What's Wrong with the 3rd Generation Ram 3500?

Front 3/4 view of a Dodge Ram 3500

The 3rd generation Ram 3500 spans the 2003 to 2009 model years.

It has accumulated 358 owner complaints over those year and ranks 39th in reliability out of 54 eligible Dodge generations.

Our reliability rank is based on our PainRank™ system. A higher number means you can expect more significant problems. The average Dodge score is 12.28 while this generation comes in at 19.54.

Compare With Other Ram 3500 Generations

The Worst 2003-2009 Ram 3500 Problems

  1. Dodge Vehicles With Recalled Takata Airbags

    Takata, a parts supplier, provided automakers with a defective airbag inflator responsible for 23 deaths and hundreds of injuries. It's one of the largest and most dangerous recalls in automotive history, affecting over 37 million vehicles …

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  2. Defective TIPM Causes Multiple Electrical Problems

    What is a TIPM exactly? And why is it giving so many Dodge owners headaches? We have details, plus news about recalls and a SETTLEMENT.

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  3. Stuck in Park

    Can't shift the car into reverse or drive! Now what? This is most commonly reported from Dodge Avenger owners, but there have also been similar complaints about other Dodge makes as well as other Chrysler and Jeep vehicles having a similar …

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  4. Cracked Dashboards

    Is your Dodge dashboard falling apart and breaking into pieces? Have you been watching the cracks grow bigger and bigger with each passing month? Do you feel helpless as your dashboard caves in on itself? Trust me, you're not alone.

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  5. Ram Death Wobble

    Dodge Ram trucks are susceptible to a horrible front end vibration known as the death wobble, but what is it and how to FIX it?…

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What Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

What Breaks

Years to Avoid

3rd Generation Ram 3500 Key Numbers

  1. 7 model years

    Grouping all models by their year can reveal some baddies.

  2. 358 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  3. 39th in reliability

    Overall reliability rank out of 54 eligible generations.

Recent 3rd Generation Ram 3500 News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. When the engine is running, your vehicle's alternator helps charge the battery and supplies additional power to the vehicle's electrical systems.

    But for 86,000 Dodge Ram (and RAM) trucks it's also supplying something else – electrical shorts and fires. #notafeature

    "Fiat-Chrysler (FCA) says the problem occurs with the alternator near maximum amperage in hot temperatures, conditions more likely to be experienced with corporate fleet vehicles compared to typical consumer driving."…

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  2. J

    ust a few days after switching its name, FCA US is issuing a massive recall for 3.3 million older vehicles with Takata airbag inflators.** The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been not-so-subtly suggesting automakers ditch regional recalls and expand nationwide. It looks like FCA US has listened.

    FCA US says it's aware of one injury related to exploding Takata airbag inflators, but that incident occurred in Florida. The automaker said there have been no other reports of accidents or injuries. In addition, FCA US says over 1,000 laboratory tests have been conducted on airbag inflators but no problems were discovered.

    The recalled vehicles include the 2004-2007 Dodge Ram 1500 / 2500 / 3500 / 3500 Chassis Cab, Durango, Charger, Magnum, and Dakota.

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  3. Dodge is part of a new recall of Takata airbag inflators in over 350,000 vehicles.

    The recall is currently limited to areas of high humidity, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

    Chrysler says the vehicles have passenger frontal airbag inflators that are different from other metal Takata inflators used by other automakers. Chrysler says it has received no reports of accidents or injuries and even after laboratory tests on 600 inflators, none of the inflators were defective.

    Recall notices should be sent out around January 15th of next year.

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