Dodge Ram Complaints (2003)

2,323 consumer complaints on file.

#10148416January 23, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1. OIL PRESSURE GAUGE STARTED SWINGING BACK & FORTH. I TOOK ME ABOUT 100 YARDS TO PULL OVER SAFELY AND THE ENGINE QUIT. 2. ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BOB BOSE DODGE IN BRADENTON FLORIDA SAID THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE AND WILL NOT BE COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS ENGINE RELIGIOUSLY AND HAVE CHANGES THE OIL MORE THAN RECOMMENDED. THERE IS NO REASON FOR AN ENGINE WITH 63,000 MILES TO FAIL LIKE THIS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148074January 19, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
2003 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 QUAD CAB - SHIMMY FELT IN STEERING WHEEL WHILE BRAKING. 1ST REPAIR 12/16/03 (7217 MILES), 2ND REPAIR 3/24/05 (23401 MILES) - DODGE REPLACED FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS, PADS AND MACHINED ROTORS. 3RD COMPLAINT 1/19/06 (33315 MILES) - DODGE REFUSES TO REPAIR BECAUSE IT'S OVER THE 1 YEAR/12000 MILE WARRANTY PERIOD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147823January 16, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
WHILE MAKING A U-TURN TRAVELING 3 TO 5 MPH, THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL SHEARED OFF AT THE AXLE LEAVING THE TRUCK SITTING ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE 20" RIM. THE WHEEL STILL HAD THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY ATTACHED TO THE RIM. THE DEALER HAD AN INVESTIGATOR INSPECT THE TRUCK AND IN THE REPORT THEY SAID THERE WAS IMPACT DAMAGE AND THEY WOULD NOT WARRANTY THE AXLE. I KNOW THE REPORT HAS TO BE FALSE. BESIDES THE AXLE SHEARING THE ONLY OTHER DAMAGE IS SCRATCHES TO THE FACE OF THE RIM, CALIPER BRACKET, AND BRAKE LINE. THE WHEEL AND TIRE ARE STILL USABLE. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 30,000 MILE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146564December 30, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR ELEVEN HOURS HE TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND HEARD A LOUD BACKFIRE NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FILLED WITH SMOKE , AND HE EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE PARKING ATTENDANT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND THERE WAS MINIMAL FIRE DAMAGE. ELEVEN DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S SALVAGE LOT. UPON INSPECTION THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED IT WAS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP, AND ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN APART TO CORRECTLY DIAGNOSE IT, THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK UPDATED 2/7/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146516December 29, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS MAJOR VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO ROTOR WARPAGE. WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL FROM ANY SPEED OVER 20 MPH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHIMMIED,AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO HOLD THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THE BRAKE ROTORS, CALIPERS, AND PADS WERE REPAIRED EVERY FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS. *AK UPDATD 01/25/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145761December 20, 2005
STEERING
I OWN A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 PICKUP TRUCK. FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WITH A DIESEL ENGINE. VEHICLE HAS 30,000 MILES. ON 2 DECEMBER 2005, WHILE DRIVING TO WORK WITH OUT ANY WARNING THE STEERING LOCKED, RENDERING ME HELPLESS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. AFTER I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE LOCATION I ATTEMPTED TO TEST THE STEERING. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT STEER TO THE RIGHT OF CENTER. IT WILL STEER TO THE LEFT BUT SEEMS TO HAVE A DIMINISHED POWER ASSIST PERFORMANCE AT FIRST. WHILE CYCLING THE STEERING SYSTEM SEVERAL TIMES THE POWER ASSIST TO THE LEFT IMPROVES. HOWEVER ONCE THE STEERING REACHES THE CENTER POINT TO THE RIGHT THE STEERING LOCKS AND WOULD NOT GO ANY FURTHER RIGHT OF CENTER. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DOMINION DODGE SERVICE REP 1259 E. MAIN STREET SALEM VIRGINIA, AND THEY HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX HAS FAILED. ALTHOUGH IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT A COMPONENT OF THIS TYPE COULD FAIL, IN THE 30 YEARS AS AN AUTOMOTIVE MECHANIC AND A MASTER IN HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY I HAVE YET SEEN OR HEARD OF A STEERING GEAR BOX FAILURE THAT WOULD RENDER A VEHICLE COMPLETELY INCAPABLE OF CONTROLLING STEERING. MOST OF MY EXPERIENCE IN THIS FIELD IS USUALLY WORN COMPONENT THAT CAUSE POOR PERFORMANCE IN THE STEERING CAPABILITY. USUALLY THIS OCCURS AT GREATER THAN 100,000 MILES, NOT AT 30,0000. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145284December 15, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V185000 CONCERNING THE ABS BRAKES MODULE. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145299December 15, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES
DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A STEERING LINKAGE FAILURE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. LATER, WHILE ENTERING A CURVE, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE STEERING FAILED, RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE CRASHING INTO A FENCE. UPON INSPECTION HE DISCOVERED THE STEERING LINKAGE LYING ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS A DODGE, RAM VAN, 1500.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145158December 14, 2005
TIRES
DEAR SIR, I RECENTLY PURCHASED 2 TIRES FROM WWW.TIRERACK.COM WITHIN THE LAST MONTH AND HAD THEM MOUNTED AND BALANCED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. LAST NIGHT I HAD A COMPLETE TIRE FAILURE WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. THE TIRE THAT FAILED HAD LESS THAN 100 MILES ON IT AND WAS CHECKED THE DAY BEFORE FOR PROPER TIRE INFLATION. THIS TIRE FAILURE COULD HAVE COST ME AS WELL AS MY FAMILY, OUR LIVES. I WILL NOT PURCHASE THE SAME GOODYEAR TIRE AGAIN. THE TIRE THAT FAILED WAS A GOODYEAR EAGLE LS 275/55/R20 ANY HELP WITH THIS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU! *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144893December 10, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT
ON 7-16-03 I WAS A RESTRAINED PASSENGER IN A DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 QUAD CAB. WE WERE RETURNING FROM A SHORT TRIP TO THE STORE. WHILE DRIVING ON A PERFECTLY STRAIGHT DRY ROAD, WITH COMPLETELY CLEAR VISIBILITY AT APPROX 3 PM AFTERNOON WITH VERY LIGHT TRAFFIC WE UNEXPECTEDLY FELT A HARD BUMP, AS IF WE HAD HIT A POT HOLE. IT WAS SO HARD I WAS THROWN FORWARD IN MY SEAT. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY YELLED THAT THE STEERING HAD LOCKED. HE WAS ALSO TRYING DESPERATELY TO HIT THE BRAKES, BUT THEY TOO WERE NOT WORKING. THE DRIVER STRUGGLED WITH ALL HIS MIGHT TO TRY AND GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT WASN'T ABLE TOO. WE DROVE DIRECTLY INTO THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WE THEN LEFT THE LANE AND PROCEEDED INTO A PARKING AREA OF A CONVENIENCE STORE, WHERE WE STRUCK A PARKED VEHICLE. AFTER STRIKING THE PARKED VEHICLE WE WERE REDIRECTED BACK INTO THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT WAS AT THAT TIME WE WERE STRUCK HEAD ON BY A SEMI TRUCK. THE SEMI DROVE COMPLETELY OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DODGE TRUCK CRUSHING ME INSIDE AND ROLLING THE SEMI. THE POLICE REPORT STATES THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WAS FOUND SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS AWAY FROM THE SCENE OF THE WRECK. IN THE AREA WE NOTED THE INITIAL BUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS INVESTIGATED AND IT WAS FOUND THE FRONT PASSENGER BALL JOINT HAD BEEN BROKEN COMPLETELY IN HALF; HOWEVER, THE INVESTIGATED STATED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS TOO SEVERE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER THE BALL JOINT FAILED BEFORE, OR WAS BROKEN DURING THE COLLISION. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS BETWEEN THE FAILURE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND THE COLLISION. SOMETHING FAILED ON THAT VEHICLE RENDERING IT UNCONTROLLABLE. I DO HAVE THE VEHICLE IN MY POSSESSION, AND IT IS AVAILABLE FOR ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATION. DODGE HAS SHOWN NO INTEREST WHAT SO EVER IN INVESTIGATING THIS POSSIBLE MECHANICAL FAILURE. I WILL SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THE INJURIES I INCURRED FROM THIS ACCIDENT. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10144540December 6, 2005
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
DT: THE CONTACT STATED DEFOGGER SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING DUE TO THE DESIGN. THE INNER ROUTING FLAP BROKE, ALLOWING THE HEAT TO GO TO THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS INSTEAD OF THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER BLOWER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER HOWEVER, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE DUE TO EXCESSIVE EXPENSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144484December 5, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V462000 CONCERNING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS MODIFIED BY THE BRAUN CORPORATION. THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY A DODGE, RAM, 2500, AND HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO A DODGE RAM B 2500 VAN.*AK UPDATED 01/04/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144096November 30, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SEPT. 2004 BOUGHT 2003 DODGE QUAD CAB W/HEMI. HAD APPROXIMATELY 34,000 MILES ON IT. TRUCK WAS IN GREAT SHAPE,RAN GOOD,DROVE GOOD. THEN IN OCT,2005,HAD A VALVE SPRING BREAK ON LEFT SIDE OF MOTOR,CAUSING MOTOR TO LOCK-UP. AT THIS TIME THE TRUCK HAD 84,400 MILES ON IT. WE LIVE 30 MILES FROM OUR JOBS,SO WE PUT A LOT OF MILES ON OUR VEHICLES. I CALLED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD EITHER FIX THE TRUCK,OR AT LEAST HELP WITH THE REPAIRS(AFTER ALL,YOU WOULD THINK THAT A HEMI MOTOR SHOULD BE GOOD FOR A LOT LONGER THAN 80,000 MILES).DAIMLER-CHRYSLER SAID THAT THEY WOULD NEED "A CERTIFIED DODGE DEALERSHIP"TO CHECK OUT THE TRUCK TO SEE WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED AND WHY IT HAPPENED. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP(SAVANNAH DODGE,SAVANNAH,GA).THEY CONFIRMED THE BROKEN VALVE SPRING AND BROKEN VALVE. THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT HE HAS SEEN A FEW OF THESE SAME PROBLEMS,AND THE FIX IS TO REPLACE THE HEAD(IT WAS DAMAGED)USE NEW VALVES AND VALVE SPRINGS(WITH NEW"HEAVY-DUTY" VALVE SPRINGS).HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT I REPLACE THE VALVE SPRINGS ON THE OTHER HEAD WITH THESE NEW"HEAVY-DUTY"VALVE SPRINGS. I CALLED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER AGAIN AND TOLD THEM WHAT THEIR FIVE-STAR DEALERSHIP SAID. AFTER CALLING DAIMLER-CHRYSLER SEVERAL MORE TIMES,THEY SAID THAT THEY(DAIMLER-CHRYSLER)WOULD CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND THEN DECIDE IF THEY WOULD OR COULD HELP WITH THE REPAIRS. NEEDLESS TO SAY,I HAD TO CALL DAIMLER-CHRYSLER BACK(THEY DO NOT RETURN PHONE CALLS)THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT HELP WITH THE REPAIRS BECAUSE(1)I DID NOT BUY THIS TRUCK NEW(2)IT WAS OUT OF THE 70,000 MILE WARRANTY(3)BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE RECEIPTS OF MY OIL CHANGES(I AM A MECHANIC OF 25+ YEARS,I DO MY OWN OIL CHANGES,BUY MY OIL(CASTROL 5W30)BY THE CASE AT WAL-MART EVERY 3000 MILES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143900November 29, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES
MY VEHICLE VEERS TO THE RIGHT SEVERLY. IT STARTED OUT AS A MILD PULL AND NOW IT IS A CONSTANT STRUGLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE GOING STRAIGHT. I HAVE TAKEN TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS. WORK DONE BOTH WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED - BOTH U JOINTS REPLACED - ALL 4 BRAKES REPLACED ( AT MY EXPENSE VEHICLE UNDER 30,000 MILES ) - TIRES EXCHANGED WITH NEW - FRONT END ALLIGNMENT ( I PAID FOR AS WELL ) TRUCK STILL HAS PROBLEM AND THE DEALERSHIPS CANNOT FIX PROBLEM. TOLD TO DEAL WITH IT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143798November 28, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND THERE IS A HEAVY VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. THIS PROBLEM ULTIMATELY RESULTED IN A MINOR ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND RAN INTO A DITCH. NO ONE WAS INJURED, BUT SOME DAMAGE WAS EVIDENT ON FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER NOTICED THE STABILIZER BAR BROKE. NO REPAIRS WERE DONE AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE EXPENSE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142440November 10, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAULING AN 8 FOOT BY 16 FOOT TRAILER IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE SWAY TO THE LEFT THEN TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE AND THE TRAILER SHOOK. THE CONTACT PRESSED ON THE CLUTCH AND IT CAUSED THE TIRES TO LOSE TRACTION. THE VEHICLE SWERVED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AND ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10141748November 4, 2005
STEERING
STEERING BOX GEARS DISINTEGRATED DUE TO MISALIGNMENT CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK AND FAILURE OF RELATED SYSTEMS. POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES ARE TIED TO SAME PUMP SYSTEM. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN PARKING LOT RATHER THAN TRAVELING DOWN FREEWAY WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141711November 3, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT: THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE RELAY SWITCH FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING ONE AT A TIME. THE INDICATOR LIGHT INDICATED THAT ONLY ONE LIGHT WAS OUT. THIS DID NOT AFFECT THE LIGHT IN THE REAR WINDOW. THE RELAY SWITCH WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141714November 3, 2005
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
2003 DODGE RAM 2500 IN DECEMBER 2004 I HAD TO HAVE ALL 3 BALL JOINTS REPLACED THE TRUCK ONLY HAD 42262 MILES ON IT. THEN JUST LAST MONTH IN OCTOBER I HAD TO REPLACE ANOTHER BALL JOINT AS IT WAS GOING OUT ALREADY. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR ON A VECHICLE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141525November 2, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR, STEERING, STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT PITMAN, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY WITHIN THE STEERING AND A SHIMMY IN THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH. THE TRUCK COULD STRIKE A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THERE WOULD BE COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. ALSO, HE NOTED THAT THE PITMAN ARM, TIE ROD, AND STABILIZER BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED DUE TO THE EXPENSE. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY COST ASSISTANCE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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