2003 Dodge Ram 2500 Visibility Problems

DEFROST DOESNT WORK DUE TO DOOR BEAKING IN HOUSING, ALLOWS ICEING IN FREEZING CONDITIONS AS CANNOT DEFROST WINDSHIELD. WELL KNOW PROBLEM WITH THESE YEAR MODEL DODGE TRUCKS

NHTSA ID

11672188

Incident

Jan 21, 2024

After driving in heavy rain. During the following day started having electrical issues the parking lights would stay on even when the switch was turned off the driver's side headlight would also come on. and the parking lights would either turn off or flash when the high beams were turned on this happened with front and back parking lights the only way to fully get them to stay off was to pull the relay or disconnect the battery. The problem is with the power distribution center and front control module the poor design allows them to corrode damaging the copper tracing and causing shorts in the system this is a common problem as there are several online forums dedicated to these problems with a lot of people having the same issues so I'm not sure why there hasn't been a recall for this since it is a major safety problem when it affects lights, windshield wipers and several other things that could cause accidents. my brother's truck is also having sign's of the pdc and fcm being bad. and at over $1000 to replace both for a manufacturing defect it's not right that dodge customer's should have to pay that bill. I'll be attaching a picture of another board but the damage is the same and in the same spot

NHTSA ID

11516199

Incident

Apr 4, 2023

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

I WAS RIDING DOWN THE ROAD IN MY RAM 2500 PICKUP ON A COLD SNOWY DAY IN CENTRAL NY WHEN MY DEFROSTER JUST STOPPED WORKING. I WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD NEARLY DRIVING INTO A DITCH BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO SEE. THE WINDSHIELD WAS COMPLETELY FOGGED OVER. I MADE IT HOME STOPPING EVERY MILE TO WIPE THE WINDSHIELD SO I COULD SEE. IWAS TOLD THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS AND AN EXPENSIVE FIX. HOW IS A RECALL NOT DONE ON THESE TRUCKS? IF THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS!!! I AM LOOKING INTO FILING CHARGES AGAINST DODGE FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT THEY NOW ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS AND HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THEM.

NHTSA ID

10855480

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

Mileage

185,000 mi

THE MECHANISM (HVAC) THAT DIRECTS HOT AND COLD AIR AMONG THE WINDSHIELD, DASH, AND FLOOR FAILED. IT WAS A VERY COLD DAY IN DECEMBER AND I WAS ATTENDING A FUNERAL 150 MILES FROM HOME. IT WAS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD KEPT FROSTING UP AND MY FEET BECAME VERY COLD BECAUSE ALL THE HEAT WAS COMING OUT OF THE DASH. THE HVAC COULD NOT BE FIXED EN ROUTE BECAUSE (1) IT TOOK THREE WEEKS TO GET A NEW HVAC HOUSING, (2) IT WAS A SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND REPAIR STATIONS WERE CLOSED, AND (3) THE REPAIR TAKES ABOUT 8 HOURS BECAUSE THE ENTIRE DASH HAS TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE THE HVAC HOUSING AND DOORS. IT COST $1,417.45 TO FIX. (I CAN FURNISH A COPY OF THE INVOICE IF YOU LIKE.) I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE FAILURE OF THIS HARD-TO-GET-AT PLASTIC HOUSING IS NOT UNCOMMON AMONG DODGE TRUCKS. IN FACT IN THIS SMALL TOWN OF 2,500 PEOPLE ANOTHER 2003 DODGE TRUCK CAME IN FOR REPAIRS TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE SAME WEEK. DODGE IS OBVIOUSLY USING FAULTY MATERIALS.

NHTSA ID

10838429

Incident

Dec 19, 2015

Mileage

79,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR VENT DOOR WAS IMPROPERLY CALIBRATED AND THE AIR WAS NOT DIRECTED TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ID

10731039

Incident

Mar 1, 2006

Mileage

15,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISORS FRACTURED AND OBSTRUCTED THE VIEW OF THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. MA 08/13/15 UPDATED 09/10/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE SUN VISOR NEVER FRACTURED, BUT WOULD PIVOT DOWN. THIS WOULD BLOCK THE VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. UPDATED 12/1/2015*JS

NHTSA ID

10726794

Incident

Jun 20, 2014

Mileage

160,000 mi

MULTIPLE BREAKS IN THE VENT PORTION OF THE DASH COVER WITH MISSING PIECES AND THE MAIN DASH COMPONENT IS COMPLETELY CRACKED THROUGH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WITH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM ON, PIECES OF PLASTIC AND DETERIORATED INSULATION BLOWS FREELY IN THE CAB OF THE TRUCK. WITH THE DASH CONTINUING TO CRACK AND BREAK APART PIECES OF PLASTIC HAVE DROPPED BELOW THE DASH AND COULD POTENTIALLY COULD EXPOSE AND CAUSE WIRING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CRACKED DASH IS A DANGER TO THE EYES OF ANYONE RIDING IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM CIRCULATING CONDITION AIR. I FEAR THAT THE DASH WILL ACT AS SHRAPNEL IN THE EVENT OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. ...UPDATED 07/30/15 *BF

NHTSA ID

10725503

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE DEFROST/DEFOG WILL NOT WORK. THE AIR ONLY BLOWS DIRECTLY OUT OF THE DASHBOARD VENTS, IT WON'T DEFROST OR BLOW AIR TO THE FLOOR VENTS. THIS IS CAUSING DRIVING ISSUES (I.E. PULLING OVER DUE TO FOGGING UP). *TR

