Dodge Ram Complaints (2003)

2,323 consumer complaints on file.

#10747757August 11, 2015
STEERING
THIS VEHICLE'S STEERING BEGAN RESONANT OSCILLATION AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE IN THE PAVEMENT. IN ORDER TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, I HAD TO SLOW TO AROUND 30 MPH BEFORE THE OSCILLATION SUBSIDED. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DODGE DEALERSHIP'S SHOP FOR SEVEN MONTHS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE. MOST OF THE FRONT END PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, AND THE ISSUE PERSISTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10747849August 11, 2015
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10747833August 11, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V312000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10747871August 11, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, VISIBILITY/WIPER, AIR BAGS
THE WINDSHIELD APPEARS WEAK HAVING MANY POCK MARKS IN IT. THIS CAUSES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO NEED TO BE REPLACED OFTEN. THE DASH IS SEVERELY CRACKED AND WE ARE AFRAID THAT THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO RUPTURE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE (BESIDES THE FACT THAT IT IS COMING APART).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10747920August 11, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V312000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V770000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10748394August 10, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UNFORCED CRACKING AND DISINTEGRATION OF PLASTIC DASH RESULTED IN SMALL PLASTIC PARTS PROJECTING FROM DEFROSTER VENTS PRESENTING A HAZARD TO DRIVING VISIBILITY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10747536August 10, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DASHBOARD CRACKING IN 2011 MY TRUCKS DASH BEGAN TO CRACK AND I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP IN EVERETT, WASHINGTON FOR REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT DODGE KNEW THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. IT HAS SINCE CONTINUED TO CRACK BUT NOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT HAS FALLEN APART HOWEVER DUE TO THE RECENT PASSENGER AIRBAG RECALL MY DASH WILL BE DESTROYED IN THE REPAIR PROCESS I WILL BE REQUIRED TO PURCHASE A NEW DASH OUT OF POCKET WHICH IS BULL AS DODGE KNOWS THEY HAVE A SAFETY ISSUE ON THEIR HANDS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10747585August 10, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V770000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V312000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10746686August 6, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V312000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS TOLD THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT THE DEALER ON A DAILY BASIS TO CHECK FOR AVAILABILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10746380August 5, 2015
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINTS, THE STEERING LINKAGE, AND THE FRONT TIE ROD ENDS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V528000 (STEERING) AND 09E001000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,164. UPDATED 11/12/15*LJ *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10746517August 5, 2015
STEERING, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY IN CHICAGO IN HEAVY, HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE DROVE THROUGH A SMALL POTHOLE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE \ WOBBLE VIOLENTLY FROM THE FRONT END AND CAUSE IMPOSSIBLE STEERING. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS SHAKING \ WOBBLE WAS TO IMMEDIATELY SLOW DOWN TO BELOW 20 MPH CROSSING 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC INTO THE SOFT SHOULDER. IT HAS BEEN REPLICATED MULTIPLE TIMES FROM SPEEDS OF 40 MPH AND UP. AFTER TAKING THIS VEHICLE, A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 QUAD CAB, 5.7 ENGINE, STOCK WITH ALL CURRENT RECALLS UP TO DATE (EXCEPT THE AIR BAG RECALL WHICH NO ONE HAS PARTS FOR), TO MULTIPLE REPAIR SHOPS AND DODGE DEALERSHIPS, NO EXACT CAUSED HAS BEEN LOCATED INCLUDING FCA (DODGE) STATING THERE IS NO ISSUE. THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS HAVE BEEN SPENT ON THIS IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM AS IT CANNOT BE RESOLVED YET. THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN ABOUT ISSUE IN THESE VEHICLES, COMMONLY REFEREED TO AS THE "DODGE DEATH WOBBLE" AS I HAVE FOUND OUT. FCA AND NHTSA NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO RESOLVE THIS MAJOR ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10746063August 4, 2015
STEERING, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING IN SNOW AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO GUARD RAILS. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END, PASSENGER, AND REAR END DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE GEAR INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. AN ALARM SYSTEM WAS APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE TO ALERT THE DRIVER OF INDEPENDENT GEAR CHANGES, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO OPERATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10744988July 30, 2015
