Dodge Ram Complaints (2003)

2,323 consumer complaints on file.

#10294352December 3, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GRAB HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BROKE AND HIT THE PASSENGER IN THE FACE. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE FACE; HOWEVER, THE OCCUPANT WAS NOT TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTY RELATED TO THE GRAB HANDLE. THE CONTACT REFUSED TO PURCHASE THE REPLACEMENT GRAB HANDLE DUE TO THE COST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DODGE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10294322December 2, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT, STEERING
2003 DODGE 2500 4X4 WOBBLES AFTER HITTING A BUMP AT 70MPH. THIS HAPPENS ONLY AT THIS SPEED AND WHEN YOU DRIVE OVER A BRIDGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294165December 1, 2009
STRUCTURE
THE DASH OF MY 2003 DODGE 1500 TRUCK DEVELOPED A SMALL CRACK. I THOUGHT THIS WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. AFTER A FEW MONTHS THE ENTIRE DASH IS CRACKING WITH PIECES LODGED IN THE AIR VENTS MAKING THE HEATER INOPERABLE. I ALSO WORRY THAT THE AIR BAGS IF NEEDED TO DEPLOY MAY BE AFFECTED BY THIS DEFECT. I CONSIDER THIS NOT A COSMETIC DEFECT BUT ONE THAT COULD CAUSE GRAVE BODILY HARM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293370November 24, 2009
STEERING, SUSPENSION:FRONT
I EXPERIENCED WHAT DODGE OWNERS ARE CALLING THE "DEATH WOBBLE" TODAY 24 NOV 2009 AFTER I HAD THE FRONT U-JOINTS REPLACED ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS AND THE U-JOINTS REPLACED ON THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT. I CONTACTED DAVIS MOORE IN WICHITA KS AND THEY SEEM UNCONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I WAS DOING 60 MPH ON SOMEWHAT SMOOTH ROAD. I RAN OVER A SEAM THAT WHERE THE CONCRETE MEETS AND THAT'S WHEN I GOT THE WOBBLE THAT NEARLY DROVE ME INTO THE GUARD RAIL. I HAD EXPERIENCED IT BACK IN JULY 09 IN A TURN GOING OVER A BRIDGE. I DROVE OVER A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THAT'S WHAT STARTED IT. MY WIFE INFORMED ME THAT SHE EXPERIENCED IT BACK IN APRIL 09 SAME THING DROVE OVER A BUMP AND THE WOBBLE STARTED. THE WOBBLE TODAY HAS CAUSED THE STEERING DAMPENER TO START LEAKING. AT A COST OF $149.00 + TAX I WILL REPLACE IT TONIGHT. ON ALL 3 OF THESE OCCASIONS WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE IN A 1-LANE ROAD EITHER EXITING OR ENTERING A CURVE AND DRIVING OVER NORMAL BUMPS IN THE ROAD. MY INCIDENT THIS MORNING IS FIRST TIME DRIVING STRAIGHT NO TURNS OR CURVES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293388November 24, 2009
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD JUST ABOVE AIRBAG HAS A CRACK 1 INCH FROM THE FRONT ALL THE WAY TO THE REAR. NO ACCIDENT EVER IN THIS VEHICLE, FIRST OWNER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292928November 19, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
VEHICLE WAS PARALLEL PARKED AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON ENTERING THE TRUCK, I USED THE GRAB HANDLE ON THE A PILLAR AS I'VE ALWAYS DONE. THIS TIME THE GRAB HANDLE SUDDENLY BROKE FREE FROM THE PILLAR CAUSING ME TO LOOSE MY BALANCE AND FALL BACKWARD OUT ONTO THE ROADWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10292822November 18, 2009
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
GOODYEAR TIRE, WRANGLER SR/A, LT235/80R17E, MANUFACTURER 1503, BSW. TIRE SIDEWALL HAS EXTREME CRACKS ON BOTH SIDEWALLS FOR A DISTANCE OF 1 1/2 INCHES UP FROM THE RIM OF THE TIRE, THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN AS THE" GOODYEAR SMILE". THE TIRES(7), ARE MOUNTED ON MY 2003 DODGE RAM P/U (DRW) 3500 AS OEM TIRES. THIS CRACKING IS SO EXTREME THAT I CAN ACTUALLY PUSH MY FINGER NAIL INTO THE CRACKS BY ABOUT 2/16TH'S OF AN INCH. GOODYEAR TIRE STORE DEALERS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS AN OZONE DEFECT AND NOT A MATERIAL DEFECT, THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN GARAGED ALL ITS LIFE WHEN NOT IN USE. I HAVE OBSERVED MANY OTHER TRUCKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM MANUFACTURED BY THE SAME COMPANY. IN FACT, THE (5) GOODYEAR TIRES LT235/85R16E THAT WERE INSTALLED AS OEM TIRES ON MY 2004 HITCHHIKER (NUWA) 5TH WHEEL TRAILER WERE REPLACED BY GOODYEAR FOR CRACKING BETWEEN THE RIBS LENGTH WAYS. I STILL HAVE 7/32NDS OF TIRE TREAD LEFT ON THESE TIRES. THE CRACKING IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THEY DO HAVE TO BE REPLACED BEFORE I CAN TOW MY TRAILER AGAIN AS I AM AFRAID THAT ONE OR MORE OF THEM WILL BLOW WHILE ON THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291522November 9, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE OWN A 2003 DODGE QUAD CAB PICKUP WITH 99000,00 MILES ON IT. WE WERE HAVING THE HEATER CORE AND BLEND DOOR REPLACED AND NOTICE D THE BLOWER WAS NOT WORKING. THE MECHANIC THOUGHT IT WAS THE RESISTOR BUT COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH WIRES THAT GO TO THE BLOWER MOTOR WERE BURNT AT THE CONTACT POINTS ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. DUE TO THE LOOSENESS OF THE CONNECTION PRONGS THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME. I DO BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT IF LEFT UNFIXED WOULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. I DID KEEP THE OLD PART FOR YOUR VIEWING. I ALSO CONTACTED DODGE TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ASKED THEM IF THEY WERE AT LEAST GOING TO ISSUE A TSB FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEIR REPLY WAS NO. THAT'S WHEN I CONTACTED YOU. WE WENT AHEAD AND HAD THE MECHANIC REPLACE THE PART DUE TO THE SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291083November 5, 2009
WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF OF THE TRUCK. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE NOTICED THAT THE CABLE THAT SECURED THE SPARE TIRE HAD FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND HE WAS PROMISED A RESPONSE. HE WAS STILL AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE DEALER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 133,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290872November 3, 2009
SUSPENSION, STEERING, EQUIPMENT
DEATH WOBBLE, ON MANY, MANY OCCASIONS EXCEEDING OVER A DOZEN. I HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS FRONT END PARTS TO NO AVAIL, INCLUDING TIRES AND RIMS. IT ALWAYS OCCURRED AT HI-WAY SPEEDS OF 65 MPH AND ABOVE, THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT IS A CRASH HAPPENING WITH OUT THE BENT METAL. I AM SURE THIS IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED IF THEY ARE AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER IF IT HASN'T ALREADY, THE DEAD DON'T TALK SO TO SPEAK, YOU CANT SEE DEATH WOBBLE AFTER THE TRUCK HAS CRASHED, YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK INTO THE SINGLE VEHICLE FATALITIES OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF TRUCK I AM SURE IT IS HIGH RATIO FOR THE AMOUNT OF VEHICLES SOLD, ONE IS UNACCEPTABLE IN MY OPINION. I COULD BE NEXT. IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME CROSSING A BRIDGE, PAVEMENT PATCHES, ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS PASSING SLOWER VEHICLES LIKE SEMI-TRAILERS AND RV'S WHERE YOU HAVE NO WHERE TO GO BUT THE SAID VEHICLES AND OR BRIDGE WALL. THIS IS A TERRIBLE ISSUE WITH THESE TRUCKS, CHECK INTERNET SEARCH ENGINES ON DEATH WOBBLE, AND THIS IS THE TRUCK THAT COMES UP, WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290400October 30, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HVAC BLOWER INTERMITTENTLY WORKING DUE TO BAD CONNECTION TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. WINDOW IS CONSTANTLY FOGGING. I DO NOT FEEL THAT NHTSA RECALL NO. 03V078 COVERED ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED AS MY VEHICLE FALLS 6 MONTHS SHORT OF THE RECALL AND WILL HAVE TO GET THE REPAIR DONE AT MY COST. LOOKING UP THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND SPEAKING WITH REPAIR SERVICES THIS IS VERY COMMON PAST THE 2002 MANUFACTURED TRUCKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290173October 28, 2009
STRUCTURE
CRACKED OF DASH PAD ON A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289988October 27, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