NHTSA ID

10667272

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

Mileage

145,000 mi

MY 03 DODGE RAM 2500 QUAD CAB WINDOW DEFROST DOES NOT WORK CAUSE THE LITTLE FLAP GETS STUCK AND WONT SWITCH IT OVER FROM WHATEVER IT IS ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10658808

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

Mileage

160,000 mi

BLEND DOOR WILL NOT WORK, COMMON FAILURE IN MODELS 02-06, POOR DESIGN BREAKS AFTER A YEAR OR SO...CANT DEFROST WINDSHIELD WHEN WINDSHIELD FROST DUE TO SNOW OR COLD TEMPERATURES. UNABLE TO REMOVE FOGGY WINDSHIELD ON RAINY DAYS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10559741

Incident

Jan 13, 2014

Mileage

105,145 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROSTER FAILED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD WHEN IT WAS COLD OR WHEN THE WINDOW WOULD BECOME FOGGY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLEND DOOR CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

NHTSA ID

10493411

Incident

Oct 6, 2009

Mileage

120,000 mi

MIX DOOR FAILS TO BLOW HEATED AIR UP THROUGH DEFROST VENTS. VISIBILITY IS ZERO WHEN IT IS BELOW FREEZING AND THERE IS MOISTURE IN THE AIR. IT APPEARS THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS EVEN THOUGH IT IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10490558

Incident

Oct 1, 2012

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN USING THE DEFROSTER, VERY LITTLE AIR WAS EMITTED FROM THE VENTS AND WOULD NOT DEFROST THE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE DEFROSTER DOOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 225,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10487150

Incident

Aug 1, 2012

Mileage

200,000 mi

THE DEFROSTER WILL NOT ACTIVATE-FOUND TSB 24-004-03 RELATES TO THIS ISSUE. CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THESE VEHICLES FOR REPAIR DUE TO NUMEROUS NUMBER OF FAILURES AND SAFETY ISSUE RELATED TO NOT HAVING DE-ICE OR DEFROST CAPABILITY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10482431

Incident

Oct 17, 2012

Mileage

89,881 mi

WHEN I TURN SIGNAL TO LEFT MAKES RIGHT SIGNAL COMES ON, WHEN YOU TURN RIGHT SIGNAL ON MAKES LEFT SIGNAL COMES ON. THE LAMP OUT LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND GOING OFF WHEN YOU TURN THE LEFT SIGNAL ON THEN OFF AGAIN. I CHECKED NONE OF THE LAMPS ARE OUT. HAS BEEN TOOK TO DEALER TWICE AND HAD THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN FIXED, IT QUIT FOR A WHILE AND THEN STARTS THE SAME THING AGAIN.THE DEALER CLAIMS USING THE TILT ON THE STEERING WHEEL IS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. I THINK THE PROBLEM IS IN THE TURN SIGNAL ARM BECAUSE IT AFFECTS THE SIGNALS AND THE WIPERS. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER DODGE OWNERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON IT BECAUSE IT COULD TURN INTO A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10473671

Incident

Sep 30, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO USE THE HEATING SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SWITCH WHICH CONTROLLED THE FLOW OF THE AIR WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BLEND DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 193,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 05/11/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASH WAS CRACKED. 05/21/12

NHTSA ID

10455076

Incident

Apr 14, 2010

Mileage

120,000 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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROSTER WAS INOPERABLE. BOTH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10439355

Incident

Dec 13, 2010

Mileage

34,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED MINIMAL AIR WAS EMITTING FROM THE DEFROSTER VENTS. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A HINGE THAT FRACTURED ON THE BLEND DOOR NOT ALLOWING THE AIR TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 144,000.

NHTSA ID

10438776

Incident

Jun 25, 2011

Mileage

144,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT OF HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEATER COIL WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HEATER COIL WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 232,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 245,000.

NHTSA ID

10423931

Incident

Oct 1, 2010

Mileage

232,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROSTER AND HEATER DOOR FRACTURED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO USE EITHER COMPONENT AND THE WINSHIELD WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY FOGGED WHENEVER IT WOULD RAIN. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10420015

Incident

Aug 18, 2009

Mileage

130,000 mi

WHEN I TRIED TO SWITCH THE AC TO DEFROST, IT WOULD NOT WORKED. KEPT HEARING A "THUNK" FROM INSIDE THE DASH. DEFROST WOULD NOT SWITCH OVER AND AIR CONTINUED BLOWING FROM VENTS. CREATED AN EXTREME VISIBILITY IMPAIRMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10418472

Incident

Aug 10, 2011

Mileage

130,000 mi

NO HEAT OR DEFROST ON MY 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. ALL AIR BLOWS OUT DASH. PROBLEMS DEFROSTING WINDOWS AND KEEPING CLEAR. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT IS NOT COVERED AND WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF MY POCKET. AT LEAST $1000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10375303

Incident

Dec 1, 2009

Mileage

71,000 mi

DEFROSTERS WILL NOT COME ON WHEN CONTROL KNOB IS TURNED TO DEFROST POSITION. DURING MY RECENT TRIP FROM ONE STATE TO THE NEXT I HAD TO DRIVE THROUGH A SNOW/ ICE STORM AND NEEDED TO DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD, I TURNED THE KNOB TO DEFROST BUT NOTHING CAME OUT IT JUST CONTINUED TO BLOW THROUGH THE VENTS. I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM NOW AND IT IS CAUSING DANGEROUS COMMUTES FOR ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10369593

Incident

Dec 6, 2010

Mileage

150,000 mi