2003 Dodge 1500 Other / unspecified Problems

MY DAUGHTER GOT ABOUT 300 FEET FROM THE HOUSE AND SAID THE "BRAKES FELT FUNNY" SO SHE DECIDED TO TURN AROUND AT THE CORNER. WELL, SHE SIMPLY TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL BROKE CLEAN OFF AT THE HUB. I THANK GOD SHE WAS GOING LESS THAN 5MPH. HER ROUTE THAT DAY WOULD HAVE PUT HER ON THE HIGHWAY AND IF THIS HAD HAPPENED THEN......I CAN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT. THE REPAIR SHOP TOOK PICTURES AND SAID THEY'D PROVIDE WHATEVER INFO I NEEDED. WELL, WHAT WAS NEEDED FOR CHRYSLER TO RECALL THIS A LONG TIME AGO. I UNDERSTAND THE TRUCK HAS SOME MILES ON IT BUT I WAS SHOCKED TO GO ONLINE AND SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IF ANYBODY HAS ONE OF THESE VEHICLES, THEY SHOULD IMMEDIATELY HAVE THE HUBS CHECKED....ESPECIALLY ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AS THAT SEEMS TO BE THE MAIN ISSUE FROM WHAT I'VE READ.

NHTSA ID

11104784

Incident

Jun 21, 2018

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHOOK ABNORMALLY AND A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL HUBS BECAME DETACHED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR GLASS SHATTERED AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN A MINOR REAR END COLLISION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.

NHTSA ID

11010279

Incident

Jul 24, 2015

Mileage

145,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL HUB, CALIPERS, BRAKE PADS, AND BRAKE HOSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10E040000 (WHEELS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000. UPDATED 12/13/16*LJ

NHTSA ID

10910547

Incident

Sep 21, 2016

Mileage

175,000 mi

RIMS ON TRUCK RUSTED OUT UNDER THE CHROME COVERS TO THE POINT THAT ONE CAME APART WHILE DRIVING. YOU CAN'T SEE THE RUSTED TILL YOU PRY AND TEAR THE RIM APART.

NHTSA ID

10910213

Incident

Sep 26, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR TIRES SEIZED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

NHTSA ID

10762972

Incident

Sep 9, 2015

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V312000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V770000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT MADE AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10744233

Incident

Jun 26, 2014

Mileage

140,000 mi

MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK TURNING LEFT AND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE JUST CAME OFF. AFTER LOOKING AT THE PART ITSELF THE MEDAL JUST SNAPPED OFF, BROKE CLEAR, THIS IS DANGLES

NHTSA ID

10717262

Incident

May 13, 2015

Mileage

148,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A GRINDING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL HUB. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA ID

10679645

Incident

Jan 27, 2015

Mileage

99,000 mi

CHROME CLAD STEEL WHEELS RUSTING EXCESSIVELY FEAR OF WHEEL FACE (LUG) SEPARATING FROM WHEEL (PROPER). IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE FROM JUNE OF THIS YEAR TO NOW OCTOBER. TO THE POINT THAT IT IS AFFECTING ALL FOUR WHEELS NOW, IN DIFFERENT STAGES OF DECAY. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10648270

Incident

Jun 11, 2014

Mileage

101,000 mi

WHILE DRIVE AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT, THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CROSSED THE CENTER LINE, CROSSED OVER THE ON COMING LANE, HIT A MAILBOX, WENT AIRBORNE, CROSSED A DRIVEWAY, HIT A TREE, ROLLED, HIT ANOTHER SMALLER TREE AND CAME TO REST ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FACING THE OPPOSITE WAY I WAS ORIGINALLY TRAVELING. AT THE TIME THE HUB ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE, I WAS TRAVELING DOWNHILL. MY DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO CRAWL OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE I HAD TO BE CUT OUT USING THE JAWS OF LIFE. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL TRAUMA ONE HOSPITAL VIA LIFE AIR MEDICAL RESCUE. MY DAUGHTER WAS TRANSPORTED BY GROUND. SHE HAD FIVE CHIPPED TEETH WHILE I SUSTAINED A TBI AND BROKEN KNEE CAP. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOST BUT THERE WAS NO LOSS OF LIFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10550720

