Dodge Ram Complaints (2003)

2,323 consumer complaints on file.

#10140551October 24, 2005
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
REAR PINION SEAL WENT OUT AT APPROXIMATELY 47000. BEGAN HEARING NOISE IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL AT 57000. TOOK IT INTO DEALER. TECH WAS VERY HELPFUL. DISMANTLED REAR DIFFERENTIAL. SHOWED ME APPX 3/16" GROOVE WORN INTO DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING AND CARRIER FROM LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL CLUTCH RETAINING CLIP WHICH BROKE OFF AND WAS GRINDING DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING. TECH SAYS THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL AND COULD LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC READ DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE DURING DRIVING CONDITIONS. READ VARIOUS INTERNET FORUMS WITH NUMEROUS DODGE RAM 1500 OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. SOME OF THESE SAME OWNER HAVE EXPERIENCED CATASTROPHIC FAILURES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139998October 17, 2005
STRUCTURE
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE 3500. WHEN HE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE HE WAS TOLD THIS TRUCK WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE RUNNING BOARDS PUT ON AND THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT THE TWO BOLTS THAT HOLD THE CAB ON THE FRAME WERE MISSING. *AK UPDATED 11/29/05. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138503October 4, 2005
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
WE HAVE HAD THE REAR END OF OUR 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 REPLACED IN OUR VEHICLE THREE TIMES IN THE 2 YEARS. THE RING AND PINION WAS SHATTERED THE FIRST TIME WE TOOK IT IN. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN IN MAY 05. WE HAD TO PAY 219.00 AND AGAIN THE REAR END WENT OUT IN AUG 05. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136795September 16, 2005
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DT: CONSUMER PURCHASED A 2003 RINKER BOAT TRAILER IN JULY 2003. IN AUGUST 2003 THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING ON THE INTERSTATE. THE FOLLOWING JULY 2004 ANOTHER TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER DID NOT REMEMBER LOCATION OF THE TIRE ON THE TRAILER AT THAT TIME. THE NEXT TIRE BLEW OUT IN APRIL 2005 AND AGAIN THE CONSUMER DID NOT REMEMBER WHICH TIRE IT WAS. ON JULY 17, 2005 THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THIS WAS THE FORTH BLOWOUT. EACH TIME A BLOWOUT OCCURRED THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE TRAILER. THE LAST TIRE BLEW OUT ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2005. THE LAST BLOWOUT WAS ON THE LEFT BACK TIRE. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THESE TIRES AT HIS OWN EXPENSE EACH TIME. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THESE BLOODS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136591September 15, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 DODGE RAM 1500 5.7L 2WD TRUCK STALLED. MOST RECENT LISTED BELOW BUT HAPPENED BEFORE AS WELL. NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, IN TRAFFIC, TRUCK SHUTTERS (LIKE IT DOWNSHIFTED SEVERAL GEARS AT ONCE) THEN ENGINE QUIT. HAVE ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES, RADIO, FAN, WINDOWS AND DASH ARE WORKING, BUT ENGINE NOT RUNNING. COAST TO STOP ON SIDE OF ROAD. SHIFT TO PARK BUT WON'T RE-START. HAVE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP (WHICH WAS CLOSED BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED ON A SUNDAY). NEXT DAY THE TRUCK STARED FINE AT DEALERSHIP AND HAD NO CODES. DEALER DID NOTHING TO REPAIR. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. TOWED TO DEALER AT NIGHT, STARTED THE NEXT MORNING AND HAD NO CODES. DEALER RE-FLASHED COMPUTER THAT TIME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136638September 15, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500 ONE TON. THE WARNING LIGHTS KEPT COMING ON. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND OFF. THE CONTACT CITED A RECALL ON MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, AND HIS VEHICLE HAD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. HE NOTICED THIS ON 9-13-05. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136152September 11, 2005
