2003 Dodge 1500 Transmission Problems

TL* THE CONTACT STATED 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD THUMPING SOUND AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AND TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ID

10606214

Incident

Mar 14, 2012

Mileage

33,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONSUMER STATED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE FOR 10-15 SECONDS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION OIL SUMP, COOLER BYPASS AND TORQUE CONVERTER. SINCE THEN, HE HAS HAD TO RETURN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER THEN STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 2/22/10 *CN UPDATED 06/25/10.*JB

NHTSA ID

10302357

Incident

Jan 3, 2007

Mileage

59,000 mi

THIS IS AN UPDATE TO THE COMPLAINT I FILED DUE THE INCIDENT WITH MY STEPFATHER. THAT COMPLAINT IS #10246879 WHEREIN I REPORTED A FAILURE IN THE IGNITION/PARKING SYSTEM THAT CAUSED HIS 2003 THIS IS AN UPDATE TO COMPLAINT ODI 10246879 WHEREIN I REPORTED THE FAILURE OF THE IGNITION / PARKING SYSTEM OF HIS 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK. THE FAILURE CAUSED HIS TRUCK TO ROLL OVER HIM, CATCHING HIM UP UNDER THE TRUCK AND DRAGGING HIM OVER A CURB WHERE IT JUMPED THE NEIGHBORS FENCE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. AT FIRST IT WAS THOUGHT HE WOULD SURVIVE HIS INJURIES BUT HE DIED FROM COMPLICATIONS OF HIS INJURIES AFTER A LONG AND PAINFUL HOSPITALIZATION. I AM UPDATING THAT COMPLAINT TO ADVISE OF HIS DEATH. THIS APPEARS TO BE A NOT SO UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I NOTE THAT THE 2002 MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10262858

Incident

Oct 17, 2008

Mileage

19,959 mi

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMPLAINT IN REFERENCE TO MY 2003 DODGE RAM 15 QUAD CAB THAT CAUSED INJURY TO MYSELF BY JUMPING OUT OF GEAR. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED ON THE DATE OF NOV28 WILE IN A CONVENIENT STORE PARKING LOT I HAVE TWO OF MY VEHICLES THAT WERE RUNNING AT THE TIME AND THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS IN PARK POSITION. I HOPPED OUT OF MY TRUCK TO GO IN STORE BUT TO MY SURPRISE I FELT A SHARP PAIN IN THE LOWER RIGHT LEG WHEN I LOOKED AT WHAT WAS GOING ON TO MY SURPRISE I WAS HIT BY MY OWN VEHICLE I WAS STUNNED MY TRUCK WHICH WAS IN PARK HIT ME AND THERE WAS NOONE ELSE IN MY TRUCK LUCKY FOR ME THAT STORE HAD A BIG CONCRETE CURB TO STOP THE TRUCK OR I MIGHT NOT BE THE ONE WRITING TO YOU SO I HURRIED IN TO MY TRUCK TO SEE TO MY SURPRISE THE TRUCK SHIFT INDICATOR WAS IN PARK. SO MY COMPLIANT IS THAT MY TRUCK IS NOW A FEARFUL THING TO DRIVE MY WIFE WONT EVEN DRIVE IN THE TRUCK WHICH ONLY HAS 18000 MILES ON IT I BOUGHT IT IN JUNE OF,2007 WITH 4800 MILES I TRIED TO GET DODGE TO HANDLE THIS ISSUE BUT I NEVER GOT A RESPONSE SO I FEEL ITS MY DUTY AS HUMANBEING TO INFORM EVERYONE OF THE ISSUE THAT DODGE WANTS TO KEEP IGNORING THIS SAFETY CONCERN. I WROTE EMAILS TO THEM AND GET NOTHING IN RESPONSE. I FEEL THEY OWE ME ATLEAST A RESPONSE TO THE ISSUE AND AM VERY FEARFUL OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE THAT I WILL BE MAKING MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON FOR THE NEXT 48 MONTHS. I HOPE THIS LETTER FALLS INTO THE RIGHT HANDS AND SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP ME WITH THIS NEW TRUCK. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY LETTER MR EDWARD RIDING. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FEEL FREE TO CALL ME . *TR

