Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 34 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.
The 25 most recent of 34, in the owner's own words
DEATH WOBBLE DUE TO PITMAN ARM; OCCURS AT SPEEDS OVER 65MPH OR WHEN VEHICLE HITS A BUMP AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE BECOMES HARD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER. BEGAN OCCURRING WHEN VEHICLE REACHED APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MILES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 60 MPH, THE RPM'S IDLED VERY HIGHLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD AND FOURTH GEARS AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF SLUDGE AND BUILD-UP INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT, INSTEAD OF REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 48,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. AFTER SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THEM OF THE FAILURES. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, THE DRIVESHAFT FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS REPLACED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
DODGE RAM 2500 - E17 SAFETY RECALL THIS WARRANTY ITEM WAS INSTALLED ON MY TRUCK AND NOW THE HORN HONKS OFTEN WHEN I GO FROM REVERSE TO PARK... OR PARK TO REVERSE THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO UNDO THIS RECALL. THIS IS AN UNSATISFACTORY SOLUTION TO THE INITIAL PROBLEM AND MANY CUSTOMERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS "FIX". THE CURRENT FIX CAUSES ALMOST 100% FALSE ALERTS. FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT, THERE IS NO VALUE HERE AS THE DRIVER JUST BECOMES ACCUSTOM TO IGNORING THE ALARM... THUS LEAVING THE ORIGINAL DANGER IN PLACE. PLEASE, IF POSSIBLE, PRESSURE DODGE TO EITHER REDO THE RECALL AND ACTUALLY FIX THE MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH FALSE-PARK ISSUES OR AT LEAST HAVE THEM MAKE THE CURRENT "FIX" MORE ACCURATE. *TR
MY SON AND I HAVE 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESELS WITH THE RECALL ALERT WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT READILY SHIFT INTO PARK AND CHRYSLER AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION WILL INSTALL AN ALARM ON THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM IS MUCH TOO SERIOUS TO BE CORRECTED BY AN ALARM. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM BY CORRECTING THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ITSELF. I AM CONSIDERING LEGAL COUNSEL IF NOTHING IS DONE TO ACTUALLY CORRECT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR
OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, MY 2003 DODGE RAM DIESEL HAS GRADUALLY EXHIBITED SHIFT PROBLEMS. IT HANGS IN GEAR AND DOWNSHIFTS WHEN IT RANDOMLY GETS INTO THIS MODE. I CAN WORK-AROUND THIS PROBLEM BY SHIFTING FROM PARK DIRECTLY TO FIRST, THEN BACK TO DRIVE. I HAVE TO PULL OVER WHEN THIS OCCURS TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE TRANS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE ON ITS OWN. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROVE IN REVERSE DOWNHILL AT 15 MPH. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V462000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) WAS REFERENCED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,606 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
I HAD THE DODGE E17 RECALL DONE TO MY 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 SLT. THE RECALL SAID IT WOULD BE AN OUT-OF-PARK ALARM. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A BUZZING OR DINGING ALERT. INSTEAD IT HONKS MY HORN. NOW I CAN'T BACK UP TO MY TRAILER WITH MY DOOR OPEN WITHOUT WAKING MY NEIGHBORS. I'M DISGUSTED THAT NHSTA APPROVED THIS "IMPROVEMENT" AND INSIST THAT A BUZZING OR DINGING ALARM BE USED INSTEAD. *JB
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 WITH A CURRENT MILEAGE OF 43000 MILES. THE FAILURE CAUSED A LACK OF TRANSMISSION PARK PAWL ENGAGEMENT AND CAUSED REARWARD MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED REAR END BUMPER DAMAGE DO TO THE RECALL 05V462000 FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY DAMAGES TO HIS VEHICLE AT THIS TIME.*AK
03 2500 DODGE TRUCK WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK. SHIFT CABLE REPLACED BY DEALER DURING FIRST SERVICE. STEERING COLUMN PARTS REPLACED DURING SECOND SERVICE WITHIN 2 DAYS. ONE DAY LATER IT IS STUCK AGAIN. *NM
