2003 Dodge Ram 2500 Powertrain (other) Problems

I was driving on I55 this morning and all of a sudden my truck started vibrating really bad, the steering wheel was veering, I had to constantly fight to keep in my lane. And when I touched my brakes it veered. Riding really rough, and has power loss. I took it to the nearest shop and they said my driveshaft was very loose, and that it is affecting everything that I described. The center driveshaft support bearing is also failing.

NHTSA ID

11419423

Incident

Jun 2, 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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V462000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT CALLED MARK DODGE AT 337-474-2640 (LOCATED AT 3777 GERSTNER MEMORIAL BLVD, LAKE CHARLES, LA) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11232010

Incident

Oct 4, 2005

TAKATA RECALL. PASSENGER AIRBAG RECALL; ANOTHER RECALL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE CAN JUMP OUT OF GEAR AND MOVE FORWARD.

NHTSA ID

10945735

Incident

Mar 30, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR WOULD SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION INTO REVERSE AND ROLL BACKWARDS INDEPENDENTLY. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO PARK, THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID THE VEHICLE REVERSING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO PROVIDED A TEMPORARY REMEDY, IN WHICH IF THE VEHICLE'S DOOR WAS OPEN AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REVERSE, THE HORN WOULD AUTOMATICALLY SOUND TO WARN THOSE NEARBY. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,500.

NHTSA ID

10936501

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

Mileage

9,500 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 05V462000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 15V312000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 08/17/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 2,500 MILES. THE BALL JOINTS AND WATER PUMP FAILED AND THE WINDSHIELD LEAKED. UPDATED 10/26/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10875210

Incident

Mar 22, 2006

Mileage

2,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT FAILED TO SWITCH FROM THE PARK POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS AFTER THE BRAKE TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK WAS DISCONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER HOWEVER, THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

NHTSA ID

10807134

Incident

Nov 21, 2015

Mileage

111,000 mi

AT 138916 MILE TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR WARRANTY RECALL N62 LEFT OUTER TIE ROD ASSEMBLE , SINCE THAT TIME HAVE HAD SIX INSTANCES OF UNCONTROLLED SEVER AND DANGEROUS VIBRATIONS ALMOST TO THE POINT OF LOSING CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 60-70MPH. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS YESTERDAY WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND CURVE AT 60MPH; VEHICLE NOT HAS APPROXIMATELY 141,000 MILES

NHTSA ID

10789144

Incident

Nov 8, 2015

Mileage

141,000 mi

I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING , THE STEERING WHEEL JUST SPUN WITH NO CONTROL AND I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A SCHOOL ZONE WITH GRADE SCHOOL LETTING OUT AND I WENT IN OTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC IN BETWEEN CARS AND HEADED TO A GAS PUMP AT GAS STATION AND I HIT BRAKES AS SOON AS I WAS OUT OF OPPOSITE LANE WITH HEAD ON TRAFFIC AND GAS PUMP WAS RITE OFF SIDE OF ROAD I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR KILLED OTHERS WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I HAD TO FIX MY TRUCK BECAUSE I NEVER KNEW OF RECALL AND ALSO TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 55,000 MILES AND TRANSFER CASE ALSO ANOTHER 20,000 MILES LATER , I HAVE A TRUCK I CAN'T DRIVE BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT A TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE IN IT AND I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE FROM ALL THE TROUBLE IT'S GAVE ME AND I COULD HAVE KILLED OTHERS AT THE SCHOOL ZONE. I'D LIKE FOR DODGE TO FIX MY TRUCK FOR ALL THE TROUBLE IV HAD AND THIS HAPPEN ON CITY STREET AND I WAS IN MOTION WEN THIS HAPPENED, IF I'D HIT GAS PUMP IT WOULD HAVE BLOWN UP AND KILLED A LOT PEOPLE AND CHILDREN

NHTSA ID

10782613

Incident

May 13, 2015

Mileage

182,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING IN SNOW AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO GUARD RAILS. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END, PASSENGER, AND REAR END DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE GEAR INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. AN ALARM SYSTEM WAS APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE TO ALERT THE DRIVER OF INDEPENDENT GEAR CHANGES, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO OPERATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20.

