scheduling the two air bag recall repairs. The approximate failure mileage was 71,000. Parts distribution disconnect dyd.

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. While driving down a hill at 35 mph, the vehicle started to shake, pull to the left, and crashed into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy without warning. The driver sustained multiple injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard, where the insurance company deemed the vehicle destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not provided.

Was driving in my neighborhood at approx. 20mph when the front end fell out onto the road.

Driving down the road at about 35 mph and all of a sudden I had no power to my brakes or steering and the engine stopped. I managed to pull over placed it in park and it started right up. All electrical components remained working at the time of the incident. This scenario has happened multiple times and is a major safety issue. On a different occasion I was sitting at stop light and it turned green took my foot off of the brake and pushed the accelerator the and the truck rolled backwards and almost hit the vehicle behind me since there was a slight decline towards the rear of the truck. Again all electrical was fine, but the engine quit. For all scenarios I did not even know the engine stopped besides the brakes and steering had no power. The engine just simply stopped running,.

Getting very hard to steer and wheel keeps locking up, feels loose, and sounds like it is breaking (grinding noises).

When I purchased this Dodge Ram 1500 hemi 5. 7 it had a bad engine. After the engine was fixed, I notice the truck would just stop running or stall and no engine light. I would start it back up and it would kill at anytime I would slow down to turn or slow down to stop. This would happen 2 to 10 times a day. Then not for a day or two. When I looked online there are a lot of people with this problem. The dealer is not fixing the problem. This can kill someone and I had to stop my son from using this truck. Because I was afraid he would get killed or kill someone else. There should be a recall for this matter.

Entering off the highway rt 95 felt vibration then caught the end of the curb trying to control it went into the grass, into a guard rail then also into a has sitters material danger with signs all over it building next to the tollbooth because it was slippery grass I could not stop then proceeded to somehow totaled two cars on the op. Cit. Side of the small building the park cars that were workers at the tollbooth it was an industrial park building and I want through I have yet to get any information nor got any type of response from Chrysler Dodge or anybody I have a missing tooth due to the accident it went to the hospital and I have a police report and hospital bills no rental bills and then on to work it's just terrible with no truck . . I'm sick over the whole thing and now pile of bills that I don't know what to do with I really prescient the new buyback you had done because none of myrecalls on my truck had gotten done please help.

Upper and lower ball joints on front suspension have deteriorated to the point that they must be replaced for concerns of safety. This is very low mileage for ball joints to fail. And since my 2wd truck has unitized ball joints (part of upper control arm, which also has to be replaced), they are very expensive.

I bought this truck about 2. 5 months ago used with 59xxx miles on it. This incident has happened a few times now. The first time I was coming off the freeway approaching a stoplight. As I was slowing down when I hit about 20 mph my truck completely stalled. All power was on after stall, but I had no brakes, no steering, and no engine. Luckily im a strong guy and had plenty of room to keep a straight line and very forcefully apply the non powered brakes. It started right back up so I kind of shrugged it off. It happened a few more times since then, same symptoms: slowing down for a turn or a stop. . . . Engine dies, no steering, no brakes, dead truck, starts right up. However last night christmas day it stalled on me a quarter of the way through a left hand turn at about 15 mph. I couldn't turn the wheel hard enough to finish my turn, I couldnt apply the brakes hard enough to stop in a safe ammount of time, I died in the middle of the oncoming traffic lane. I had to quickly apply my emergency brake. Stopping just in time about 1 foot short of driving into a gaurdrail with a steep embankment on the other side. I am literally scared to drive this truck now, scared for my life and other peoples lives. Apparently there seems to be a common problem with these trucks stalling, but no recalls to my knowledge or definative problem has been diagnosed. . . Please help! respectfully, dan austin.

Hub assembly failed and brakes gave out which allowed vehicle which resulted in crashing into a tree.

Vehicle stalls when slowing down for a stop sign, traffic or red light or when turning.

Noticed fluid on the ground under truck checked fluid ;added fluid; had system checked at local repair shop decided to keep adding fluid can not afford to have repair done at this time; the clamps and hoses seem to be loose but was also told about some "o" rings in the lines.

Began to slow down for a traffic light and my truck stalled while moving almost causing me to rear end the person ahead of me since I lost all control of my brakes and power steering. From what I'm reading this had happened to many people with the same year, make and model vehicle without any type of recall and its too dangerous of a situation.

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized without warning while making a turn. The failure was experienced several times. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 99,000.

