Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 53 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 53, in the owner's own words
FRAME RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL PLACES. SERVICE PROVIDER HAD PROBLEMS PLACING TRUCK ON LIFT DUE TO FRAME INTEGRITY TO REPLACE BRAKE LINES. UPON MY INSPECTION FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL PLACES. CANNOT DETERMINE IF TRUCK IS SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
DASH BOARD IS CRACKING AND CAVEING IN.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS PREMATURE CRACKING AND DETERIORATION OF THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN FOR THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE PART. THE DEALER STATED THAT TO COMPLETE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V312000 (AIR BAGS), THE DASHBOARD WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE PARTS HAD NOT BEEN AVAILABLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME SO THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF WHEN THE RECALL REPAIR WOULD BE COMPLETED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 01/27/17*LJ
THERE ARE STRIPES OF MELTING PLASTIC ON THE BACK OF THE RIGHT SIDE MIRROR AND ON THE BACK OF THE FRONT SEATS
SHARP PARTS AND PIECES KEEP FALLING OFF THE DASH OF MY TRUCK AND MOST OF NOT ALL HAVE EITHER HIT MY PASSENGER OR MYSELF WHILE DRIVING. *TR
WAS CHANGING OIL ON MY 03 DODGE RAM 3500 AND NOTICED THE FRAME RAIL NEAR CAB MOUNT ON DRIVERS SIDE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THRU WITH A HOLE APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES LONG AND 1/4" WIDE. I'M AFRAID TO HAUL MY GOOSE NECK TRAILER UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. I'M AFRAID THAT ADDITIONAL WEIGHT COULD CAUSE THE FRAME TO COLLAPSE. I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING A RECALL FOR THIS CONDITION. *TR
CRACKED DASH 3RD YEAR IS STILL CRACKING. *TR
I HAVE HAD A DASHMAT COVERING ON MY DASHBOARD SINCE SPRING OF 2003. I HAD NOT TAKEN IT OFF EXCEPT TO CLEAN A COUPLE OF TIMES A YEAR. NOW I HAVE CRACKS AND PIECES THAT I HAVE HAD TO TAPE SO THEY DON'T STICK UP INTO MY MAT. IT APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM COMMON TO DODGE TRUCKS. FYI -- MY 1999 Q45 INFINITY "DOESN'T" HAVE A DASHMAT OR ANY CRACKS. *TR
WHILE CLEANING THE TRUCK, I NOTICED A CRACK HAD APPEARED THAT RAN ACROSS THE DASHBOARD. THE DASHBOARD IS ALWAYS SHADED BY A SUNSCREEN WHEN THE TRUCK IS PARKED. I CALLED MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER TO ASK WHAT COULD BE DONE TO REPAIR THE DASHBOARD AND THEY TOLD ME TO CALL CHRYSLER/DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GAVE ME THE PHONE NUMBER. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE, EXPLAINED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD UNEXPECTEDLY CRACKED AND THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO MY LOCAL DEALER WHERE DIGITAL PICTURES WOULD BE TAKEN AND SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW. FIVE DAYS LATER I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER STATING THAT MY CLAIM WAS DENIED. I CALLED CHRYSLER/DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO FOLLOW UP. THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO AND CONFIRMED THAT THE CLAIM HAS BEEN DENIED. THE CRACK CONTINUES TO GET LARGER AND EVENTUALLY I EXPECT THE DASHBOARD TO DISINTEGRATE AS HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OTHER DODGE RAM DASHBOARDS ARE DOING. DODGE SHOULD RECALL THE FAULTY DASHBOARDS FOR REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THERE IS A GREAT POTENTIAL FOR PLASTIC SHARDS AND SPLINTERS TO CAUSE INJURY DURING AN ACCIDENT OR AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE 3500 RAM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER ENTERED THE CABIN. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE FOUR OUT OF THE FIVE CAB LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD FRACTURED IN THE CENTER CLOSE TO THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE FRACTURE CONTINUED TO SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE DASHBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD FAILURE WAS NOT RECALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED AND DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE CRACKS LOCATED BY THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,500.
