2003 Dodge 1500 Visibility Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT CRACKS WERE PRESENT ON THE DASHBOARD. ALSO, WHILE OPERATING THE AIR BLOWER, DEBRIS BLEW INTO THE CABIN AND DISTRACTED THE DRIVER. FURMAN DODGE (24252 STATE RD 54, LUTZ, FL) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ID

11233283

Incident

Apr 1, 2019

Mileage

66,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE HEAT NOT WORKING OR DEFROST

NHTSA ID

11173216

Incident

Nov 13, 2018

BLEND DOORS IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE ARE KNOWN TO BREAK CAUSING NO HEAT TO BE DIVERTED TO THE DEFROSTER CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD CAN NOT BE PROPERLY DEFROSTED. THIS CAN CAUSE VISIBILITY CONCERNS WHICH CAN RESULT IN A CRASH.

NHTSA ID

11118848

Incident

Jul 17, 2018

Mileage

125,000 mi

DASH HAS JUST FALLEN APART SHARDS ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE. AC RE CIRCULATION DOOR HAS BROKEN OFF SO CAN NOT DIVERT FLOW FROM VENTS TO DEFROST SO I CAN NOT DEFOG THE INSIDE OF MY WINDSHIELD. THE AC QUIT GETTING POWER DO TO IGNITION WIRES GETTING HOT IN CONNECTION.

NHTSA ID

11065258

Incident

Mar 4, 2014

Mileage

95,000 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. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE DOORS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FAILED TO OPEN. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE WINDOWS AND THE LOCKS WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING UP TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO FURTHER DETAILS OF THE CRASH WERE PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10744988

Incident

Oct 12, 2013

Mileage

43,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER FAILED TO OPERATE WHENEVER ACTIVATED. THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM WOULD NOT CIRCULATE THE AIR FLOW PROPERLY THROUGH THE ENTIRE AIR VENTS WHENEVER ACTIVATED. ALSO, THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NOT BLOW THE CORRECT DESIRED TEMPERATURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THAT THE ACTUATOR MOTORS, HEATER CORE AND FLAP DOOR ACTUATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ID

10744331

Incident

Jun 6, 2012

Mileage

15,000 mi

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM WINDSHIELD BLOWER FAILED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO VIEW OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE DURING COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DEFROST/DEFOGGER SYSTEM NEEDED TO B E REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,500. DJR

NHTSA ID

10670618

Incident

Nov 10, 2014

Mileage

61,500 mi

DEFROST VENT WON'T WORK EVERY OTHER SETTING WORKS FINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561782

Incident

Jan 27, 2014

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW EXPLODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NOTHING HIT THE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE WINDOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE REAR SLIDING WINDOW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10548787

Incident

Dec 10, 2012

Mileage

90,000 mi

DASHBOARD AND DASH PANELS ARE SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKING. PIECES OF VINYL ARE FALLING APART POSSIBLY AFFECTING THE PROPER FUNCTION OF AIR BAGS. HOT ENGINE AIR IS LEAKING INSIDE THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE CRACKED BOARD AFFECTING THE PROPER COOLING A/C SYSTEM; DRIVER AND PASSENGERS ARE BREATHING ENGINE FUMES THAT ARE ENTERING THE CABIN THROUGH THE OPENINGS/CRACKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514115

Incident

Jan 1, 2009

MY 2003 RAM 1500 [XXX] HAS BEEN IN REPAIR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM TWICE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND NOW THE PROBLEM HAS DEVELOPED AGAIN. IT'S A KNOW PROBLEM WITH RAM "DEFROST/FLOOR AIR CONTROL MODULE OR DOORS. DODGE KNOWS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS DO TO DANGER OF NO DEFROSTER FOR SAFE DRIVING. I WANT IT REPAIRED AT NO COST. THREE TIMES SAME PROBLEM SHOULD QUALIFY AS LEMON LAW DEFECT. I HAVE NO WAY TO CLEAR FOG OR ICE FROM WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10481501

Incident

Nov 15, 2006

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WOULD OPERATE OCCASIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ID

10443357

Incident

Aug 9, 2011

Mileage

93,000 mi

I HAVE EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS HEATING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE BLEND DOORS GO BAD IN THE HEATING SYSTEM WHICH IN TURN CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO ICE OVER AND WHICH PRODUCES SERIOUS VISIBILITY PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10439277

Incident

Sep 23, 2010

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THE DEFROSTER WAS NOT DEFROSTING THE WINDSHIELD AND THERE WAS NO AIR FLOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

NHTSA ID

10436870

Incident

Nov 17, 2011

Mileage

175,000 mi

HEATER BLOWER FAILS TO BLOW TO THE FLOOR OR DEFROST. TRUCK WINDSHIELD STARTED TO FOG UP AND COULDN'T GET IT TO CLEAR BECAUSE THE DEFROST BLEND DOOR IS BROKEN. VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH DODGE VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10430801

Incident

Oct 1, 2011

Mileage

80,756 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10425101

Incident

Sep 1, 2009

Mileage

58,000 mi

DURING FREEZING TEMP THE WINDSHIELD FOGS UP OR HAS ICE ON IT AND THE AIR DOES NOT BLOW UP TO THE WINDOW OR DOWN ON THE FLOOR JUST STRAIGHT OUT OF THE DASH. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ANDD AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE RUN FOR OVER 45 MIN THE WINDOW IS STILL NOT DEFROSTED MAYBE JUST A SMALL PATCH AND AFTER TRYING TO SEE OUT OF A SMALL PATCH OF THE WINDSHIELD I'AM SO SURPRISED THERE ARE NOT MANY RECKS CAUSED FROM THIS I HAVE FRIENDS THAT HAVE DODGES AND I KNOW OF 7 OTHER DODGE TRUCKS THAT HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. AND IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO GET IT FIXED, OUT OF THE 7 I KNOW THERE IS 1 THAT HAS GOTTEN IT FIXED SO HOW MANY OTHER DRIVERS ARE OUT THERE WITH THIS ISSUE THAT CAN NOT SEE?