NHTSA ID

10251143

Incident

Nov 28, 2008

Mileage

16,000 mi

THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING FILED ON BEHALF OF THE 2003 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCK 1500 MR. JP WATERS BY HIS STEPSON. MR. WATERS WAS SEVERELY INJURED ON OCTOBER 22, 2008 AFTER PLACING THE AFORESAID VEHICLE IN PARK ON AN INCLINE, TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, AND EXITING THE TRUCK. AS HE WENT AROUND TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO RETRIEVE SOME ITEMS THE TRUCK ROLLED, KNOCKING HIM DOWN AND DRAGGING HIM ACROSS A CURB INTO A NEIGHBORS YARD. HE SUSTAINED A FRACTURED HIP/ NUMEROUS LACERATIONS/ CONTUSIONS ALL OVER HIS BODY AND CONSEQUENTLY SUFFERED HEART FAILURE AND HAD TO BE AIR LIFTED TO A HEART HOSPITAL. HIS RECALL IS THAT HE DEFINITELY PLACED THE TRUCK IN PARK POSITION (IT IS AN AUTOMATIC)/ TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND NOTICED NO MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN HE EXITED--IT WAS PARKED ON A STEEP INCLINE. THE REAR MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL HE HAD COME AROUND TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246879

Incident

Oct 22, 2008

HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES! WHEN PARKED ON ANY KIND OF INCLINE, THE TRUCK RUNNING OR NOT (HAS HAPPENED BOTH WAYS) HAS ROLLED BACKWARDS AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP WITH THE BRAKES. LUCKILY NO ONE HAS BEEN RUN OVER, AND IT HASN'T HIT ANYTHING, BUT NEXT TIME MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY! I NOW USE THE PARKING BRAKE AT ALL TIMES WHEN TRUCK IS PARKED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS ADDRESSED BY CHRYSLER! *TR

NHTSA ID

10229369

Incident

Jul 20, 2005

Mileage

30,000 mi

I PUT MY TRUCK INTO PARK AND STARTED TO GET OUT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE TRUCK ROLLED BACKWARDS, CATCHING ME WITH ONE LEG ON THE GROUND AND ONE LEG STILL IN THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HIT ME IN THE CHEST, KNOCKING ME TO THE GROUND. THE ABOVE EVENTS TOOK PLACE EXTREMELY QUICKLY, AND I HAD NO TIME TO REACT. LUCKILY, SOMEONE WAS NEARBY AND STOPPED THE TRUCK BEFORE IT HIT ME OR ANYTHING ELSE. *AK UNFORTUNATELY, MY LEG WAS STILL IN THE VEHICLE, EVEN WHILE I WAS ON THE GROUND. I WAS DRAGGED ABOUT 5 FEET AND RECEIVED SOME LACERATIONS ON MY SHOULDER.

NHTSA ID

10190582

Incident

May 12, 2007

Mileage

70,000 mi

I PLACED THE TRUCK IN PARK AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE TRUCK THEN BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS IN REVERSE. I WAS KNOCKED DOWN BY THE OPEN DOOR BEFORE I COULD REENTER THE TRUCK AND ROLLED AWAY TO AVOID BEING RUN OVER. THE TRUCK BACKED INTO A FENCE POST DAMAGING THE DRIVERS DOOR AND RIGHT FRONT FENDER. THE FENCE POST WAS ALSO BENT OVER. *NM

NHTSA ID

10172095

Incident

Oct 26, 2006

Mileage

32,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THE GEAR LEVER DID NOT COME OFF THE PARK POSITION, AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE LEVER SHIFTED TO THE DRIVE POSITION BUT THE TRANSMISSION WENT TO THIRD GEAR AND REMAINED IN IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVEN TIMES, AND THE DIAGNOSIS MACHINE INDICATED THE DEFECT IN CONTROL MODULE (P700). THE CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED SEVEN TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND COINCIDED WITH THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THE LACK OF ENOUGH POWER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS LOADED PRESENTED A SERIOUS RISK TO SAFETY WHILE DRIVING UP OR DOWN A HILL.

