Dodge Ram Complaints (2003)

2,323 consumer complaints on file.

#10040777September 26, 2003
STRUCTURE
THE OUTSIDE HANDLE THAT WAS GENERALLY USED TO HELP GET INTO TRUCK UNEXPECTEDLY RELEASED. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER FELL TO THE GROUND AND INJURED HIS BACK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10037681September 23, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
FUEL IS LEAKING FROM A HIGH PRESSURE FITTING, AND MAY BE DRIPPING ON THE MANIFOLD OR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. CONSUMER FEELS THAT EVENTUALLY THIS WILL CAUSE A SERIOUS FIRE. *AK THIS WAS THE SECOND FUEL LEAK FROM THE FUEL INJECTOR SYSTEM. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039189September 20, 2003
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
MAJOR WATER LEAKAGE THROUGH THE HANDLES LOCATED ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOW FRAMES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039109September 18, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
DEFECTIVE ROTORS - 2003 DODGE RAM PICK-UPS THE BRAKES ON MY 2003 DODGE RAM P/U BEGAN VIBRATING AT AROUND 17,000 MI AND GOT VERY BAD TO THE POINT OF TAKING TO DEALER AT 21000 MILES. DEALER WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE KNOWN CUSTOMER PROBLEMS. THERE IS EXTENSIVE DOCUMENTATION ONLINE IN DODGE TRUCK OWNER SITES, ABOUT THIS COMMON PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038916September 15, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE TAKEN MY 2003 RAM 1500 QUAD CAB SLT WITH THE HEMI (MAGNUM 5.7L SMPL V8 BACK TO ALLEN SAMUELS DODGE IN KATY,TEXAS AT LEAST 3 OR 4 TIMES FOR A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN PUTTING IT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE,PLUS AT LEAST 3 TIMES I HAVE TOLD THEM THAT FOR NO REASON AT ALL I CAN PUT MY TRUCK IN GEAR AND IT STARTS TO SHUTTER AND WONT GO OVER 15 TO 20 MILES PER HOUR.THEY PUT A CO-PILOT IN MY TRUCK ON JUNE 23,2003 MY TRUCK DID NOT DO THE SHUTTERING THING BUT ONE TIME AND I PUSHED THE BUTTON AS TOLD.THE DEALERSHIP LISTED IT AS TRANSMISSION CONCERN(INTERMITIENT) ON AUGUST 26,2003 I WAS CALLED AND ASKED TO BRING BACK THE CO-PILOT CAUSE THEY NEEDED IT FOR ANOTHER CAR.I DID AND LAST NOGHT I WENT TO THE STORE AND WHEN I CAME OUT AND STARTED MY TRUCK PUT IT IN REVERSE IT STARTED SHUTTERING,PUT IT IN DRIVE AND AROUND 2000RPMS IN TRIED TO GO,I STOPPED PUT IT IN PARK TURN THE TRUCK OFF ,WAITED 2 MINUTES AND STARTED IT UP AGAIN,GOT 2 BLOCKS DOWN THE STREET AND IT SHUTTERED AND EVERYTHING JUST DIED,I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED.PUT IN PARK AGAIN AND STARTED IT AGAIN,MADE IT TO THE RED LIGHT AND WHEN I STARTED TO TURN ON ALDINE-WESTFIELD IT DID THE SAMETHING AGAIN,GOT INTO THE PARKING LOT AND PUT IT IN PARK AND STARTED IT AGAIN,GOT 2 BLOCKS FROM MY STREET IT DID IT AGAIN.FINALLY I GOT ON MY STREET AND HAD MY HUSBAND ON THE PHONE TELLING WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND HE SAID FLOOR IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS,I DID AND IT RAN NORMAL.WHEN I RETURNED THE CO-PILOT I WAS TOLD BY TWO SERVICE WRITERS THAT IT IS A COMPUTER SOFTWARE PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO FIX FOR IT.TO ME THIS IS SERIOUS CAUSE NOT ONLY AM I IN DANGER SO ARE THE OTHER PEOPLE AROUND ME AND OTHERS WHO ALSO OWN A TRUCK LIKE MINE.A FRIEND OF MINE WHO ALSO HAS THE SAME TRUCK SAID BETWEEN 5000 AND 6000 MILES IT WILL JUST DIE AND LEAVE ME STRANDED WHERE EVER I AM AT THAT TIME.CAN I MAKE DODGE PUT A NEW COMPUTER IN NOW AND KEEP ON GETTING AN NEW COMPUTER UNTIL THE SOFTWARE PROBLEM IS FIXED?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040229September 12, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
FUEL LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE'S FUEL INJECTION.*MR THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE TWICE. THIS MOTOR YEAR HAD UNDERGONE A REDESIGN OF THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FOR 2003 MODEL YEAR AND MAY HAVE A DESIGN FLAW WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. *PH *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039913September 12, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE IT GETS STUCK IN THE GEARS. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10034026September 12, 2003
