2003 Dodge RAM 3500

286 complaints on file, page 1 of 15.

1. Filed Jul 25, 2024Failure Jul 11, 2024225,000 milesGrand Blanc Twp, MISuspension

   The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was a clunking sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact who is a certified mechanic, inspected the vehicle. Upon expecting the vehicle, the contact determined that both upper control arms had completely rusted and needed to be replaced. The upper and lower ball joints and suspension had been replaced by the contact. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 225,000. The VIN was unavailable.

   NHTSA complaint 11604425
2. Filed Jun 26, 2020Failure Jun 26, 2020116,000 milesColebrook, CTBody

   FRAME RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL PLACES. SERVICE PROVIDER HAD PROBLEMS PLACING TRUCK ON LIFT DUE TO FRAME INTEGRITY TO REPLACE BRAKE LINES. UPON MY INSPECTION FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL PLACES. CANNOT DETERMINE IF TRUCK IS SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 11331110
3. Filed Feb 11, 2020Failure Feb 5, 2019Ocala, FLAir bags

   AIR BAN LIGHT IS ON

   NHTSA complaint 11308625
4. Filed Nov 16, 2018Failure Feb 16, 2010Manorville, NYBody

   DASH BOARD IS CRACKING AND CAVEING IN.

   NHTSA complaint 11152071
5. Filed Nov 15, 2018Failure Nov 11, 2018Chelsea, OKPower train

   HAD TO REPLACE CARRING BEARING AND SLEEVE BUSHING ON DRIVE SHAFT HAD A LOT OF WABLE IN STEERING

   NHTSA complaint 11151794
6. Filed Sep 14, 2018Failure Feb 5, 2018142,630 milesBuckeye, AZAir bags

   "TAKATA RECALL" MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED TWICE OVER THIS ISSUE, EACH TIME THE REPAIR HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THE CURRENT PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE RELATES TO THE AIR BAG MODULE. MY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT A MONTH AGO AT WHICH TIME I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP THINKING THE AIRBAGS HAD GONE BAD AGAIN. I WAS ADVISED THE AIRBAGS WERE FINE BUT THE CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED. THEN I WAS TOLD THAT CHRYSLER DODGE NO LONGER MAKES THE REPLACEMENT MODULE AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO SEEK ONE FROM A SALVAGE COMPANY THEY DO BUSINESS WITH. MY QUESTION IS SIMPLE, HOW CAN A MANUFACTURE DECIDE TO STOP MAKING A CRUCIAL COMPONENT TO THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. I WAS ADVISED THAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT INFLATE. IT HAS BEEN OVER A MONTH NOW AND THE DEALERSHIP STILL HASN'T LOCATED A MODULE BUT ARE CONTINUING TO SEARCH FOR ONE. I HAVE A LOW MILAGE 2003 RAM 3500 HEAVY DUTY TRUCK SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY THAT IS TOTALLY WORTHLESS. WHAT CAN I DO?

   NHTSA complaint 11129504
7. Filed Aug 29, 2018Failure Aug 23, 2017120,000 milesGlenville, NCTread/belt

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500 EQUIPPED WITH GENERAL AMERI-TRAC TR TIRES, SIZE: 235/80/17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TIRE THREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND DAMAGED THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE WAS SWAPPED WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500.

   NHTSA complaint 11123219
8. Filed Feb 8, 2018Failure Jan 5, 2018110,000 milesXenia, OHSteering

   WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK AROUND 65 MPH & I HIT A BUMP I GET A SEVERE DEATH WOBBLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES & IT'S VERY DANGEROUS

   NHTSA complaint 11071703
9. Filed Jan 22, 2018Failure Jan 22, 2018210,000 milesRoseville, MISteering

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11064142
10. Filed Nov 21, 2017Failure Nov 20, 201642,000 milesLawmdale, CAAir bagsCrash1 injured

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISES AND CUTS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

    NHTSA complaint 11047848
11. Filed Oct 27, 2017Failure Dec 31, 2003SAN Antonio, TXAir bags, Unknown or other

    THE DASH IS COMPLETELY FRACTURED AND BROKEN INTO SHARDS OF SHARP HARD PLASTIC THAT SHOULD THE TAKATA AIRBAG EVER DEPLOY WILL BE PROPELLED LIKE SHRAPNEL THROUGH THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AT EXPLOSIVE SPEEDS. IT'S LIKE DRIVING A CAR WITH BROKEN CLASS COVERING THE DASHBOARD. THIS ISSUE, THE DASH FRACTURING AND SPLITTING INTO PIECES AS A RESULT OF SUN EXPOSURE AND AGE SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM ON ALMOST ALL OF THE ONLINE FORUMS I WENT TO TO DISCOVER IF THIS WAS UNIQUE TO ME. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW SUCH AN OBVIOUS AND COMMON HAZARD EXPERIENCED BY SO MANY, IS ALLOWED TO PERSIST.