NHTSA ID

10169549

Incident

Dec 19, 2004

Mileage

27,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK AND MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO MY SERVICE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPAIRED IT. I ONLY HAD 37,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AT THE TIME. I DIDN'T HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE. I HAD TO USE A RENTAL CAR. THEN ON TOP OF EVERYTHING, CHRYSLER DAMLER WOULD NOT PAY FOR MY RENTAL. THE REAL ISSUE HERE IS THAT MY TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT UNDER 40,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10154425

Incident

Mar 12, 2006

Mileage

37,100 mi

DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAULING AN 8 FOOT BY 16 FOOT TRAILER IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE SWAY TO THE LEFT THEN TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE AND THE TRAILER SHOOK. THE CONTACT PRESSED ON THE CLUTCH AND IT CAUSED THE TIRES TO LOSE TRACTION. THE VEHICLE SWERVED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AND ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10142440

Incident

Oct 19, 2005

ON FRIDAY, NOV. 28, 2003 MY HUSBAND DIED AS THE RESULT OF OUR 2003 DODGE RAM JUMPING FROM PARK INTO REVERSE, THE DRIVERS DOOR HIT HIM FROM BEHIND AND ROLLED HIM OVER FORWARD, PENNING HIM UNDER THE DRIVERS DOOR AND PAVEMENT. THIS INCIDNET WAS REPORTED TO AND INVESTIGATED BY THE BIRMINGHAM POLICE DEPT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10116026

Incident

Nov 28, 2003

Mileage

3,500 mi

I OWN A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 LARAMIE 4X2 WITH 17000 MILES. I PURCHASED IT FROM MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER WITH 2300 MILES ON IT. AROUND 15000 MILES, MY VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON, AND A STRONG BURNING ODOR BEGAN TO COME FROM THE CAB. I THOUGHT THE ERROR WAS SERIOUS, AND IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH AN APPROPRIATE FIVE STAR DODGE DEALER HERB GORDON DODGE IN SILVER SPRING, MD. KEVIN WITH THE ORANGE TEAM, AT HERB GORDON, VERIFIED THAT ONE ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE IS THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE BURNING SMELL CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME. AS THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY, THE PCM IS CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED. WHILE HERB GORDON HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB PROVIDING ME WITH SERVICE, DODGE HAS SCARRED ME AND ENCUMBERED MY TIME. I HAVE HAD TO RENT WHILE MY VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP, MY TRUCK SMELLS REALLY BAD INSIDE (DUE TO THE BURNING PCM,) AND I REALLY DO NOT TRUST THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE. WHY WOULD A PCM GO BAD AFTER 17000 MILES? IS THE BURNING SMELL GOING TO CAUSE A FIRE IN THE FUTURE? AM I AT RISK IN THIS VEHICLE?*AK

NHTSA ID

10114353

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

Mileage

16,000 mi

THE CONSUMER SHIFTED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND WAS GETTING READY TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED MOVING BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER THE CURB BEFORE THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE'S INDICATOR LIGHT INDICATED THAT HE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK , HOWEVER IT WAS IN REVERSE. WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE AGAIN THE SHIFTER HAD NO TENSION. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10090276

