A Dodge Ram 1500 is a fantastic full-size pickup truck that serves tons of different purposes and drivers. That being said, no vehicles are exempt from possible issues like the Dodge Ram 1500 idle problems that have been reported.
What are some common Dodge Ram 1500 idle problems?
There are a couple of possible idle issues you may have with your Dodge Ram:
- Rough idle/Cold start
- Random idle fluctuation
For the most part, many of the reported issues in terms of idle problems for the Dodge Ram 1500 are for older models. It is still useful however to look at these idle issues, even if you have a newer model, just to make yourself aware and to possibly spot these problems if they pop up.
About the Dodge Ram 1500
The Dodge Ram 1500 is a full-size pickup truck that was first introduced to the world as the Ram D100 in 1989.
The Dodge Ram is currently in its fifth generation of production and holds a five-star safety rating and is one of the most popular Dodge trucks on the market today.
That does not absolve it entirely from problems, however. There are some issues with both the current Dodge Ram in terms of idling as well as issues with older models.
Reported Idling Issues with Older Dodge Ram 1500s:
NHTSA Complaint ID: 10015802
This issue is one of the things that cause a rough idle. This was issued as a service bulletin with Dodge for the vehicle having a rough idle and a cold start. This was an issue with the Dodge Ram 1500 for the year 2004.
NHTSA Complaint ID: 10015058
This issue related to the idle fluctuation in vehicles. The idle was said to go up and down with no real reason why and this caused the check engine light to come on in several vehicles.
NHTSA Complaint ID: 10021685
This complaint has to do with the engine off idle speed limit. This works to protect the turbocharger and does cause some issues with high idling.
NHTSA Complaint ID: 10033546
This complaint has to do with the fuel control actuator. This causes the engine to surge when the engine is idling.
Current Issues with Idling in Your Dodge Ram 1500
The problems discussed earlier are all problems that were reported for older models of the Ram 1500. There are still complaints circulating about the issues with idling for the current Dodge Ram 1500.
The main complaint is that the Dodge Ram 1500 does tend to have a rather rough idle. This can be caused by a few different things. The first is spark plug issues.
When a car idles, the spark plugs are continually drawing power from the engine to keep the internal combustion process going. When the spark plugs are old, cracked or corroded, they are not going to be able to effectively keep the process going which can lead to a rough or bumpy idle.
Another problem you may be dealing with is a vacuum leak. The air and fuel mixture are not correct which can again lead to a rough idle or a fast idle as well. The last possible cause of idling issues is the ignition coil.
If your ignition coil is bad, it is not going to be able to deliver a high enough voltage to keep the engine going. This can lead to a rough idle and it can also lead to the engine stalling.
How Do I Find out About Problems with My Dodge Ram 1500?
If you have a Dodge Ram, or any vehicle for that matter, it is easy to find out what type of problems have been commonly reported and any possible recalls.
You can do a quick check of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration site to see if there are any formally filed recalls, and you can also check on filed complaints for that make and model of vehicle.
Taking the time to do a VIN number check can help uncover a great deal of information about your vehicle and any possible problems or recalls that might exist.
