The Lemon Index2004 Ram 1500.
The 2004 Ram 1500 is worse than average by owner complaints: 466 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 125, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 12 recalls, and it gets 12 to 16 mpg combined. The best Ram 1500 year is 2000.
Covers the whole Ram pickup line (1500, 2500 and 3500): Ram reports their sales together.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 1,895 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Ram 1500 year. 2004 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 31K to 120K miles on the car (1,264 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- airbags complaints mostly came at 63K–150K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 15K–130K miles
- steering complaints mostly came at 49K–121K miles
Recalls 12
- airbags 2016
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St.
- airbags 2015
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
- airbags 2014
Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S.
Show all 12 recalls
- steering 2013
The left tie rod assembly may break.
- steering 2011
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 2500/3500 4X4, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH MARCH 28, 2011; MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 3500 CAB CHASSIS 4X2, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14,…
- wheels 2010
FEDERAL-MOGUL IS RECALLING CERTAIN CARQUEST, NATIONAL, AND PERCISION BRAND WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS 515073 AND 515073, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2008 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCKS…
- steering 2010
FABTECH IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT PITMAN ARMS, P/NOS.
- visibility 2007
CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BRE…
- suspension 2007
CERTAIN LKI ENTERPRISES, INC., BRAND NAME SUPERLIFT SUSPENSION, PITMAN ARMS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 2003-2007 DODGE RAM 2500 AND 3500 4X4 LIGHT TRUCKS.
- transmission & drivetrain 2005
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, IN AN ATTEMPT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE QUICKLY WITHOUT SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND REMOVING THE KEY, THE DRIVER MAY INADVERTENTLY LEAVE THE AU…
- equipment 2004
THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL ON SOME PICKUP TRUCKS LISTS INCORRECT TIRE, WHEEL, AND RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE INFORMATION WHICH DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 12…
- transmission & drivetrain 2003
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE TRANSFER CASE TO TRANSMISSION ATTACHING FASTENERS MAY NOT BE TIGHTENED CORRECTLY.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ram told dealers about
Ram sent dealers 51 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Part Description: 5.7L Long Block Issue Description: This 5.7L Long Block Assembly is…
- Service - Four Piece Oil Pan Gasket All Cummins Equipped Vehicles ONLY - The replacement oil…
- Improved automatic transmission shifting in tow/haul mode
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
- OpenAir bag inflator rupture2015
- ClosedAir bag inflator rupture2014–2015
- ClosedChrysler's execution of 13v-528 & 5292014–2016
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side — · rollover —
Fuel cost and engines
About $4000–5350 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.7L 6-cyl, 4.7L 8-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
Vehicle was parked and running idle. Consumer entered a building. When the owner exited the building found the vehicle 300 feet away from where it was originally parked.
2004 Ram 1500 owner · NHTSA complaint 10101221
More owner reports
Truck rolls backwards about two feet when parked on a slight grade.
NHTSA complaint 10114766
2004 Dodge truck extra cab 1500 has problems of stalling while driving.
NHTSA complaint 10079318
Quick answers
Is the 2004 Ram 1500 reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.2× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 125; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ram 1500 year by this measure since 2010 is 2023.
What are the most common 2004 Ram 1500 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (39%), engine (20%) and suspension (11%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2004 Ram 1500 have?
12 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2004 Ram 1500 get?
12 to 16 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2004 Ram 1500 problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 31,900 and 120,000 miles. The middle report was at 70,000 miles, from 1,264 complaints.
Does the 2004 Ram 1500 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 39% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2004 Ram 1500 cost in fuel a year?
About $4000 to $5350 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2004 Ram 1500 have?
3.7L 6-cyl, 4.7L 8-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl.
What Ram 1500 year is better than the 2004?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2018, 2017 and 2013.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works