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

Mileage

18,000 mi

10/25/02-BOUGHT NEW 2003 DODGE 1500 EXTENDED CAB. 11/26/02, ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ON. DEALERSHIP SAID "CONNECTION AT CAB HAD WATER IN IT, AND DRIED OFF AND SEALED." 12/19/02, 3685 MILES, TOOK BACK BECAUSE OF ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ON. SHORT IN BRAKE SWITCH AND REPLACED THE BRAKE SWITCH. 12/20/02 RETURNED WITH ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ON. BRAKE SWITCH AND REAR ABS SENSOR SHORTED. REPLACED BOTH SENSORS AND FOUND WATER IN THE WIRING CONNECTOR. DISCONNECTED, CLEANED, DRIED AND SEALED. RETURNED TO ME ON 12/24. 12/30/02, 4339 MILES, ABS/BRAKE LIGHTS ON/RPM SPIKED. 8-WAY PLUG HAD WATER IN IT. "CONTACTED STAR AND WAS TOLD TO CUT OUT PLUG AND SOLDER WIRES." TRUCK RETURNED TO ME ON 01/02/03. 01/24/03, 5864 MILES, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON/SPEEDOMETER SPIKING AT IDLE. DEALERSHIP CHECKED CODES, CHECKED WIRING, REAR ABS SENSOR, CONNECTOR, ABS CONTROLLER CONNECTOR, CLEANED, SEALED CONNECTOR. TRUCK RETURNED TO ME ON 01/28/03. 08/20/03, 19775 MILEST, TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T KICK OUT OF PASSING GEAR UNTIL 80 MPH AND WHEN IT DID, MADE LOUD POPPING NOISE. DEALERSHIP SAID "TRANSMISSION NOT UPSHIFTING, FLASH PROGRAM TRANSMISSION CONTROL." 10/11/03, 23180 MILES, I WAS DRIVING, POWER STEERING PUMP CAME OUT AND CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL/RUN INTO DITCH. DAMAGE TO BUMPERS AND TAILPIPE. I HAD ALSO NOTICED THAT DAY BEFORE THE WRECK THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS KICKING INTO PASSING GEAR AT 40 MPH. HAD TOWED TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP ON 10/13/03. WOULD NOT GIVE ME A RENTAL-I HAD BOUGHT THE TRUCK FROM A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP. DODGE SAT ON THIS TRUCK FOR FIVE MONTHS LEAVING ME WITHOUT A VEHICLE, SAYING THAT THEY WERE SENDING AN INSPECTOR OUT TO LOOK AT IT, INSPECTOR WOULD BE THERE ANY DAY. DODGE WOULD NOT REPLACE BUMPERS AND DID NOT FIX/RETURN TO ME UNTIL 03/09/04. TRUCK WAS STILL NOT RIGHT/ACTED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO QUIT RUNNING WHEN STARTED. 09/09/04, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON AGAIN/SPEEDOMETER SPIKING. OVER 36,000 MILES, HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY, GOING BACK TO DEALERSHIP TOMORROW. *AK

NHTSA ID

10090734

Incident

Nov 26, 2002

Mileage

2,147 mi

WHILE SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE CONSUMER HEARD CLUNKY NOISE. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK A FACTORY REP. LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND STATED IT WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE RAM 1500. CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. *PH *NLM

NHTSA ID

10040506

Incident

Sep 24, 2003

TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. THERE IS A PERIOD OF FREE-WHEELING WHEN IT DOWNSHIFTS FROM THE OD BACK INTO FOURTH GEAR, CAUSING INCREASED PRESSURE TO HAVE TO BE APPLIED TO BRAKING THE PICKUP WHICH IN TURN CAUSES A JERKING WHILE BRAKING. THERE IS ALSO A PAUSE BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, IT IS SLOW GETTING INTO EACH GEAR AND DOES NOT DOWNSHIFT PROPERLY. THE REAR-END HAS EXCESSIVE SLACK TO THE POINT OF STARTLING PEOPLE IF NEARBY WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEARS. THESE HAVE ALL BEEN DESCRIBED AS NORMAL BY THE DEALER. NOT SO! *JB

NHTSA ID

10041254

Incident

Sep 3, 2003

Mileage

4,145 mi

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE IT GETS STUCK IN THE GEARS. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. *PH

NHTSA ID

10039913

CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD AT TIMES, STALLED AND HESITATED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THIS HAPPENED WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. ON THREE OCCASIONS, VEHICLE HAD FAILED TO START. WHEN IT DID RESTART BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. *PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10031389

Incident

Jan 26, 2003

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE WHEN LEFT OUTSIDE IN THE COLD. VEHICLE HAS 1200 MILES ON IT. VEHICLE WAS IMPORTED FROM CANADA AND CHRYSLER CORP. WILL NOT WARRANTY, NOR WILL SELLING DEALER TAKE VEHICLE BACK. I PURCHASED VEHICLE 5 WEEKS AGO. I WAS TOLD BY REPAIR STATION THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION BUT IT DOES NOT SURFACE ON CARFAX NOR ON THIS WEBSITE BECAUSE DODGE DOES NOT REPORT RECALLS TO EITHER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10013625

Incident

Mar 12, 2003

Mileage

232 mi

THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO ABRUPTLY PULL OVER.*JB

NHTSA ID

10008976

Incident

Sep 8, 2002