Dodge Ram Complaints (2003)

2,323 consumer complaints on file.

#10172185October 30, 2006
SEATS
A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BEGAN TO HAVE FORWARD MOVEMENT DURING VEHICLE LAUNCH AND STOPPING. UPON INSPECTION OF THE SEAT MECHANISMS, A CRACK IN ONE OF THE SIX WAY SEAT ADJUSTMENT GEAR HOUSINGS WAS OBSERVED. ON OCTOBER 28, 2006, THE GEAR HOUSING COMPLETELY FAILED CAUSING DRASTIC MOVEMENT OF THE SEAT. AT THIS TIME, RESOLUTION APPEARS TO BE TO REPLACE THE EFFECTIVE PARTS AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. THIS FAILURE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. A SEAT FAILURE IN AN ACCIDENT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. I KNOW FROM WEBSITES SUCH AS TURBO DIESEL REGISTER THAT THIS PROBLEM IS FAIRLY COMMON. A SAFETY RECALL WOULD SEEM TO BE IN ORDER. JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173253October 30, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2003 SLT 1500 ENGINE PISTON AND SPARK PLUGS MELT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. *TS THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER ON 7/16/06. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE CONSUMER NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALER WHERE IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR 68 DAYS. VEHICLE WAS NOT RETURNED TO CONSUMER UNTIL 9/16/2006. AFTER REPAIRS THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND ENGINE RAN ROUGH, 30764 MILES. AFTER 6 WEEKS THE TRUCK STILL WASN'T FIXED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172095October 29, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PLACED THE TRUCK IN PARK AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE TRUCK THEN BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS IN REVERSE. I WAS KNOCKED DOWN BY THE OPEN DOOR BEFORE I COULD REENTER THE TRUCK AND ROLLED AWAY TO AVOID BEING RUN OVER. THE TRUCK BACKED INTO A FENCE POST DAMAGING THE DRIVERS DOOR AND RIGHT FRONT FENDER. THE FENCE POST WAS ALSO BENT OVER. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170814October 14, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 DODGE RAM 1500 SLT QUAD CAB EXPERIENCED OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST YEAR A MALFUNCTIONING SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT, ABS WARNING LIGHT, WIPER MOTOR, AUX. POWER OUTLET. AS A RESULT OF RECURRING ELECTRICAL DEFECTS VEHICLE SUFFERED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYING IT'S VALUE AND USE WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND UNATTENDED. OWNER HAD WRITTEN COMPLAINT LETTERS TO DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER PRIOR TO FIRE INCIDENT AND HAS SERVICE RECORDS DOCUMENTING DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER, REPLACED BRAKE SENSOR (WHICH CONTINUED TO MALFUNCTION AFTER REPAIR), AND REPLACED WIPER MOTOR. OTHER COMPLAINTS WERE NEVER ADDRESSED BY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE "THEY WERE SPORADIC INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT WERE IMPOSSIBLE TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR" ACCORDING TO SERVICE WRITER STATEMENTS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169549September 28, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THE GEAR LEVER DID NOT COME OFF THE PARK POSITION, AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE LEVER SHIFTED TO THE DRIVE POSITION BUT THE TRANSMISSION WENT TO THIRD GEAR AND REMAINED IN IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVEN TIMES, AND THE DIAGNOSIS MACHINE INDICATED THE DEFECT IN CONTROL MODULE (P700). THE CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED SEVEN TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND COINCIDED WITH THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THE LACK OF ENOUGH POWER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS LOADED PRESENTED A SERIOUS RISK TO SAFETY WHILE DRIVING UP OR DOWN A HILL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167768September 10, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ELECTRICAL FIRE, TRUCK WAS NOT RUN OR STARTED IN 26 HRS. LEFT IS SHADED AREA NEXT TO HOUSE IN DRIVEWAY. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BEFORE ANY DAMAGE TO HOUSE OR PROPERTY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167710September 8, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: UPDATED 10/4/2006 - THE PISTONS MELTED INSIDE THE ENGINE AND THE SPARK PLUGS MELTED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. A NE *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167726September 8, 2006
SUSPENSION
