Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Dodge 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 77 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 77, in the owner's own words
This vehicle had last been started and driven 7 hrs prior and exploded in the driveway, caught the house on fire and nearly killed my son who was near the inside wall of the house. The engine blew and then the front tires. Three explosions in all before the fire department was able to stop the fire. Luckily they were only a mile away. This was an older but well running vehicle.
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
WHILE DRIVING, TRUCK STALLS, HAPPENED TWICE. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO CODES, FIRST TIME AT STOP SIGN, SECOND WHILE ON STRAIGHT RUN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 319,000. *TT
VEHICLE LOSES POWER COMPLETELY OR GOES INTO IDLE "CREEP" MODE WHEN DRIVING IN TEMPS OF -15 OR COLDER. LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND POWER STEERING. WHEN VEHICLE DIES WILL NOT RESTART FOR 15-20 MINUTES. CURRENTLY HAS 160K MILES. HAS OCCURRED LAST 3 WINTERS. LOOKED AT BY PRIVATE MECHANIC THE FIRST TIME. REMOVED ICE FROM PCV VALVE. THIS FALL HAD MECHANIC LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM. HE SPOKE WITH DODGE DEALER AND THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE PCV VALVE. REPLACED PCV VALVE AND THROTTLE BODY. PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR. DIED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, 2 OUTSIDE TEMP. WILL TYPICALLY DIE IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN NO LONGER ENGAGING THROTTLE, IE SLOWING FOR TRAFFIC OR PREPARING TO TURN.
ENGINE STOPS RUNNING WHILE DRVING ELECTRIC POWER TURNS OFF TO GAGES PULL OVER TURN THE KEY OFF AND BACK ONE THE TRUCK STARTS UP AFTER A FEW TRIES REPLACED COMPUTER.AND MODULE STILL STOPS RUNNING NO CODES DOSE THIS EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT
PAINT CORROSION ON THE HOOD AND TOP OF CAB, DOORS AND HAD I HAD ENGINE FAILURE AT 70,000 PLUS AND AT 107,000.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE MY 03 DODGE 1500 STARTED MAKING A WHINING NOISE. WE PULLED OVER AND CHECK THE REAR END FLUID. IT WAS FINE. GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT WAS STILL WHINING. MADE IT ABOUT 50 MILES DO THAT AND MY TRUCK SHUTS OF. NO POWER AT ALL. I PUT IT IN NATURAL AND GOT IT STARTED AND GOT OFF ON AN EXIT. IT BARELY HAD POWER TO MOVE. PULLED INTO A MOTEL AND POWER PICKED UP. I WAS 265 MILES FROM HOME. I HAD TO HAVE MY TRUCK TOWED THE 265 MILES NOT KNOWING THE PROBLEM AND AWAITED TO DRIVE IT ANY :* THAT. GOT HOME MY HUSBAND REPLACED THE BEARINGS AND SEALS IN THE REAR END. WELL THAT DIDN'T FIX IT. AS WE HAD THE COVER OFF THE PUNKIN OF THE REAR END WE FOUND A BROKEN PIECE IN THE BOTTOM. A FRIEND TOLD ME IT WAS A PART OF THE OPINION GEAR. I DON'T KNOW BUT A NEW REAR END COST 2500.00 IF NOT MORE. A USED ONE COSTS 350.00 TO 800.00. I'M STUCK AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.. I LOVE MY TRUCK BUT I CAN'T AFFORD THE REAR END AND I HAVE TO HAVE A WAY TO WORK. *TR
2003 DODGE RAM 1500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER AIRBAG RECALL REPLACEMENT PARTS STILL ON BACK ORDER. VEHICLE HAS MULTIPLE RECALLS THAT RELATES TO STEERING, LIGHTING, VISIBILITY, ELECTRICAL, ENGINE ISSUES AND REQUESTS LOANER VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ADDITIONAL RECALLS, WOULD PROBABLY EXPLAIN, WHY HE HAD TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL AND THE RADIATOR THREE TIMES. *JB
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS ABNORMALLY. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN O2 SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V312000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V312000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. IN ADDITION, THE DASHBOARD FRACTURED ABOVE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPARTMENT AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 03/15/16*LJ *TR
ON 12/19/15 I WAS DRIVING I75 NORTH,140 MILES BEFORE ATALANTA GA MY TRUCK MADE A BIG BANG AND THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED ON THE SPOT INCLUDING EVERYTHING, STEERING. I MADE IT SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DON'T KNOW HOW. THERE WAS NO INDICATION, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOTHING JUST A BANG. MY CAR INSURANCE WON'T FIX IT DODGE WILL NOT BE ACCOUNTABLE EITHER PART MALFUNCTION THEY SAY, I GUESS I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR IT SINCE I BUILD THE TRUCK RIGHT. I AM OUT OF A TRUCK I STILL PAY ON IT, NO CAR OR TRANSPORTATION I TUCK CARE OF MY TRUCK I GUESS I AM TO POST TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR A PART I DID NOT MANUFACTURED RIGHT . I AM HAPPY TO BE ALIVE AT THIS POINT. THERE IS A BIG WHOLE IN MY ENGINE THE MECANIC SAD A PART IN THE ENGINE CAME LOOSE AND BOLTED OUT AND LEFT A BIG WHOLE IN IT GREAT HTTP://WWW.TORQUENEWS.COM/397/TWO-FATAL-FLAWS-RUINING-CHRYSLER-ENGINES-CATASTROPHIC-BREAKDOWNS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY MOVED LEFT TO RIGHT AND THE CONTACT HAD TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL FIRMLY IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-FREEZE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V770000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE 91 FREEWAY IN CA. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE CUT OUT, AND GROUND TO A HALT. I REPEATEDLY TRIED TO RESTART THE TRUCK BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER.I WAS TRAPPED IN THE FAST LANE UNABLE TO MAKE MY WAY TO THE SOFT SHOULDER. FORTUNATELY THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS WERE FUNCTIONAL AND I WAS ABLE TO APPLY THESE TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS. EVENTUALLY A TOW TRUCK WAS DEPLOYED TO GET MY OUT OF HARMS WAY. IT WAS A VERY SCARY MOMENT AND I WAS VERY FORTUNATE NOT TO BE HIT. THE FOLLOWING DAY I GOT THE TRUCK TOWED TO A GARAGE WHERE THEY CHECKED IT OVER AND THE ONLY THING THEY COULD FIND WRONG WAS A FUSE HAD BLOWN THAT CONTROLLED IGNITION UNLOCK/RUN START FUNCTION. THE GARAGE WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND WHAT WOULD CAUSE SUCH A FAILURE AND NOW I AM RELUCTANT TO TRAVEL ON THE FREEWAY. ANY ADVICE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188,000.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, BLINKERS, 4-WAYS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND TAIL LIGHTS WENT OUT AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO PULL OVER THE ENGINE STALLED. THE ENGINE STARTED BACK UP TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STALLED AGAIN WITH NO WARNING. THE TRUCK NOW STALLS AT ALL STOP LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS AND IS NOT GIVING ANY CODES. THE TRUCK NOW HAS A LARGE DRAW AND KILLS THE BATTERY SHORTLY AFTER TURNING THE TRUCK OFF. THE TRUCK IS STILL IN THE SHOP AND SO FAR THE FCM, PDC AND SOME WIRING HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT THE POWER DRAW PERSISTS AND THE ENGINE STALLING STILL PERSISTS. RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE AND HAS BEEN FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
WHEN I WAS PULLING ON THE HIGHWAY FROM ENTRY I WAS DEPENDING ON MY CARS ENGINE WHEN I WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE CAR FIRST JUMP THEN SHUT OF COMPLETELY AND AS A BUSY HIGHWAY ROUTE 80 I WAS ALMOST GOT RUN OVER BY A TRAILER GOOD THING I'M EXPERIENCE DRIVER CAR STALL OUT AND DIDN'T START FOR EASY 1 MINUET AT THIS TIME I WAS ON SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER THAT DAY CAR RANDOMLY STALLS OUT I TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S THE PROBLEM IT DOESN'T GIVE ME ANY RELATED CODE ALSO CRUISE CONTROL IS WHEN U SET A SPEED AND YOU SLOW DOWN WITH THE BUTTON BUT SOMETIMES CAR WILL TAKE OFF FASTER ENGINE HAS MULTIPLE DESIGN ERRORS THAT MAKES THE ENGINE FAIL OUT OF NOWHERE. *TR
VEHICLE CUT OFF WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, NO POWER STEERING, NO ENGINE RESPONSE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
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!!! *TR
TRUCK STALLS EVERY TIME I START SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT AND SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN CORNERS. WHEN IDLING IT SHUTS OFF IMMEDIATELY UNLESS I THROTTLE TO KEEP RPMS UP. ALSO STALLS WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE. I'VE BEEN ALMOST HIT SEVERAL TIMES WHEN PULLING INTO AN INTERSECTION. REPLACED ALL KNOWN CAUSES AND NOTHING HAS FIXED THE ISSUE. I HAVE READ IN SOME SITES I MAY NEED A SOFTWARE UPDATE FROM DODGE DEALERSHIP. *TR
WHILE PULLING OUT INTO BUSY TRAFFIC MY TRUCK LOST POWER AND I HAD NO ACCELERATION. AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS THE VEHICLE KICKED BACK IN AND TOOK OFF. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES, AT RANDOM, WITH NO WARNING. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP AND REPAIRED THE THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR, AND TREATED IT FOR WATER IN THE GAS. NEITHER ONE OF THESE SOLVED THE PROBLEMS, AND THEY HAVE NO ANSWERS FOR WHAT ELSE MAY BE WRONG. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT IS NOT UNIQUE TO MY VEHICLE. I HAVE READ MANY OTHER CASES ONLINE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I DO HOPE THAT DODGE ISSUES A RECALL AND FINDS A REMEDY BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR
WHILE DRIVING CAME UP TO LIGHTS AND THE ENGINE STALLED HAD NO STEERING AND NO BRAKE PUT ENGINE IN PARK RESTARTED AND DROVE ON THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES IN ND OUT OF TRAFFIC. WHEN PULLING HARD TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT THE ENGINE WILL BEGIN TO STALL DID THIS WHILE TRUCK WAS SITTING IN FRONT YARD. HAD A TUNE UP DONE AND WENT AWAY FOR A WHILE BUT NOW IT IS STARTING UP AGAIN. *TR
HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ABOUT 45MPH AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE MOTOR BLEW A ROD THROUGH THE OIL PAN, IF SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BEEN BEHIND HIM HE WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR ANOTHER MOTOR FOR THIS VEHICLE AND WHEN ASKING THEY LAUGH ABOUT IT, IT IS A 4.7 LT 8 CYL MOTOR AND APPARENTLY CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND YET NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. THE OIL WAS EVERYWHERE ON THE ROAD AFTER THIS HAPPENED AND THAT IN ITSELF IS A HAZARD. LOOK ONLINE AND A MOTOR TO REPLACE IT IS IN THE 2 TO 3 THOUSAND RANGE. WE ARE STILL PAYING FOR THIS VEHICLE AND THAT IS WITHOUT THE MOTOR PRICE, LOOK UNDER PROBLEMS FOR THIS TRUCK AND YOU WILL FIND A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT THE MOTOR BLOWING UP WITH NO WARNINGS. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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