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
I HAVE A TERRIBLE LAUNCH SHUDDER IN THE DRIVE LINE OF MY TRUCK, WHICH THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK SEPT 03 AND RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER MAY 04 WITH 2027 MILES ON IT. THE TRUCK WOULD SHAKE AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON A HARD ACCELERATION THE DEALER SAID HE WENT BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL MORE TIMES FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT BUT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THERE WAS NO FIX. FINALLY, ON JULY 25, 2005, AT 9028 MILES A SERVICE TECH WENT FOR A RIDE WITH ME AND FELT THE SHUDDER. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DRIVESHAFT AND SAID THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED. I DROVE OFF THE DEALER PARKING LOT AND THE SHUDDER STARTED AS SOON AS I HIT THE PUBLIC STREET. I DROVE RIGHT BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM HASN'T BEEN CORRECTED. THE DEALER HAS SINCE REMOVED AND REINSTALLED THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, REMOVED AND REPLACED 2 BEARING IN THE REAR END, AN ENTIRE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY AND THE ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS. NONE OF THESE HAVE WORKED. JEFF KOSIBA, FROM CHRYSLER ENGINEERING, COMPANY PHN# 313-493-3359, CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD HIM THAT THE REAR BRAKES WERE HANGING UP AT WILL AND THAT THE FOLLOWING SHOULD BE REMOVED AND REPLACED: THE REAR BRAKE HUBS, BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS AND ROTORS. THIS REPAIR HASN'T BEEN COMPLETED AS OF THIS DATE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE ASAP, THIS IS A DANGEROUS VEHICLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116026September 2, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON FRIDAY, NOV. 28, 2003 MY HUSBAND DIED AS THE RESULT OF OUR 2003 DODGE RAM JUMPING FROM PARK INTO REVERSE, THE DRIVERS DOOR HIT HIM FROM BEHIND AND ROLLED HIM OVER FORWARD, PENNING HIM UNDER THE DRIVERS DOOR AND PAVEMENT. THIS INCIDNET WAS REPORTED TO AND INVESTIGATED BY THE BIRMINGHAM POLICE DEPT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10134805August 30, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING MY DODGE RAM PICKUP. I WAS COMING TO A STOP WHILE APPLYING MY BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I DID GET THE TRUCK TO STOP WITH OUT ANY CRASHES. EVER SINCE THEN I HAVE NOTICED BRAKE NOISE. NOW WHEN I PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND I AM ON A SLIPPERY SURFACE OR GOING OVER A BUMP MY BRAKES GRIND. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO TWO DIFFERENT DODGE DEALERS AND BOTH OF THEM TRY TO TELL ME THAT THIS IS NORMAL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134651August 29, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
REF 2003 DODGE RAM 1500QC 4.7L 4X4 17000 MILES ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS I HAD A NEAR STALLING ISSUE, AND 1 COMPLETE STALL. I WOULD START TRUCK IN MORNING LET IT SIT FOR 2 MINUTES THEN DRIVE TO WORK AS NORMAL, NO PROBLEMS. AFTER I LEAVE WORK AFTER AN 8 HOUR TOUR I WOULD START TRUCK AS NORMAL LET IT SIT FOR 2 MINUTES THEN DRIVE AWAY AS NORMAL AFTER APPROX 100 YARDS THROUGH PARKING LOT I WOULD STOP AT STOP SIGN WAITING TO TURN, TRUCK WOULD BOG DOWN AND CHUG AS IF IT WANTED TO STALL. I WOULD TAP THE GAS PEDAL WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE DOWN, THEN WHEN IT WAS CLEAR I WOULD DRIVE AS NORMAL NO MORE PROBLEMS. THE TRUCK HAS DONE IT NUMEROUS TIMES .THE TRUCK WAS BROUGHT IN TO THE DEALER, SPENT A WEEK, THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM WITH THE IDLE, SO THEY FLASHED THE COMPUTER. I GET THE TRUCK BACK DROVE HOME NO PROBLEM DROVE TO WORK NEXT DAY NO PROBLEM FINISHED MY TOUR STARTED TO DRIVE HOME NO PROBLEM, AFTER 2 MILES I MADE A LEFT TURN AND TRUCK STALLED OUT NARROWLY MISSING A TREE, I CALLED DEALER AND GAVE THEM A CODE THAT FLASHED ON DASHBOARD, NO SUCH CODE HAD IT TOWED IN, THEY HAD THE TRUCK 3 MORE DAYS, NEGATIVE PROBLEMS, BUT THEY INSTALLED AN ON BOARD FLIGHT RECORDER SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENS, SO THE RECORDER WENT IN AND THE PROBLEM HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES. I TOOK THE PICTURE LIKE THE SHOWED ME HOW AND GOT 3 GOOD SHOTS. THE DEALER GETS THE RECORDER BACK AND SAYS A FEW DAYS UNTIL THEY HEAR FROM DAIMLER/CHRYSLER. A WEEK OR SO GOES BY AND THE PROBLEM HAPPENS A FEW MORE TIMES. I CALL THE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON, AND THEY SAID THE DATA WAS INCONCLUSIVE. THEY WONT DO ANYTHING AT THIS TIME. DAIMLER SAYS UNTIL THEY HAVE A DEALER THAT COMES FORWARD WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND A SOLUTION THEY WONT ACT ON IT. SO IN THE MEAN TIME KEEP DRIVING THE TRUCK UNTIL THIS HAPPENS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134285August 26, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND IT'S KEEPS DYING, REALY SCARING WHEN IT DIES AT 65 MILES OER HOUR - FEAR OF STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP OR BRAKES NOT WORKING, HAS BEEN IN SHOP 7 OR 8 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND IT'S STILL NOT FIXED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133841August 22, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
STALLING WHEN GOING FROM IDLE SUCH AS ACCELLERATING OUT OF A TURN, TURNING FROM A STOP SIGN, PULLING INTO OR OUT OF A PARKING STALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133521August 19, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
TRUCK DEVELOPED WARPED ROTORS @ 13K MILES. ROTORS WERE TURNED AND FRON T CALIPERS REPLACED DUE TO TSB. LATER SHUDDER REAPPEARD @ ABOUT 22K MILES. DEALER TURNED REAR ROTORS. SHUDDER REAPPEARED ~6K MILES LATER. REPLACED REAR DISCS SINCE OLDER ONES WERE BEYOND TURNING. SHUDDER REAPPEARED @ 34K. AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION WITH DEALER AND DODGE CUST NO-SERVICE, FRONT HUBS WERE REPLACED AND FRONT ROTORS TURNED DUE TO TSB. NOW AT 38K MILES SHUDDER IS BACK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133149August 17, 2005
TIRES:SIDEWALL
I DRIVE A 2003 DODGE 3500 DRW AND PULL A 5TH WHEEL ONCE A MONTH. TIRES ARE GOODYEAR, WRANGLER SRA, SIZE: LT235/80R17 LOAD RATE E. I NOTICED AN OPEN CRACK ON THE SIDEWALL OF MY FRONT LEFT TIRE AND TOOK MY TRUCK INTO A GOODYEAR SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THEY INSPECTED IT AND SAID THAT ALL 6 TIRES SHOULD BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF SHOWING SIGNS OF CRACKING (ON THE SIDEWALLS). TO ME THIS IS AN UNSAFE PROBLEM AND I EXPECTED GOODYEAR TO REPLACE THEM. NO, I HAVE TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES (THEY ARE PRORATING THE BAD ONES). THE TIRES HAD TO BE FOUND IN TWO DIFFERENT STATES BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE THEM IN STOCK. I ASKED THE SERVICE PERSON IF THEY SEE THIS A LOT. HIS ANSWER WAS HE HAS SEEN IT BEFORE. I CONTACTED GOODYEAR CONSUMER RELATIONS AND GOT THE SAME ANSWER. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND THESE TIRES HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SIDEWALLS. SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED WITH KNOWN QUALITY TIRES. NO INCIDENT OCCURRED, SAW PROBLEM BEFORE HAND.