    NHTSA complaint 11040570
12. Filed Oct 23, 2017Failure Jun 23, 201570,000 milesConway, SCUnknown or other

    DASH CRACKED, BROKEN, PIECES COMPLETELY BROKEN AWAY, MISSING, SHARP EDGES, VENTS GRILLS GONE ITEMS CAN FALL INTO THE HEAT, DEFROSTER. ALL DODGE TRUCKS I'VE SEEN HAVE SEEN OF THIS YEAR, MOD AND SIMILAR DEFECTS.

    NHTSA complaint 11035724
13. Filed Sep 25, 2017Failure Sep 23, 201730,000 milesROY, WAElectrical system

    THE TRUCK WILL NOT SHUT OFF. AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND REMOVING THE KEY, THE TRUCK REMAINS RUNNING. SOMETIMES, AFTER ABOUT FIVE MINUTES IDLING IT WILL SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN. OTHER TIMES WE HAVE HAD TO REMOVE A FUSE.

    NHTSA complaint 11025299
14. Filed Sep 19, 2017Failure Sep 12, 2017289,000 milesNutter Fort, WVUnknown or other

    WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WENT TO SHIFT GEARS AND THE SHIFTER LEVER ARM BROKE OFF AT THE BOTTOM.

    NHTSA complaint 11024169
15. Filed Aug 18, 2017Failure Jan 5, 2015145,000 milesSeneca, SCUnknown or other

    THE DASH IS CRACKING AND DETERIORATING PRODUCING SMALL SHARP OBJECTS IN THE CAB THAT COME LOSE AND ARE A HAZZARD TO ALL OCCUPANTS.

    NHTSA complaint 11016274
16. Filed Apr 6, 2017Failure Mar 6, 2017Gasport, NYAir bags

    TAKATA RECALL I HAVE RECEIVED 3 RECALL NOTICES,I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THAT THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THIS REPAIR LAST CALL WAS ON 3/2017

    NHTSA complaint 10971020
17. Filed Apr 5, 2017Failure Apr 12, 2009Alexandria, ALUnknown or other

    THE DASHBOARD OF MY DODGE RAM TRUCK IS CRACKED. WHEN I SAY CRACKED I DON'T MEAN A SMALL CRACK BUT CRACKS ALL OVER THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD. IT IS CRACKED SO BADLY THAT I FEAR PIECES OF THE HARD PLASTIC ARE GOING TO BREAK OFF DURING OUR TRAVELS AND CAUSE INJURY TO ME ,MY PASSENGERS OR MY GRANDCHILDREN. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT IF WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT THAT THE CRACKS WOULD FLY OFF AND CAUSE SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS OR MY GRANDCHILDREN. THIS IS A PROBLEM IN A LOT OF THE DODGE RAM TRUCKS. IT IS NOT A COSMETIC PROBLEM BUT A DANGER TO THE LIFE OF PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE.

    NHTSA complaint 10970817
18. Filed Mar 30, 2017Failure Mar 30, 2013230,000 milesYale, MIExterior lighting, Visibility/wiper

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY AND WORKED ONLY AT THE SLOW SETTING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIPM MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 06E023000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND 09E009000 (VISIBILITY). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 230,000. UPDATED 08/14/2017*JS

    NHTSA complaint 10969589
19. Filed Mar 3, 2017Failure Jan 1, 2008Southport, NCUnknown or other

    DASH CRACKED CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD IF EVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. ALSO SMALL FRAGMENTS OF THE DASH HAVE GOTTEN INTO THE VENTS BLOWING INTO DRIVERS FACE WHICH MY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF STRUCK IN EYE. STATIONARY, MOTION WHAT TYPE OF ROADWAY DOES NOT MATTER. DEFECTIVE PARTS USED!!!!

    NHTSA complaint 10958545
20. Filed Feb 16, 2017Failure Feb 1, 2017Tucson, AZAir bags

    2003 DODGE RAM. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR RECALL NOTICE. *SMD

    NHTSA complaint 10954668