THE DASH STARTED CRACKING IN 2011, NOW IT HAS SO MANY CRACKS AND SHARP EDGES, YOU CAN'T WIPE OFF THE DASH WITHOUT GETTING A CUT ON YOUR HAND. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT, THE QUALITY OF MATERIALS CHRYSLER USED IS FLAWED AND NOW EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. MY TRUCK HAS LOW MILEAGE AND CHRYSLER IS PLAYING FAVORITES BY REPLACING SOME AND NOT OTHERS..TOTALLY NOT FAIR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD AND SHE FEARED THAT THERE WOULD BE PROJECTILES DURING A COLLISION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
MY DASHBOARD HAS BEEN DISINTEGRATING RAPIDLY IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. STARTED WITH A LARGE CRACK, THEN SEVERAL CRACKS, THEN CHUNKS. I NEVER KNOW WHEN A CHUNK IS GOING TO LET LOOSE, I CHECK EVERY TIME I GET INTO THE TRUCK FOR ANYTHING LOOSE, BUT IT NEVER FAILS TO STARTLE ME AND I EVEN GOT PULLED OVER ONCE ON A SUSPECTED DUI WHEN A CHUNK FLEW OFF AND HIT ME BETWEEN THE EYES. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES TO BOTH ME AND ANY PASSENGER I MIGHT BE TRANSPORTING. CHRYSLER SAYS ITS A COSMETIC ISSUE, BUT I AM HERE TO TELL YOU THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE NOT ONLY FOR THE TRUCK OWNER,BUT ANYONE ELSE WHO HAPPENS TO BE ON THE ROAD WITH ONE. PLEASE LEAN ON CHRYSLER TO RECALL THIS AND MAKE THE ROADS A BIT SAFER FOR ALL. THANK YOU *TR
ON THE DATE NOTED ABOVE I NOTICED A 10 INCH LONG CRACK HAD DEVELOPED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DASHBOARD SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT OF CENTER. IN A COLLISION WHERE THE FRONT AIRBAGS ARE DEPLOYED, THIS WILL BECOME RAZOR SHARP SHRAPNEL CAUSING SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH. DODGE REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING TO MITIGATE THIS FLAW, WHICH THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED IS DUE TO DODGE UTILIZING SUB-STANDARD MATERIALS WHEN MAKING THE DASHBOARDS FOR THE RAM TRUCK SERIES. THERE ARE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE CRACKED DASHES IN RAM TRUCKS FROM FRUSTRATED OWNERS. ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED WHEN ONE OF THESE DASHES EXPLODES LIKE A GRENADE WHEN THE AIRBAG GOES OFF DURING A COLLISION. *TR
CRACKED DASH AND BROKEN, VERY SHARP ALL OVER , JUNK. *TR
THE TWO PIECE DASH ON MY 2003 RAM 3500 TRUCK HAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. THIS CONTINUES TO GET WORSE WITH ADDITIONAL CRACKS SHOWING UP IN SEVERAL AREAS. THE EDGES OF THIS DASH ALONG THE CRACKS IS VERY SHARP AND IN A CRASH THIS WOULD CAUSE A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. CHRYSLER IS NOT RESPONDING WELL TO THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS AS WELL EVEN THOUGH THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING IN SEVERAL YEAR MODELS AS WELL AS OTHER CAR MODELS. *TR
DASH HAS CRACKED AND THERE IS A WHOLE LARGE ENOUGH TO PUT YOUR HEAD INTO IT. PARTS FELL OUT ONTO MY FEET WHILE DRIVING. A PILLAR GRAB HANDLES HAVE PULLED OUT WHILE CLIMBING INTO TRUCK. I FELL AND CRACKED A RIB. DODGE REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES SHOULD BE A RECALL AS THEY ARE SAFETY RELATED. THE DASH PIECES ALMOST CUT MY FOOT OPEN. IF I HAD OF BEEN WEARING SHOES INSTEAD OF BOOTS IT WOULD HAVE. MY TRUCK IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IT FELL ON TOP OF MY ANKLE AND WEDGED ON THE PEDALS WHILE I WAS HOLDING CLUTCH IN THE BOOTS PROTECTED MY ANKLE WHEN I LET OFF THE CLUTCH TO GRAB THE PLASTIC PIECE. IF NOT IT WOULD HAVE CUT MY ANKLE PRETTY GOOD AS IT LEFT A GOOD MARK IN THE LEATHER OF MY BOOT. *TR
CRACKED DASHBOARD, MY CONCERN IS, IF AND WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY, WILL BRITTLE PLASTIC FROM THE CRACKED DASHBOARD PROJECT INTO SOMEONE EYES/ FACE? SEEMS THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH DODGE. *JS
DASH JUST SUDDENLY STARTED CRACKING WAS CLEANING DASH AND A FINGERS WENT THROUGH IT CUTTING MY FINGER NOW DASH A OVER 20 CRACKS AND HOLES IN IT. IF I WERE TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT I THINK SPLINTERS OF DASH WOULD IMPALE ME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD DEVELOPED LARGE CRACKS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CRACKS HAD BECOME LARGER OVER TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 11/18/11*LJ UPDATED 11/28/11
CRACK IN THE DASH OF MY 03 DODGE RAM TRUCK. THERE ARE TWO CRACKS ONE HAPPENED ABOUT 3/4 YEARS AGO AND THEN THE OTHER ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2003. ONE CRACK IS ABOUT A FOOT LONG AND THE OTHER IS A FEW INCHES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS DEVELOPING CRACKS THROUGHOUT THE SURFACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THIS FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 276,000.
2003 DODGE 3500 DASH CRACKING SEVERELY. YOU TOUCH IT AND YOUR FINGER GOES THROUGH IT. I CUT MY FINGER TWICE PASSING IT OVER THE DASH TO TRY TO CLEAN IT. YOU GUYS KNOW THERE'S A PROBLEM BUT YOU SAY IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I DISAGREE CUT FINGER TWICE AND NOW THE WIRING IS GETTING SO HOT BEING EXPOSED TO THE SUN IT IS A HAZARD. *TR
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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