FaultScore

2003 Dodge RAM 1500 equipment problems

11 of the 1,363 complaints about the 2003 Dodge RAM 1500 are about the equipment — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 48,728 miles.

C

11

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Equipment 7 63.6%
AIR Conditioner 4 36.4%

Equipment & Accessories across every Dodge RAM 1500 year

1997 15 10.9%
1998 14 10.1%
1999 16 11.6%
2000 15 10.9%
2001 18 13.0%
2002 11 8.0%
2003 11 8.0%
2004 13 9.4%
2006 14 10.1%
2009 11 8.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 15,000 miles Jonhson City, TN

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER FAILED TO OPERATE WHENEVER ACTIVATED. THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM WOULD NOT CIRCULATE THE AIR FLOW PROPERLY THROUGH THE ENTIRE AIR VENTS WHENEVER ACTIVATED. ALSO, THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NOT BLOW THE CORRECT DESIRED TEMPERATURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THAT THE ACTUATOR MOTORS, HEATER CORE AND FLAP DOOR ACTUATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA complaint #10744331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Richardson, TX

EQUIPMENT

BESIDES HEAT NOT WORKING, NUMEROUS GAS CAP REPLACEMENTS, NUMEROUS SHORTS IN BRAKE LIGHT, RADIO CUTTING OFF, MY DASH HAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY IF TOUCHED BY YOUNGSTERS. APPARENTLY NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON ALL OF THE ABOVE!!

NHTSA complaint #10392830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,000 miles Toledo, OH

EQUIPMENT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED HE PURCHASED A SET OF GABRIEL ULTRA SHOCKS, MODEL NUMBER 1290-0875-40, THAT WERE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A ROAD BUMP AND THE SHOCK BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLTS NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED YET THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE AUTO PARTS RETAILER IN WHICH HE PURCHASED THE SHOCKS WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE INCORRECT BOLTS WERE PLACED IN THE BOX HE PURCHASED. THE CONTACT STATED THE LAST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS, TIRES AND STABILIZER LINK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/15/11*LJ UPDATED 08/17/11

NHTSA complaint #10389762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 51,457 miles Seneca, SC

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

MY 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 WAS IN THE SHOP FOR AN A/C REPAIR WHEN THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE DASH BOARD. ABOUT 3 MONTHS LATER A SMALL CRACK APPEARED, FOLLOWED BY MANY MORE LARGER CRACKS. IN 2 DIFFERENT PARTS OF MY DASH BOARD. THE DASH BOARD CONTINUES TO SPIDER CRACK 9 MONTHS LATER. THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT EARLY ON AND NEVER CONTACTED ME BACK SAYING IT IS A PROBLEM W/ THESE TRUCKS. NOTHING THEY WILL DO ABOUT IT. TREATED ME AS IF IT WAS MY FAULT. BLAMED EVERYTHING FROM THE ELEMENTS, THE DESIGN, ME AND DIDN'T CARE TO HELP. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN BABIED AND HAS LESS THAN 60K MILES. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD/PLASTIC AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. WHAT'S TO HAPPEN IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT WITH AIRBAGS, THIS IS MY FAMILY VEHICLE...WILL THIS BECOME SHRAPNEL? AS I READ OTHER COMPLAINTS THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUE. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN ADDRESSED, MY TRUCK HAS NEVER BE IN AN ACCIDENT! NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. BAD ENOUGH THAT THE A/C FAILED AT 51,000 MILES AT A HUGE COST BUT TO END UP WITH A BROKEN DASH IS WRONG!

