Dodge Ram Complaints (2003)

2,323 consumer complaints on file.

#10187321April 9, 2007
STEERING, TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN DRIVING ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT. THE CONTACT MUST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE VIBRATION OCCURS. THE DEALER STATED THE STEERING BOOSTER DAMPER, OUTER LINKS, AND TIRE KIT COULD ALL BE POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR THE FAILURE. CHRYSLER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO FLAGS RELATED TO THE VEHICLE'S FAILURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 35,000.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187144April 5, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH,THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD WINDING NOISE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BEFORE THE WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARINGS, AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.*AK UPDATE 05/21/07*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186366March 28, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS. ON THE FIRST OCCASION THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER 5,000 MILES LATER, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP, AND 9,000 MILES LATER, THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS WERE CHANGED A SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE TOO SMALL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186332March 27, 2007
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
HVAC SYSTEM WILL NOT LET THE DEFROSTER WORK. DODGE HAS ISSUED A TSB FOR THIS ISSUE. TSB 24-004-03. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186209March 26, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
RADIATOR FAILED ON 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 HEMI 4X4 AT 51,000 MILES. VEHICLE HAS A 7/70 DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY, HOWEVER CHRYSLER SAID THAT THE RADIATOR WAS NOT COVERED. CHRYSLER HAD ME "PARTICIPATE" IN THE REPAIR BY HAVING ME PAY $150. DEALER WOULD NOT TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE RADIATOR. I HAD TO CALL CHRYSLER CORPORATE AND FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. THEY ADMITTED THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185849March 21, 2007
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES
I WISH TO VOICE MY DISPLEASURE WITH CHYSLER'S RECALL #E-17 ON MY 2003 2500 DODGE PICKUP. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCK THEN IF NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. I'VE NOT HEARD OF ANYOTHER VEHICLE USING ALARMS TO WARN THAT IT S NOT IN PARK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185113March 14, 2007
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
SEAL ON RACK AND PINION UNIT LEAKING AND CAUSING SQUEALING. NEED TO TOP OFF POWER STEERING FLUID TO KEEP NOISE DOWN. NOT COVERED BY MANF. COVERAGE FOR 36K I HAVE 45K. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184961March 13, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
LOUD KNOCK COMING FROM LOWER END OF THE 5.7L HEMI MOTOR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183900March 1, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 WITH A CURRENT MILEAGE OF 43000 MILES. THE FAILURE CAUSED A LACK OF TRANSMISSION PARK PAWL ENGAGEMENT AND CAUSED REARWARD MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED REAR END BUMPER DAMAGE DO TO THE RECALL 05V462000 FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY DAMAGES TO HIS VEHICLE AT THIS TIME.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182764February 16, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ON MY 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 FAILED AT 59,000 MILES. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER AND CHRYSLER THAT THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER WHEEL BEARINGS / HUB ASSEMBLIES. THE 2006 VERSION OF THIS VEHICLE HAS A NATIONAL RECALL ON THE SAME ASSEMBLY / PART DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION. I WAS ALSO INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PARTS ARE ON NATIONAL BACKORDER DUE TO THE NUMBER OF FAILURES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182632February 15, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