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, BETWEEN 70 AN 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY IF YOU HIT ANY TYPE OF POTHOLE, EXPANSION JOINT, BRIDGE, ETC..... WHILE DRIVING RECENTLY (9/5/2006), I ENCOUNTER A BRIDGE CROSSING WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROX 76 MPH, AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUTTER VIOLENTLY CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO CROSS TRAFFIC AND ENTER THE MEDIAN ON I-20 OUTSIDE OF BIRMINGHAM, AL. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167048August 30, 2006
STEERING
MY TRUCK ALL OF THE SUDDEN WHEN DRIVING THE NIGHT BEFORE WAS UNABLE TO TURN TO THE RIGHT (VERY DIFFICULT..NO PROPER STEERING TO THE RIGHT). TO THE LEFT IT WAS FINE. IT CONTINUED TO HAVE THE PROBLEM WHEN I TRIED DRIVING AGAIN TODAY. I TOOK IT TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP TODAY (NEXT MORNING) AND THEY TOLD ME THE TRUCK NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP, RACK, & PINION. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WITH JUST OVER 50,000 MILES ON IT...IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY WELL TAKEN CARE OF SINCE PURCHASING IT FROM DODGE DEALER LAST FALL. THIS IS THE 2ND MAJOR REPAIR IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS (I JUST HAD A REAR SEAL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT REPLACED AS WELL). AS OF RIGHT NOW THE TRUCK IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL I DECIDE WHAT TO DO. THEY SAY IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTIES FOR THIS ISSUE OR ANY RECALLS. IT IS VERY UPSETTING THAT THIS NEW OF A VEHICLE HAVE SUCH MAJOR ISSUES ALREADY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167084August 30, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED BRAKE LIGHTS BULBS BLEW FOUR TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 09/22/06/*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166598August 26, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, IT STARTED TO RAIN, I TURNED ON MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THEY DID NOT WORK, NEITHER DID MY TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD FLASHERS. I PULLED OVER AND AFTER A WHILE THEY STARTED WORKING, NOW THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK, AND THEN SOMETIMES YOU TURN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON AND THE RIGHT ONE FLASHES AND VISE VERSA. I AM TAKING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP MONDAY THIS ISSUE DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, I WOULD GUESS ABOUT FIFTY PERCENT OF THE TIME. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166542August 25, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLES TRANSFER FUEL PUMP IN THE ENGINE QUIT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL SYSTEM WITH A DIFFERENT FUEL SYSTEM DUE TO THE MANUFACTURED FUEL SYSTEMS CONSISTENT FAILURE WHICH THEY STATED USUALLY HAPPENED ANYWHERE FROM 35000 TO 60000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165342August 13, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP, POWER TRAIN
THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN IN TO BE LOOKED AT BECAUSE THERE WAS A VIBRATION. I TOLD THEM IT WAS A U-JOINT OR BEARING GOING OUT. THE TRUCK HAD BEEN IN THE SAME SHOP 4 TIMES, FOR THE SAME THING -THE U-JOINT OR BEARING. THE MECHANIC AT THE SHOP SAID THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE BALANCED BUT THEY DID NOT DO THAT AT THIER SHOP. I TOKK IT TO ANOTHER PLACE, THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE TIRES DID NOT NEED TO BE BALANCED,BUT THEY BALNCED THEM ANYWAYS. SO I HAD TWO OPINIONS ON THE TRUCK. THE NEXT NIGHT I PICKED UP THE GUYS I WORK WITH AND WE WENT TO WORK. ON THE WAY HOME THE DRIVE SHAFT, DRIVE LINE,YOLK, AND TRANSFERCASE CAME APART AND TRIED TO COME UP THROUGH THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING HOLES IN THE FLOORBOARD, AND IT PULLED THE ELECTRICAL WIRING OUT WHICH CAUSED ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS TO COME ON. ANYONE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT. I GOT THE THE TRUCK TO A NEARBY CONVIENENT STORE AND I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TOW MY TRUCK TO THE SHOP. I CALLED MY WIFE AND WE WENT AND PICKED UP ALL THE PARTS OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE TRUCK, WHICH IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THEY TOOK PICTURES AND SENT THEM TO THEIR REPS. THEIR REPS IN ANOTHER STATE SAID IT WAS IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE IN 4 LOW UNDER EXTENSIVE TORQUE IN A MUD HOLE. IT HAD NOT RAINED HERE IN OVER A MONTH. SO THE DIRT ROAD I WAS ON WAS DRY AND SMOOTH. I DID NOT HAVE IT IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. WHY BUY A 4 WHEEL DRIVE IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO USE IT. THEY SAID I WAS DRIVING FAST CAUSING EXTENSIVE TORQUE!? I WAS DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT AND PEOPLE DRIVE FAST AND THEIR VEHICLES DON'T FALL APART. THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T COVER THE DAMAGE, EVEN THOUGH THEIR MECHANIC MADE A WRONG DIAGNOSIS. IT IS THEIR FAULT AND THEY SHOULD TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX IT, WITH NO MONEY COMING OUT OF MY POCKET. I GET PAID TO DRIVE TO AND FROM WORK. NOW I DON'T HAVE A TRUCK TO GET ME TO WORK. THE SHOP SAYS THEY WILL PAY HALF THE COST TO FIX IT AND I CAN PAY THE OTHER HALF. THEY SAY THEY ARE DOING ME A FAVOR BY DOING THIS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165345August 13, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT, STEERING:COLUMN
