2004 Dodge RAM 2500: sudden loss of power

Filed Jan 14, 2019 · Brakes, Fuel system · 68,531 miles · WA

My truck is only used for towing a fifth wheel, thus the low mileage. On a trip, the truck stalled with no warning on the freeway, lost power, power brakes and power steering in the 2nd from right lane. I was barely able to pull it over and stop, in an unsafe area. 4 hrs later a tow for truck and 5th wheel was arranged. The tacoma dodge dealer replaced the lift fuel pump with an in tank lift fuel pump. Apparently the block mounted pump "always fails around 70k miles", which is what my truck has logged. The heat kills the pump. I paid $2106.47 for the repair. The new pump failed in less than 6 months or 2k miles. The everett dwayne lane dealer has the truck now for two weeks, and cannot get the warranted pump replaced for another 2 weeks due to back order from mopar. I believe the pump to be a defect causing extreme safety hazard, as no warning loss of power steering and brakes are affected. Seniors often drive rv's, many would not be able physically to handle the rig with this failure. Eventually a death will occur, and probably many already have that I am unware of. Recall should be immediate. Sincerely, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *cw

Filed Jan 11, 2014 · Engine · 90,000 miles · WY

The valve springs in the compression chambers go. As you are driving you suddenly lose power and compression is gone, I have had this happen twice now with 2 chambers each time being gone. It is a scary and dangerous situation. As I ow look to replace the engine after the most recent incident, what I am discovering is that the engines available are available because of the same issue. This seems to be a fairly widespread issue on this 5.7 litre, hemi engine.

Filed Jun 23, 2013 · Fuel system · 81,400 miles · WA

Lift pump failed during normal operation while traveling at highway speed. Lost all power to steering and brakes creating very difficult to control vehicle. Dealer would not replace failed part and instead put whole new pump assembly inside fuel tank. This means they know the current method of mounting on engine block is a design defect. Reviewed online and found other comments have a similar story. Since this is a re-engineering of the fuel delivery system that they know is defective and because losing fuel stops the engine creating an extreme hazard for such a large vehicle, dodge should be recalling trucks with this configuration immediately to prevent injury and remedy an obvious defective design. In my case, I have had the truck serviced with the same dealer since it was new and they never warned me about this, but clearly are aware of this problem.

Filed May 10, 2013 · Fuel system, Steering · 134,767 miles · TX

Traveling on hwy at 55 MPH when truck lost all power including power steering. No warning. Steered to side of hwy and stopped. Hwy was under construction and 50 more yards I would have been in middle of road because no shoulder with construction. Truck restarted, and I continued on because in rural area. Truck stopped again in middle of intersection in town about 2hrs later. Dealer could not look at it until next day, so I had to drive home (40 mi) and hope I made it. Brought it back next morning and told needed new lift pump and would keep it overnight. My dealer's service dept is great, and they gave me a ride home (40 mi). No option to install original pump of several hundred dollars. Had to install one in the fuel tank with cost of $1000. Several concerns. One, this seems to be an engineering defect since they now install the lift pump in the gas tank where it should have been all along. Two, they are making a nice sum to replace it and put it in the tank. Three, this is an urgent safety factor because when vehicle shuts down, there is no power steering. There are drop-offs with narrow shoulders (or no shoulder as in my case because of construction) along hwys in my area. I could very easily have gone over or down the side of one of our hills. Four, vehicle can lose power in the middle of an intersection when making a turn in front of oncoming traffic (as it did in my case). Five, there is no prior warning or way to check the potential of this happening. When this happened yesterday and I started researching, it was the first I had heard of it. My truck is serviced regularly by my dealer, and there is no test for this. It was a very scary situation on the hwy and in the middle of the intersection. The fact that I have had the truck for several yrs shows that eventually they will probably all fail and should be replaced before they do.

Filed Sep 15, 2011 · Body, Engine · 50,000 miles · CA

Ac does not blow cold on passenger side and freezes up losing power; took it to dealer under warranty on two occasions and they said they could "not duplicate complaint". I also have taken it to the dealer while under warranty and complained that the drivers door never seals properly and the wind noise is ridiculous! They said they heard nothing and "could not duplicate" my complaint. I have replaced the rubber door strip which did nothing. The dash board cracked while under warranty and the dealer said that I would have to pay $600 even under warranty. Online you can find that dodge clearly had a resin problem for several years causing their plastics to crack prematurely. I have looked online for all of these issues and there are numerous complaints out there for the same problems. No I have no warranty and still all the same issues.

