My 2005 Dodge 1500 Ram truck broke down on the side of the road and it was determined that the Driveshaft fell off. Once it arrived at Wilson Motors, the representative told me the vehicle broke due to a nut and bolt that held the driveshaft onto the rear axle. This faulty issue was known by Dodge and there was a recall (the federal safety agency Recall Number14V-796) on these parts in December of 2014. I was not the original owner of the vehicle and was not aware of the recall as I bought the truck in 2021. No attempt to contact me was made by Dodge to provide me information on the recall. The parts to do the recall are obsolete and Dodge insists they have no responsibility in fixing the vehicle, even though the parts are well known to Dodge as being defective. The nut and bolt was the proximate cause of the extensive damage to driveshaft where a new driveshaft is needed. Due to the fact that the recalled parts are the culprit, I am asking Dodge to repair the vehicle to working condition or at least total out my truck and pay me out. I would expect Dodge to stand by their product when they provide a defective product to their consumers. Could you please advise me if I have any legal standing to get Dodge to pay for this?
2005 Dodge RAM 1500 transmission problems
595 complaints (51% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 111,081. 26 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 595
- of this car's complaints
- 51%
- typical mileage
- 111,081
- crashes
- 26
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
- Driveline: driveshaft14
- Automatic transmission10
- Driveline: differential unit8
- Axle assembly5
- Automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)5
- Driveline4
- Transfer case (4-wheel drive)1
- Manual transmission: lubricant1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Dodge RAM 1500 transmission problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2005 Dodge RAM 1500 transmission
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Power train: driveline: differential unit
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 14V796000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Rear Differential Failure
On December 16, 2014, Chrysler Group LLC submitted a Safety Recall Report to the federal safety agency describing a defect in the rear differential of approximately 256,956 model year (MY) 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup trucks (the federal safety agency Recall No. 14V‑796, Chrysler Recall No. P77).Chrysler's letter states that: 1) some of the recalled vehicles may have been built with an axle pinion nut that can loosen, due to an undersized spline on the pinion gear; and 2) a loose pinion may cause the rear axle to seize and/or the driveshaft to separate, resulting in the loss of vehicle control and/or a crash with little warning.The one crash and injury noted in Chrysler's Safety Recall Report is from a the federal safety agency complaint documented in Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) 10508200.This complaint describes an incident in which the rear end of the truck locked up and skidded into a culvert, resulting in a head injury to the driver (concussion).ODI's failure counts in this resume do not include vehicles with evidence of previous repair or maintenance work that required removal of the pinion.Chrysler's recall remedy procedure will add a retention feature to the pinion nut on all affected vehicles.This investigation is closed based on Chrysler's recall.
PE14019
Engine stall
Analysis of the complaint, field report and warranty data shows that the majority of stalling incidents in the subject vehicles appear to be related to the engine calibration concerns that daimlerchrysler addressed with service bulletins releasing revised PCM software.analysis of the complaints and odi's survey of owners of vehicles that received engine management software updates under tsb #18-013-05 show that these stalling incidents have the following characteristics: - they occur at low speeds, often during parking lot ordriveway maneuvers; - they occur during decelerations, such as braking for a stop sign or traffic signal; and - the operator is almost always able to immediately restart the vehicle.when compared with other safety defect investigations and recalls of conditions that result in stalling during low-speed deceleration with immediate engine restart possible, the failure rate in the subject vehicles is low.analyses of complaint and warranty data also show a declining trend.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.see document file for additional information regarding this resume.
EA05018
What 2005 Dodge RAM 1500 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The truck broke down on the side of the road and it was determined that the Driveshaft fell off. Once it arrived at Wilson Motors, the representative told me the vehicle broke due to a nut and bolt that held the driveshaft onto the rear axle. This faulty issue was known by Dodge and there was a recall on these parts in 2014. I was not the original owner of the vehicle and was not aware of the recall as I bought the truck in 2021. No attempt to contact me was made by Dodge to provide me information on the recall. The parts to do the recall are obsolete and Dodge insists they have no responsibility in fixing the vehicle, even though the parts are well known to Dodge as being defective. The nut and bolt was the proximate cause of the extensive damage to driveshaft where a new driveshaft is needed. Due to the fact that the recalled parts are the culprit, I am asking Dodge to repair the vehicle to working condition or at least total out my truck and pay me out. I would expect Dodge to stand by their product when they provide a defective product to their consumers.