NHTSA complaint #10355564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 46,000 miles Lancaster, PA

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

2003 DODGE RAM 1500 BLEND/MODE DOOR 1 REPLACED IN 2007 FOR $300 OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE UNABLE TO USE DEFROSTER TO CLEAR CAR WINDOWS. BROKE AGAIN 2010. NO DEALER ASSISTANCE OR MANUFACTURER ASSISTANCE. THIS IS UNSAFE DUE TO UNABLE TO CLEAR FOG OR FROST FROM WINDOWS WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #10351090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cordova, TN

EQUIPMENT

2003 DODGE RAM 1500 DASHBOARD CRACKED ALL OVER. WOULD DEFINITELY BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TO WONDER IF AN AIRBAG WOULD DO ANY GOOD IF IT HITS THE SHARP PIECES OF THE DASH. OR WORSE IF A PERSON HIT THE SHARP PIECES. DODGE TOLD ME IT WAS ONLY A FEW TRUCKS WITH THIS PROBLEM, BUT ALMOST EVERY TRUCK MADE AROUND 2003 HAS SAME PROBLEM TO SOME EXTENT.

NHTSA complaint #10349380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 73,000 miles Easley, SC Crash 2 injured

EQUIPMENT

DRIVING MY 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 A WOMAN PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I T-BONED HER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE GOING 45 TOTALED OUT HER CAR MY AIR BAG NEVER WENT OFF AND THE SEAT BELT NEVER LOCKED CAUSING ME TO GO FORWARD IN TO THE STEERING WHEEL I BENT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY LEFT KNEE CALLED DODGE AND THEY SENT SOMEONE OUT TO LOOK AT IT BY THE TIME THEY FINALLY CAM OUT IT HAD BEEN 11 DAY FROM THE TIME I CALLED THEM SO THE BODY SHOP HAD ALREADY STARTED TO REPAIR MY TRUCK I RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL TODAY TELLING MY THAT "YOUR IMPACT WAS NOT SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO DEPLOY THE FRONT AIR BAGS" COME ON I WAS GOING 45 MPH HOW FAST WOULD I HAVE TO GO FOR THEM TO GO OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10295251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carrollton, TX

EQUIPMENT

MY 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 DASH IS CRACKING REALLY BAD. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR. I FEEL THAT IF THE PLASTIC BREAKS INTO PIECES THEY COULD CAUSE BODILY HARM. IF YOU ARE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF VELOCITY AND COME TO A RAPID STOP OR IMPACT AN OBJECT IT MAY CAUSE A PIECE OF PLASTIC TO BREAK OFF OF THE DASH AND FLY INTO A PERSON POTENTIALLY HARMING THEM AND OR CAUSING DEATH. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AS TO WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. THANK YOU MARCO.

NHTSA complaint #10226808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Clarksville, TN

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

FLOOR PORTION OF THE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER FAILS TO WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10191825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brookpark, OH

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

NHTSA complaint #10123856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,800 miles Joshua Tree, CA

EQUIPMENT

(SECOND TIME) WE WHERE DRIVING ON THE 10 FWY WITH OUR GIRLS TO DROP THEM FOR THE WEEK BECAUSE WE WHERE GOING ON VACATION TO VEGAS. THAT IS WHEN THE "BRAND NEW TRUCK DIED" IT WAS DUE TO THE SAME REASONS SENSOR AND OTHER PROBLEM. IT HAD BEEN IN THE MOSS DODGE DEALERSHIP SINCE JUNE 13, 2003 . TODAY IS JUNE 20, 2003 WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM SINCE TUESDAY. AS WE WHERE DRIVING ON THE 10 FWY THE TRUCK DIED COMPLETELY WITH THE TRAFFIC BEHIND US IN THE FAST LANE ON THE FREEWAY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS TRUCK IS NOT REPAIRABLE. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS TO MUCH WRONG WITH THIS TRUCKS SENSOR WHICH GIVE THE POWER TO DRIVE. THIS TRUCK TO ME AND MY FAMILY IS CONSIDER DANGEROUS TO DRIVE FROM THE EXPERIENCE WE HAD ON JUNE 13, 2003. WE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING BUT NOT EVEN THE GENERAL MANAGER HAS CALLED US BACK. WE EVEN ASKED FOR A CORP. OFFICE THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE ONE. WHICH IS HARD TO BELIEVE. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10023474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2003 Dodge RAM 1500 problems

← Full 2003 Dodge RAM 1500 report