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Engine & cooling

2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Engine problems

Owners have filed 169 complaints about the 2005 Dodge Ram 1500's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 14% of all its complaints, most recently on October 23, 2023. They describe 5 crashes, 6 fires and 0 injuries. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
169
Recalls
0
Crashes
5
Fires
6
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Electrical systemEngine & coolingFuel system

There is a class action law suit for newer rams mine has always done same thing since i have owned it occasionaly during slow speed turns it will shut off it will restart imediatly i have owned vehicle 4 years bought with 127000 miles now have 205000 miles on it

Filed Incident Electrical system · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11551350
Engine & coolingFuel system

This will be the 4th time since late 2020 that this vehicle will stall either at a stop or at low speed. EGR valve has been replaced 3 times. You lose power steering and harder to brake but for the grace of God my wife has not had an accident. If you search online there are hundreds of similar complaints.

Filed Incident Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11490366
Engine & cooling

Tensioner for timing chain broke at highway speed truck stalled with no control or power steering to steer or breaks to immediate stop instead had to slow roll lucky live in small farm town with low population not alot of traffic could have been bad. Took to dealer dodge service department they noticed oil pan gasket was leaking when removed oil pan the tensioner and timing chain pieces were all in the bottom of oil pan..just like the challenger and charger cars the next group to have same motor as my truck and...

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same issues with the MDS Being the problem on the tensioner why breaks in first place. Why theres recalled and not my same motor and problem? Any ways it failed and had to pay out of pocket on a faulty tensioner that is a very big safety concern and it I'm afraid caused more damage then that to other internal parts of my engine...

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11464916
LightsEngine & coolingFuel system

I want to make a complaint because the engine in my 2005 dodge ram 1500 Magnum stalling very often, engine stalling on the traffic freeway couple of times that I have to restart the vehicle quick, good thing cars going slow. The most scary time was when I was making a right turn on this busy avenue and the engine stalled and almost got hit by other's cars the engine stalling very often that already know when it dies I put it on P and restart it as quick as I can before I get hit by other car. The next issue. It...

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makes a grinding sound underneath when taking off at very low speed. I not sure if it is the differential or a wheel but it something there I took it to the mechanic he fix something that was woren it connects to the differential but still makes the noyse. Too many problems with this truck.

Filed Incident Exterior lighting · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11447980
Engine & cooling

Stalled as I was pulling off highway, going into gas station. Lost steering almost hit gas pumps. This is the second time I have reported this. It has happened several times. I also reported the issue to a dealership a few years ago.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11190365
Engine & cooling

The vehicle stalls at low speed turns or slowing down, the vehicle has trouble starting.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11185719
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge ram 1500. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the idle air control valve and the purge solenoid needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 142,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11164166
Transmission & drivetrainDriver assistanceEngine & cooling

Takata recall all trucks from 2005 was recalled but mine and my truck has all the same trubbles and I'm paying to fix I took my truck in to b inspected they told me to drive for 200 mls because check eng light was on as I was bring it back my engen diyed I toed it home 100mls on my eng they said not my problem 6000 to fix help.

Filed Incident Power train · Electronic stability control (ESC) · EngineNHTSA 11090008
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge ram 1500. While driving various speeds, the driveshaft malfunctioned. The contact stated that there was a loud noise under the vehicle as if something were being dragged across the ground. Courtesy auto group in valrico, florida was made aware of the failure and stated that the driveshaft needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11075003
Engine & cooling

Brought my vehicle in for a tune up and recalls, they did a 23 point check and advised me to drive the vehicle 200 miles and return, started the engine after a couple of days and oil and antifreeze exploded all over the engine, was advised to refill and drive to ri suretsky, the engine cut off on the hwy, they xame and towed me saying my engine was blown, wouldnt they see this after spending 2500.00 On repairs, my truch was in good shape pryor, thankyou.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11062463
Engine & cooling

The motor shuts off while traveling at full speed

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11025004
Engine & cooling

My 2005 dodge ram has been stalling while idiling at stop lights/signs. It was throwing a code of p0115. I have now replaced the throttle body, egr valve, thermostat, ect sensor, and cam sensor . The truck is at the dodge dealers for now 9 days. The service tech are pulling out their hair trying to find the issue. I see that other dodge trucks and cars have the same problem. So why is there not a recall on this item? This is a safety concern. Especially when the truck dies while turning I could get hit. I have been dealing with this on my own for the past three months. Now the service techs are at their wits end too.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10946305
Electrical systemEngine & coolingFire

An electrical fire started under hood of vehicle. No signs of anything being wrong before the fire and vehicle had been parked and sitting in driveway for at least 24 hours before fire was seen and reported to police and fire dept. Nobody was home when this happened.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 10924891
Electrical systemLightsEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge ram 1500. The contact stated that the engine stalled without warning. Shortly before the failure, the tail lights failed to illuminate properly. The tail lights would illuminate off and on periodically. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who stated that the fuse box failed and needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was 90,000.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lighting · EngineNHTSA 10907602
SteeringEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge ram 1500. While driving various speeds under 20 mph, the rpms dropped below one and the vehicle stalled. In addition, the steering failed and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle restarted on the first attempt, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 89,040.

Filed Incident Steering · EngineNHTSA 10896604
Engine & cooling

My 05 dodge ram has been stalling in traffic at low speeds regularly of late. It also happened recently while parked for the first time. It ocasionally (1 failure out of 7) gives an error code and check engine light which reads as a bad crank shaft position sensor. I have put 3 on in the last 2 years. It started as intermitent and has become a steady issue. Truck has never run hot, no noises from engine to indicate a bad bearing or mis alignement. Wheel teeth are not broken or worn and there is not buildup of...