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT FELL APART, THE DRIVER LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE STEERING SHAFT FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE PINCH BOLT FALLING OUT. *AK THE CONSUMER MAKING A RIGHT TURN TOWING A SMALL TRAILER WHEN THE STEERING SHAFT SEPARATED AND THE VEHICLE VEERED INTO THE DITCH. *SCC *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039695September 10, 2003
TIRES:TREAD/BELT, TIRES
THE TIRES ARE WEARING OUT AT AN UNUSUALLY FAST RATE.VEHICLE ONLY HAS 4000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, AND THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN VEHICLE HAD ONLY 500 MILES. THE CONSUMER IS A HOUSE BUILDER, AND DOES NOT DO ANYTHING UNUSUAL WITH THE VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039698September 10, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
BECAUSE OF ITS DESIGN, TAILGATE WHEN IT IS IN THE DOWN POSITION, IT FALLS COMPLETELY OFF ITS HINGE AND ONTO THE ROAD WHEN VEHICLE GOES OVER A PUMP.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037527September 9, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION ON A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 CUMMINS TURBO DIESEL HAS NO 4TH GEAR AND OVERDRIVE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037252September 4, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2003 DODGE CUMMINS HO PICKUP, I HAVE A NEW TRUCK THAT HAS AN INJECTOR THAT STICKS. IT HAS STUCK WIDE OPEN 4 TIMES, CLOSED TWO TIMES AND PARTIALLY OPEN MANY TIMES. WHEN IT STICKS WIDE OPEN THE KNOCK CAN BE HEARD THROUGH A VEHICLE WINDOW WITH AIR & RADIO RUNNING. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS A BLACK CLOUD OF SMOKE THAT IS SO THICK THAT THE SUN AND ROAD CANNOT BE SEEN. ON INTERSTATE 90 I STOPPED ALL TRAFFIC EAST & WEST WHEN IT HAPPENED. MY WIFE WAS FOLLOWING ME ON THE WAY HOME FROM KELLOGG ID TO ELLENSBURG WA. CUMMINS AGREES WITH ME THAT I HAVE A FAULTY INJECTOR; HOWEVER FAILURE DOES NOT SET ANY CODES IN THE COMPUTER. CONSEQUENTLY DODGE WILL NOT FIX IT. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES AND HAVE A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH BECAUSE THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THE TRUCKS COMPUTER DOES NOT RECORD THE INCIDENTS. I AM RUNNING WITH TWO TEMPERATURE INSTRUMENTS TO READ CYLINDER OUTLET TEMPERATURES WHEN IT HAPPENS AND CYLINDER SIX IS 10 TO 20% HIGHER THAN THE OTHER CYLINDERS. I AM TOLD I NEED TO DRIVE IT UNTIL I HAVE A TOTAL FAILURE. I FEEL THAT A FAILURE ON A CROWDED FREEWAY COULD VERY POSSIBLY CAUSE A MULTICAR ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES AND FATALITIES. MY DODGE CASE NUMBER IS 11579365 AND THEY HAVE A COMPLETE CASE FILE; HOWEVER THEY WILL DO NOTHING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037702August 27, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED OR WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER COULD SMELL GAS FUMES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037630August 26, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN ACCELERATING AT VARIOUS SPEED VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE, CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO CONSUMER. DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10034438August 25, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, DRIVER CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER SAID TO POP THE HOOD PUMP, THE PRIMER. VEHICLE STARTED 10 MINUTES LATER AND STALLED ON HIGHWAY, CONSUMER FEELS COULD HAVE BEEN T-BONED AS A RESULT OF ENGINE STALLING AND DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING.DEALER SAID FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED REPLACEMENT, AND WILL ONLY BE REPLACED ONE AT A TIME AS THEY FAIL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033108August 19, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
