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Engine & cooling

Dodge Ram Engine problems by year

514 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Dodge Ram's engine & cooling. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Engine complaints by model year

YearEngine complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
2004196430
200391000
200298290
200186000
200042100
19980002
19811000

Engine recalls

Latest Ram engine complaints

2004 Dodge RamBrakesTransmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced transmission failure, and the brake lines were rusted. The contact was trapped in the desert for hours with his dog. The contact stated that two independent mechanics had determined that the idler pulley needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that six injectors and the ECM needed to be rebuilt. While driving, the vehicle went into the...

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death wobble, and several linkages were damaged. Additionally, the front seat belts were inoperable with the seat belt warning light illuminated. The vehicle became inoperable. The vehicle was repaired under warranty previously, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 228,510.

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Power train · EngineNHTSA 11728619
2002 Dodge RamEngine & cooling

I bought this truck new I still own problem is the cooling system does not function properly I have put new radiator and all heat and cooling in it the heat and air does not operate properly I have talked with crysler several times and they will help with issue it's been like this about as long as I have had it please help me and there's a whole lot more people with same issue and it's a very bad problem with the windshield keeps fogging up can not see the road or traffic

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11726774
2004 Dodge RamEngine & cooling

Driving on freeway , lost power Cruise control automatically shut off yellow light shape of a motor came on ; on the upper left side of the dashboard, had to pull over on side of freeway. Able to restart after a little bit. Another time sitting at traffic light shuts off , same light again . Another time had to wait from 11 pm to 3 am before it started and had called a tow truck.. THE RECALL IT FALLS UNDER IS #20V475000 CRANKSHAFT SENSOR , called and filed claim defect # is11686607 . Please Reply

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11686970
2004 Dodge RamEngine & cooling

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal and stalled. In addition, the vehicle vibrated before losing power. The vehicle stalled at an intersection. The contact was stopped for hours, and the vehicle failed to restart. After six hours, the tow truck arrived, and the contact restarted the vehicle. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the yellow warning light was...

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illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact's brother, a mechanic, inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the crankshaft position sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V475000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 312,000.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 11686607
2004 Dodge RamEngine & coolingElectrical systemBody, doors & structure

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 used to haul a 2018 Keystone Passport Ultra Lite Grand Touring. The contact stated that the thermostat in the RV failed to operate as needed. The RV was taken to the dealer, where the thermostat was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The RV was taken back to the dealer, where the thermostat was replaced a second time. Additionally, the contact stated that the RV interior structure had detached in several areas, and the RV was leaking an unknown substance. The contact...

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stated that a nearby camper repair facility inspected the RV and opened the release valve, where water had accumulated underneath the RV. The RV was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical system · StructureNHTSA 11537871
2001 Dodge RamTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

The headlights no matter what bulbs I buy are extremely dim making it unsafe to drive at night. Now truck will not start for some unknown reason. It tries to turn over but will not crank. The mileage flashes NO BUS. I was literally only getting at best 8 miles per gallon.

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11527071
2001 Dodge RamEngine & cooling

2001 Dodge ram. Consumer stated that their vehicle exploded while driving on the highway. The consumer is requesting to swap out the old vehicle with a new comparable vehicle.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11509300
2004 Dodge RamEngine & coolingFuel system

I recently figured out a problem with my truck that is an extreme danger. When you fill up the fuel tank at any gas station, it seems that the fuel enters the vapor canister and makes the engine stall for about a mile before it starts running properly. After several close encounters after filling the tank, I looked upon other threads of Dodge Ram owners and found this to be a common problem that was never addressed by Chrysler and never acted upon by NHTSA. Please look into this and advise a course of action to...

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have Chrysler repair this problem.. It is a matter of time before either I or another with the same problem are seriously injured or killed due to this defect. Many Thanks In Advance!!

Filed Incident Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11488971
2003 Dodge RamElectrical systemEngine & coolingFire

This vehicle had last been started and driven 7 hrs prior and exploded in the driveway, caught the house on fire and nearly killed my son who was near the inside wall of the house. The engine blew and then the front tires. Three explosions in all before the fire department was able to stop the fire. Luckily they were only a mile away. This was an older but well running vehicle.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11484730
2000 Dodge RamSteeringElectrical systemEngine & cooling

Unknown Will be driving down the road and the truck will shut off. When this happens it also affects the power steering and the power brakes. Has happened at a spotlight and I had to push it thru a busy intersection. Has happened going down the road just at random. No warning. But it does show (No Bus) when this happens but it does not trigger a code or engine light Try to start it and it will not start. Sometime it's only a few minutes up too 1/2 Hour the last time it cut off.

Filed Incident Steering · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11469787
2003 Dodge RamElectrical systemEngine & coolingFuel system

When driving the truck the vehicle randomly shuts down and I have to pull over or put it in neutral to restart it I believe there might be a problem with the tipm that dodge has had a ongoing problem for years and ignored the issue

Filed Incident Electrical system · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11452236
2004 Dodge RamEngine & cooling

My family has owned 3 5.7 HEMI vehicles all ranging from the years of 2002-2006 and they have all had the engine randomly seize up on us while driving almost causing major accidents, two of these vehicles are still owned one in an auto shop. I do not believe that this is a coincidence, I believe this is a manufacturer fault that needs to answer to and possibly pay back everyone effected by this event. The auto shop I have the truck at is Lott's auto in Junction City, KS and they themselves know of this fault as...

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well. This needs to be answered to, it is a safety issue and a waste of money to people who trust Dodge with these vehicles, the auto shop informed me this is with the 5.7 HEMI from all years between 2000-2011. Please investigate this and hold Dodge accountable.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11447422
2001 Dodge RamEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 dodge ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with the engine control unit needing to be replaced. The vehicle had been repaired twice however, the failure still recurred. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 198,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11406884
2001 Dodge RamAcceleration & cruise controlEngine & cooling

Several times while I have been driving on a highway or busy road and the engine gets to normal operating temperature, the engine stalls and shuts off. Then I have to maneuver it to the side of the road and let it cool off approximately 15 minutes and then it cranks back up and I can drive 5 minutes and it does the same thing again, very dangerous.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · EngineNHTSA 11406817
2002 Dodge RamTransmission & drivetrainAcceleration & cruise controlEngine & cooling

2002 Dodge ram 1500 4x4 5.9L was driving dow hey 10 when my back tries locked up couldn't get it in gear or out almost crash when got it on to side of road and stopped when it finally was able to go in a gear it was reverses and it would just make this god awful grinding nose truck was towed back home

Filed Incident Power train · Vehicle speed control · EngineNHTSA 11403626

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

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