Dodge Ram Complaints (2003)

2,323 consumer complaints on file.

#10561568January 26, 2014
STEERING
THE KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. I HIT A BUMP ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. I LOST STEERING CONTROL BUT SAVED THE TRUCK BEFORE HITTING ANYONE IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT HAPPENED 4 MORE TIMES BEFORE I COULD GET IT FIXED. I JUST RECEIVED A NOTICE OF A RECALL...TOO LITTLE TOO LATE ! I REPLACED EVERY STEERING COMPONENT, TRACK BAR AND TRACK BAR BUSHINGS. NO, I DID NOT KEEP ANY RECEIPTS. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE COMPLAINTS, I KNOW FRIENDS WHO DID HAVE ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561236January 23, 2014
SUSPENSION, STEERING
THIS PICKUP HAS THE TERRIBLE "DEATH WOBBLE" IN THE STEERING WHEN YOU DRIVE OVER A BUMP PR RIB IN ROAD,STARTING UNEXPECTED AND JERKING THE WHEEL SO HARD THAT YOU CAN NOT HOLD THE WHEEL! I PLAN TO BUY THIS PU FROM MY EMPLOYER AND I WANTED IT FIXED BY DODGE BECAUSE IT HAS ALWAYS HAD THIS TERRIBLE SAFETY PROBLEM FROM THE FACTORY! TO VERIFY THIS,[XXX] OWNS IT AND HIS # IS [XXX]. THANKS,[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561053January 22, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD SEVERAL CRACKS ALONG THE SURFACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560167January 15, 2014
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES
DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS ON DIRT ROAD HEARD HORRIBLE SOUNDS IN THE FRONT OF TRUCK. NOTICEABLY LOUDER AND VERY CONCERNED TO DRIVING THE TRUCK ANY MORE, MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND I 9 MONTHS PREGNANT ARE VERY LUCKY. MADE TO OUR HOME 15 MILES AWAY. I CALLED MECHANIC AND TRUCK WAS IN THE SHOP NEXT DAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559584January 13, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AS THE ENGINE THROTTLE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559741January 13, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BLEND DOOR WILL NOT WORK, COMMON FAILURE IN MODELS 02-06, POOR DESIGN BREAKS AFTER A YEAR OR SO...CANT DEFROST WINDSHIELD WHEN WINDSHIELD FROST DUE TO SNOW OR COLD TEMPERATURES. UNABLE TO REMOVE FOGGY WINDSHIELD ON RAINY DAYS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559383January 10, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE VEHICLE BECAME UNBALANCED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED HE INDEPENDENTLY CHANGED THE ROTORS BEARINGS, AND SHOCKS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559396January 10, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED AND DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE CRACKS LOCATED BY THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559218January 9, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V528000 (STEERING) HAD SURPASSED THE REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED ONLY ONE REPAIR KIT WAS PROVIDED TO THE DEALERS PER WEEK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 02/11/2014 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559059January 8, 2014
STEERING, SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE
AFTER PURCHASING THIS TRUCK FROM THE FIRST TIME OWNER, I BEGIN TO NOTICE AT CERTAIN TIMES I WOULD EXPERIENCE A VIOLENT SHAKING WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE AND READING ABOUT THE "DEATH WOBBLE" I BECOME WORRIED AND CONTACTED THE DEALER. OF COURSE THEY ACTED LIKE THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. BUT WHEN YOU TALK TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. IN SHORT, I HAVE SPENT OVER $2700 GETTING THE FRONT END REDONE, WITH NO HELP FROM CHRYSLER. I FIND IT COMPLETELY IRRESPONSIBLE ON THEIR PART TO NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. NOW.. JUST LAST WEEK I GET THIS RECALL NOTICE ON THE LEFT TIE ROD END. I AM MOST CERTAIN WHEN I TAKE IT IN, THEY WILL SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.. AND SEND ME ON MY WAY. THIS ISSUE AND THE CRACKED DASH IS ALL A BUNCH OF BALONEY TO WHICH CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE TAKEN SOME SERIOUS ACTION TO HELP FOLKS WHO BOUGHT A $50K TRUCK IN GOOD FAITH THAT IT WAS BUILT GOOD.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558008December 31, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS, LOWER BALL JOINTS, INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V350000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 152,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557414December 27, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V528000 (STEERING) HAD SURPASSED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THE PART WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL MID FEBRUARY 2014. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL BUT DID NOTICE A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557231December 25, 2013
STEERING, SUSPENSION