03 2500 DODGE TRUCK WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK. SHIFT CABLE REPLACED BY DEALER DURING FIRST SERVICE. STEERING COLUMN PARTS REPLACED DURING SECOND SERVICE WITHIN 2 DAYS. ONE DAY LATER IT IS STUCK AGAIN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165231August 11, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR AXLE FLANGE DETACHED AND THE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED. *AK UPDATED 10/25/2006 - AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED WITH A CONCRETE WALL. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10165192August 10, 2006
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
I OWN A 2003 DODGE RAM WITH ABOUT 46,000 MILES. IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, ALL THREE REAR SEAT BELTS HAVE HAD A CRACK IN PART OF THE SEAT BELT THAT PREVENTS THE BELT FROM SLIDING WHEN IT IS USED TO SECURE A CHILD SEAT. THE FIRST 2 WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE THIRD NOW WILL BE REPLACED AT MY COST. DODGE HAS REFUSED TO ASSIST IN THE MATTER, AND THEY ALSO REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE PLASTIC PIECE THEY HAVE DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE SEAT BELT FROM SLIDING IS WOEFULLY INADEQUATE. THE DEALER I WENT TO ALSO WAS OF NO HELP FIGHTING FOR THE CONSUMER. YOU WOULD THINK THAT AFTER THREE FAILURES, A BULB WOULD COME ON. DATE OF INCIDENT IS APPROXIMATE BUT AFTER WARRANTY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164427August 3, 2006
STEERING:COLUMN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
ON JULY 30, 2006 MY CABIN CONTROLS (A/C, DEFROST, VENT AND WINDOW WIPERS) WOULD NOT WORK. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM IN THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. MY LOCAL MECHANIC MADE AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT WHEN HE CONTACTED DODGE FOR A REPLACEMENT PART THEY REFUSED TO SELL IT TO THEM DUE TO A RECALL ON THE MODEL YEAR BEFORE MINE (2002). I HAD TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO DAVE CROFT MOTORS IN COLLINSVILLE, IL FOR REPAIR COSTING ME APPROX 2X'S MORE THAN MY LOCAL SHOP. DAVE CROFT SAID THE WIRING HARNESS AND IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD DUE TO THE FAULTY PART. WHEN I QUESTION DODGE ABOUT THIS HARNESS AND THE RECALL THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ME ANY INFORMATION. DAVE CROFT FIXED THE PROBLEM AS OF THIS DATE HOWEVER, I AM STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM DODGE IF THEY WILL COVER THIS REPAIR. (RECALLED PART IN 2002 DODGE IS THE SAME PART IN MY 2003). *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162757July 18, 2006
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
A DOWNPOUR CAME WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH 5 CHILDREN IN THE TRUCK. THE WINDOW FOGGED UP AND I TURNED ON DEFROSTER AND THE AIR WOULDN'T COME THROUGH DEFROSTER! I WAS BLINDED! THE AIR WILL NOT BLOW THROUGH MY DEFROSTER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162631July 10, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 DODGE RAM FUEL LINES ROTTED RESULTING IN A SEVERE LEAK. *KB ***NAR*** THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER CANNOT OR WILL NOT PRODUCE A REPLACEMENT FUEL LINE. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE THE TRUCK WAS SITTING IN IDLE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MOVE BACKWARDS. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH NO SUCCESS. THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL AND INTO A TREE. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AFTER HE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10161173June 30, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT, STEERING
2003 DODGE RAM 2500 QUADCAB 4X4 P/U GOES INTO AN UNCONTROLLABLE FRONT END WOBBLE AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD BUT ONLY WHILE TRAVELING IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH, I HAVE HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON, FRONT END CHECKED, ALIGNED, NEW FRONT STEERING DAMPER, NEW RT FRONT BALL JOINT AND HUB ASSEMBLY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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