YearToAvoid

2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA has 593 owner complaints about transmission problems in the 2005 Dodge Ram 1500, 51% of all 1,168 complaints for this model year. That is the highest transmission complaint count among 9 Ram 1500 model years. These complaints report 26 crashes, 4 fires, and 12 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 111,081 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
593
51% of 1,168
Crashes reported
26
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
12
Median mileage
111,081 mi
Related recalls
1

When 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 transmission complaints were filed

First complaint May 16, 2005, latest May 21, 2026.

2005 Dodge Ram 1500 transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per quarter1322005 Q22008 Q42012 Q12014 Q22016 Q22018 Q22021 Q22025 Q4
593 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q2 to 2026 Q2; peak 2015 Q3 (132).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2005 Dodge Ram 1500

  1. NHTSA 14V796000Dec 16, 2014Transmission & Powertrain257,065 vehicles

    Power train:driveline:differential unit

    Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 trucks manufactured January 28, 2004, to August 3, 2005. In the affected vehicles, the rear axle pinion nut may loosen due to an undersized spline on the pinion gear.

    Risk: If the pinion nut loosens, the rear axle may seize, and/or the driveshaft may detach resulting in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a retention feature to the pinion nut, free of charge. The recall began on June 26, 2015, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P77.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Ram 1500 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2005593 (51%)
  2. 2006100 (13%)
  3. 200761 (12%)
  4. 200873 (13%)
  5. 2009231 (34%)
  6. 2010229 (47%)
  7. 2011176 (26%)
  8. 201292 (13%)
  9. 20140 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 have transmission problems?
NHTSA has 593 owner complaints about the transmission in the 2005 Dodge Ram 1500, 51% of all complaints for this model year, including 26 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 111,081 miles.
Which Dodge Ram 1500 year has the most transmission complaints?
The 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 has the most transmission complaints (593), compared with 593 for the 2005.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2005 Dodge Ram 1500?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for the 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 concerns the transmission: 14V796000.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.