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2005 Dodge RAM 3500Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 196 owner complaints about the 2005 Dodge RAM 3500, most often about the steering. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-770 the manufacturer reports only 23% of affected cars repaired.

2005 Dodge RAM 3500
38
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.6× the RAM 3500 median · #5 of 20 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Lowest repair rate 23%Owner complaints19640 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage100kSteering, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through December 5, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2005 Dodge RAM 3500 has problems

196 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Steering616
Air bags332
Power train3214
Suspension173
Electrical system154
Engine and engine cooling102
Exterior lighting70
Visibility/wiper70
Fuel/propulsion system61
14 other systems448

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

4 recalls

2005 Dodge RAM 3500 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

23%repaired · 2016 Q2

Air bags

Recall 14V-770 · Dec 3, 2014 · 250,896 vehicles · 57,621 repaired

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

32%repaired · 2015 Q1

Linkages: tie rod assembly

Recall 13V-528 · Nov 6, 2013 · 706,664 vehicles · 224,931 repaired

Risk. A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Linkages: tie rod assembly

Recall 11V-350 · Jul 6, 2011 · 242,780 vehicles

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL STABILITY IN THE LEFT HAND FRONT WHEEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Lever and linkage: column shift

Recall 05V-462 · Oct 6, 2005 · 250,433 vehicles

Risk. THIS ERROR IS AN UNINTENDED ACTION THAT MAY RESULT IN A LACK OF TRANSMISSION PARK PAWL ENGAGEMENT AND POSSIBLY DELAYED REARWARD MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Dodge.

Mileage at failure

When do steering problems start?

100kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 44 steering complaints. 48% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
1under 30k miles21under 100k miles23100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2005 vs. every other RAM 3500 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the RAM 3500 median. How we score

'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
7 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2005 Dodge RAM 3500, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Chrysler's execution of 13V-528 & 529AQ14003 · closed May 16, 2016
    No recall
  2. FALSE PARKEA04025 · closed Dec 22, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-462
  3. ENGINE STALLEA05018 · closed Aug 29, 2007
    No recall
  4. Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA15001 · still open
    Led to recall 15E-043
  5. ENGINE STALLPE05027 · closed Nov 3, 2005
    No recall
  6. Clutch Interlock Switch MalfunctionPE14013 · closed Dec 23, 2014
    Led to recall 14V-795
  7. Air Bag Inflator RupturePE14016 · closed Mar 2, 2015
    Led to recall 14V-772
In owners' words

What RAM 3500 owners report

Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

May 13,2020. 11:32am Driving north, my drive side tire violently shook & suddenly gave way pulling me hard left. I struggling to keep truck in my lane but lost control of steering, the airbags also deployed. Blocking my view. The rode was a blind spot. I thought it was a tire failure. Be of the…
Complaint 11463292 · May 3, 2022
This recall N62 13V-528 was never done by Duwanne Lanes Everett WA even though I was told by the dealership service team that they had done this recall as requested while they had my truck for over 3mo ths time. On April 3,2022 my vehicle had a cautostraphic failure of my steerwheell column &…
Complaint 11460822 · Apr 14, 2022
ON FREEWAY GOING OVER EXPANSION JOINTS ENCOUNTERED FOUR SEPARATE TIMES SEVERE STEERING WHEEL SHAKING AND BOUNCING, I HAD TO BRING THE TRUCK TO AN ALMOST COMPLETE STOP TO GET IT TO QUIT! TRAVELING AT 75 MPH AND 60 ON THE FREEWAY ITS SOME THING THATS VERY UNSAFE TO HAVE HAPPEN.
Complaint 10991778 · May 26, 2017 · 51,000 miles

Own a 2005 RAM 3500?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.