NHTSA ID

10746063

Incident

Dec 30, 2003

Mileage

20 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V770000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V312000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V462000 (POWER TRAIN). THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10731587

Incident

Feb 20, 2015

2003 DODGE RAM 2500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE DRIVING AND STEERING LEAKAGE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE STEERING BOX AND TRANSMISSION PAN WERE LEAKING. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE VEHICLE SHAKING FOR A SECOND TIME. *JB

NHTSA ID

10679160

Incident

Jul 21, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED HIS VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V462000 (POWER TRAIN) BUT THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY AFTER HE EXITED IT. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY JUMPED OUT OF THE WAY. THE VEHICLE HIT A LIGHT POST. THE LIGHT POST FELL INTO IN A HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN WRIST AND HAND AFTER FALLING FROM TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID

10599151

Incident

May 9, 2014

Mileage

180,000 mi

I DRIVE TO WORK ON A HIGHWAY 5 DAYS A WEEK AND STARTED TO HAVE LOTS OF VIBRATION AND IT ONLY OCCURRED AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND WOULD CLUNK. TURNS OUT BOTH U-JOINTS FOR THE REAR DRIVE-SHAFT HAD STARTED TO FAIL AND WERE ALLOWING UNWANTED MOVEMENT. AFTER REPLACING THE U-JOINTS THE TRUCK WAS FINE FOR A FEW WEEKS THEN I HEARD SQUEALING OF METAL ON METAL CONTACT AND THERE WAS A SLIGHT WOBBLE. TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND THEY SAID THE HUB BEARINGS WERE SHOT AND WERE MOVING SO MUCH AS TO ALLOW THE WHEEL TO MOVE. AFTER REPLACING THE BEARINGS THE TRUCK WAS FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH THEN THE WOBBLE WAS BACK AND THE TIE-RODS FOR THE STEERING LINKAGE WERE BAD, SO REPLACED THE STEERING LINKAGE WITH DODGES NEW SETUP SINCE IT WAS HARD TO FIND THE ORIGINAL ONE THAT CAME ON MINE SINCE THERE IS A RECALL ON IT. WITH THE NEW STEERING LINKAGE I GOT IT ALIGNED AND IT WAS GOOD FOR A WEEK AND DROVE STRAIGHT AND NO PROBLEMS. THEN I HIT A POTHOLE AT 55MPH WHILE GOING TO WORK AND I GOT MASSIVE WOBBLE IN THE STEERING SO MUCH SO THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TRYING TO GO BACK AND FORTH AND I HAD TO FIGHT TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD AND SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO PULL IT OVER. I LIMPED THE TRUCK TO A SHOP AND THERE WAS NOW LOTS OF PLAY IN THE STEERING AND I COULD MOVE THE WHEEL 3+ INCHES BEFORE GETTING THE WHEEL TO MOVE. THE SHOP REPLACED THE STEERING GEARBOX SINCE THE INPUT SHAFT WOULD MOVE BUT THE OUTPUT WOULD HARDLY MOVE AT ALL. HAD IT ALIGNED AGAIN AND IT STILL CAN NOT BE DRIVEN OVER 35+MPH OR IT GETS MASSIVE WOBBLE. EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT WITH THE STEERING COMPONENTS AND TIRES SINCE EVERYTHING IS ALMOST NEW TO TRY AND SOLVE THIS RECURRING PROBLEM, AND I HAVE SPENT $4578 IN PARTS AND LABOR TO TRY AND SOLVE THIS NEVER ENDING PROBLEM. THE LATEST PROBLEM IS THAT THE HVAC DOES NOT WORK. IT SEEMS THE DOORS CONTROLLING THE TEMP ARE NOT WORKING SINCE THE AC WORKS SPORADICALLY,THE DEFROST HEATS MY FEET, AND WINDOWS STAY FOGGY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447662

Incident

Nov 21, 2011

Mileage

48,256 mi

TRUCK STARTED TO ACT LIKE IT WASN'T GETTING ANY GAS,TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY PULLED UP A O2 CODE FIXED THAT WAS STILL ACTING UP.THEY CALL A DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT MIGHT BE A VALVE SPRING THE MAKE YOUR TRUCK RUN LIKE NO FUEL AND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SEEING ALOT OF THIS WITH THE 5.7L MOTOR IN THE TRUCKS.YET DODGE WON'T DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS OR ANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THEIR AUTOS.SO NOW ME AND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE NEW VALVE TRAINS PUT IN OUR TRUCKS 1 OUT OF A 1000 I CAN SEE BUT WHEN THE DEALER TELLS ME 4 OUT OF 5 SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE.THIS IS WHY EVERY ONE IS BUYING FOREIGN CARS AND TRUCKS.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261633

