FaultScore

2003 Dodge RAM 1500 fuel system problems

11 of the 1,363 complaints about the 2003 Dodge RAM 1500 are about the fuel system — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 125,000 miles.

B

11

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Fuel/Propulsion System 6 54.5%
Fuel System, Gasoline 2 18.2%
Fuel Injection System 1 9.1%
Hoses, Lines/Piping, AND Fittings 1 9.1%
Auxillary Tank 1 9.1%

Fuel & Propulsion across every Dodge RAM 1500 year

1995 17 2.4%
1996 20 2.8%
1997 32 4.6%
1998 23 3.3%
2001 17 2.4%
2003 11 1.6%
2004 62 8.8%
2005 41 5.8%
2006 23 3.3%
2007 38 5.4%
2008 64 9.1%
2009 43 6.1%
2010 38 5.4%
2011 144 20.5%
2012 129 18.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Plumas Lake, CA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

When driving the truck the vehicle randomly shuts down and I have to pull over or put it in neutral to restart it I believe there might be a problem with the tipm that dodge has had a ongoing problem for years and ignored the issue

NHTSA complaint #11452236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 136,788 miles Madison Heights, MI

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL TANK STRAP IS ROTTED AND TANK IS FALLING OUT

NHTSA complaint #11395573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 159,000 miles Noblesville, IN

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LARGE THUMP. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD DETACHED FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE WAS PRESENT, BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HAZMAT UNIT WERE ALSO AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KAHLO CHRYSLER DODGE (9900 PLEASANT ST, NOBLESVILLE, IN 46060), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11231944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,000 miles Norristown, PA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING, TRUCK STALLS, HAPPENED TWICE. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO CODES, FIRST TIME AT STOP SIGN, SECOND WHILE ON STRAIGHT RUN

NHTSA complaint #11139348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 127,000 miles Newport News, VA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE TRUCK RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS NO WARNING AND NO PATTERN. THERE ARE NO ERROR CODES ASSOCIATED WITH THESE OCCURRENCES. WHEN TRUCK SHUTS OFF THERE IS NO POWER STEERING AND IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER. A QUICK CHECK ONLINE SHOWS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND NO SPECIFIC FIX.

NHTSA complaint #11032641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marshall, NC

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MY FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AND WHEN I WENT TO PUT THE NEW ONE IN THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START AND THE GUY AT THE PARTS STORE SAID THAT THE TRUCK MIGHT BE UNDER RECALL SO I LOOKED IT UP AND THE TRUCK IS ON RECALL FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND I HAD JUST BOUGHT THE TRUCK AND STILL PER ON IT AND WOULD REALLY LIKE SOME HELP GETTING IT FIXED OR FIXING THE PROBLEM SOMEHOW AND ME MYSELF DON'T HAVE ALOT OF MONEY SO IF YOU COULD HELP IT WOULD BE NICE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NHTSA complaint #10854658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 129,000 miles Williamsburg, VA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE TRUCK HAS A ISSUE WHEN STARTING UP. IT FEELS LIKE THE TRUCK IS NOT GETTING FUEL, GIVING A HIGH RPM AND A FEEL LIKE THE ENGINE IS GOING TO CUT OFF AND IT DOES. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN TAKING OFF AT A STOP LIGHT, GOING AROUND A CURVE, AND STARTING TO MOVE THE TRUCK. I HAVE BEEN TO DEALER AND LIKE ALWAYS, CAN'T FIND WRONG IN TRUCK. I HAVE REPLACED CRANK,MAP,AIR,SPEED,TPS AND NOTHING WORKS. I ALSO REPLACED O2 SENSOR,PLUGS, COIL PACKS, BATTERY, AIR FILTER, REPLACED THROTTLE BODY, AND PURGE. NOTHING WORKS. WHY DOESN'T DODGE SEE THERE IS A ISSUE AND FIND A SOLUTION. THERE ARE MANY DODGE RAMS WITH THIS ISSUE. IF DODGE WANTS PEOPLE TO BUY THERE TRUCK THEN HELP FIX THE ISSUES WITH THE OTHER DODGE RAM'S. OH I ALSO CALLED DODGE CORP AND OF COURSE THEY HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY ISSUE. THAT I CAN'T GO BY!!!

NHTSA complaint #10503377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Nancy, KY Crash

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

I WAS IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT ON THE DATE ABOVE AND AFTER ROLLING THE TRUCK 6 TIMES THE FUEL DIDN'T SHUT OFF TO THE TRUCK AND IT WAS STILL RUNNING. I BELIEVE THAT THE INERTIA SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND DIDN'T SHUT OFF THE FUEL SUPPLY TO THE MOTOR.

NHTSA complaint #10430194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Sturgeon BAY, WI

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

IN COLD WEATHER BELOW FREEZING THE THROTTLE BODY FUEL INJECTION FREEZES UP RENDERING THE VEHICLE POWERLESS. NO ACCELERATION POSSIBLE.

NHTSA complaint #10181996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles ST. Clair Shores, MI

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

HAVE HAD THE TRUCK LESS THAN TWO YEARS AND HAVE HAD SERVICE BECAUSE OF FAULTY MOTOR IN WINDSHIELD WIPERS, BAD COIL IN ENGINE, MIS-FIRING, CAUSING THE CYLINDERS AND VALVES TO BE REPLACED, FUEL CAP REPLACED, FUEL LINE REPLACED BECAUSE OF WATER IN THE LINES, HEATER HAD BAD PIECE, CAUSING HEAT TO NOT COME OUT OF DEFROST OR FLOORS, SHIFTER FOR 4-WHEEL DRIVE WILL NOT SHIFT. HAS BEEN IN SHOP 13 DAYS(3 VISITS) IN LAST 4 WEEKS. NEEDS TO GO BACK THIS WEEK FOR SHIFTER.

NHTSA complaint #10104276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 11,480 miles Ligonier, PA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES. CODE P0440 IS DIAGNOSED, THERE ARE NO TSBS OR INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO DEALERS ON WHAT THIS CODE MEANS. MECHANIC SAYS IT'S IN THE EVAPORATION SYSTEM. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS TRUCK FOR 3 WKS, THIS IS THE 2ND OCCURRENCE. MILEAGE ON VEHICLE 11,500.

NHTSA complaint #10096008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2003 Dodge RAM 1500 problems

← Full 2003 Dodge RAM 1500 report