Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Dodge Ram 3500
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 214 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
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 64 complaints
- Air Bags 43 complaints
- Steering 41 complaints
- Suspension 25 complaints
- Electrical System 15 complaints
- Structure 9 complaints
Of the 214 complaints on file, 42 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 214 complaints, owners report 19 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $8,000–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Dodge RAM 3500 shows a significant number of complaints, particularly in the power train, air bags, and steering systems. With seven recall campaigns addressing various critical components, including air bags and steering linkages, reliability concerns arise. Although the number of complaints is moderate, the nature of issues reported could suggest costly repairs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| power train | 100,000-150,000 miles | $1,000–$4,000 | common |
| air bags | Unknown | $300–$1,500 | common |
| steering | 90,000-120,000 miles | $500–$2,000 | 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 pad and rotor replacement
- Transmission fluid replacement
- Coolant system servicing
- Air filter changes
- Belt and hose inspections
- Differential fluid servicing
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Hard shifting or slipping gears
- Steering looseness or vibrations
- Air bag warning light
- Clunking noises from suspension
- Delayed transmission engagement
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.