Dodge Ram Complaints (2003)

2,323 consumer complaints on file.

#10129840July 24, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
THAT MORNING I WAS LEAVING A JOB SITE AND NOTICED MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CALLED THE DODGE DEALER. SERVICE TECH STATED THAT IF IT WAS NOT FLASHING TO BRING IT IN ASAP. LATER THAT DAY WHILE DRIVING BACK TO MY HOUSE, WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO MY HOUSE. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT RE-START. I CALLED THE DEALER AND CHRYSLER HAD A TOW TRUCK OUT. IT WAS FOUND THAT A WIRING HARNESS HAD COME LOOSE AND HAD BEEN RUBBING, THE HARNESS DAMAGED AND A BARE WIRE SHORED OUT, BLEW THE COIL AND RUPTURED THE FUEL LINE! I WAS VERY LUCKY TO NOT HAVE CAUGHT FIRE OR EXPLODED. AFTER REPEATED CALLS AND EMAILS, I HAVE FIGURED CHRYSLER DOES NOT CARE. I'LL BET THER ARE QUITE A FEW 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 PICKUPS OUT THERE. I WOULD HOPE THE REST COULD BE WARNED BEFORE A DEATH OCCURS!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129631July 21, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THIS ISSUE OCCURS INTERMITTENLY, WHILE PULLING FORWARD INTO MY PARKING PLACE, I SHIFTED THE TRUCK INTO REVERSE AND IT STALLED. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND SHIFTED TO REVERSE THEN AGAIN AHIFTING INTO DRIVE AND THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN ONE WEEK. EACH TIME WAS AFTER DRIVING AT LEAST 15 MILES SO THE VEHICLE WAS HEATED UP. THIS COULD BE A MAJOR ISSUE ESPECIALLY WHILE BACKING DOWN MY JET SKIS INTO THE WATER. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO DODGE FOR WARRANTY REPAIR AND AFTER 2 DAYS, THEY SAID THEY HAVE YET TO REPRODUCE OR DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130218July 20, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
OWNER DROVE TRUCK THROUGH AN OPEN GATE AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO GET OUT AND CLOSE THE GATE. THE VEHICLE WAS ON A FLAT, LEVEL, HARD DIRT SURFACE AND WAS LEFT RUNNING, THE PARK BRAKE WAS NOT SET. OPERATOR WALKED BEHIND VEHICLE AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF CLOSING THE GATE (ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE TRUCK) WHEN IT PASSED THE OPERATOR. OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO RUN BEHIND THE TRUCK AND GAIN ENTRY INTO THE OPEN DRIVERS DOOR WITHOUT INCIDENT. NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE OR ANY PROPERTY, NO INJURY TO OPERATOR. OPERATOR NOW USES THE PARK BRAKE WITH THE TRANS IN NEUTRAL POSITION WHEN LEAVING THE TRUCK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. OPERATOR HAS ADVISED OTHER USERS OF THE VEHICLE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *DSY SEE ALSO VOQ 10058839. *DSY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129176July 18, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
I PURCHASED A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB IN 10/2003. THE TEMP GAUGE ALWAYS SHOWED THE TEMP AT ABOVE THE NORMAL RANGE. TOLD BY THE SALESPERSON THAT WAS NORMALAT. AT APPROXIMATELY 44K MILES THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND BROKE DOWN. MECHANIC REPLACED THERMOSTAT - NO HELP. TOOK VEHICLE TO BATTISON'S DEALERSHIP IN DUNCAN OK WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS ACCUSED OF INSTALLING THE THERMOSTAT BACKWARD. THE DEALERSHIP ACCUSED US OF PUTTING "STOP LEAK" IN THE RADIATOR AND USING NON RED COOLANT. COOLANT WAS CLEAR BECAUSE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND WATER WAS ONLY SOURCE. STOP LEAK WAS NEVER USED - THE DEALERSHIP'S CONTRACTOR FOR RADIATOR REPAIR IT LOOKED LIKE STOP LEAK COULD HAVE BEEN USED - BUT COULDN'T TELL FOR SURE. THE PARTS MANAGER TOLD US THAT AT THE SAME TIME OUR 2003 WAS IN THE SHOP A 2005 WITH 31K WAS IN THE SHOP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DIFFERENCE - THE 2005 WAS UNDER WARRANTY. MY THOUGHT - IF DODGE ISN'T GOING TO STAND BEHIND PRODUCT AFTER 36K MILES THEN WE WON'T PURCHASE