Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 15 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED, AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTING IN THE CABIN AND EXTERIOR CARGO AREA LIGHTING BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 109,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES, CALIPERS, AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HUB BEARING, WHEEL HUB, AXLE SHAFT ASSEMBLY, AND DRIVESHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. LASTLY, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE HEAD LAMP WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 201,281. UPDATED 06/29/16*LJ *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SIGNAL AND EMERGENCY BLINKERS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A LOOSE WIRE IN THE INTEGRATED FUSE BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
MY BRAKE LIGHTS IS STAYING ON, WHILE THE TRUCK IS CRANK UP. 3RD BARKE LIGHT WORKING FINE. AS SOON, I SHUT THE. TRUCK OFF BRAKE LIGHTS GOES OFF. TAKE THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR AWHILE AND CAME RIGHT BACK. SO, I ORDER TWO NEW BRAKE LIGHT CONTROL PANEL FROM THE DEALERSHIP PROBLEM AGAIN WENT AWAY. NOW IT'S BACK AGAIN. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD EVERYBODY THINKING, I'M RIDING MY BRAKES. WHEN, I DO COME TO A STOP IT WON'T LIGHT UP TOO WARN DRIVERS BEHIND ME. THAT, I"M STOPPING.
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
HAVING SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH MY DODGE TRUCK. NOT ALL POWER WINDOWS AND AUTOLOCK WORK AND HAVE TO REPLACE THE BULBS FOR THE BRAKES AND TURNING SIGNAL ABOUT EVERY 6 MONTHS. ALREADY REPLACED THE BRACKET WHERE THE BULBS GO. PLUS SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINS ON THE DASHBOARDS CRACKING LIKE MY TRUCK HAS AND DODGE WON'T HAVE A RECALL NOR FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR
ON MY WAY TO WORK IN THE DARK MY HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT WHILE DOING 50 MPH, LUCKILY I WAS ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER. AS I CAME TO A STOP THE HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON SO I STARTED TO PULL BACK ON THE ROAD. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO FLASH OFF AND ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK INTO A PARKING LOT OFF OF THE ROAD WHERE I SAT FOR AWHILE WITH THE LIGHTS OFF. I TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON AND THEY SEEMED TO WORK FOR THE TIME. I MADE IT TO WORK WITH OUT THE LIGHTS GOING OUT AGAIN. I LEFT THE TRUCK RUNNING IN THE PARKING LOT WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON & NOTICED THAT THEY WOULD GO OUT AND COME BACK ON AGAIN. UNABLE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK IN THE DARK NOW DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN THAT DODGE NEEDS TO FIX.. NOW DRIVING IN THE DAY THE TURN SIGNALS WILL FLASH INCORRECTLY, IF I TURN THE RIGHT SIGNAL ON IT MAY START FLASHING THE LEFT SIGNAL OR JUST QUIT ALL TOGETHER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ENGAGING THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WOULD ACTIVATE INSTEAD AND WHEN ENGAGING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL, THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WOULD ACTIVATE INSTEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITH THE IGNITION REMAINING ON WITH THE KEY OUT. THE NEXT THING WAS THE HEADLIGHTS NOT SWITCHING BETWEEN BRIGHT AND DIM.THIRD CAME THE WIPERS NOT TURNING ON ALL THE TIME.NOW THE TURN SIGNALS ARE WORKING IMPROPERLY. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500, THAT WHEN I PUT ON MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL, THE RIGHT BLINKS. AND WHEN I TURN ON THE RIGHT THE LEFT WILL BLINK, THEN SOMETIMES IT WORKS PROPERLY. *TR
I HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING THE REAR TAIL LIGHT BARS BECAUSE THEY SEEM TO OVERHEAT AND SCORCH THE SOCKETS. THE LAMP OUT LIGHT AND WARNING BELL IS CONSTANTLY COMING ON. THE BELL IS BEYOND BEING TOLERATED WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TO TURN OFF MY FRONT LIGHT SWITCH FOR THE BELL TO GO OFF. LOTS OF FUN AT NIGHT. THE DODGE FORUM SAYS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 3RD GENERATION DODGE RAM TRUCKS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS SYSTEM. I CAN NOT ETHICALLY SELL THIS TRUCK WITH THIS CONSTANT PROBLEM. *TR
WE HAVE A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP. WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OUR BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS AND TRAILER LIGHTS AND TOOK OUR TRUCK INTO A DODGE DEALER. SOMETIMES THEY WORK AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. WE WERE TOLD WE NEED A NEW PDC BLOCK (POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER). WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD BE $500. THEY COULDN'T ORDER THE PART BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY ARE BACK ORDERED WITH ALMOST 200 ORDERS. IT WOULD TAKE ANYWHERE FROM 2 - 12 WEEKS TO GET THE PART IT. SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE PDC, WHICH IS NON REPAIRABLE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MAYBE SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS. PART #68005475AA. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU DECIDE TO D A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR
PURCHASED A RAM 1500 QUAD CAB SLT FROM BUDGET AND NOW THE POWER WINDOW BUTTONS ON ALL DOORS BUT THE DRIVERSIDE DO NOT WORK AND THE LOCKING BUTTON ON DRIVER SIDE INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING. ALSO THE LAMP OUT LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE BULBS. EVEN AFTER THE 5TH TIME. *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, IT STARTED TO RAIN, I TURNED ON MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THEY DID NOT WORK, NEITHER DID MY TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD FLASHERS. I PULLED OVER AND AFTER A WHILE THEY STARTED WORKING, NOW THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK, AND THEN SOMETIMES YOU TURN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON AND THE RIGHT ONE FLASHES AND VISE VERSA. I AM TAKING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP MONDAY THIS ISSUE DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, I WOULD GUESS ABOUT FIFTY PERCENT OF THE TIME. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE USING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL, THE RIGHT SIDE BLINKS. WHEN THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WAS ENGAGED, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CONTACT VERBALLY SPOKE WITH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPDATED 3/3/2006 - *NM
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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