Incident

Mar 9, 2013

Mileage

13,450 mi

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!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10392830

Incident

Jan 15, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

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 ID

10389762

Incident

Jan 26, 2010

Mileage

95,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10349380

Incident

May 1, 2010

I WAS GOING OVER A BRIDGE ON 144 IN TULSA OKLAHOMA WHEN I FELT MY RIGHT WHEEL STARTING SHAKING REAL BAD SO I STARTED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD , WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WHEEL JUST FELL OFF WITH THE BRAKE AND ROTOR INTACT. I HAD JUST PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE 2 WEEKS EARLIER AND ONLY HAD 43,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD TO GET A WRECKER TO TAKE IT TO A SPECIALIST IN BROKEN ARROW WHERE HE HAD A CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVE COME LOOK AT IT AND STATED THAT MODEL HAD A DEFECT IN IT AND SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPEN AT THAT MILEAGE. HE SAID THERE WAS NO WEAR AND TEAR ON THE TIRES TO PROVE WORE OUT PARTS. ALSO MY CONCERN IF THERE IS A DEFECT IN THIS TYPE OF TRUCK WHY HASN'T IT BEEN RECALLED. IF THIS INCIDENT HAD HAPPEN DURING 5 O'CLOCK RUSH HOUR THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS IF NOT FATAL. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET THINGS LIKE THIS TAKEN CARE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10310028

Incident

Feb 5, 2010

Mileage

43,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10295251

Incident

Nov 21, 2009

Mileage

73,000 mi

I OWN A 2003 DODGE 1500 RAM, WITH 79000 MILES. THE PAST THREE MONTHS I HAVE HAD A NOISE AND VIBRATION IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. A LOCAL DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BAD FRONT WHEEL BEARING. HE CHANGE THE BEARING, WHICH I THEN DISASSEMBLED AND INSPECTED. THE BEARING LOOKED SUFFICIENTLY FINE, EXCEPT FOR A LACK OF GREASE. TWO DAYS LATER I REMOVED THE REMAINING FRONT WHEEL BEARING, WITH THE THOUGHT OF GETTING GREASE INTO IT. BUT UPON REMOVING THE BEARING, I FOUND RADIAL FREE PLAY AND EXCESSIVE END PLAY, THE BEARING WAS BEYOND A SAFE USABLE CONDITION, AND ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WERE REPORTS OF INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION, IN DODGE TRUCK WHEEL BEARINGS, AND WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY PROBLEM TO THE LIST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10295014

Incident

Dec 5, 2009

Mileage

79,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF OF THE TRUCK. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE NOTICED THAT THE CABLE THAT SECURED THE SPARE TIRE HAD FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND HE WAS PROMISED A RESPONSE. HE WAS STILL AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE DEALER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 133,000.

NHTSA ID

10291083

Incident

Oct 31, 2009

Mileage

133,000 mi

2003 DODGE RAM 1500 LARAMIE (5.7L HEMI). VEHICLE PASSED WARRANTY, BEGAN TO HEAR A LOW HUM UPON ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. HUM/WHINING NOISE BECAME INCREASINGLY WORSE, LED TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE REAR END. DODGE ENGINEERS HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE REAR END IN THE 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 - 3500 TRUCK HAS AN ENGINEERING FLAW WHICH CAUSES THE "C" PINS IN THE REAR END TO BREAK OFF AND DESTROY THE REAR END. THIS DAMAGE HAS CAUSE SOME OF THESE VEHICLES REAR ENDS TO SEIZE UP AND OTHER TO LITERALLY SHEAR OFF THE REAR WHEELS. REPAIR CONSISTS OF TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR END IN THESE VEHICLES. ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS INJURIES AND WRECKS DUE TO THIS FAILURE AND BECAUSE DODGE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AS A MAJOR PROBLEM, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL ON ANY OF THESE VEHICLES TO CORRECT THE DEFICIENCY. DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY, OR ACCEPT LIABILITY FOR THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF ONE OF THEIR SYSTEMS, FOR FULL OR PARTIAL REPAIR COSTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10280816