The contact owns a 2005 DODGE RAM 1500. The contact stated while getting the vehicle's state inspection done, the contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 15V313000 (AIR BAGS), of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS), and the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V796000 (POWER TRAIN) however, the contact stated that he had reached out to a dealer, but they decline to service the vehicle due to not having the remedy available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 216,600.
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V796000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for the recall repair. During inspection, the dealer determined that there was additional damage to the differential, and the parts for the repair were on backorder. The dealer informed the contact that the differential oil was contaminated and there was no coverage for the additional repairs. The manufacturer was contacted and was able to expedite the parts, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 238,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the rear wheels locked up and the vehicle abruptly stopped unintendedly. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear drive shaft had separated from the rear axle. The contact was aware of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V796000 (Power Train). The contact was advised by the dealer that the parts were no longer manufactured. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact back to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, there were abnormal sounds coming from the rear end of the vehicle, and the driveshaft intermittently locked. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The contact was concerned that the vehicle was unsafe to drive to a dealer because there was no local dealer. A dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V796000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
I took my vehicle in for the recall on Sept 22,2025 and on Friday my rear end went out on my way home from work. On my recall receipt it's states they replaced the pinion nut, but after dropping my driveshaft I noticed the pinion nut was never replaced. I have spoke to the service manager 1 time and now he won't return my phone calls .
[XXX] was on my way home noticed rear differential making a noise slowed down to 20-30 mph to prepare to pull of the hwy rear differential locked up pinion nut came loose and driveshaft fell out had it towed home called had an appointment set up at Steve jones in Dickson Tennessee to have the recall fixed. 1 1/2 month later dealership calls and advise me to call customer care because they couldn’t get the parts to fix the vehicle I called customer care they told me I would have to supply the 2 parts to fix the vehicle because they were discontinued I confirmed with the dealership they confirmed said if I supplied the parts they would fix the vehicle I ordered the parts took to dealership then was told the manager over corporate said to not fix the vehicle now dealership says corporate is going to to do a buy out and crush the vehicle I explained to them that is not acceptable it has been almost 5 months with no resolution and vehicle still setting at the dealership is there anything that could be done to get these recalls fixed INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Rear differential locked up while driving at approximately 30 mph, causing the vehicle to come to a stop and unable to move. Luckily the failure happened on a road with little traffic so no accident occurred and other drivers were not put at risk. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to failure. Inspection revealed broken gears and pins in the rear differential. There was a recall (P77) for this model year truck for what appears to be the same problem. The recall repair work was performed in 2019 and the truck has been driven approximately 20,000 miles since the repair. The FCA recall line told me to have the truck towed to a dealer to get a diagnosis and repair estimate, but after the tow was complete the recall line said since more than 2 years had passed since the recall repair work, the repair warranty had expired and nothing would be covered, regardless of diagnosis. The broken parts are still available for review if needed.
Vehicle brought in for recall repairs on March 18, 2024. Recalls R25 and N43 were completed. Recall P77 failed inspection. Dealer parts not available. Was asked by service advisor if ok to use aftermarket parts. I agreed. Service advisor needed approval from district rep before continuing. I was then told by service advisor that vehicle was safe to drive as long as I drove it easy. His comment, “Its lasted this long, you will be ok. Just dont pull any trailers.” Was asked to wait a week for district rep to return from vacation. I took the truck home and did not drive it after reading the P77 recall info. The truck is not safe to drive with a loose rear axle pinion nut. I returned the truck on 4/8/2024 for repairs to be completed. The dealer will not communicate with me unless I initiate communication. There is no information on parts being ordered or work being scheduled. It is now 4/29/2024 and no action from the dealer. I have asked to speak with the Service Manager and no reply.
Questions about the 2005 Dodge RAM 1500 transmission
Does the 2005 Dodge RAM 1500 have transmission problems?
Owners have filed 595 complaints about the transmission of the 2005 Dodge RAM 1500, 51% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2005 Dodge RAM 1500 transmission problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 111,081 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Dodge RAM 1500 transmission?
Yes, 1 recall: 14V796000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Dodge RAM 1500 have bad transmission?
The Dodge RAM 1500 model years with the most transmission complaints are 2005 (595 complaints), 2009 (231 complaints) and 2010 (229 complaints).
Other 2005 Dodge RAM 1500 problems
Airbags 376Engine 153Suspension 82Electrical 63Steering 59Brakes 40Fuel system 40Visibility 37Wheels 32Body 24Lights 22Acceleration 17Tires 12Driver assistance 9Seats 8Locks 6Seat belts 4
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2005 Dodge RAM 1500?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history