PRODUCTS FROM THIS LINE - FORD IS LOOKING BETTER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128850July 15, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ROUGH/UNEXCEPTABLE IDLE IN 2003 DODGE RAM SINCE 6,000 MILES ON ODOMETER, TAKEN TO DODGE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO RESULTS OR REPAIR. DEALERSHIP AND DAHMLER CHRYSLER HAVE NO REMEDY AND I HAVE A FAIRLY NEW VEHICLE THAT RUNS LIKE ITS ON ITS LAST LEG. I AM TOTALLY ANNOYED WITH THE DODGE EXPERIENCE, AND SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED A GM PRODUCT. I AM CURRENTLY RESEARCHING THE LEMON LAW PROCEDURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128349July 11, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
FRONT OEM ROTORS ARE TOO WEAK FOR THE FACTORY INSTALLED 20" WHEELS. I HAD TO HAVE MY ROTORS TURNED AT 13K MILES BECAUSE OF UNEVEN WEAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128164July 9, 2005
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING THAT THE LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER CANNOT FIGURE OUT. I'VE RECENTLY STARTED GETTING A WHINING NOISE FROM THE STEERING WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE LAST TIME THAT I NOTICED THIS NOISE I LATER NOTICED FLUID UNDER THE TRUCK COMING FROM THE POWER STEERING LOCATION. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHERE IT WAS LEAKING FROM AND PLACED DYE IN THE RESEVOIR AND RAN THE TRUCK FOR TWO HOURS. THEY DID NOT NOTICE A LEAK OR THE WHINE. THEY WANT ME TO DRIVE THE TRUCK AND BRING IN BACK AFTER 200 MILES OR SO. I DID A SEARCH OF THE FORUMS ON WWW.TURBODIESELREGISTRY.COM AND NOTICED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A METAL SCREEN "FILTER" INSIDE THE PUMP THAT IS CLOGGING. AFTER THEY DRAIN THE PUMP, CLEAN THE SCREEN AND REFILL/REPRIME THE PUMP THE LOW SPEED CONDITION GOES AWAY. THIS CONCERNS ME VERY MUCH AS MY FAMILY LIVES COULD BE IN JEOPARDY IF THIS SHOULD CAUSE A POWER STEERING / POWER BRAKE FAILURE. WE LIVE IN COLORADO AND TOW ON THE MOUNTAIN PASSES HERE VERY FREQUENTLY. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS "FILTER" IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM WHETHER IT IS TO REMOVE THIS "FILTER" OR REPLACE IT WITH AN EXTERNAL FILTER THAT CAN BE SERVICED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126005July 8, 2005
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
DT: THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE POWER STEERING GEAR BOX AND PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REMEDIED THE PROBLEM(S). *AK *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127540July 5, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TRUCK STARTED AND IDLED ROUGH, TURNED OFF TRUCK AND RESTARTED BUT WOULD NOT CONTINUE TO RUN. HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO DEALER WAS TOLD DESIEL FUEL WAS MIXED IN GAS TANK. I RUN A MAJOR LAWN SERVICE AND HAVE HAD ABSOULTELY NO PROBLEMS WITH ANY EQUIPMENT FAILURES DUE TO FUEL PROBLEMS! THE STATION WHERE I BUY MY GAS DOESN'T EVEN CARRY DESIEL FUEL. SO FAR THE DEALER WANTS TO DRAIN GAS TANK CLEAN FUEL INJECTORS, REPLACE SPARKPLUGS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127228July 1, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
AT 3,000 MILE THE BRAKES BEGAN TO SHUDDER, THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE, THEN AT 9,000 MILE SERVICE BULLETIN REPAIR WAS COMPLETED, NOW AT 22,000 I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM, DEALERSHIP STATES THAT ONCE SERVICE BULLETIN IS DONE DODGE WILL NOT REPAIR AGAIN, AND NOW WARRANTY IS EXPIRED ON BRAKES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10123759June 28, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT: WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN IDLE WITH NO ONE IN IT TRUCK JUMPED OUT OF PARK AND WENT INTO REVERSE BY ITSELF. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, AND ROLLED AWAY, CAUSING DAMAGE TO TRUCK AND SOME CONCRETE STEPS. THE DEALER PUT THE TRUCK ON THE COMPUTER AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. CONTRACTOR FOR MANUFACTURER SAID HE COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH TRUCK. *AK *TT *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126403June 23, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