Incident

Mar 11, 2009

Mileage

88,500 mi

2003 DODGE RAM 2500. WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON, I HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE HUBS, CV JOINTS AND THE RIMS ARE SPLITTING. MECHANIC WAS SURPRISED THAT THE WHEELS OR TIRES DID NOT FLY OFF. CALLED THE GARAGE WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED,AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MY PROBLEM. WITHIN 6 MONTHS, I HAD TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN. NOW IT HAS BEEN THREE WEEKS AND IT HAS TO BE DONE AGAIN. IT HAS RUINED 2 SETS OF TIRES IN LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. CALLED CHRYSLER AND EXPLAINED EVERYTHING TO THEM. THEY WANT ME TO TAKE IT TO THERE GARAGE TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED, THEN THEY WILL SEE IF THEY CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THREE MECHANICS HAVE SAID THAT THE MOTOR (IT IS A DIESEL) IS TOO HEAVY FOR THE FRONT END. THE RIMS NOR THE HUBS CAN SUPPORT THE WEIGHT. HAD WE NOT NOTICED THE RIMS, SOMEBODY COULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR KILLED. AT ANY TIME THE FRONT END COULD GIVE AND CONTROL WOULD BE LOST. I HAVE NO PROBLEM GIVING YOU THE NAMES OF THE MECHANICS AND THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT HAS BEEN SPENT AND THE VEHICLE STILL CANNOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY. DODGE TAKES THE ATTITUDE THAT IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM BECAUSE THE WARRANTY ENDED AT 36,000 MILES. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10211562

Incident

Dec 12, 2007

Mileage

37,000 mi

2003 DODGE RAM 2500 IN DECEMBER 2004 I HAD TO HAVE ALL 3 BALL JOINTS REPLACED THE TRUCK ONLY HAD 42262 MILES ON IT. THEN JUST LAST MONTH IN OCTOBER I HAD TO REPLACE ANOTHER BALL JOINT AS IT WAS GOING OUT ALREADY. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR ON A VECHICLE

NHTSA ID

10141714

Incident

Dec 6, 2004

AFTER VEHICLE WAS WARMED UP A CLANKING SOUND STARTED. ALSO, WHEN TOWING A FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER, AFTER AND AFTER TRAVELING 100 MILES VEHICLE SHOOK LIKE THE REAR END WAS GOING TO FALL OUT. DEALER DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM , AND STATED IT WAS EITHER THE REAR END OR THE DIFFERENTIAL. MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO HELP.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WRONG LUBE IN THE REAR END DIFFERENTIAL. MANUFACTURER ADVISED A DIFFERENT LUBE. CONSUMER WAITING FOR RESULTS WHEN 5TH WHEEL RV IS BEING TOWED. *TC

NHTSA ID

10101701

Incident

Aug 11, 2004

Mileage

12,000 mi

DODGE 2500 2003, PROBLEMS WITH U-JOINT AND DRIVE SHAFT RE-TUBED. *BF *JB

NHTSA ID

10115922

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

SHUDDER WHEN STARTING OUT, 50% OF THE TIME. PROBLEM HAS INCREASED OVER THE PAST YEAR. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLITIN FOR AN EXACT SITUATION ON A SPLIT DRIVE SHAFT. DEALER COULD NOT FIX. FACTORY REP. SAID IT WAS A WEIGHT DISTRICBUTION THAT WOLD CAUSE THE TIRE TO SPIN. THIS IS NOT CORRECT. I TOW A TRAILER WITH 800 LBS. OF TOUNGE WEIGHT, THE PROBLEM IS ENHANCED WITH WEIGHT. PROBLEM IS INCREASING. WORRIED OF EVENTUAL TOTAL FAILURE TO MOVE OR EXTREME HESITATION CAUSING ACCIDENT AT INTERSECTION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10095847

Incident

Oct 15, 2004

Mileage

10,000 mi

CLUTCHES IN POSITRACTION REAREND ON DODGE RAM 2500 4X4 , SLIP CAUSING VIBRATION WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT

NHTSA ID

10072446

Incident

Dec 23, 2003

Mileage

11,300 mi