Filed Aug 11, 2011 · Steering · 102,000 miles · NY

Oil seal on pitman shaft on steering box gave way suddenly spraying engine with oil and causing loss of power steering. Upon inspection, it was noted that the bearing on the pitman shaft had failed. This must be a common problem as even the dealer couldn't find a steering box!!

Filed Feb 17, 2011 · Fuel system · 60,048 miles · WA

Fuel lift pump is failing; truck will lose power on freeway and may not start. Dodge has not instituted a recall but should asap.

Filed Aug 23, 2010 · Fuel system · 54,008 miles · WI

While exiting a highway off ramp at highway speeds (60-65mph) truck died with no warning or alarms in a curve. I lost all power steering and most braking. As I approached near edge of embankment with no steering or rapid braking, I was able to refire motor for about 5 seconds which gave me power steering back and I was able to avert going off of a steep embankment, and avoided accident. After towing to local dealership it was determined that my fuel lift pump had failed. Dodge has been aware of these problems for sometime with these trucks. Repair was over 700 dollars. Truck had around 54k miles.

Filed Feb 24, 2008 · Fuel system · 80,000 miles · MO

The truck lost power on the on-ramp to a freeway, two days later it died in the middle of the highway and I had to push it off the road. Took it into the shop and it indicated a lift-pump failure. When it was repaired (under warranty - I had to pay the deductible and the computer upgrade fee) the dealership put in what they told me was a "mandatory" retro-kit, moving the lift-pump from the firewall into the fuel tank. If they are making modifications when they repair under warranty shouldn't this be a recall? I noticed that it is a recall for fire-trucks, ambulances and etc... So it should be a recall for regular trucks too.

Filed Nov 14, 2006 · Fuel system · 114,000 miles · TX

I was driving on interstate 20 in a 2004 dodge 2500 diesel pickup at 70 MPH when, as I found out later, the lift pump went out leaving me with no power and no warning, with the truck immediately slowing with loss of power steering. I was in the left lane passing a line of trucks at the time with a line of traffic behind me. One of the trucks that I was passing saw the trouble, slowed and allowed me to cut through to the right shoulder, avoiding an accident. I later found out from dealership personnel that this part has a history of going out and that the factory will not allow the part to be replaced but requires a retro fit of a different system to solve the problem. There was no notification of the problem from dodge warning of this possibility. They will not even acknowledge that this part is a problem even though they will not allow dealerships to replace it. It would appear that someone will have to die to get anything done. If this continues to happen , with no warning, I feel certain that someone surely will. If this part has this type of failure, that appears to be well known to them, then it should be recalled and fitted with the retrofit.

Filed Jan 7, 2006 · Engine · 26,300 miles · WA

2004 dodge ram 2500 hemi stall w/loss of power steering and brakes. My truck was bought new from hood river dodge, oregon, and has been in for repair because of the engine dying right after accelerating from a stop with loss of power steering and braking. They have had it 9 times starting last april and it has happened 12 times. Most of the time in the middle of an intersection and one on a narrow interstate bridge. There are numerous reports on the web of this happening all across the country with 2004 and some 2005 dodge ram trucks and some durangos equipped with the hemi engine. Dealer has worked with daimler chrysler tech's and engineers to no avail. Dealer says it is chrysler problem and they need to come up with fix. I have contacted the dodge consumer line, 800‑992‑1997, 9 times. They prompted me to send in card in " owner's rights under state lemon laws" booklet and I was called on 11/10/05 and told they received the card and would contact me in 7-10 days. I have not been called back so I called 800# again and they said it was in the hands of there zone office, [xxx] ext [xxx], where I left a message on 12/22/05. I have also filed 3 the federal safety agency safety complaints. When I asked the daimler rep named [xxx], id [xxx], on 12/22/05 to speak to a supervisor she told me that they did not talk to customers. When I became irate she put me on hold and a man named [xxx] came on and gave me the info about the zone office, what is daimler chrysler and the federal safety agency waiting for people to be injured or killed before reacting? I have left messages twice at the zone office and they will not return my calls. *nm information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Sep 25, 2005 · Engine · 21,122 miles · WA

Making right turn onto narrow interstate bridge engine died with loss of power steering and braking. This is 9th time it has happened and has been to the dealer 7 times and about 5000 miles ago dealer replaced computer. Almost was rear-ended and almost drove into oncoming traffic. There have been complaints like this all over the country with the hemi engine. When is the gov't. Going to act before someone is killed. Dodge is ignoring the severity of the situation.