RoadVitals

2003 Dodge Ram 2500 Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest Jan 30, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 661 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 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.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 30, 2021

ON A 35MPH STREET, TRUCK SUDDENLY BUCKING AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL, AND THE RPM'S WERE ERRATIC. I PUT IT IN N PULLED OVER AND SHUT IT OFF. IT RESTARTED WITH NO ISSUES. I DROVE ABOUT 9 MILES, PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS COASTING UP IT, WHEN SUDDENLY THE TRUCK ACCELERATED. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE, NOTHING. I SLAMMED IT IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF. IT HAPPENED A FEW TIMES WHILE IDLING, OR MOVING AT A SLOW RATE. I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO A 50MPH, 4 LANE MAIN THOROUGHFARE. I STEPPED ON PARKING BRAKE, TURNED IT OFF AND THANKED GOD THAT I WAS UNHARMED. I STARTED BACK UP, PUT IT IN D, DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL (LIGHT TURNED GREEN) AND IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS, THEN IT BUCKED A FEW TIMES AND ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT KEPT REVVING UP AND ACCELERATING. AGAIN, I DEPRESSED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SHUT IT OFF. IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN AS I WAS COMING UP MY SUBURBAN 35MPH STREET. I GOT TO APPROXIMATELY 20MPH WHEN IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE FURTHER. I BUCKED AND CHOKED, RPM'S JUMPING UP AND DOWN THE LAST 100 YARDS. I TURNED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AT AN IDLING RATE AND IT TOOK OFF LIKE A SHOT. I PRESSED THE BRAKE AND IT STILL KEPT ACCELERATING. IF I HADN'T TURNED THE WHEEL, I WOULD HAVE DRIVEN THROUGH MY GARAGE. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I SUFFER FROM IDIOPATHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY AND CKD, THESE INCIDENTS HAVE CAUSED ME TO BE UNABLE TO BREATHE AS MY HEART WAS BEATING SO FAST. THIS MUST BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY!

NHTSA ID
11390758
Incident
Jan 30, 2021
Mileage
135,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed May 12, 2017
Crash reported

SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKING WHILE APPROACHING INTERSECTION; THE BRAKE PEDAL JUST WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPLYING APPROXIMATELY TWO HUNDRED FEET BEFORE INTERSECTION; APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO EFFECTIVELY STOP;SPEED WAS BELOW 30 MPH WHEN APPROACHING INTERSECTION AND BRAKE LOSS OCCURRED; TRUCK HAS ALSO HAD FOUR "DEATH WOBBLE" EXPERIENCES EVEN WITH PITTMAN ARM AND ASSOCIATED PARTS REPLACEMENT; TWO EXPERIENCES OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION (POSSIBLE JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE) OF THE TURBO, LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL; SUDDEN ACCELERATIONS OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER CRUISE CONTROL USAGE AND TRAVELING LESS THAN 30 MPH; WHILE STATIONARY, VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED WIRING HARNESS SHORT AND FIRE ON FIREWALL WHILE CONNECTED TO TRAILER. PICTURES ATTACHED WERE TAKEN WITHIN 12 HOURS OF SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKES.

NHTSA ID
10985145
Incident
Jul 4, 2016
Mileage
140,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 13, 2016

I WAS LETTING MY 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 CUMMINS WARM UP IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN RPM SUDDENLY JUMP TO 3000 FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS AFTER THAT I LEFT TO GO TO WORK I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET GOING 30 MILES AN HOUR AFTER THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO 3RD GEAR THE TRUCK AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED AS IF I WAS PUSHING FULL THROTTLE AND THEN LET OFF WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES, THEN I HAD NO THROTTLE RESPONSE I PULLED OVER SHUT THE TRUCK OFF STARTED IT BACK UP AND THEN HAD THROTTLE RESPONSE AGAIN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOW ON. ON MY WAY TO AUTOZONE TO GET MY CODES READ IT DID IT ONE MORE TIME WHERE IT ACCELERATED BY ITSELF I HIT THE BRAKES AND IT STOPPED ACCELERATING AND AFTER THAT I LOST THROTTLE CONTROL AS IN A "DEAD PEDAL". THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN IF YOU'RE COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT AS THE TRUCK MAY ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN INTO A BYSTANDER OR ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE. I THINK RECALL ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN PLACE