DEATH WOBBLE,FRONT END SHAKE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289991October 27, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ALTERNATOR BRACKET IS CRACKED. IT COULD BREAK CAUSING THE ALTERNATOR TO FALL INTO THE ENGINE FAN ASSEMBLY. IF SOMEBODY WAS WORKING ON THE ENGINE AT THE TIME OF COMPLETE FAILURE,SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH WILL OCCUR. SAME GOES FOR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DODGE IS WELL AWARE OF THIS/HAS TSB'S YET WON'T PAY FOR THE BRACKET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290005October 27, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I HAVE THE DEATH WOBBLE IN MY FRONT END. HIT A BUMP AT 55 MPH + AND THE FRONT END SHAKES SO BAD YOUR FORCED TO ALMOST COME TO A STOP. THE DEALER STATED MY DRAG LINK /TIE ROD ASSEMBLY,STEERING GEARS AND PITTMAN ARM ARE BAD. I HAVE NEVER PULLED CARRIED AN RV,NEVER DRIVEN OFF ROAD AND KEEP MY VEHICLES MAINTAINED PER THE MANUFACTURE. SPECS. WHY ARE THESE PARTS DEFECTIVE AT 99K MILES. CHECK THE DODGE FORUMS AND YOU'LL FIND A GREAT MANY OTHER OWNERS IN MY POSITION WITH WAY LESS MILES. THIS IS A DEFECT,PLAIN AND SIMPLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289663October 24, 2009
STRUCTURE
I HAVE A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK WITH 54000 MILE 2 MONTH AGO I FOUND A SMALL CRACKED ON THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD WITH IN 2 MONTH IT IS ALL OVER THE DASHBOARD WITH SHARP EDGES IN ABOUT 3 PLACES I CALLED THE DEALER WHICH REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUTTHAT PROBLEM . LATER ON I FOUND OUT THERE IS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM SO PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289128October 20, 2009
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD IS CRACKING DESPITE KEEPING TRUCK IN SHADE AND USING A SUN SHADE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289139October 20, 2009
STRUCTURE
THE DASH ON MY 2003 DODGE RAM 3500 HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS THAT HAVE OCCURRED FROM NORMAL DRIVING NO WRECKS OR ACCIDENTS. I FEEL THAT THE PIECES OF HARD PLASTIC COULD BECOME LETHAL PROJECTILES IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289147October 20, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
POOR RELIABILITY OF ELECTRICAL CONTROL AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM CAUSES NUMEROUS AND SOMETIMES INTERMITTENT FAILURES OF EXTERIOR SAFETY-RELATED LIGHTING SUCH AS HEADLAMPS (LOW BEAM AND HIGH BEAM), TAILLAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LAMPS, AND TRAILER LAMPS. PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE EXACERBATED IF VEHICLE IS NOT OPERATED FOR A FEW WEEKS. DEALER IS QUOTING REPAIR COST IN EXCESS OF $2000 FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER, WHICH IS REPORTEDLY NOT A SERVICEABLE UNIT. THIS HIGH REPAIR COST WILL UNDOUBTEDLY CAUSE OWNERS TO "TAKE THEIR CHANCES" AND CONTINUE OPERATING VEHICLES IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION BECAUSE THE REPAIR IS SO COSTLY AND THE PROBLEMS ARE INTERMITTENT. SOME USERS HAVE REPORTED NEEDING TO COMPLETE THIS REPAIR MORE THAN ONCE OVER THE VEHICLE LIFETIME, WHICH FURTHER CONFIRMS THERE IS AN INHERENT RELIABILITY PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. OTHER USERS REPORT SIMILAR ISSUES WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS REPORTEDLY DUE TO THE SAME UNIT FAILURE. BECAUSE DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS HAVE AT LEAST TEN DIFFERENT MODEL CATEGORIES AND MULTIPLE MODEL YEARS FOR REPORTING IN THE NHTSA ONLINE REPORTING STRUCTURE, THE COMPLAINTS ARE SPREAD OUT AND THE CONCENTRATION OF PROBLEMS ENDEMIC TO THIS VEHICLE MAY NOT BE READILY APPARENT TO ODI INVESTIGATORS. COMPLAINTS MAY BE REPORTED UNDER "1500", "2500", "3500", "RAM", "RAM 1500", "RAM 2500", "RAM 3500", "RAM QUAD CAB", "RAM PICKUP", "DODGE TRUCK", ... , ALL DUE TO THE SAME MODULE FAILURE. COMPLAINTS ARE ALSO SPREAD OUT AMONG MANY DIFFERENT COMPLAINT CATEGORIES, FURTHER DILUTING THE RECOGNITION THAT THERE IS ONE FUNDAMENTAL ROOT CAUSE OF A DOZEN OR MORE DIFFERENT FAILURE MODES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289022October 19, 2009
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE HAVING NEW TIRES INSTALLED THE MECHANIC AND I HEARD SOUNDS FROM UNDER TRUCK AS IF THE LIFT WAS CRUSHING A RUSTY MUFFLER. ONCE THE TRUCK WAS UP IN THE AIR IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE FRAME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE UNDER THE REAR SEAT HAD ROTTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. A CANCER HOLE ABOUT 6" LONG BY 1" WAS VISIBLE. THE LIFT, POSITIONED ABOUT 4" BEHIND THIS HOLE HAD COLLAPSED THE FRAME UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE ELEVATED TRUCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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