MY 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 HEAVY DUTY PICKUP WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND DIESEL ENGINE ROLLED BACKWARDS AFTER BEING PLACED IN "PARK". I LEFT THE VEHICLE TO TALK TO SOMEONE. THE INDICATOR WAS IN "P" BEFORE I LEFT THE VEHICLE AND STILL IN "P" AFTER ROLLING BACKWARDS ~ 150' THROUGH 2 SNOW BANKS MADE BY CLEARING THE DRIVEWAY. THE PICKUP STOPPED UPON HITTING A SIGN WHICH RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE; BUT THE RIGHT REAR PICKUP BED RECEIVED ~ $450.00 IN DAMAGE. NOBODY WAS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. NOBODY WAS INJURED. THE SIGN PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM CROSSING A BUSY STREET. I RECEIVED THE SAFETY RECALL LETTER TO INSTALL THE "OUT OF PARK ALARM" ON MONDAY FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT ON THURSDAY. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE ALARM INSTALLED. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V462000 CONCERNING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS MODIFIED BY THE BRAUN CORPORATION. THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY A DODGE, RAM, 2500, AND HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO A DODGE RAM B 2500 VAN.*AK UPDATED 01/04/06. *JB
OWNER DROVE TRUCK THROUGH AN OPEN GATE AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO GET OUT AND CLOSE THE GATE. THE VEHICLE WAS ON A FLAT, LEVEL, HARD DIRT SURFACE AND WAS LEFT RUNNING, THE PARK BRAKE WAS NOT SET. OPERATOR WALKED BEHIND VEHICLE AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF CLOSING THE GATE (ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE TRUCK) WHEN IT PASSED THE OPERATOR. OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO RUN BEHIND THE TRUCK AND GAIN ENTRY INTO THE OPEN DRIVERS DOOR WITHOUT INCIDENT. NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE OR ANY PROPERTY, NO INJURY TO OPERATOR. OPERATOR NOW USES THE PARK BRAKE WITH THE TRANS IN NEUTRAL POSITION WHEN LEAVING THE TRUCK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. OPERATOR HAS ADVISED OTHER USERS OF THE VEHICLE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *DSY SEE ALSO VOQ 10058839. *DSY
DT: WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN IDLE WITH NO ONE IN IT TRUCK JUMPED OUT OF PARK AND WENT INTO REVERSE BY ITSELF. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, AND ROLLED AWAY, CAUSING DAMAGE TO TRUCK AND SOME CONCRETE STEPS. THE DEALER PUT THE TRUCK ON THE COMPUTER AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. CONTRACTOR FOR MANUFACTURER SAID HE COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH TRUCK. *AK *TT *NM
THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WILL PERIODICALLY DOWN SHIFT INTO LOW GEAR. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB
WHEN IDLING IN PARK ON A FLAT SURFACE THE VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT THE PARK GEAR TO REVERSE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACK AND HIT A CAR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM
I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM WILSON MOTORS IN CORVALLIS, OR ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2002. APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS LATER, I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE VEHICLE LOOSING POWER WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON 5/20/03, 7/16/03 AND 8/1/03. ON THE LAST VISIT THE COMPUTER WAS FLASHED ACCORDING TO TSB 18-005-03, WHICH SEEMED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, UNTIL RECENTLY: ON 7/5/04 I ENCOUNTERED A SIGNIFICANT POWER LOSS WHILE CLIMBING THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE (WHILE TOWING A 6,500 POUND TRAVEL TRAILER) AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTINUE MY CLIMB OF THE 6,000 FEET, 6% GRADE. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE BY CAREFULLY MOVING INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE TO RE-START THE VEHICLE AS TO RESET THE COMPUTER. ON 7/12/04 WILSON MOTORS WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I THEN CONTACTED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE, WHO INDICATED THEY CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM UNLESS THE DEALER CAN RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS ISSUE CREATES A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *JB
WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING IN THE PARKED POSITION GEARS AUTOMATICALLY CHANGED FROM PARK TO REVERSE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. CONSUMER AND HIS SON WERE ALMOST RAN OVER. *AK
FIRST TIME I WAS IN A PARKING LOTON MAY 23,04 , I BACKED OUT OF PARKING SPOT PUT IT IN DRIVE AND IT STALLED. STARTED IT UP AGAIN PUT IN DRIVE ENGINE SOUNDED RUFF BUT DID GO. GOT ONTO FREE-WAY AND COULD ONLY GET SPEED PU TO 50 WITH GAS PEDDEL TO FLOOR. A FEW MILES DOWN, THE ROAD TURNS TO TWO LANE AND THERE IS A STOP LIGHT. LIGHT WAS RED AS I GOT TO IT HAD TO SLOW BECAUSE OF A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, LIGHT CHANGED AS I GOT TO IT MY SPEED NOW ABOUT 30 THE CAR AHEAD OF TAKES OFF. WITH ME GAS PEDAL TO FKOOR COULD TELL IF ENGIN WAS RUNNING SO I LOOKED AT TAC IT SHOWED OVER 4000 RPM'S AND THEN SHOUT OUT LIKE A BULLET. BY THE TIME I COULD GET MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND ON TO THE BREAKE MY TRUCK WAS DOING OVER 90 AND ALMOST HIT THE OTHER CAR TIME NO.3 WAS LEAVING A STORE STARTED TRUCK THE ENGIN SOUNDED RUFF BACKED UP OK, BUT IN DRIVE IT WENT AT SLOW SPEED OK, TURNED AT STOP LIGHT THEN WOULD NOT GET OVER 30 MPH IN A 45, DEALED SHIP WAS ONLY A A 1/2 MILE PULLED IN , AND MACHINES HAD JUST LEFT SO NO ONE COULD LOOK AT IT. SET APP. FOR TUS. JUNE 1 THEY PUT IT ON COMPUTER AND TEST DROVE IT AND FOUND NOTHING, THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED THAT AFTERNOON ONLY THIS TIME THE TRUCK WOULD NOT MOVE IN DRIVE AT ALL. THERE WAS TECH FROM DETROIT ON JUNE 15 DROVE IT FOR AN HOUR COULD NOT GET IT TO DO IT, BUT THAT AFTER NOON IT DID IT AGAIN. THE DEALER FINDLY DID TAKE IT IN ON JUNE 21 AND KEEP IT FOR A FEW DAYS ONLY AFTER THERENTED WITH A LAWSUIT. CHY CORP WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. TO THIS DATE JUNE 24 THEY COULD NOT GET THE PROBLEM TO REQUIR WHILE THEY HAVE SO THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. *AK
TRUCK MAKES A METALLIC KNOCK NOISE ABOVE 40 MPH PUSH IN THE CLUTCH AND THE NOISE GOES AWAY. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND HAVE DRIVEN THE TRUCK WITH SERVICE WRITER AND 2 MECHANICS. THEY HAVE HEARD THE NOISE BUT DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS OR WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. I HAVE ALSO COMPLAINED TO DIAMLER CHRYSLER AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK
THE FLY WHEEL AND THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY SEPARATED AND BLEW OFF, WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, A PART OF THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY BECAME LODGED IN THE FLOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, AND ALMOST SEVERED THE DRIVER'S FOOT. ALSO, THIS FAILURE DESTROYED THE ENGINE BLOCK, THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, BELL HOUSING AND THE TRANSMISSION. A FACTORY DISTRICT REP,. CAME OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, BUT DIDN'T PROVIDE A SENSIBLE REASON FOR WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. *JB
WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT IN REVERSE AND BACK INTO DRIVE IT LOSES POWER. *AK
WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR INTO REVERSE AND HIT A LIGHT POLE. DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND PROPERTY TOTALED T $8000.00. WHEN CONSUMER GOT BACK TO THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR SHIFT WAS STILL IN PARK. *AK *SC *JB
AFTER 300 MILES MY TRANSMISSION FAILED IN MY NEW 2003 DODGE RAM. IT WAS REPLACED, AND FAILED AGAIN. REPLACED A SECOND TIME AND WAS RECALLED ON TWO OTHER TRANSMISSION ISSUES. IT IS SLIPPING NOW AND HAS BEEN RECALLED YET ANOTHER TIME. MY DEALER NOR CHRYSLER WILL TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS UNSAFE, UNRELIABLE PRODUCT THAT HAS PUT MY FAMILY AT RISK MANY TIMES. *JB
HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. HAPPEN 3 TIMES. SEVERE TRANSMISSION VIBRATION AT IDLE ON COLD MORNING. (28 DEGREES) HAPPENED ONCE. *JB TRANSMISSION STUTTERS SHIFTING INTO OVERDRIVE, NOT ALWAYS, BUT USUALLY WHILLE TOWING LOADS. SOMETIMES WHEN EMPTY.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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