NHTSA ID

10415673

Incident

Feb 15, 2011

Mileage

150,000 mi

IN 2008 WHEN THE TRUCK WAS UNDER WARRANTY THE DASH STARTED CRACKING. I WAS ADVISED AND UP UNTIL OCTOBER, 2010 (WHEN THE WARRANTY EXPIRED) THAT THE CRACKED DASHBOARD IS CONSIDERED COSMETIC AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. STARTING IN DEC. 2010 THE DEFROSTER INSTEAD OF STICKING ONCE IN A WHILE AND REQUIRING A SWITCH FROM DEFROST TO VENT BACK TO DEFROST TO GET IT TO WORK, STARTED NOT WORKING. DODGE WILL NOT REPAIR THE DEFROST ISSUE WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE UNLESS I REPLACE THE DASH. I BELIEVE THAT THE CRACKED DASH WHICH BY ITSELF IS PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT IS MORE A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND POOR ENGINEERING EFFORT BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN IT MUST BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF ISSUES THAT OCCUR WITH THE DEFROST SYSTEM. MANY TIMES I HAVE DRIVEN THIS TRUCK IN BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS WHERE I NEED THE DEFROSTER JUST TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THE FOGGING OCCURS WHILE I AM DRIVING (TYPICALLY ON A HIGHWAY/INTERSTATE). NOW I'M FORCED TO REPLACE SOMETHING "COSMETIC" OR "NOT A SAFETY ISSUE" DUE TO SOMETHING THAT IS? THE ISSUES WITH THE DEFROST BREAKING ARE COMMON. I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE NHTSA TO REQUIRE DODGE TO REPLACE OR REPAIR BROKER DEFROSTERS AS THESE SYSTEMS EVEN IN VEHICLES DATING BACK INTO THE 1950'S RARELY IF EVER REQUIRE ANY REPAIR AND FOR GOOD REASON...SAFETY. IF DODGE THEN BELIEVES THE DASH NEEDS REPLACING THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED AS PART OF THE SAFETY REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS TO "REPLACE/REPAIR AND ALL PERIPHERAL COMPONENTS REQUIRED TO CORRECT THE ISSUE". I, AND AS I READ MANY OTHERS, WOULD TRULY APPRECIATE AN EVALUATION OF THIS MATTER AND ATTENTION BY THE NHTSA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10407400

Incident

Dec 1, 2010

Mileage

80,000 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

2003 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD-CAB. DURING NORMAL USE AND CARE THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED IN TWO PLACES. A PIECE HAS BROKEN OFF THE DASH AND FELL DOWN INTO THE AREA BEHIND THE DASHBOARD. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HEATER STOPPED BLOWING HOT AIR. THE HEATER FAILURE APPEARS TO BE DUE TO THE BROKEN PIECE OF THE DASH INTERFERING WITH THE HEATER MECHANISM BEHIND THE DASH. NO REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED AT THIS TIME. THE PLASTIC INSERTS IN THE DOOR HANDLES HAVE ALSO FAILED. THIS INCLUDES THE COMPONENTS THAT HOLD THE WINDOW, MIRROR, AND DOOR LOCK CONTROLS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10384147

Incident

Mar 12, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

ON NOVEMBER 19, 2009, I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 ON THE EXPRESSWAY WITH MY WINDOWS DOWN. THE WIND FROM THE WINDOWS BEING DOWN CAUSED PART OF THE CRACKED DASHBOARD TO FLY UP AND HIT MY FACE. IT CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL FOR A SECOND BUT WAS ABLE TO OVERCOME. CRACKED DASHBOARDS ARE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH DODGE RAM TRUCKS AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED FROM THIS. I GUESS DODGE WILL FIX THEIR DEFECT ONCE THIS HAPPENS. HOPEFULLY I WON'T BE THE TEST CASE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10367833

Incident

Nov 19, 2010

Mileage

95,001 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO USE SWITCH FROM DEFROST TO HEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA ID

10365916

Incident

Nov 2, 2010

Mileage

117,000 mi

2003 DODGE RAM 1500 BLEND/MODE DOOR 1 REPLACED IN 2007 FOR $300 OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE UNABLE TO USE DEFROSTER TO CLEAR CAR WINDOWS. BROKE AGAIN 2010. NO DEALER ASSISTANCE OR MANUFACTURER ASSISTANCE. THIS IS UNSAFE DUE TO UNABLE TO CLEAR FOG OR FROST FROM WINDOWS WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10351090

Incident

Aug 1, 2010

Mileage

46,000 mi

NO HEATER DEFROST CONTROLS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332718

Incident

May 1, 2010

Mileage

35,000 mi