Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Dodge Ram 1500 problems

Owners filed 1,214 complaints about the 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 with NHTSA between May 2005 and Nov 2026. The most-cited component is power train (606).

Complaints
1,214
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
114
Reported by owners
Fires
17
Reported by owners
Injuries
71
People reported injured
Deaths
5
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train606
  2. Air bags377
  3. Engine and engine cooling92
  4. Suspension85
  5. Engine77
  6. Electrical system66
  7. Steering61
  8. Wheels32
  9. Visibility28
  10. Service brakes25
  11. Structure24
  12. Fuel/propulsion system22
  13. Exterior lighting22
  14. Fuel system, gasoline17

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200522
200632
200735
200831
200937
201045
201131
201225
201348
201491
2015511
2016157
201760
201819
201913
20209
20215
202210
202311
20243
20254
202615

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

606 reports27 crashes4 fires1 related recall
“My 2005 Dodge 1500 Ram truck broke down on the side of the road and it was determined that the Driveshaft fell off. Once it arrived at Wilson Motors, the representative told me the vehicle broke due to a nut and bolt that held the driveshaft onto the rear axle. This faulty issue was known by Dodge and there was a recall (NHTSA Recall Number14V-796) on these parts in December of 2014. I was not the original owner of the vehicle and was not aware of the recall as I bought the truck in 2021. No attempt to contact me was made by Dodge to provide me information on the recall. The parts to do the recall are obsolete and Dodge insists they have no responsibility in fixing the vehicle, even though the parts are well known to Dodge as being defective. The nut and bolt was the proximate cause of the extensive damage to driveshaft where a new driveshaft is needed. Due to the fact that the recalled parts are the culprit, I am asking Dodge to repair the vehicle to working condition or at least total out my truck and pay me out. I would expect Dodge to stand by their product when they provide a defective product to their consumers. Could you please advise me if I have any…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 4, 2026Power trainODI 11775744

Air bags

377 reports61 crashes3 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500.The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V352000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and declined to perform the recall repair, due to parts not being available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2026Air bagsODI 11772748

Engine and engine cooling

92 reports2 crashes2 fires
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 21, 2016Engine and engine coolingODI 10850682

Suspension

85 reports14 crashes1 fire
“I was driving on a highway when all of a sudden I heard what I thought to be a blow out (tire) ,as I pulled over on shoulder with difficulty I looked in mirror and saw a part has fallen off, later retrieved with tow truck driver, part being a driveshaft. Rear end had seized as I maneuvered my veh. As far on shoulder as possible, I feel fortunate for outcome of incident. I had gotten a tow to my resident now not sure what my next step is to do, any advise would be helpful. Thank you”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 7, 2021Suspension, Power train, Unknown or otherODI 11428147

Engine

77 reports3 crashes4 fires
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 23, 2023Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11551350

Electrical system

66 reports1 crash6 fires
“Had taken my vehicle in for the recall they said it was fine , after wards two months later my front right break locked up. But now my rear end that was supposed to been fixed from recall vut now it is making loud noise”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 16, 2022Power train, Electrical system, Service brakesODI 11474310
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.