Dodge Ram Complaints (2003)

2,323 consumer complaints on file.

#11496490December 7, 2022
AIR BAGS
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR HOUSING MAY RUPTURE, DUE TO EXCESSIVE INTERNAL PRESSURE, DURING NORMAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT EVENTS. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IF YOUR VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO HIGH LEVELS OF ABSOLUTE HUMIDITY FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11484730September 15, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
This vehicle had last been started and driven 7 hrs prior and exploded in the driveway, caught the house on fire and nearly killed my son who was near the inside wall of the house. The engine blew and then the front tires. Three explosions in all before the fire department was able to stop the fire. Luckily they were only a mile away. This was an older but well running vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11477986August 7, 2022
STRUCTURE:BODY
2003 DODGE RAM 1500 DASHBOARD CRACKED ALL OVER. IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THE SHARP PCS OF HARD PLASTIC WOULD DEFINITELY IMPALE THE OCCUPANTS. DODGE STATES ITS ONLY A FEW TRUCKS BUT I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE 2003 DODGE RAM WITH A DASHBOARD ON ONE PC. ONCE I WAS FORCED TO BRAKE HARD AND MY PASSENGER REACTED BY SLAMMING HER HAND ON THE DASH AND A SHARP POINT OF A BROKEN PC STABBED INTO HER PALM WHICH BEGAN BLEEDING. DEFINITELY NEED TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AS IT'S A REAL HAZARD THAT COULD MOST PROBABLY RESULT IN A DEATH IF SOMEONE WERE TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11476656July 30, 2022
AIR BAGS, SUSPENSION, STEERING
Frame damage where steering box separates
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11476666July 30, 2022
STRUCTURE:BODY
The truck was brought in to dealer to inspect/repair wiring for trailer outlet. When they and began raising the vehicle, the rear lift arms broke through the frame on both sides. When I drove it short way to the repair shop (about 5 miles), the frame on the left broke and sagged and I nearly lost control. The repair shop was in sight and I was able to make it at under 10 mph. The road between the dealer and repair shop was an old country road and I never exceeded 45mph. The rusted frame was first noticed by Witt Ford in Pulaski and the frame was reinforced/surrounded by welded plate steel. There was no warning of the defect. If I had been travelling at highway speed and this failure occurred, I would have lost control, the left side of the truck would have been dragging as well as fuel tank. There would have been a crash and probably a fire.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11465151May 18, 2022
STEERING, SUSPENSION
We have a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel crew cab pickup that occasionally after hitting a bump or on rough roads the steering mechanism or suspension develops an uncontrollable harmonic vibration with one or the other front wheels bouncing. The only way to stop the vibration is to come to a complete stop. In heavy traffic it could be a serious safety issue. The condition is well known to Chrysler and is commonly called a "Death Wobble". The first incidence on our vehicle was around ten years ago, but newer pickups are reported to have the condition. By replacing just the shock absorbers then it seemed to have helped, but that fix may have been fortuitous. The Dodge service center at that time did know of or maybe did not admit to the issue. Recently we have had the return of a couple episodes of the Death Wobble. The internet has many aftermarket brackets available for the Death Wobble, so, I assume, the condition is well known. Chrysler now has replacement that I was told are stronger (and maybe of a better design), but any pickup of this model without the upgrade is potentially a very dangerous safety hazard. I assume there should have been a recall for this problem, but, from your website, there are no recalls listed for this vehicle. As a side note, the Jeep SUVs have also been reported to have a Death Wobble, but I have no information on whether the wobble with them is caused by the same defect with the steering or suspension systems.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452236February 16, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
When driving the truck the vehicle randomly shuts down and I have to pull over or put it in neutral to restart it I believe there might be a problem with the tipm that dodge has had a ongoing problem for years and ignored the issue
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11446276January 5, 2022
POWER TRAIN
Around midday of November 25, 2021, a clear day with no precipitation, while operating the 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 with about 155k miles on it at approximately 35 MPH, the drive train locked up causing the vehicle to go into a skid and a spin that sent the vehicle into a telephone pole. We could have slid into oncoming traffic, fortunately, we did not. The vehicle was totaled. While loading the vehicle onto the tow truck, responders noted that the axle was sheared at the back due to the rear differential locking up unexpectedly. There was a noise, like a whistle or a whine for a few minutes leading up the incident, but not anything that I would associate with this kind or failure, no grinding, roughness, or clunking.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11440076November 10, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Because the OE blend doors are defective, my defroster does not work. I have to constantly use a squeegee while driving to remove fog from the inside windshield, which is extremely unsafe. Occasionally the heater will kick in, and even though I live in Florida, it does get quite cold during the winter months.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11436625October 13, 2021