FOR 2 DAYS PRIOR TO INCIDENT , NOTICED STEERING WHEEL KEPT CHANGING ORIENTATION WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. A LOT OF GROANING AND CREAKING NOISE FROM RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION IN RIGHT TURNS AS WELL AS VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED. PARKED VEHICLE AND INSPECTED UNDERSIDE TO FIND THAT IDLER ARM BRACKET WAS TEARING AWAY FROM FRAME RAIL DUE TO ROT. AFTER PARKING VEHICLE , I MOVED IT AROUND IN THE DRIVEWAY NO MORE THAN 3 TIMES BEFORE IDLER ARM BRACKET COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME RAIL WITH A VERY LOUD POP.. VAN NOW HAS NO STEERING AND IS JUNK SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. INSPECTION OF FRONT FRAME RAIL AREA REVEALS HEAVY ROT ON BOTH FRONT FRAME RAILS AND STEERING GEAR MOUNT AS WELL. THE REST OF THE BODY IS TYPICAL FOR 10 YRS OLD IN UPSTATE NY. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY OWNED VEHICLES 20+ YRS OLD WITH BODY ROT , BUT HAVE NEVER HAD ANY FRAME ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH ROT. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH , THIS APPEARS TO BE QUITE COMMON ON FULL SIZE DODGE VANS. WILL BE FILING A COMPLAINT WITH CHRYSLER CORP. , BUT DON'T EXPECT MUCH TO COME OF IT. ABSOLUTELY AMAZED THAT PEOPLE HAVE NOT DIED AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT. CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF THESE VANS STILL ON THE ROAD , I WOULD CONSIDER THIS A GROWING CONCERN FOR THOSE THAT OWN AND DRIVE THEM AS WELL AS OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD WITH THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555078December 6, 2013
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOTH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN HOWEVER, THE DEFECT WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554828December 4, 2013
STRUCTURE
MY 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 TRUCK'S DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. THESE ARE LONG CRACKS FROM THE WINDSHIELD TO THE CABIN EDGE. ALSO LARGE CIRCLES OF CRACKS. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SHARP PIECES FLYING THROUGH THE CAB OF THE TRUCK. WE ARE NOT ONLY CONCERNED FOR OUR SAFETY BUT FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR TWIN 3 YEAR OLD GRANDSONS THAT ARE OFTEN WITH US. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554682December 3, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
STARTED UP AND THE ABS DASH INDICATOR LIGHT STAYED ON. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO MY MECHANICS AND NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER WASN'T WORKING. MY MECHANICS FOUND THE PROBLEM WITH THE ABS RIGHT AWAY. THEY SAID THAT A FIRE HAD OCCURRED AND THE ENTIRE TRUCK COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. THE ABS CONTROLLER WAS BURNT AND THE WIRES LEADING FROM IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553861November 26, 2013
POWER TRAIN
DIFFERENTIAL/ REAR END HAS GONE OUT ON ME TWICE NOW. THE FIRST TIME WAS AFTER CAMPING, WHERE I WAS TOWING A LIGHT TRUCK BED TRAILER WITH CAMPING STUFF. NOISE DEVELOPED AND INCREASED OVER A FEW MONTHS. TOOK IT IN BEFORE IT FAILED. HAD TO HAVE IT REBUILT - CLIPS COMING OFF, ETC. THE 2ND TIME WAS ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER - I WAS ON CITY STREETS , GOING ONLY 5MPH SINCE IT WAS BUSY, WHEN I STOPPED AT A LIGHT. I FELT / HEARD A CLUNK. MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD TOTALLY LOST THE CLIPS, AND COILS BROKE. THANK GOD I WAS NOT GOING FAST. I HAD IT TOTALLY REBUILT AGAIN. I KNOW FROM FACEBOOK AND THE WEB THAT IT IS KNOWN THAT RAM 2002 TO 2005 REAR END C-CLIPS ARE BAD, AND HAVE CAUSED MANY ACCIDENTS, SOME AT HIGH SPEED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS NOT A RECALL!!! I HAVE SPENT MY OWN MONEY 2X TO GET THIS FIXED AND I DO NOT TOW EVEN THOUGH I BOUGHT A TRUCK THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A WORK / TOWING TRUCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10551964November 12, 2013
STEERING
NOVEMBER 8, 2013 CONTACT: [XXX] STATEMENT: TIE-ROD ASSEMBLY NOVEMBER 8, 2013 , AUBURN HILLS, MICH. - CHRYSLER GROUP LLC WILL CONDUCT THREE RECALLS AFFECTING APPROXIMATELY 1.2 MILLION TRUCKS, THOUGH AS MANY AS 726,000 MAY NOT NEED REPAIR. THE CAMPAIGNS TARGET AN ESTIMATED 453,000 VEHICLES WITH STEERING-SYSTEM TIE RODS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MISALIGNED DURING ASSEMBLY OR STEERING-SYSTEM SERVICE. CHRYSLER GROUP IS CASTING THE NET WIDER THAN NECESSARY TO IDENTIFY THOSE VEHICLES THAT REQUIRE REPAIR. ANY FOUND TO HAVE SUSPECT TIE-ROD ASSEMBLIES WILL HAVE THOSE COMPONENTS REPLACED AT NO COST TO CUSTOMERS. ONE RECALL WILL INSPECT AN ESTIMATED 842,400 MODEL-YEAR 2003-2008 RAM 2500 AND 3500 TRUCKS TO FIND APPROXIMATELY 116,000 REPAIRED WITH TIE-ROD ASSEMBLIES THAT COULD BECOME MISALIGNED. THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO COMPONENT FRACTURE AND STEERING LOSS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10551625November 9, 2013
STRUCTURE, STEERING, SUSPENSION
THE DASH STARTED TO CRACK ON MY 2003 RAM 1500 PICKUP, THE CRACKS JUST GET WORSE,AND A PIEACE FLEW OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AND HIT ME IN THE EYE, ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY TRUCK, DODGE NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX THESE DASHBOARDS BEFORE SOME ONE IS HURT OR KILLED, AFRAID TO LET ANY ONE RIDE IN THE FRONT SEAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10551209November 6, 2013
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED IN MULTIPLE PLACES. CRACKS BEGAN APPEARING MANY YEARS AGO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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