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Dodge RAM 2500 sudden acceleration problems

26 of the 6,440 owner complaints about the Dodge RAM 2500 describe sudden unintended acceleration, most of them for the 2004 model year.

owner complaints
26
worst model year
2004
typical mileage
120,000
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below

By model year

  • 2011
    1
  • 2008
    1
  • 2007
    3
  • 2006
    1
  • 2005
    2
  • 2004
    5
  • 2003
    4
  • 2002
    1
  • 1999
    3
  • 1998
    2
  • 1997
    1
  • 1995
    2

What owners say

Filed Jan 30, 2021 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 135,000 miles · NJ

On a 35mph street, truck suddenly bucking as if it was going to stall, and the RPM's were erratic. I put it in n pulled over and shut it off. It restarted with no issues. I drove about 9 miles, pulled into my driveway and was coasting up it, when suddenly the truck accelerated. I depressed the brake, nothing. I slammed it in park and shut it off. It happened a few times while idling, or moving at a slow rate. I was stopped at a light when it suddenly accelerated into a 50mph, 4 lane main thoroughfare. I stepped on parking brake, turned it off and thanked god that I was unharmed. I started back up, put it in d, depressed the gas pedal (light turned green) and it would not accelerate. I took my foot off the gas, then it bucked a few times and accelerated on it's own. I depressed the brake pedal, but it kept revving up and accelerating. Again, I depressed the emergency brake and shut it off. It just happened again as I was coming up my suburban 35mph street. I got to approximately 20mph when it wouldn't accelerate further. I bucked and choked, RPM's jumping up and down the last 100 yards. I turned into my driveway at an idling rate and it took off like a shot. I pressed the brake and it still kept accelerating. If I hadn't turned the wheel, I would have driven through my garage. This is not an isolated incident. I suffer from idiopathic cardiomyopathy and ckd, these incidents have caused me to be unable to breathe as my heart was beating so fast. This must be addressed immediately!

Filed Sep 22, 2017 · Acceleration, Electrical · 195,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge ram 2500. While operating the vehicle, both the high beam and low beam headlights would not illuminate. Also, the rear driver's side window would not operate due to damaged electrical wires located in the driver side door panel. The contact indicated that the wires became damaged by opening and closing the doors. In addition, while at a stop light, the vehicle momentarily experienced unintended acceleration. The cause of the failures was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer (jerry wood dodge in salisbury, nc) and the manufacturer were notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 195,000.

Filed May 12, 2017 · Acceleration, Brakes · 140,000 miles · TX · crash

Sudden loss of braking while approaching intersection; the brake pedal just went to the floor when applying approximately two hundred feet before intersection; applied emergency brake to effectively stop;speed was below 30 MPH when approaching intersection and brake loss occurred; truck has also had four "death wobble" experiences even with pittman arm and associated parts replacement; two experiences of sudden acceleration (possible jammed open throttle) of the turbo, leading to loss of control; sudden accelerations occurred shortly after cruise control usage and traveling less than 30 MPH; while stationary, vehicle has experienced wiring harness short and fire on firewall while connected to trailer. Pictures attached were taken within 12 hours of sudden loss of brakes.

Filed Mar 8, 2017 · Acceleration, Engine · 141,044 miles · AZ

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge ram 2500. While attempting to make a u-turn, the vehicle lost acceleration. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road, turned the vehicle off, waited a few minutes, and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle operated normally. The check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact also stated that the vehicle suddenly accelerated while at a traffic light. The dealer diagnosed that the throttle position sensor needed replacement. The contact also stated that the vehicle was repaired four times for the same failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired again. The approximate failure mileage was 141,044.

Filed Feb 13, 2016 · Acceleration · 223,000 miles · MN

I was letting my 2003 dodge ram 2500 cummins warm up in the driveway when RPM suddenly jump to 3000 for a couple of seconds after that I left to go to work I was driving down a city street going 30 miles an hour after the transmission shifted into 3rd gear the truck automatically accelerated as if I was pushing full throttle and then let off when I hit the brakes, then I had no throttle response I pulled over shut the truck off started it back up and then had throttle response again the check engine light was now on. On my way to autozone to get my codes read it did it one more time where it accelerated by itself I hit the brakes and it stopped accelerating and after that I lost throttle control as in a "dead pedal". This is a huge safety concern if you're coming up to a stop sign or stop light as the truck may accelerate on its own into a bystander or another automobile. I think recall action needs to be taken place

Filed Apr 3, 2015 · Acceleration, Brakes · 137,000 miles · IL · crash · 2 injuries

Tl* the contact owned a 2005 dodge ram 2500. While driving approximately 75 MPH and while applying the brakes to slow down, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a construction site. The driver suffered a neck injury and the front passenger suffered a fractured sternum and injuries to the right foot and left lung. Medical assistance was required and a police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 137,000.