ON FRIDAY THE 9TH OF FEBRUARY 2007 I NOTICED A LOUD SCRUBBING SOUND WHEN I MOVED MY STEERING WHEEL ANY. A WEEK PRIOR WE HAD NOTICED A LITTLE SQUEAK COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT END SO WHEN I HEARD THE SCRUBBING NOISE ALSO I CALLED THE LOCAL DODGE SERVICE CENTER. ON THURSDAY FEB. 15TH 2007 I TOOK IT IN TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS THINKING MAYBE POWER STEERING PUMP OR SOMETHING SIMPLE. LOWER BALL JOINT BOOTS BUSTED AT 61K ON MY 2003 RAM 1500 4X4 QC. LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS AND ASSEMBLIES NEED TO BE REPLACED. MY TRUCK IS IN PRISTINE CONDITION OTHERWISE, THIS CAME AS QUITE A SHOCK AND WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. PRICE TO FIX? $1,600.00. I WAS TOLD THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THE DODGE DURANGO AND JEEP LIBERTY HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR AND THAT QUITE A FEW RAM 1500'S ARE COMING IN TO DEALERS, SO MUCH SO THAT THE PARTS TO FIX THIS ARE ON BACK ORDER. I NOW KNOW THIS IS THE REASON WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME UNEVEN TIRE WEAR IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS ONCE IT FAILS THE FRONT END WILL FALL APART. I WOULD LIKE TO DOCUMENT THIS IN THE PROPER PLACE SO THAT RESTITUTION CAN POSSIBLY BE MADE TO US CONSUMERS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. AUTOMOBILE COMPANIES SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO MANUFACTURE AND SELL BALL JOINTS AS "SEALED" THERE IS NO WAY TO MAINTAIN THEM AND ONCE THE BOOTS BUST THE BALL JOINTS FAIL - DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES INCUR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182576February 14, 2007
TIRES:SIDEWALL
I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A PROBLEM WITH GOODYEAR TIRES. MY VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR WRANGLER LT235/80R17 ALL TERRAIN TIRES. MY TIRE DEALER INDICATES THAT THESE TIRES ARE LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD BASED ON THE MANUFACTURERS CODE DATE, YET ALL 6 TIRES HAVE SPLITS IN THE SIDE WALL DUE TO "ROTTING" ACCORDING TO MY TIRE DEALER. SOME OF THESE SPLITS ARE VERY DEEP, UP TO 1/2" WIDE AND 4" LONG. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS KIND OF PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER BRAND OF TIRE. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN EVERY DAY, AND I CARE FOR THE TIRES BY MAINTAINING PROPER INFLATION AND DOING REGULAR ROTATIONS. IF I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM THIS COULD BECOME A SERIOUS SITUATION, FOR HAD I NOT FOLLOWED PROPER TIRE MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES ON MY TRUCK, I WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN AWARE OF THE IMPENDING TIRE FAILURES, AS THE DEEP CRACKS WERE ALL LOCATED ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE OUT OF NORMAL VIEW. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182455February 13, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
THE FRONT SEALED INNER WHEEL BEARING FAILURE ON DODGE TRUCKS AND CARS. SOUTH POINT DODGE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, IN AUSTIN,TX INFORMS ME THAT THEY HAVE A LOT OF FAILURES WITH THIS ON THE NEWER VEHICLES. MINE IS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 TRUCK, DIESEL, FAILED AT 70,000 MILES, I HAVE SPOKE WITH 2 OTHER DODGE OWNERS IN THE PAST 4 DAYS AND THEY ALSO HAVE HAD THE SAME THING ON THEIR DODGE TRUCKS,1 WAS AT 50,000 MILES AND THE OTHER WAS AT 63,000 MILES, INNER WHEEL BEARING FAILURE ON A SEALED BEARING ON THE FRONT HUBS. THESE TYPE OF FAILURES CAN CAUSE THE FRONT WHEEL TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE CAUSE ACCIDENT OR DEATH. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING DODGE TRUCKS FOR 18 YEARS AND HAVE OWNED 5 OF THEM. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE/DEFECT THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TELLS ME THAT THEY SEE IT ALL THE TIME WITH THESE NEW SEAL BEARINGS IN THE HUBS ON THE FRONT WHEELS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182508February 13, 2007
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
