Dodge Ram Complaints (2003)

2,323 consumer complaints on file.

#10269979May 26, 2009
SUSPENSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE STEERING LINKAGES ON HER VEHICLE. THE DEALER WILL ONLY PERFORM HALF OF THE REPAIR FOR FREE AND THE CONTACT MUST PAY $700 FOR THE OTHER HALF. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER WAITING TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WILL CALL THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS 07E009000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000. UPDATED 07/14/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PITMAN ARM WAS ON AN ANGLE WHICH CAUSED THE OTHER ARM TO TWIST AT AN ODD ANGLE AND CAUSED DAMAGE THE RUBBER GASKET. UPDATED 07/15/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269788May 23, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ENDS WORE OUT AND RUSTED PARTS ON A 2003 RAM THAT ALMOST RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF A WHEEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269734May 22, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNWARRANTED DECELERATION. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS, THE CONTACT CANNOT ACCELERATE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RESURFACED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268686May 13, 2009
STRUCTURE
CRACKED DASHBOARD ON MY 2003 DODGE RAM PICK-UP. BEGAN ONE YEAR AGO, 2008 AND NOW HAVE TWO CRACKS ON TOP FROM WINDSHIELD TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE AND PASSENGER SIDE. PER THE COMPLAINT FORUMS THE CRACKS ARE FROM DEFECTIVE PLASTIC MATERIAL DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND WILL GET WORSE TO THE POINT THERE WILL BE JAGGED EDGES AND A SAFETY CONCERN TO PASSENGER AND DRIVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267514May 1, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TRUCK KEPT OVERHEATING BUT IT WAS NEVER DISPLAYED ON GAUGE OF OVER HEATING.THE COOLANT WAS FLUSHED AND REPLACED. A WEEK LATER THE TRUCK STALLED ON THE INTERSTATE AND WOULD NOT RUN. IT WOULD TURN ON BUT THE ENGINE WOULD SOUND REALLY LOUD AND THE TRUCK AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD BE TREMBLING. IT WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND HE CLAIMS THAT IT WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. THE OVER HEATING CAUSED A ROD TO BREAK. THE TRUCK ON HAS 107,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267154April 28, 2009
STEERING, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK WHEN I HEARD A SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE TRUCK. THE NEXT DAY I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND HAD IT LOOKED AT. THEY TOLD ME THE SQUEAK WAS FROM THE RACK AND PINION AND THE BOOTS WERE ALSO LEAKING FLUID.I TOLD THEM THAT I JUST HAD THE RACK AND PINION FIXED AT 53,314 MILES AND NOW AT 69,766 MILES. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND THEY CAME UP WITH NO RECALLS OR COMPLAINTS. I AM NOT HAPPY. I HAD THE DEALER FIX THE RACK AND PINION BOTH TIMES. OUT OF POCKET COST $855.77 AND NOW $978.32. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266579April 24, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IDLING HE WOULD EXPERIENCE A SPONTANEOUS SURGE FORWARD. AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE NON-WARRANTED ACCELERATION HE CONSIDERED THAT THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY AND CRASH ARE INCREASED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN SPECULATED THAT THE GAS CAP WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266534April 23, 2009
VISIBILITY
THE FACTORY EQUIPPED HEATING AND DEFROSTING SYSTEM FAILS TO REGULATE FROM DASH BOARD HEAT TO THE DEFROSTERS THAT DIRECTS THE HEAT TO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, THUS CAUSING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO FOG UP AND IN MOST CASES OF THE WINTER MONTHS BUILD UP WITH ICE TO CAUSE UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. IN NOT WINTER MONTHS WHERE THE WEATHER IS COOL OR RAINY FOG FORMS ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD BLOCKING VISIBILITY. WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN OR UP THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE ACCIDENTS WERE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BEING FROZEN AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SEEN THROUGH. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HEADED INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. THE EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE WOULD BE NORMAL DAILY DRIVING. THE FAILURE OCCURS %100 OF THE TIME. AT THIS TIME NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266551April 23, 2009
STRUCTURE
DASH JUST CRACKS PIECES, ALTHOUGH SMALL FOR THE MOMENT, FELL OUT OF THE DASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266219April 21, 2009
POWER TRAIN
03 DODGE RAM 1500 WAS IN FOR SERVICE, MECHANIC FOUND CLIP BROKEN IN REAR END. SERVICE ADVISER SAID THE BROKEN CLIP WAS PROBLEM SEEN MANY TIMES, I WAS GLAD IT WAS FOUND AT THIS TIME, REAR END COULD HAVE LOCKED UP AT HIGH SPEED AND CAUSED A ACCIDENT. REAR END WAS REPLACED WITH 70,000 MILE WARRANTY FOR $100.00. I HAVE TALKED TO PEOPLE THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM MORE THAN ONCE. THE DEALER REPLACES THE REAR END WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PARTS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265520April 15, 2009
POWER TRAIN
I TOOK MY 03 RAM IN FOR SERVICE AND THE SERVICE ADVISER FOUND A CLIP THAT HAD BROKEN IN THE REAR END. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR UP TO $2000.00. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE RAM. SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE HAS A REAR END TO LOCK UP AND CAUSE A ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265231April 14, 2009
STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PAINT BEGAN TO CHIP ABNORMALLY NEAR THE DRIP RAIL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE BECAUSE THE PAINT BEGAN CHIPPING FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WOULD NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED ITS WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265087April 13, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL PRESSURE DROPS ALL OF A SUDDEN TRUCK QUITS. THERE MANY OTHER PEOPLE ON THE WEB WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS NO OTHER PROBLEM UNTIL OIL PRESSURE DROPS FOR NO REASON. MECHANICS ALL SAY THE SAME THING NEED NEW ENGINE. OIL IS CHANGED WHEN IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE. THE ENGINES NEED TO BE RECALLED BECAUSE THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264889April 10, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, HE NOTICED THAT THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE WHEEL BEARING. THE TECHNICIAN ADDED THAT IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $3,000 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 69,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264456April 8, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I AM A BATTALION CHIEF WITH A FIRE DEPARTMENT AND RECENTLY HAD A DODGE RAM WITH SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST INSTANCE OF THIS HAPPENING WITH A DODGE RAM PICK-UP I WOULD LIKE TO SEND YOU SOME PICTURES OF THIS MOST RECENT ACCIDENT IF YOU WOULD LIKE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10264194April 5, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY TURN SIGNAL STALK DOESN'T SIGNAL PROPERLY WHEN ACTUATED. I PUSH UP FOR A RIGHT SIGNAL, SOMETIMES I GET A RIGHT SIGNAL SOMETIMES I GET THE TOTAL OPPOSITE (LEFT SIGNAL). THIS IS DANGEROUS. ALSO ON THE SAME LEVER MY WIPERS DON'T ALWAYS TURN ON PROPERLY OR THE HIGH BEAMS DON'T ACTIVATE OR DON'T TURN OFF. HOWEVER, I STRONGLY FEEL THIS IS A CHRYSLER ISSUE BECAUSE HAVING TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON A TDR DISCUSSION BOARD IT HAS BEEN REALIZED THAT THERE IS TOO MUCH STRESS ON THE WIRING HARNESS THAT TERMINATES AT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TILTED DOWN THIS HARNESS SEPARATES FROM THE SWITCH DUE TO NO SLACK CAUSING IT TO BECOME ERRATIC, THEN IF YOU TILT THE WHEEL UP IT MAKES A FULL CONNECTION AND WORKS PROPERLY. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BEFORE THIS CAUSES AN ACCIDENT!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262878March 24, 2009
STRUCTURE
MY DASHBOARD IS VERY BRITTLE, CRACKING BAD AND IS CONTINUALLY GETTING WORSE. DURING OUR LAST COLD WEATHER, I TURNED ON MY HEATER AND A PIECE OF THE PLASTIC WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER VENT POPPED UP AND HIT MY WINDSHIELD AND FELL INTO THE VENT. IT DOES THIS WHEN I TURN ON MY A/C IN HOT WEATHER WHEN I CAN HEAR PLASTIC PIECES FALLING DOWN INTO THE DASH. IF THAT FLYING PIECE OF PLASTIC WOULD HAVE HIT ME OR ONE OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN INJURY ESPECIALLY IF IT HIT ONE OF US IN THE EYE. I HAVE READ IN MANY ONLINE FORUMS OF OTHER DODGE RAM OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE BUT DODGE WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ONE OF THE POSTS STATED THE DASHBOARDS ARE MADE OF CHEAP PLASTIC WHICH IS NOT UV RATED. IF MY VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC COLLISION, THE BRITTLE DASHBOARD COULD SHATTER LIKE POTATO CHIPS AND FLY THROUGH-OUT THE CABIN AND CAUSE INJURY TO THE OCCUPANTS! I CAN HEAR THE DASH CRACKING OFTEN AND MORE PIECES FALLING DOWN INTO THE VENTS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE FANS OR OTHER COMPONENTS. EVEN AFTER CLEANING THE INTERIOR OF MY VEHICLE ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH UV PROTECTANTS, THE DASHBOARD IS STILL DETERIORATING EACH WEEK AND IS RECENTLY GETTING WORSE. WE THE CUSTOMERS HAVE PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THESE VEHICLES, YET DODGE WONT EVEN REPLACE A DANGEROUS, BRITTLE DASHBOARD TO MAKE IT SAFER FOR US? POOR QUALITY PLASTIC IS BEING USED INSIDE THE DODGE RAMS WHICH CAUSE THE DASHBOARDS TO BECOME BRITTLE AND DANGEROUS. IT IS ALSO CRACKING BAD AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AREA WHICH COULD ALSO CAUSE THE DASHBOARD TO EXPLODE IF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262815March 23, 2009
STEERING, SUSPENSION
TRUCK SHAKES AFTER HITTING BUMP AT 70 MILES PER HR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262858March 23, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THIS IS AN UPDATE TO THE COMPLAINT I FILED DUE THE INCIDENT WITH MY STEPFATHER. THAT COMPLAINT IS #10246879 WHEREIN I REPORTED A FAILURE IN THE IGNITION/PARKING SYSTEM THAT CAUSED HIS 2003 THIS IS AN UPDATE TO COMPLAINT ODI 10246879 WHEREIN I REPORTED THE FAILURE OF THE IGNITION / PARKING SYSTEM OF HIS 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK. THE FAILURE CAUSED HIS TRUCK TO ROLL OVER HIM, CATCHING HIM UP UNDER THE TRUCK AND DRAGGING HIM OVER A CURB WHERE IT JUMPED THE NEIGHBORS FENCE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. AT FIRST IT WAS THOUGHT HE WOULD SURVIVE HIS INJURIES BUT HE DIED FROM COMPLICATIONS OF HIS INJURIES AFTER A LONG AND PAINFUL HOSPITALIZATION. I AM UPDATING THAT COMPLAINT TO ADVISE OF HIS DEATH. THIS APPEARS TO BE A NOT SO UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I NOTE THAT THE 2002 MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10261840March 14, 2009
STRUCTURE
DASH BOARD IS FALLING APART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Dodge Ram