Filed Feb 4, 2015 · Acceleration, Engine · 225,000 miles · NH

I own a 2004 dodge ram 2500 diesel with a automatic transmission. This occurred on two occasions the first was on saturday 1/31/2015 and the second on monday 2/2/2015. I had just pulled out of my shop when the engine suddenly accelerated at extreme high speed, I slammed on the brakes immediately however as one can imagine the response time and/or the capacity of the braking system was limited due to the high torque of the engine. Non-the-less I was fortunate not to have any other vehicle in my vicinity. This same scenario occur two more time on my way home which is about 4 miles from my shop. The check engine light came on at the time of the first occurrence. I let the truck sit for a couple days, however needed to plow out from a large snowstorm. Upon restarting the truck, the check engine light was off and everything was back to normal. Things changed approximately a half hour into plowing when the sudden acceleration occurred once again and this time within inches of ending up in the drainage ditch at the end of my driveway. It occurred two more times as I was completing the plowing. Also, out of the blue it would idle down with no response when I depressed the accelerator, then after a moment or two it would respond. During the idle the voltage meter would drop to just about zero. I did find some references to the apps (accelerator pedal position sensor) on the web, however when I checked in with my local dealer they stated that they had no recall notice on this. After experiencing this, there is no doubt in my mind that this is quite a serious matter and should be looked into. This situation could easily cause injury or death. I have forty years of driving experience and have never encountered anything of this sort before. I will be taking the vehicle to the dealership, however I feel quite strongly that this should be covered under a recall.

Filed Nov 18, 2014 · Engine, Fuel system · 123,000 miles · ID

I was driving my 2004 dodge ram 2500 5.9 diesel truck to work during rush hour morning traffic at approximately 25 MPH when the check engine light came on and a few seconds later the truck suddenly accelerated on its own to about 3500rpms. The roads were iced over from a previous snow storm. Due to the sudden acceleration on the ice, the rear tires broke traction and started sliding sideways before I could react to the sudden acceleration. I immediately applied the brakes with no results. Truck continued to slide sideways into the oncoming lane of traffic when as sudden as the acceleration happened, the rpms dropped down to an idle and I was able to get the truck under control. Luckily, there were no other vehicles in the oncoming lane. Dealership has truck now and is telling me the fault code indicates a bad acceleration pedal position sensor. If there would have been any vehicles in the oncoming lane of traffic at the time the truck accelerated on its own, it would have absolutely caused an accident and could have killed someone. I have never felt so panicked when the truck took off on its own. I cannot describe the feeling of helplessness I felt when this happened. If it hasn't happened already, this will certainly, at some point cause a tragic accident with the loss of life if not addressed immediately. I have read several online blogs where this seems to be an issue in other 2004 dodge ram 2500 5.9 diesel trucks. These trucks need to be recalled immediately and parts re-designed to not allow a sudden increase in acceleration.

Filed Aug 27, 2014 · Transmission · 50,000 miles · ND

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 dodge ram 2500. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle with the transmission in gear with the clutch engaged, the vehicle suddenly surged forward. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the clutch safety switch had failed and the entire clutch slave cylinder assembly would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000. Updated 10/23/14

Filed Jul 15, 2013 · Steering, Suspension · 120,000 miles · NE

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 dodge ram 2500. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH the front end and the steering wheel lunged forward and shook uncontrollably. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the front and rear driver and passenger side tires, the upper and lower ball joints and the inner and outer tie rods. The failure continued to occur after the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

Related recalls

Vehicle speed controlReported February 5, 2003 · 19,500 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Certain pickup trucks, equipped with cummins diesel engines and manual transmissions, may experience an elevated idle speed after extended cruise control use.
Risk
This can result in unintended acceleration and a reduction in braking effectiveness, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will reprogram the software in the cummins engine controller. Owner notification began on march 10, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1‑800‑853‑1403.

Recall number 03V033000 · Recall details

Questions about the Dodge RAM 2500 sudden acceleration

Which Dodge RAM 2500 years have sudden unintended acceleration problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2004 (5 complaints), 2003 (4 complaints) and 1999 (3 complaints).

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