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133069August 16, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIE ROD ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE ON THE 2003 DODGE RAM 3500 WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. THE DRIVER DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING DIFFERENT ABOUT THE DRIVING BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. THE STEERING WAS GONE AND THE TRUCK WASUNDRIVEABLE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO PICK UP THE TRUCK AND TAKE IT TO A DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THAT WAS THE FIRST TIE ROD THAT BROKE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONSUMER WAS GOING TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THE DEALER SAID THAT IS WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER WAS NOT GOING TO HELP WITH ANY EXPENSES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED AT THIS POINT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126510August 12, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY
DT: CONTACT STATES WHEN SHE WENT TO GET INTO THE TRUC, SHE PUT HER HAND ON THE GRAB BAR AND THE WHOLE PANEL THAT HELD THE GRAB BAR CAME OUT IN HER HAND. SHE FELL FLAT ON HER BACK. THOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD HER THAT ALL THAT WAS HOLDING THE GRAB BARS ON WAS PLASTIC. *AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10131639August 4, 2005
STEERING
2003 DODGE 2500 QUAD CAB 4X4. DIESEL: WHEN DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND CONTROL AFTER HITTING A ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROADWAY AND A ROUGH BRIDGE. DOES NOT DO IT ALL OF THE TIME SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN TO EXPECT IT. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE PROBLEM IS TO SLOW WAY DOWN, AT LEAST 25 TO 30 MPH SLOWER. IT DID NOT START DOING THIS UNTIL ABOUT 200 MILES OVER THE FACTORY BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. LOCAL DEALER THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO ROTATING TIRES AND THE TIRES BEING OUT OF BALANCE. I HAD TIRES RE-BALANCED AND ALSO INSTALL A NEW MOPAR STEERING STRUT AND IT STILL DOES IT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I AM AFRAID TO PULL MY 21 FT BOAT NOW. MY WIFE WILL NO LONGER DRIVE IT EITHER. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME KIND OF FACTORY RECALL BEFORE LIVES AND PROPERTY ARE LOST!! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131051August 2, 2005
TIRES, SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ON 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL BROKE OFF FROM THE AXLE WHILE DRIVING AT A 38-40 MPH. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY WHEN THE REAR END SLID TO THE RIGHT AND OUT UNDERNEATH, AND ENDED UP ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN THE GRASS, TRAVELED EAST BOUND AND ENDED UP WEST BOUND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MEDIAN. THE TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND HAS NOT BEEN REMOVED FROM THE IMPOUND YARD. CONSUMER HAD A SET OF NEW TIRES PUT ON THE VEHICLE A FEW MONTHS AGO. THEY WERE GOODYEAR EAGLE LS. TIRES. CONSUMER S HAD NOT CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130831August 1, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
1] NO PROBLEM JUST APPLIED BRAKES 2] WHEN I APPLY BRAKES IT VIBRATES THE FRONT END. 3] I TOOK TO RANDALL KNOLL DEALERSHIP IN TERRELL AND THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE ALL DAY AND SAID THEY DIDN'T FIND A PROBLEM AND ASK IF I WANTED TO PUT NEW BRAKES ON SO I SAID IF IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM SO THEY APPLIED THE NEW BRAKES AND NOTHING CHANGED THE VIBRATION. OR SHAKING WHEN YOU APPLIED THE BREAKS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR. TOOK THE TRUCK TO A LOCAL SHOP AND HAD THE ROTORS TURNED AND THEN REPLACED AND STILL THE PROBLEM EXISTS. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WHEN YOU HAVE TO APPLY THE BREAKS QUICK YOU BECOME AFRAID THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129931July 25, 2005
TIRES
DT: THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE CAMPER. THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THE TIRE WAS 3 YEARS OLD AND THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING RV TIRES EVERY THREE YEARS.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Dodge Ram