2004 Dodge Ram 1500 5. 7l hemi will stop running while driving. The engine completely shuts off while the vehicle is driving and the steering locks up. I have had several close calls and am currently seeking help in this matter. This is an extremely dangerous problem. I've taken it to three mechanics who have replaced all the oxygen sensors, the mass air flow sensor, throttle body, egr valve, air intake filter and the crank shaft sensor. There seems to be no end to this and everyone is just shooting in the dark. The dealerships do not get a code when they hook up to the vehicle. I am in fear of my safety. I have found several other people on the internet with the same problem.

Steering vibrations or shudders when maneuvering at low speeds, making turns etc. Not consistently but intermittently seems to get worse with time. Seems to only do it when in motion and not when at a stand still and turning wheels.

Had just filled gas tank fifteen minutes earlier. Driving on mountain rd. Slowed for curve and engine quit, almost ran into logging truck headon. This has happened several times after fillup. Once while driving 65 mph on freeway. Slowed to let another vehicle in front of me and engine quite as soon as I touched the brakes. When I fill gas tank it usually die at first stop. Does this until I have used up some of the gas. Have asked dealer who sold the truck to me to look into this several times before I get killed. No response. I no longer drive that road just after fill up. Have checked the internet and found that several 1500 ram owners have had the same problem. It will be like the ignition switch problem. People will have to get killed to get it fixed.

Steering rack leaks severly.

I have a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 regular cab pickup w/ 20" wheels & oem goodyear wrangler hp tiers 5. 7 hemi. Vehicle is 100% stock and unmodified and maintained meticulously. At random intervals on the highway between 60 & 65 mph. The vehicle will abruptly develop a massive shaking sensation. Violent enough to make it feel like it may loose control or have a flat tire. Then if you slow down the truck ride smoothes as glass and will be fine till it starts to build again, or a bump sets it off. This problem is well known throwout the internet and commonly called "death wobble". This condition seems to affect primarily Ram 1500-2500 from 2003-2008.

I was traveling 70mph on interstate 70west and my front passenger side tire rim and axle came off my 2004 Dodge 1500 quad cab pick up there is only 80 plus thousand miles. It tore up my front fender and door. I did not hit anything in the road. There was no warning of a problem, except that my cruise control kick off and would not reset. Than my brake warning and abs warming lights came on about 2 mins later my steering started to shimmy and than wheel assemble came off. I was lucky the vehicle did not grab and flip. I was able to get to side of road safely.

The power steering in my 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 locked up while switching lanes cause my vehicle to cross the road strike a electric pole then coming to a rest. The right side lower arm ball joint was found in the roadway.

Excessive play on steering wheel I have a 2004 stl Dodge Ram 1500 5. 7 hemi engine on it since I bough this truck I noticed some play on steering wheel which getting worst as you driving making almost at some point loosing control is not responsive when steering the vehicle. I have a truck check up but can't find a problem truck has only 36,000 miles this is a safety issued I hope Dodge can do something about it.

Serious shake in steering and ability to control steering.

Today 11/13/08 my husband was driving his 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab, purchased new. While driving, the steering completely gave out almost causing a very serious accident. It took all his strength to get the steering to turn enough to avoid crashing. Upon taking it to a dealer he was told the manifold shield was rusted and fell into the linkage. Although this is being repaired under warranty by the dealer I am not ready to leave it at that, I expect some kind of explanation from Dodge why something this dramatic would happen to a very high end vehicle only 4 years old. The thought of what may have occurred because of this neglect on Dodges part is unthinkable. I expect this incident to be fully examined and will also be contacting Dodge regarding this unacceptable fault in their vehicle. No warranty can cover damaged lives and possible death that is failure almost caused. I am now and in the future very entrusting of Dodge products and can only hope that my reporting this may help avoid injury to another Dodge owner.

After filling gas tank full, engine dies when braking and turning a corner (losing steering) and coming to a stop. Starts back up fine, but stalls again on next low speed braking or turning a corner. Very similar to other accounts that I have read. I've had new plugs and O2 sensors costing mucho for zero result. When this occurs slowing down to make a slow turn, I have to throw it up to neutral to restart. Once I threw it in park going slowly, but it was dangerous to screech to a halt with a car behind me almost rear ended me. I've been told the same crap by dealers about this and I know they are playing dumb. The only remedy that I use for this is similar to others which is just don't fill it all the way up unless you are getting right out on the highway to run those speeds and not be stopping. I can't let others drive my truck unless I make sure that the tank is below three quarters of a tank. I can't believe that there's not a quick and dirty fix for this. Seems like you should disable emissions devices in the interest of safety.