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
265/70/17- busted belts in 2 tires, liner separation in another. available for inspection removed all 4 due to safety concerns
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11419423June 2, 2021
POWER TRAIN, STEERING, SUSPENSION
I was driving on I55 this morning and all of a sudden my truck started vibrating really bad, the steering wheel was veering, I had to constantly fight to keep in my lane. And when I touched my brakes it veered. Riding really rough, and has power loss. I took it to the nearest shop and they said my driveshaft was very loose, and that it is affecting everything that I described. The center driveshaft support bearing is also failing.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11414654April 30, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2003 RAM 1500: CONCERNS ABOUT CRACKED DASHBOARD BECOMING PROJECTILES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11395573February 10, 2021
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL TANK STRAP IS ROTTED AND TANK IS FALLING OUT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11390758January 30, 2021
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON A 35MPH STREET, TRUCK SUDDENLY BUCKING AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL, AND THE RPM'S WERE ERRATIC. I PUT IT IN N PULLED OVER AND SHUT IT OFF. IT RESTARTED WITH NO ISSUES. I DROVE ABOUT 9 MILES, PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS COASTING UP IT, WHEN SUDDENLY THE TRUCK ACCELERATED. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE, NOTHING. I SLAMMED IT IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF. IT HAPPENED A FEW TIMES WHILE IDLING, OR MOVING AT A SLOW RATE. I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO A 50MPH, 4 LANE MAIN THOROUGHFARE. I STEPPED ON PARKING BRAKE, TURNED IT OFF AND THANKED GOD THAT I WAS UNHARMED. I STARTED BACK UP, PUT IT IN D, DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL (LIGHT TURNED GREEN) AND IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS, THEN IT BUCKED A FEW TIMES AND ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT KEPT REVVING UP AND ACCELERATING. AGAIN, I DEPRESSED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SHUT IT OFF. IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN AS I WAS COMING UP MY SUBURBAN 35MPH STREET. I GOT TO APPROXIMATELY 20MPH WHEN IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE FURTHER. I BUCKED AND CHOKED, RPM'S JUMPING UP AND DOWN THE LAST 100 YARDS. I TURNED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AT AN IDLING RATE AND IT TOOK OFF LIKE A SHOT. I PRESSED THE BRAKE AND IT STILL KEPT ACCELERATING. IF I HADN'T TURNED THE WHEEL, I WOULD HAVE DRIVEN THROUGH MY GARAGE. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I SUFFER FROM IDIOPATHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY AND CKD, THESE INCIDENTS HAVE CAUSED ME TO BE UNABLE TO BREATHE AS MY HEART WAS BEATING SO FAST. THIS MUST BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11377535December 2, 2020
ENGINE
AT 70 MPH THE ENGINE TURNS OFF AS IF A SWITCH WAS FLIPPED. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, ALWAYS ON THE INTERSTATE AND ALWAYS WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON AND ACTIVE. IT OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY IN THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS (110+ F). THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE THROTTLE CONTROL CIRCUIT SOMETIMES ILLUMINATES. WHILE STILL MOVING, SELECTING NEUTRAL, TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN BACK ON ALLOWS THE ENGINE TO RESTART. THIS CAN OCCUR AS FREQUENTLY AS EVERY 60 MILES, BUT THE AVERAGE OCCURRENCE WOULD BE AROUND 150 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11374758November 15, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DASH IS CRACKED AND PIECES ARE FLYING EVERYWHERE WHEN THE AC IS TURNED ON. VERY UNSAFE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11363298October 7, 2020
POWER TRAIN
DIFFERENTIAL GRINDING NOISE WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN GRINDING NOISE STARTED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11351079August 25, 2020
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY
ON AUGUST 1 2020, MY 2 ADULT CHILDREN AND ANOTHER PASSENGER WAS IN A CRASH AND MY TRUCK FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES FROM FRONT TO BACK AND ALL PASSENGERS WERE BADLY INJURED AND NOT ONE OF THE AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED. THE TRUCK WAS HIT FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE CAUSING THE TRUCK TO AIR LIFT AND FLIP.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#11350285August 19, 2020
POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DOING 65 ON FREEWAY WHEN WHEN MY DRIVELINE AND PINION BOLT CAME OFF REAR END IN 1 PIECE AND THE REAR TIRES LOCKED UP AND I SLID TO A STOP
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11342161July 29, 2020
AIR BAGS
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION GOING 50 MPH ON A HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN AT A CROSS ROAD AND WE STRUCK THEM WITH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ON THEIR PASSENGER DOOR. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING 2 OF THE PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE TO HIT THEIR HEAD/FACE ON THE DASH AND WINDSHIELD.*DT*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
0

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