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flakes or shavings anywhere that would be causing a fualty signal. Wiring rings out as good. Replacing the sensor was allowing normal operation for a short period but it is re-occuring at a faster rate each time. Truck does, so far, continue to resart almost imediately but still presents considerable risk in heavy traffic conditions. This was looked at previously and tsb 18-013-05 was released as a "fix." It has not been a successful fix as the issues continue to re-occur with what apears to be a fairly alarming rate. Truck currently has 160,750 miles on it. The last 3 sensors were installed in 2 years and less than 20,000 miles.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10893363
Body, doors & structureEngine & coolingFire

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge ram 1500. While driving 40 mph, smoke appeared from the engine compartment into the cabin. The contact merged the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. The fire department was notified; however, the fire was extinguished by a state highway employee. A fire report was filed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be inspected. The contact was informed that the firewall insulation under the hood of the vehicle had separated and fell onto the exhaust system, which caused the engine compartment fire. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 144,000.

Filed Incident Structure · EngineNHTSA 10883618
Engine & coolingFire

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge ram 1500. When the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The failure recurred multiple times. While attempting to start the ignition, the vehicle smoked and failed to start. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing where it was diagnosed that the crank shaft sensor, heat sensor, oil pressure gauge, and motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vin was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. *Tr

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10872323
Body, doors & structureBrakesEngine & cooling

The truck is falling apart. The welds are coming apart & the whole body is rotting faster than I can fix it. I will not be able to get another inspection sticker. I have replaced the transfer case, water pump, serpentine belt & pulleys, rear drive shaft, upper & lower ball joints, tyrods and the whole brake system. The truck needs to be recalled.

Filed Incident Structure · Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 10860336
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge ram 1500. While driving approximately 25 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle restarted and resumed normal operation. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing; however, no trouble codes were detected. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10852414
Engine & cooling

This was my fathers truck. I was out of the country when he purchased it. Upon his death, I began driving the truck. It was still brand new, by approximately 7 months. In one instance I was driving in saticoy, south on the 118 before going over the bridge. As I got a yellow light, I slowed down and the truck eventually stalled and had no ability to steer. I was in the truck, with my mother, at an intersection and had to immediately restart the vehicle because our lives were in danger due to traffic. Upon...

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restarting the vehicle, I resumed to my destination. On another occasion I arrived to who is now my sister in laws house, located in simon way. In that evening it was my turn to drive to oxnard college. As I pulled out of her driveway, the truck again stalled. I had to restart it again and decided that we would go to school in her vehicle. These two incidences are just a couple of many bad early on experiences with the 2005 dodge ram truck I had and would go to you guys and complain, and you guys never did anything about it because nothing ever resulted in your diagnostic and would happen to you guys when on one occasion the vehicle was in your possession. Attached see exhibit 1 which shows of a vehicle rental on 12/06/06 when the dodge truck was in your possession. I precisely recall why I had the stratus rental and it was because crown dodge had my truck, trying to figure out what was wrong with it. Crown dodge was billed for the rental. Well, crown dodge inspected the truck, but the problem continued. Exhibit 2 demonstrates another time that I complained because of the same problem with the vehicle. To date, the dodge ram truck 1500 continues to stall. My husband uses this vehicle to drive to work. At times he uses this vehicle to take our children out and I am always concerned because of this.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10852234
Engine & coolingFire

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge ram 1500. While driving at various speeds, the cabin filled up with smoke and the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine had a hole in it that caused the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 59,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10851672
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge ram 1500. The contact stated that the catalytic converter failed due to defective sensors. The dealer advised that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not replaced. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 111,000.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10850682
Engine & coolingCrash

The truck stalls when slowing for a stop or idling around a corner. That is a safety issue because the steering and brakes are locked up at that point. Whether it's idling in a traffic jam, coming to a stop, or idling around the corner, you will suddenly have no power but everything else is on. Not the engine and it was so smooth that you don't notice until you can't brake or steer. There are hundreds of people with this year make and model that are having the same problem. I understand there was an investigation...

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but it was closed without resolution. Case number ea05018. This is a growing problem and we the people are spending hundreds of dollars to replace parts that are just part of a trouble shooting issue and most of us still have the problem. And it's the same for all of us. Please relook at this problem. If I were the only one I could understand but I am not. We love our trucks but this is a serious problem. Last night I was in a double turn intersection when it shut off. Thankful I was in the outer lane and hit the median and not another car. If you read on car complaints.Com under 2005 dodge ram 1500 stalls/shuts down while driving, you will see that this is a serious problem and there are loads of people. They think the repair fixes but it does not and the issue does not happen all the time. It started occasionally but now it's almost daily and multiple times a day. Please please help! This started in 2009 when we bought the truck and has progressively gotten worse. Not sure if previous owner had issue but it may be why it was traded in.

Filed Incident Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 10850419
Transmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge ram 1500. While driving approximately 55 mph, the front passenger side wheel seized. In addition, the driveshaft detached completely. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the water pump and front passenger side driveshaft were replaced. The contact was uncertain of the repair part that was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vin was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.

Filed Incident Power train · EngineNHTSA 10846473

Dodge Ram 1500 engine complaints by year

Ram 1500 engine problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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