8.8

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$150
Average Mileage:
86,300 miles
Total Complaints:
48 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (29 reports)
  2. dodge needs to do an investigation and possible recall (8 reports)
  3. dodge should do a recall!!! (3 reports)
  4. shut engine off after a few minutes restart (3 reports)
  5. clean air intake (1 reports)
  6. fuel tank replacement (1 reports)
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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #28

Feb 062011

Ram 1500 SLT 5.7L Hemi

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

I've got a 2004 Dodge Rumblebee 5.7L Hemi 1500 1/2 ton, had no problems until 2 weeks ago. It was below zero temp. and as I was turning left I lost complete power! Talk about scary! Luckily no one was infront or behind me, I couldn't stop or keep turning so I just let it die. Threw er' in neutral and started it right back up immediately. Went straight to the dealer and since there was no code they can do nothing. A week later, same problem...what to do? I'm not about to start guessing and just fix things with no code... we all know that gets expensive quick. Some say EGR some say cylinder issue...if anyone has specifics let me know : )

- taber, Wyoming, MI, US

problem #27

Jan 062011

Ram 1500 SLT 5.7L Hemi

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,312 miles

i'll be driving along and my truck engine will just stop - shut off, sometimes at low speeds sometimes at 55 mph +. I will kick to N and restart. Very hard to do when you lose brakes and power steering. Not sure if i was hitting the brake in these events. these problems would happen every so often maybe once every 2 months or so...think bad gas or just needs warmed up, even though is was running for a while. Nov 2010 coming home from Mom & dad's going thru the Ft. Pitt tunnel on the bridge in a curve the truck shuts off i almost wrecked into barrier. No problems until last week once on my way to work, and 3 times it shut off on my way home. now it's 2 days i a row. Now it is a problem, don't trust truck for reliable transportation anymore. time for the shop

Any help for the weary?

- P.J. S., Munhall, PA, US

problem #26

Feb 032011

Ram 1500 SLT 4.7L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 126,345 miles

Was driving last night sitting at a red light my engine just shut off I started it back up and this awfully loud knocking started with it I pulled into a parking lot and shut it off, popped the hood and cranked it back up and it sounds like a rocker broke. This isn't the 1st time i have had problems. I had to replace the connecting rods, pistons and rings, and valves about a year ago after I lost all hp going down the interstate towed it back to the house pulled it apart and a piston had cracked all the way around and the rings were the only thing keeping it from grenading my motor. I took it to dodge and they told me that my flowmser exhaust system is what caused it and that it was gonna me 5k to get it fixed, so i bought everything out of pocket for 1300 and put everything back together ran great until now.

Update from Feb 12, 2011: we its nothing in the heads, everything is good so far, i think, but a freind of mine that works at dodge says that replacing the lash adjuster and valve springs when you have a rocker arm problem will fix that problem still tearing down the motor think i might have spun a bearing

- Michael G., Camden, AR, US

problem #25

Jun 042004

Ram 1500 5.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,000 miles

fixed the problem with my (etc) light with a new 2011 Toyota tundra in the driveway

- mcclanahantn, Newport, TN, US

problem #24

Nov 122010

Ram 1500 SLT 5.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 47,500 miles

i bought this 2004 dodge ram 1500 4x4 new, for the last couple of months you could be driving slow 20-30 mph let off the accelerator engine stalls, push up in neutral to restart engine you may ge 2 mile or all day before it dies again. this truck only has 47,500 miles. i think dodge needs to wake up and have a recall with so many complaints.

- mcclanahantn, Newport, TN, US

problem #23

Jul 262010

Ram 1500 1500 SLT 5.7L Hemi V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 123,000 miles

I was just driving down the freeway when the engine lost power. It would continue to run, but I could only go about 20 mph. There was a red lightning bolt flashing on the rh bottom of the instrument panel. I pulled over, shut the engine off. I waited about 5 minutes and restarted the engine. The truck started right up with no more problems. This has happened to me twice in the last 3 years.

- wylecoyote64, Pocahontas, AR, US

problem #22

Jul 282010

Ram 1500 1500 SLT 5.7L Hemi V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 123,000 miles

On my way to work one morning, about a mile before I got there, my truck started running really rough. When I turned off of the highway, the truck stalled. I restarted the truck and drove to my parking spot. The engine died as soon as I let off the gas to stop. I had the truck towed to my mechanic. He found a broken valve spring and a bent valve. Luckily the valve did not fall into the block when the valve spring broke. I had him replace all of the valve springs and valve. I took the truck and had the oil changed right away, strongly advised by a friend of mine.I have driven it for one day now and everything seems fine.