2003 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB REAR LAMP FAILURE. I HAVE HAD TWO REAR LAMP FAILURES ONE ON THE LEFT SIDE AND ONE ON THE RIGHT SIDE BRAKE LAMP. UPON REPLACING LAMP, LAMP WAS IN GOOD CONDITION BUT BASE WHERE CONTACT WITH ELECTRICAL WAS MADE WAS BURNED ON BOTH BULBS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126168June 22, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE HAS 107,000 MILES ON IT 4.7 L. HEAD GASKET BLEW WATER NUMBER 2 CYLINDERMOTOR OVER HEATED. NOW DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE $2600 TO FIX. OUT OF 5 DODGES HAVE HAD 4 WITH BAD HEAD GASKETS. 2 CARAVANS WITH 2,4L AND A BREEZE(PLYMOUTH) WITH A 2L. WAS TOLD BY A NON DODGE MECHANIC SHOP THIS IS THE 3RD ONE THEY HAVE SEEN. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM. ALSO HAD RIGHT INNER TIE ROD GO OUT ONCE AND IS DOING SO AGAIN. CAUSES SEVERE TIRE WEAR AND VERY ERATTIC STEERING. PLEASE POST TO THIS SITE IF SIMILAR PROBLEMS MAY FORCE DODGE TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AND SHOW THIS IS SOMETHING COMMON AND THEY ARE JUST BITING THEIR TOUNGE UNTIL OUR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120851June 20, 2005
STEERING:COLUMN
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH THE A/C ON HIGH, THE CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE AND SAW IT COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. THE WIRES HAD MELTED AND BURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH UP. THERE WERE NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DODGE MECHANIC SAID THAT THESE PARTICULAR VEHICLES HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE A/C STAYING ON HIGH FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. THE CONSUMER HAS ALREADY BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE DODGE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THAT WAS A YEAR BEFORE THIS VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM HAS ALREADY BEEN CORRECTED. *JB *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125100June 13, 2005
STEERING
VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AT 55MPH WHEN SUDDENLY COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING OCCURRED AND BRAKES LOCKED SIMULTANIOUSLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED ALTHOUGH ONCOMING TRAFFIC ALSO SPUN OUT OF CONTROL TO AVOID ACCIDENT. ENGINE NEVER DIED AND WHEN VEHICLE STOPPED ITSELF STEERING AND BRAKES RETURNED TO WHAT APPEARED TO BE NORMAL. DRIVER WAS TO SHAKEN TO CONTINUE AND HER BROTHER TOOK OVER. HE RE-ENTERED HIGHWAY AND SLOWLY ACCELERATED WATCHING GAUGES TO LOOK FOR ABNORMAL OCCURANCES. WHEN VEHICLE REACHED 45MPH OIL PRESSURE GUAGE JUMPED ALL THE WAY TO TOP READING, COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING RE-OCCURRED, AND BRAKES LOCKED AGAIN CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN AGAIN OUT OF CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER WHERE DEALER SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING. CONTACTED CHRYSLER WHERE THEY SAID THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THAT HAPPENING. PERHAPS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ARE ALL DEAD? WHATEVER CAUSES THIS SEQUENCE OF EVENTS TO BE ABLE TO OCCUR SHOULD BE OF MAJOR CONCERN TO THE PEOPLE AT CHRYSLER. THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY BUT SINCE NO ONE SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN HOW DO I EVER PUT MY FAMILY BACK IN THIS TRUCK AGAIN MUCH LESS HOOK UP OUR HORSE TRAILER TO IT?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10124800June 9, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD. FRONT LEFT WHEEL FELL OFF, LEADING ME INTO A ROCK. VEHICLE IS TOTAL LOSS AND I HAVE HAD PHYSICAL DAMAGE ON MY FACE FROM IT GOING THROUGH THE DRIVER DOOR WINDOW ON IMPACT. DODGE HAS DENIED MY CLAIM EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A RECALL ON DAKOTA'S FOR SAME PROBLEM.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10124041June 3, 2005
