It all started after last winter when I would wash it in the car wash. I washed under the wheel wells to make sure there was no salt to make it rust. It did not work, the rust is bubbling up on both wheel wells now and I took to to a Dodge body shop to see about getting it fixed. The body man told me, they put foam in the wheel wells to keep it from rattling and when moisture gets in there it causes it to rust which I have tried to get Dodge to fix it since they caused the problem but have not heard anything from them. They quoted me 750 dollars per side.

I'm the original owner of a 2005 Ram 1500. Trim is SLT, 5.7 Hemi, 4WD, Quad cab. In July of 2013 I noticed paint blistering on both sides of the bed at the 12 o'clock position over each wheel well. Took it to a local body shop and was told the casting holes on the inner well were never plugged at the factory.

Each inner well had 4 holes approx. 3/4" in diameter starting at about the 9 O'clock position and stopping at the 3 O'clock position. As water, dirt, chemicals, etc. were sprayed into the holes by the tires, it was getting trapped between the inner well and back side of the outside fender/sheet metal.

This truck has been meticulously taken care of since March of 2005. Dodge said I was past the rust through warranty. 2 times each year I would give the complete undercarriage a complete cleaning. Unfortunately I made matters worse because they did not plug the casting holes or install inside plastic well liners. Total repair-$2,700.00. Would have been more if I waited longer and the inner wells were shot too. A patch panel had to be welded on to each side and then the entire bed re-painted. This whole problem could have been avoided for about $3.75 for 8 rubber plugs and a bit of ATV cement or 3M silicone.

Thanks Dodge for passing your headaches on to the end consumer and once again not standing behind your product!!!!

Last fall I noticed my 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab had paint bubbling over the rear tires....on the rear wheel wells. Both sides started at about the same time....it's gotten worse over the last few months. It's only a matter of time before it rusts completely through. I took it to a body guy I trust, and he basically said, I can fix it for now, but it's gonna come back in 8-12 months. I've always kept the truck clean and washed the under-body, so it's definitely not from neglect. This is a major design flaw, and Dodge should recall this and fix it, but I'm sure they won't, as it's not a safety issue.....unless I can prove I got tetanus from it. There is no other rust anywhere on the truck......

I have a 2005 Ram 1500.I have owned dodge trucks all my driving life and this makes me sick. the rust started when the truck was 5 years old & dealer told me I missed the rust warranty by one week. it started as one little bubble and now both sides are rusted threw on the box above the rear wheels. I only have 60K on this truck.My trade in value is sh*t because of this. no ram dealer will touch it. I love the truck I just wish Dodge would stand behind their trucks like they claim to do. I was looking @ a new one and it already had bubbles on the body and it was just delivered to the dealer. I think there should be a recall on all 03 to 07 ram trucks. I spent the money on up keep and maint. My last dodge was a 1995 1500 with 1360000 miles on it and was clean no rust. where did they go wrong? Dodge do something about this problem.Love the motor and trans but the rest is sh*t! I think I will install my motor and trany into a older dodge truck and piss on the new ones. 50K plus for a new truck that the body will only last 3 maybe 5 years is bullshit!! And ford And Chevy are no better on this issue.

I just think it is a bad deal for Ram customers, with the design problem with the bedsides rusting. I have 82250 miles and have owned since Aug 2005. It is in the garage when not in use and is kept clean and now I have a bubbling of the pain on the driver's side of the bed over the tire.

I saw where someone mentioned a class suit, I would welcome it. Dodge says I need a new side panel but if one is bad it makes sense that both sides are just as bad. They said it would take $1300.00 to replace one side and as a retired person I can't do this. I had planned to keep this truck the rest of my life since I only put about 3000 mile a year on it. Dodge said they have since corrected the flaw which sucks, they only want to sell you a new truck.

As a whole i really like my truck, But the rust that keeps on coming back above the rear wheel wells is a disgrace, I had it repaired 3 times & it came back again & again.Told my dodge dealership about the problem & they told me it was from small chips caused by stones off the roadway. B/S My bodyman told me it was the way that dodge design the wheel well that water gets trapped on top & rust forms in between the 2 layers of metal above the wheel well outwards.After 3 times of failure, I've given up & now my truck looks like it has cancer on both sides of the wheel well.Think dodge should redesign there beds especially around the wheel well area.Wish you all Good luck.

I HAVE HAD GREAT DEAL OF PRIDE IN MY TRUCK UNTIL THE PAINT STARTED TO BUBBLE AT THE REAR WHEEL WELLS. IT HAS JUST BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE SINCE THE FIRST NOTICEABLE BUBBLES AND NOW IT IS WITHOUT A QUESTION RUSTING OUT. I LOOK AT OTHER RAMS CONSTANTLY TO SEE IF THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE IT WOULD COST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $3500.00 TO REPLACE THE REAR PANELS. I AM VERY DISGUSTED WITH THE ENTIRE PROCESS AND THE LACK OF INTERESTS ON DEALERS PART. TOUGH @%$# ON THEIR PART. EVERY TIME I LOOK AT THE TRUCK I GET BUMMED LL OVER AGAIN. I'M JUST WATCHING IT ROT.

Bought this truck new in 2005. It has been garaged all it's life and taken care of better than my wife. Always keep this vehicle spotless and waxed constantly. Paint has started to bubble through on both rear quarters but there is no sign of rust on inside of wells. Where paint has bubbled and popped you can see rust on outside of quarter between metal and paint. ????????? What's up with that?? Took it to dealer and was basically told "nothing can be done because you are out of warranty by three months". Can you believe that bull? 35000 for this truck and that is the kind of service you can expect!

I drove Fords for twenty five years and never had a paint issue with any vehicle. Chrysler Corp. can kiss my #*!. I will never buy another one. We were just getting ready to buy my wife a Sebring convertible too. Not now. And they wonder why their Corporation is in trouble.