- wylecoyote64, Pocahontas, AR, US

problem #21

Nov 012009

Ram 1500 5.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,981 miles

I have a 2004 Dodge Ram with a Hemi..... The S.O.B. cuts out on me and also recently when I put it in Neutral and rev it up the rpms stay up above 2000. I am at my wits ends .... Any one have a suggestion besides a match?

Update from Jul 20, 2010: I replaced the egr valve and I am still having problems stalling even at speeds as high as 70 kph [40mph]. This is scary!!!!!!!!!!! I think it is time Dodge did something. Maybe a law suit is in order

- waynenewfoundland, Campbell's Creek, Newfoundland, Canada

problem #20

May 072010

Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

Just found this site and glad!! Bought my '04' Hemi in 06 and my Dodge has died, numerous times, no warning, at stop signs, freeway traffic stand-stills, red lights... Dealer ship (like so many have mentioned) claimed they couldn't replicate the problem. Well hello!! It is random, and unless they want to give me a loaner for over a week and they drive it MORE than 1 mile and down the road, then they will never be able to replicate it! No codes show up, and have been told it is everything from the throttle body needs to be replaced to bad gas.. getting to the point where I am about to go back to Chevy and be done with Dodge forever.

- kimberlytx, Friendswood, TX, US

problem #19

Feb 072010

Ram 1500 SLT 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 69,000 miles

Looks like Dodge is the new Toyota. I'm having the same problem as others with stalling while braking or at idle. I'm not sure of the fix but I agree this should be a recall. Only problem is that, like Toyota, Dodge is losing my faith due to the fact that they won't acknowledge they messed up. If I can get rid of this truck, I will never own another...

- rmanecke, Newport News, VA, US

problem #18

Mar 022010

Ram 1500 4.7L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 81,000 miles

Just paid this truck off last year and now it's a pile of junk! Not worth the money required to invest in another motor. I'll buy another Ford next time. I have a Ford F150 inline 300 V6 which has been a workhorse and still running with 300,000 miles. My Ford still has the original motor, water pump, rear brakes. Why can't Dodge make a good product and stand by them instead of taking your money!

- Larry W., Jacksonville, AR, US

problem #17

Feb 022010

Ram 1500 SLT 5.7L Hemi

  • Automatic transmission
  • 112,985 miles

OK today 3-3-10 My 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi Dropped dead while slowing down and making a left turn. Do you have any idea how hard it is to turn a 2 ton wall with no wheels? Neither do I, but that is what came to mind. However, what came to mind while in the middle of trying to turn the steering wheel, that wouldn't turn without the 800 lb gorilla helping, I was praying to God not to let me get hit. It restarted like it has the other times.

Time to see what the dealer to say.

- Dj C., Tracy, CA, US

problem #16

Feb 252010

Ram 1500 SLT Hemi 5.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 61,000 miles

the truck loses complete power - hard to steer and brakes are almost impossible to engage. The truck leaves me in dangerous situations and I am afraid to drive.

- billyfernald, Ft Lauderdale, FL, US

problem #15

Feb 062010

Ram 1500 1500 4BY4 5.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,000 miles

Our Truck shut itself off 5 times today! Its the Hemi 5.7....I was taking off from a redlight to realize I was indeed not taking off at all. The music and lights were still on, but the power steering_GONE_. The engine OFF. I put the truck in park and it DID start back up but It was SCARY! What if I had been rearended. No RECALL??!!!It happened once more in a turn, and 3 more times on my way home. This is bullshit.

- Whitney M., Watertown, NY, US

problem #14

Nov 022009

Ram 1500 SLT 5.7L Hemi

  • Automatic transmission
  • 135,000 miles

I started having a stalling problem when stopping at intersections. Pretty much the exact symptoms everyone else is reporting. RPM's dropped under 500 while stopping and the engine died. Sometimes it would suddenly die when sitting still, in gear, with foot on brake. No codes, no lights. I did not believe the problem was computer program related as Dodge would have you believe. If that was so you would have the problem from day 1.

This problems started for me around 130000 miles. I went ahead and changed the EGR valve even though a code had not been generated. EGR valve did not fix problem. I then decided to look at the transmission because it felt more like the transmission was dragging the engine down. I was able to determine that the transmission filter seal had been installed incorrectly during the last fluid change. This was allowing vapor to be sucked into the transmission oil pump and apparently causing the torque converter clutch to malfunction. I installed a new seal and filter and the problem quit immediately. This seal appears to be a semi hard Nylon material and must be installed into the transmission before the filter is installed. The old seal should have to be pryed out and the new one knocked into place usind something like a wooden dowel.