VEHICLE IS A 2003 DODGE 2500, SERIAL #X3G-790016 AND IT JUMPS FROM PARK INTO REVERSE. VEHICLE HAS APPROX 10,000 MILES AND THIS HAPPENED THE DAY BEFORE WE WERE TO LEAVE FOR ELLENSBURG, WA ON CENTRAL AVE IN GREAT FALLS AND THEN AGAIN IN ELLENSBURG AT A GOODWILL STORE PARKING LOT. I HAD A GOOD FRIEND KILLED BY THIS HAPPENING ON A FORD TRUCK SO AM VERY CONCERNED THAT IT BE TAKEN CARE OF. THE FRIEND WAS WOODROW MCCRACKEN IN THE LATE 60'S OR EARLY 70'S AT CONRAD, MT. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THE DEALER, BUT HAVE BEEN WAITING OVER A WEEK TO HEAR BACK FROM CHRYSLER LEGAL. ACCIDENT HAPPENED IN ELLENSBURG WA AND THE POLICE REPORT NUMBER IS E03=09377. IT WAS REPORTED TO MY INSURANCE (SAFECO) AND THAT CLAIM NUMBER IS #844587412007 JUST THINK THIS SHOULD BE REPORTED. DICK BROWN. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10031389August 15, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD AT TIMES, STALLED AND HESITATED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THIS HAPPENED WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. ON THREE OCCASIONS, VEHICLE HAD FAILED TO START. WHEN IT DID RESTART BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. *PH *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033812August 13, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, INTERMITTENTLY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP/ BRAKES FAILED, AND TURN SIGNAL WAS NOT WORKING. DEALER HAD INSPECTED VEHICLE 3 TIMES; FIRS T TIME BATTERY CABLE, SECOND TIME DEALER KEPT VEHICLE 1 DAY AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND THIRD TIME INSTALLED A MONITOR FOR TEN DAYS, AND STILL COULDN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM. (DEALER STATED THIS WA SAN ELECTRIC ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031082August 8, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
I PURCHASED A 2003 DODGE 2500 WITH THE SO CUMMINS' DIESEL ENGINE. I NOTICED THE STRONG SMELL OF DIESEL FUMES WHEN IDLING WITH THE FAN AND/OR AIR CONDITIONER ON. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE TRUCK ABOUT FORTY DAYS. I ASSUMED THE SMELL WAS BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS NEW. I NOTICED SMALL PLUMES OF OILY RESIDUE FORMING ON THE WINDSHIELD ABOVE THE AIR VENTS. I HAD THE TRUCK DETAILED AND THE INSIDE WINDSHIELD POLISHED. THE PLUMES APPEARED AGAIN AFTER SEVERAL DAYS. THEY ARE NOT WATER VAPOR BECAUSE THEY REMAIN ON THE WINDSHIELD AFTER THE TRUCK HAS BEEN PARKED FOR HOURS. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN INHALING RAW DIESEL FUMES FOR OVER A MONTH. THE TRUCK IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER'S SHOP IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THIS. HE HAS NO IDEA WHERE THE FUMES ARE COMING FROM. I DON'T THINK I WANT TO KEEP A NEW VEHICLE WHERE THE VENTILATION DUCTING IS SATURATED WITH DIESEL RESIDUE. IT HAS 1,955 MILES ON IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10031006August 7, 2003
EQUIPMENT
WHILE ENTERING THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE USING THE A-PILLAR GRAB HANDLE ASSEMBLY, THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY BROKE FREE FROM THE VEHICLE STRUCTURE. I FELL BACKWARDS ONTO THE PAVEMENT INJURING MY BACK AND LEFT SHOULDER. MY HEAD MISSED STRIKING A CONCRETE CURB BY MERE INCHES. THIS FAILURE CONSTITUTES A SERIOUS SAFETY CONDITION WITH A STRONG POSSIBILITY OF PERSONAL INJURY. THIS IS ALSO A LATENT DEFECT THAT IS UNABLE TO BE DETECTED BY THE CONSUMER UNTIL THE COMPONENT FAILS. MY INJURIES RESULTED IN TWO LOST-WORK DAYS, BUT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL IF MY HEAD HAD STRUCK THE CONCRETE CURBING MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY. THIS SAFETY CONDITION AFFECTS BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER A-PILLAR AND B-PILLAR GRAB HANDLE ASSEMBLIES (IF QUAD CAB) IN ALL DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS. AN INSPECTION OF THE COMPONENT SHOWED THAT THE ASSEMBLY IS HELD TO THE VEHICLE STRUCTURE WITH TWO 8MM BOLTS. THE BOLTS HAD PULLED-THROUGH THE PLASTIC MATERIAL OF THE ASSEMBLY. THERE IS NO METAL SUB-STRUCTURE WITHIN THE HANDLE ASSEMBLY TO PREVENT BOLT PULL-THROUGH FROM OCCURRING. IT SEEMS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT A MANUFACTURER WOULD DESIGN A COMPONENT TO BE USED AS A OCCUPANT WEIGHT BEARING DEVICE WITHOUT INSURING THAT THE COMPONENT IS DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND THE LOADS LIKELY TO BE PLACED UPON IT. BEST PRACTICES FOR GRAB HANDLES SHOULD ALWAYS INCORPORATE A METAL SUB-STRUCTURE INTO THEIR DESIGN. ON A SIDE NOTE, MY DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE REPLACEMENT COMPONENT IS ON NATIONAL BACK-ORDER WITH EVERY PARTS DEPOT HAVING FIFTEEN OR MORE PARTS ON ORDER. THIS WOULD INDICATE THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDE SPREAD, AND REQUIRES IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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