Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Dodge Ram 2500
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 has 9 NHTSA recall campaigns and 582 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #14V770000 Passenger Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V528000 Failure of the Left Tie Rod Assembly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V350000 OUTER TIE ROD FAILURE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10E013000 AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT PITMAN ARMS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E104000 CURVED TEMPERED AUTOMOTIVE REPLACEMENT GLASS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E009000 REPLACEMENT PITMAN ARM FAILURE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #05V462000 UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V221000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/FMSS 120/CERTIFICATION LABEL NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V503000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/TRANSMISSION FASTENERS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 140 complaints
- Power Train 110 complaints
- Suspension 106 complaints
- Air Bags 90 complaints
- Electrical System 47 complaints
- Structure 35 complaints
Of the 582 complaints on file, 49 report a crash and 7 a fire; across all 582 complaints, owners report 14 injuries and 4 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,000–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Dodge RAM 2500 has a significant number of complaints and recall campaigns, particularly concerning steering and powertrain issues. The high volume of complaints about the steering and powertrain systems indicates potential reliability concerns, although the exact failure mileages are not specified. The evidence suggests the vehicle may be costly to maintain, especially due to issues in these areas.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| steering system | Unknown | $300–$1,500 | common |
| power train | Unknown | $500–$2,500 | common |
| suspension | Unknown | $400–$1,800 | common |
| air bags | Unknown | $200–$1,200 | occasional |
| electrical system | Unknown | $150–$800 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Transmission service
- Coolant flush
- Tire rotation and balance
- Air filter replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering wheel vibration
- Transmission slipping or rough shifts
- Clunking noise in suspension
- Delayed airbag deployment
- Frequent electrical issues
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.