Update from May 25, 2014: It has now been several years since I posted my complaint and fix. My mileage on the 2004 RAM 1500 truck is now 264,000 miles and I have not had an issue with stalling again. When I change the transmission filter and seal, I pay careful attention to how well it seats. Also, I have never applied the software update that is mentioned in other posted complaints. I believe that Dodge could not figure out what was happening and just added programming to increase the idle when it detects it being pulled down. If that is true, all it does is put a band aid on the symptom which will probably result in reduced brake and transmission life in the long term.

- James H., Humble, TX, US

problem #13

Sep 082008

Ram 1500 5.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

Well to begin with I was having the same problem as alot of the complaints I've seen. Engine runs fine then it dies when slowing down. Take it to the dealer (Love Chrysler in Alice,Texas) to get it repaired and they keep the truck for a week and I get no loaner vehicle. When I show up they still have not done anything to my truck but they have comfirmed my problem.And all they can say is well the Service Writer is not in and will be back in a week or so. Then ask them what needs to be done or what can we do to get the issue resolved now and was told nothin can get done service writer is the only one that can request the repairs.

Anyhow, after having it out with these idiots took the truck home and tried to figure out what needs to be done. After some time I remembered that when fueling up , it takes longer than normal to fill this truck up ( can not grip fuel nozzle all the way it will spill the fuel out). This is when I decided to look at at my fuel tank. While removing the fuel tank I accidentally broke some fittings that are made onto the fuel tank. So I had to find another fuel tank. Went to the salvage yard and found one off of a 2001 model pick up. Bought it and installed it haven,t had that problem ever since.

- Zachary T., Alice, TX, US

problem #12

Mar 012007

Ram 1500 SLT 5.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,000 miles

I am not the only one with this problem, the darn truck stalls at unusual times. Never the same, just always happens while braking at a stop sign or a traffic light. someone is going to get in a major accident due to this ongoing problem. Dodge needs to handle this problem SOON. I love the truck, But not willing to bet my life or my wife and kids life on it. When I brought it to the dodge dealer they told me that they fixed the problem well no they didn't I now have 41,000 miles on it and it happens about twice a month but all at really bad time with absolutely no warning at all, no light come on at all on the dash board. When will they do something about this problem. Just about every person I know that has this 5.7ltr engine has the exact same issues. Something needs to be done already.

- jds3031, Berlin, CT, US

problem #11

Mar 192008

Ram 1500 SLT 5.7L Hemi

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

I have drove this truck for the last 3 years without any problems at all. For the last month my engine has been stalling when braking to turn or when accelerating from a stop. No warning at all, it just dies. Has always started right back up though. I still have no warning lights showing after it has happened for the third time. Scheduled to go into the shop this week but I'm guessing they aren't going to find anything wrong with it. This is probably going to get me into an accident before it is all said and done. The first time it happened was when I was crossing a busy intersection in the middle of the city and nearly got rear ended when it died.

- Danny T., Bethany, IL, US

problem #10

Mar 092008

Ram 1500 SLT Hemi 5.7L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 63,000 miles

I bought a used 2004 Dodge last October '07 and had 55,000 miles on it when I bought it. In the past months I have had it stall out when I have slowed down for a stop sign or the worse was when I went through and intersection almost causing an accident when I need to turn at the light because the intersection did not go straight across almost hitting a parked vehicle. When the vehicle stalled I had no power steering and its hard to turn a 6,000lb vehicle with out any assistance. The stalling happens at random and the RMPs surges up and down when trying to maintain slower speeds from 25-40 mph. This morning I finally had a check engine light go on so I took it to my local dealer to see what the problem is and the guy said is was the EGR Valve and that is a common defect in the 2004 Dodges. I will be changing it tonight and I hope that fixes my problem. I don't think I could take having my engine stall in the middle of an intersection again because it is sure to cause an accident. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM!

- Holly W., Escanaba, MI, US

problem #9

Jan 212008

Ram 1500 SLT 5.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,600 miles

This is as big as a problem as there can be. Stalls!!!!! Can't get any worse. Today was the 3rd time, almost caused a major accident today. This is serious... I will visit the dealer tomorrow to get more input. I have found many complaints of this problem, however no exact solution. Sounds like Chrysler is dancing around this one. Truck simply stalls at random, no warning at all. Be careful.

- Robert M., Raleigh, NC, US

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