NHTSA ID
10825986
Incident
Feb 13, 2016
Mileage
223,000 mi
Driver assistanceSteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 11, 2015

DRIVING TRUCK DOWN FREEWAY. HIT A BUMP AND WHOLE TRUCK STARTED TO SHAKE SLOWED DOWN AND SHAKE WENT AWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10682827
Incident
Feb 11, 2015
Mileage
173,000 mi
Driver assistanceSuspension
Filed Nov 17, 2014

I'M CONSTANTLY HAVING ELECTRICAL & INTAKE/EXHAUST PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. I'VE REPLACE THE BATTERY 2 TIMES WITHIN 2 YEARS AND IT STILL CUTS OFF ALL THE TIME. ALL INSPECTIONS AND MAINTENANCE IS CURRENT. MY MECHANIC HAS ALSO CONSTANTLY WORKED ON U-JOINTS. PLEASE GIVE ME A LIST OF ALL RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10658745
Incident
Nov 14, 2014
Mileage
169,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 25, 2012
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 QUAD CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HOOKED TO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN ORDER TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED IN REVERE AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE CRASH CAUSED NO INJURIES AND THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 178,500.

NHTSA ID
10445165
Incident
Jan 20, 2012
Mileage
178,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Dec 21, 2010

TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK ON I-65 NEAR ELIZABETHTOWN, KY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE WENT TO 90 MPH WITHIN SECONDS. I FIRST TRIED TO HIT THE BRAKE TO TAKE OFF THE CRUISE, THAT DID NOTHING, I THEN PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH AND THE ENGINE SCREAMED AND THE SPEAKERS BLEW, STILL GOING 90 MPH I MANUALLY TURNED OFF THE CRUISE AND THAT SLOWED IT DOWN. THERE IS A RECALL, BUT DODGE/CHRYSLER WILL NOT HONOR BECAUSE THE ECM NEEDS REPLACED NOT REPROGRAMMED. DODGE WANTS $3,473.00 FROM ME TO FIX. MY TRUCK ACCORDING TO DODGE HAD THE RECALL DONE, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. I DON'T WANT TO DIE OR KILL SOMEONE IF MY TRUCK GOES OUT OF CONTROL AGAIN. I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD MATTER IF IT NEEDS REPROGRAMMED OR REPLACED. A RECALL IS A RECALL AND ADMITS TO A PROBLEM. THIS RECALL REFERS TO VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL RECALL#69118 CALLED CHRYSLER 18007638422 SPOKE TO BRIAN BO52 AND LOCAL DEALER SWOPE DODGE IN E-TOWN THEY RAN A TEST TO FIND THE PROBLEM WHICH IS THE ECM NEEDED "REPLACED". THIS WOULD NOT NEED REPLACED IF THE SPEED CONTROL WORKED PROPERLY. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID
10372759
Incident
Nov 22, 2010
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 23, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP AT 25 MPH, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASE. THE CONTACT MUST PLACE THE GEAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD CHANGE THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO AND REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10200578
Incident
Aug 22, 2007
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 28, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED RECALL LETTER # E17 WAS RECEIVED FOR THE OUT OF PARK ALARM SYSTEM. WHEN THE CONTACT CALLED THE SALES/SERVICE DEALER TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR, THE SERVICE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ONBOARD COMPUTER MAY CRASH AND NEED TO BE REENTERED. IF THIS HAPPENED THE CONTACT MAY BE OUT OF COMMISSION FOR 7-10 DAYS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ID
10174545
Incident
Sep 30, 2006
Mileage
27,850 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 18, 2005

CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED. VEHICLE WENT TO 80 MPH IN A MATTER OF MOMENTS. CONSUMER PRESSED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING. CONSUMER HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY TO OFF IN ORDER STOP THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10115409
Incident
Jan 21, 2005
Mileage
40,129 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 2, 2004

WHEN DRIVING TRUCK ON HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 45 MPH, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP, RUT, OR SLIGHT IMPERFECTION ON THE ROAD, THE TRUCK WILL LITERALLY GET AWAY FROM YOU AND VEER TO ANOTHER LANE. ESPECIALLY WORSE WHEN DRIVING IN A TURN OR CURVE. HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS IN PAST FEW MONTHS, SINCE PURCHASING TRUCK IN JULY OF 2003. HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO DODGE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, AND THEY SAY IT IS "NORMAL". LAST SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME TO "FILE A REPORT" SO THAT DAIMLER CHRYSLER WILL EVENTUALLY "HAVE" TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HAVE MET SEVERAL PEOPLE AT DODGE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE THERE FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE TRUCK IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD WITH FATALITIES SOON TO COME. STEERING WHEEL WILL JAR OUT OF YOUR HANDS AND MAKE A SHARP TURN TO THE NEXT LANE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10056361
Incident
Dec 15, 2003
Mileage
7,258 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 2, 2004

I'VE HAD THIS SINCE THE DODGE C02 RECALL A WHILE BACK. HAPPENS MAYBE ONCE A WEEK, MAYBE TWICE, BUT NOT OFTEN ENOUGH TO REPRODUCE AT THE DEALER. HERE'S THE DEAL: YOU ARE ACCUSTOMED TO APPLYING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THROTTLE TO THE VEHICLE DURING LAUNCH TO MAINTAIN RPMS. THE ENGINE RUNS UP TO 2000-3000 RPM WHEN YOU EXPECT IT TO BE AROUND 1200. THE COMPUTER SEEMS TO BE FUELING UP FOR LAUNCH, BUT DOES NOT WHEN THE RPMS COME UP. AFTER 5 SECONDS OR SO, IT WILL SUDDENLY "REALIZE" THAT IT MADE THE MISTAKE AND STARTS TO FUEL, WHEN YOU THEN HAVE TO PUSH THE PEDAL DOWN QUITE A BIT TO MAINTAIN THE RPMS. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS. CHRYSLER TECH GROUP CAN NOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM SO THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX IT. THIS PROBLEM WILL EVENTUALLY RESULT IN AN INJURY, AS IT IS GETTING MORE SEVERE AS TIME GOES ON. OTHER USERS ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM. FOR DETAILS PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING THREAD HTTP://WWW.TURBODIESELREGISTER.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&THREADID=84164. *JB

NHTSA ID
10056357
Incident
Aug 6, 2003
Mileage
10,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 10, 2003

WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A BUMP OR AROUND A SLIGHT CURVE IT BOUNCED OUT OF CONTROL. THE DRIVER HAD TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP TO GAIN CONTROL. THE DEALER STATED THAT WAS A NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO FISHTAIL WHEN ENCOUNTERING UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES EVEN WHEN GOING STRAIGHT. (FRONT LEADING) WHEN SLIGHT TURNS WERE ENCOUNTERED THE FRONT END WOULD LEAVE THE ROAD, OUT OF CONTROL. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10044132
Incident
May 20, 2001
Mileage
1,500 mi
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Nov 6, 2003
Crash reported

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK AND WHILE IDLING IT SHIFTS INTO REVERSE. ALSO, VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON HIGH. THEN, IT BEGINS MOVING BACKWARDS AND STOPS, ONCE IT COMES INTO CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10046503
Mileage
1,900 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 17, 2003
Crash reported

VEHICLE WILL SUDDENDLY ACCELERATE AT HIGH SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP/ SERVICE MANAGER IS UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
10029541
Mileage
7,000 mi

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.

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Data on this page last refreshed .