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, VISIBILITY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE DOORS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FAILED TO OPEN. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE WINDOWS AND THE LOCKS WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING UP TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO FURTHER DETAILS OF THE CRASH WERE PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10745062July 30, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY BRAKE LIGHTS IS STAYING ON, WHILE THE TRUCK IS CRANK UP. 3RD BARKE LIGHT WORKING FINE. AS SOON, I SHUT THE. TRUCK OFF BRAKE LIGHTS GOES OFF. TAKE THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR AWHILE AND CAME RIGHT BACK. SO, I ORDER TWO NEW BRAKE LIGHT CONTROL PANEL FROM THE DEALERSHIP PROBLEM AGAIN WENT AWAY. NOW IT'S BACK AGAIN. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD EVERYBODY THINKING, I'M RIDING MY BRAKES. WHEN, I DO COME TO A STOP IT WON'T LIGHT UP TOO WARN DRIVERS BEHIND ME. THAT, I"M STOPPING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10745110July 30, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2003 DODGE2500 STARTED CRACKING WITH NOTHING EVER TOUCHING IT. PIECES OF MY DASH ARE NOW FALLING INTO MY UNDER COMPARTMENT FROM INTERSECTING CRACKS. I'VE NEVER SEEN A DASHBOARD DO THAT IN MY LIFE. MY FEAR NOW IS THAT IF I GET IN AN ACCIDENT THAT SHARDS OF PLASTIC MAY BE THROWN EVERYWEAR. OR THAT THE RECALL OF THE AIR BAG IN THIS MODEL MAY GO OFF THROWING SHARDS OF PLASTIC EVERYWHERE AS WELL. THIS TRUCK WAS OVER 30,000 DOLLARS , YOU WOULD THINK DODGE COULD GIVE YOU A DASHBOARD THAT DIDN'T DISINTEGRATE FOR THAT MUCH MONEY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10744098July 28, 2015
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE HUB ASSEMBLY DETACHED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE HUB ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED. UPDATED 09/18/15*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10744233July 28, 2015
WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V312000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V770000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT MADE AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10744223July 28, 2015
STEERING, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
AS WITH MANY OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2003 DODGE RAM 3500'S THIS RAM 3500 HAS HAD ALL SUGGESTED STEERING COMPONENT UPGRADES AND RECALL UPGRADES (CHANGE STEERING TO 2008 STEERING) AND THE TIE ROD RECALL FOR THE 2008 STEERING. THE 2008 STEERING UPGRADE SEEMED TO EXACERBATE THE TIRE WEAR ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, BALL JOINTS AND SHOCKS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE RAM DEATH WOBBLE AND EXCESSIVE TIE WEAR IS STILL PRESENT. THE LAST SET OF TIRES LASTED 8,000 MILES (I AM PUTTING A NEW SET ON TODAY). THE TIRE WEAR ON MY LAST TRIP OF ONLY 360 MILES WAS VERY NOTICEABLE - SO MUCH SO A TRIP OF 1,000 MILES OR MORE WOULD HAVE CAUSED DANGEROUS TIRE WEAR AND POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. DODGE HAS TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY ONLY SKIMMING OVER THE ISSUE WITH MINOR FIXES. AS A RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MILES OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE - THE STEERING AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR IS UNSAFE. SINCE I AM GETTING NEW TIRES AND AN ALIGNMENT TODAY - I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TRACK MILEAGE, DRIVING CONDITIONS, NOTE STEERING ISSUES, AND PHOTOGRAPH TIRE WEAR - IF YOU WISH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10744331July 28, 2015
VISIBILITY/WIPER, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER FAILED TO OPERATE WHENEVER ACTIVATED. THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM WOULD NOT CIRCULATE THE AIR FLOW PROPERLY THROUGH THE ENTIRE AIR VENTS WHENEVER ACTIVATED. ALSO, THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NOT BLOW THE CORRECT DESIRED TEMPERATURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THAT THE ACTUATOR MOTORS, HEATER CORE AND FLAP DOOR ACTUATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10744423July 28, 2015
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY AND BECAME LOOSE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD BALL STUD FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD BALL STUD ASSOCIATED WITH THE STEERING LINKAGE ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS LATER NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V528000 (STEERING) AND 15V312000 (AIR BAGS), BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 325,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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