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
I JUST HAD MY 2003 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB 1500 SERIES TRUCK IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR ITS 30,000 MILES SERVICE AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY FOUND THE DIFFERENTIAL LOCKING CLIP HAD FALLEN OFF AND HAD DONE DAMAGE TO THE INSIDE OF MY REAR. THEY SAID THAT I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT THEY FOUND IT NOW SINCE IT COULD HAVE CASED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT THE REAR HAD LOCKED UP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE DONE SOME HOMEWORK ON THIS ISSUE AND HAVE SEEN THAT THERE IS A VERY HIGH FAILURE RATE ON THIS PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS I DO A LOT OF TOWING WITH MY CAMPER AND FAMILY. I HAVE ALSO SEEN WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A VERY HIGH FAILURE RATE ON THE REAR AXLES BREAKING. MY DEALERSHIP DID NOT REPLACE MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL BUT HAD REBUILT IT. I WANTED A NEW ONE BUT THEY TOLD ME IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND HAVEN'T HEARD OF MANY DIFFERENTIALS FAILING. WHAT CAN YOUR ORGANIZATION DO TO HELP ME?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10123856June 1, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, EQUIPMENT
WATER LEAKING ON TO NUMBER 1 CYCLINDER CAUSING IT TO MISS FIRE.AS FAR AS I KNOW DODGE AINT SAYING A THING ABOUT THIS JUST GIVING TUNE UPS AND SENDING PEOPLE ON THERE WAY.ALSO BOTH DOORS ARE TEARING UP WEATHER STRIPPING ON BOTH SIDES OF VECHILE [ON SOME MODLES] THESE MODLES ARE DODGE RAMS 1500,2500.3500
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122536May 31, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE STALLS DURING PARKING LOT MANUVERS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IT STUMBLES AND OR STALLS. VEHICLE BOUGHT IN JUNE OF 2003. 1RST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS IN AUGUST OF 2003. TOOK VEHICLE IN AND THEY "FLASHED" THE PCM. CONTINUED TO HAPPEN ABOUT EVERY THREE MONTHS UP TO THE PRESENT. HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALER ON A COUPLE OF OTHER OCCASIONS SINCE. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIX. HAPPENED AGAIN IN FEBRUARY, A FEW DAYS AFTER IT WAS AT CERRITOS DODGE. CALLED THE SERVICE REP THERE, ALFONZO CUADRA, HE SAID THAT I WOULD BE WASTING MY TIME BRINGING IT BACK IN AGAIN. HE SAID THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO FIX AVAILABLE. HE SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE A NEW FLASH IN THE "NEAR FUTURE" AND HE WOULD CALL ME WHEN IT WAS IN. STILL NO CALL. THERE IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE. WAS ALMOST HIT IN A PARKING LOT THE LAST TIME THAT IT HAPPENED. I DON'T FEEL LIKE THIS IS A SAFE VEHICLE AND CHRYSLER DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122434May 30, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2003 DODGE RAM, 1500, 5,7 LTR. HEMI, HAS STALLED AND WOULD NOT START OR RUN. TOWED IN THREE TIMES. TOTAL TIMES IN SHOP - SIX OR SEVEN TIMES. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS, BUT STALLING IS NOT AS SEVERE SINCE LAST SERVICE. TRUCK IS USED FOR FARM AND PULLING CAMPER. CANNOT USE FOR LONG TRIPS AND CAMPING DUE TO FEAR OF STALLING AND BEING STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. DEALER HAS REPLACED MANY PARTS AND BELIEVES PROBLEM IS SOLVED, BUT STALLING CONTINUES, ALTHOUGH NOT AS SEVERE. I'M RELUCTANT TO PURSUE FURTHER ACTION AS DEALER IS PERSONAL FRIEND AND I BELIEVE THEY HAVE TRIED AS BEST AS THEY CAN. THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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