ON THE WAY TO WORK ONE MORNING, BOTH THE BRAKE AND ABS LAMPS CAME ON AT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON THE DASH. AT THE SAME TIME I NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER READINGS BEGAN TO OSCILLATE 5-10 MPH FROM TRUE VEHICLE SPEED. TRUCK SEEMED TO DRIVE JUST FINE OTHERWISE BUT DROPPED IT OFF AT A LOCAL DEALER JUST IN CASE. DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR HAS BEEN "DESTROYED" BY DEBRIS ACCUMULATED IN THE TONE OR EXCITER RING IN THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING. DEALER ALSO FOUND THE REMAINS OF NUMEROUS "KEEPERS" USED TO ALIGN THE CLUTCH PACKS IN THE DODGE 9.25" ANTI-SPIN DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING AND NOTED SUBSTANTIAL SCORING OF THE BEARING CAPS. FAULTY RETAINER CLIPS HAVE RENDERED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM INOPERATIVE AND MADE THE SPEEDOMETER UNRELIABLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182251February 11, 2007
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
WINDOWS IN 2003 DODGE RAM VAN FOG UP AND FROST IN COLD TEMPERATURES. THE FASTER I GO, THE MORE IT FROSTS UP. WE HAVE TO USE AN ICE SCRAPER ON THE INSIDE, WHICH IS A SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN I PARK THE VAN FOR A FEW MINUTES, IT DEFROSTS. CHRYSLER SAYS THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO FOR IT. AIR IS LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE VAN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182269February 11, 2007
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 DODGE 2500 PICK UP, THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR IS LEAKING. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL ITEM. SINCE THIS LEAK COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAUSING AN ACCIDENT,POSSIBLY SERIOUS, I FELT THAT I SHOULD REPORT THIS PROBLEM. MY TRUCK HAS 53XXX MILES ON IT. I THINK THAT THIS IS TOO SOON FOR A PROBLEM OF THIS TYPE TO BE OCCURRING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181996February 8, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
IN COLD WEATHER BELOW FREEZING THE THROTTLE BODY FUEL INJECTION FREEZES UP RENDERING THE VEHICLE POWERLESS. NO ACCELERATION POSSIBLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181495February 3, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
I HAVE A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB WITH THE 4.7 LITER ENGINE. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000 MILES ON IT. IN THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER (AT ABOUT 90,000 MILES), THE THROTTLE CABLE BEGAN STICKING IN COLD WEATHER (ABOUT 25F AND BELOW). MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED THE TRUCK IN SEPTEMBER OF 2003 WHEN IT HAD APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES ON IT. I DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE UNTIL DECEMBER OF 2006. AS THE ENGINE WARMED UP, THE CABLE WOULD STOP STICKING. ON VERY COLD MORNINGS, EVEN AFTER THE ENGINE WARMED UP, THE CABLE WOULD START TO STICK WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I WOULD PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE CABLE WOULD FREE UP. I REPLACED THE THROTTLE CABLE AND HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT SINCE. I REPLACED THE CABLE ON 1/21/07. IT HAS BEEN VERY COLD HERE LATELY AND IT HAS BEEN WORKING FINE. THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE INCREASED BRAKING DISTANCES OR INABILITY TO STOP THE VEHICLE IF THE THROTTLE IS STUCK AT NEAR WIDE OPEN THROTTLE. I DO STILL HAVE THE THROTTLE CABLE THAT I REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181070January 30, 2007
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
LARGE METAL PIECES FOUND IN DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING, WHILE CHANGING LUBE, BIG ENOUGH TO JAM GEARS AND CAUSE REAL AXLES TO LOCK UP. STILL UNDER WARRANTY, DEALER WILL FIX. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179210January 20, 2007
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
03 QUAD CAB 4.7 WITH 20" WHEELS REAR END GROWLING. DEALER REPAIRED IT 1 TIME AND TOLD US TO DRIVE IT AND IF IT STILL MADE NOISE THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE COMPLETE REAR END. TOOK IT BACK A SECOND TIME THEY TOOK IT APART AND PUT MORE NEW PARTS IN IT ,TOOK THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT AND IT STILL MADE THE GROWLING SOUND, TOOK IT BACK AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE HAVING SOME PROBLEM'S WITH THOSE REAR ENDS AND THEY DROVE IT AND SAID (COULD NOT DUPLICATE COMPLAINT) THE TRUCK STILL HAS A GROWL IN THE REAR END NOW THEY SAY IT IS A TIRE PROBLEM, THE DATES IN THIS REPORT ARE A GUESS, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY AT THE TIME OF BOTH COMPLAINTS. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT EAST TULSA DODGE IN TULSA OK. AND ALL SERVICES HAVE BEEN BY THEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Dodge Ram