Incident

Aug 12, 2009

Mileage

84,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK WHEN I HEARD A SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE TRUCK. THE NEXT DAY I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND HAD IT LOOKED AT. THEY TOLD ME THE SQUEAK WAS FROM THE RACK AND PINION AND THE BOOTS WERE ALSO LEAKING FLUID.I TOLD THEM THAT I JUST HAD THE RACK AND PINION FIXED AT 53,314 MILES AND NOW AT 69,766 MILES. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND THEY CAME UP WITH NO RECALLS OR COMPLAINTS. I AM NOT HAPPY. I HAD THE DEALER FIX THE RACK AND PINION BOTH TIMES. OUT OF POCKET COST $855.77 AND NOW $978.32. *TR

NHTSA ID

10267154

Incident

Apr 18, 2009

Mileage

69,766 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10226808

Incident

Jan 10, 2008

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 ID

10123856

Incident

May 1, 2005

REAR WHEEL STUDS REPEATEDLY SHEER OFF. IN THE 20 MONTHS I HAVE OWNED MY 2003 DODGE RAM 1500, I HAVE REPLACED 8 OF THE 10 STUDS. MOST RECENTLY, I LOST 3 OUT OF 5 IN A 2 MONTH PERIOD. *NM

NHTSA ID

10093808

Incident

Oct 8, 2004

I PURCHASED A 2003 RAM 1500 HEMI WITH 20" CHROME WHEELS. AT ABOUT 11,000 MILES I NOTICED THE CHROME HAD SOME SMALL DELAMINATION BUBBLES. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE WHEEL. I NOW HAVE 34,000 MILES AND NOTICED THAT ALL THE WHEELS HAVE LITTLE BUBBLES OF DELAMINATION IN THE CHROME. THEY ARE REPLACING ALL THE WHEELS ONLY BECAUSE I CAUGHT IT BEFORE I REACHED THE 36,000 MILE MARK. MAKE SURE TO CHECK YOUR 20" CHROME WHEELS. THEY ARE A CHROME PLATED PLASTIC INSERT ON AN ALUMINUM WHEEL AND THE CHROME TENDS TO DELAMINATE FROM THE PLASTIC AS THEY AGE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10078872

Incident

Jun 24, 2004

Mileage

11,000 mi

SECOND TIME TO GO TO DEALERSHIP ABOUT WARPED ROTORS. THEY TRY TO GET AWAY WITH JUST TURNING THEM, BUT ISSUE JUST RETURNS. DC HAS SOME MAJOR ISSUES WITH THEIR ROTORS AND SAFETY IS A MAJOR FACTOR, BUT THE WAY THEY ARE DEALING WITH THE SITUATION ALSO NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10056613

Incident

Feb 4, 2004

2003 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB 1500 4X2 VEHICLE, ABOUT 5 MONTHS SINCE BUILD AND 3 MONTHS SINCE PURCHASE WITH ABOUT 4,700 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IN A SWERVING MANEUVER TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 40-45 MPH THE LEFT REAR TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY IS TO INCLUDE A BROKEN AXLE SHAFT, BROKEN BRAKE CALIPER MOUNT, BROKEN BRAKE CALIPER, BROKEN ROTOR BACK PLATE, BROKEN EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE, BROKEN BRAKE LINE, DAMAGED 20" WHEEL, AND DAMAGE TO THE AXLE SHAFT HOUSING. DEALERSHIP, AUTOWAY DODGE, IS STRONGLY URGING THE VEHICLE BE TURNED IN AS AN INSURANCE CLAIM AND BEING DIFFICULT ABOUT THE PURSUIT OF A WARRANTY CLAIM. OTHER ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE DAIMLER CHRYSLER MANUFACTURER REP WHO LOOKED AT THE TRUCK ON 11/11/2003, AS WELL AS DON ARMSTRONG, DC CUSTOMER SERVICE ORLANDO HAVE YIELDED MORE RELUCTANCE TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM AS WELL. SO FAR WE HAVE FOUND SOME OTHERS WHO EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR FAILURE AND WERE LIKEWISE DENIED WARRANTY COVERAGE WHILE BEING PRESSURED TO PURSUE IT AS AN INSURANCE CLAIM. ONE AT A REPORTED SPEED OF 3 MPH IN A U-TURN. *LA

NHTSA ID

10046037

Incident

Nov 10, 2003

Mileage

4,730 mi