2003 Dodge Ram 3500 Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was a clunking sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact who is a certified mechanic, inspected the vehicle. Upon expecting the vehicle, the contact determined that both upper control arms had completely rusted and needed to be replaced. The upper and lower ball joints and suspension had been replaced by the contact. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 225,000. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ID

11604425

Incident

Jul 11, 2024

Mileage

225,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11331110

Incident

Jun 26, 2020

Mileage

116,000 mi

AIR BAN LIGHT IS ON

NHTSA ID

11308625

Incident

Feb 5, 2019

DASH BOARD IS CRACKING AND CAVEING IN.

NHTSA ID

11152071

Incident

Feb 16, 2010

HAD TO REPLACE CARRING BEARING AND SLEEVE BUSHING ON DRIVE SHAFT HAD A LOT OF WABLE IN STEERING

NHTSA ID

11151794

Incident

Nov 11, 2018

"TAKATA RECALL" MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED TWICE OVER THIS ISSUE, EACH TIME THE REPAIR HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THE CURRENT PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE RELATES TO THE AIR BAG MODULE. MY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT A MONTH AGO AT WHICH TIME I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP THINKING THE AIRBAGS HAD GONE BAD AGAIN. I WAS ADVISED THE AIRBAGS WERE FINE BUT THE CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED. THEN I WAS TOLD THAT CHRYSLER DODGE NO LONGER MAKES THE REPLACEMENT MODULE AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO SEEK ONE FROM A SALVAGE COMPANY THEY DO BUSINESS WITH. MY QUESTION IS SIMPLE, HOW CAN A MANUFACTURE DECIDE TO STOP MAKING A CRUCIAL COMPONENT TO THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. I WAS ADVISED THAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT INFLATE. IT HAS BEEN OVER A MONTH NOW AND THE DEALERSHIP STILL HASN'T LOCATED A MODULE BUT ARE CONTINUING TO SEARCH FOR ONE. I HAVE A LOW MILAGE 2003 RAM 3500 HEAVY DUTY TRUCK SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY THAT IS TOTALLY WORTHLESS. WHAT CAN I DO?

NHTSA ID

11129504

Incident

Feb 5, 2018

Mileage

142,630 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500 EQUIPPED WITH GENERAL AMERI-TRAC TR TIRES, SIZE: 235/80/17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TIRE THREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND DAMAGED THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE WAS SWAPPED WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500.

NHTSA ID

11123219

Incident

Aug 23, 2017

Mileage

120,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK AROUND 65 MPH & I HIT A BUMP I GET A SEVERE DEATH WOBBLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES & IT'S VERY DANGEROUS

NHTSA ID

11071703

Incident

Jan 5, 2018

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000.

NHTSA ID

11064142

Incident

Jan 22, 2018

Mileage

210,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISES AND CUTS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11047848

Incident

Nov 20, 2016

Mileage

42,000 mi

THE DASH IS COMPLETELY FRACTURED AND BROKEN INTO SHARDS OF SHARP HARD PLASTIC THAT SHOULD THE TAKATA AIRBAG EVER DEPLOY WILL BE PROPELLED LIKE SHRAPNEL THROUGH THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AT EXPLOSIVE SPEEDS. IT'S LIKE DRIVING A CAR WITH BROKEN CLASS COVERING THE DASHBOARD. THIS ISSUE, THE DASH FRACTURING AND SPLITTING INTO PIECES AS A RESULT OF SUN EXPOSURE AND AGE SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM ON ALMOST ALL OF THE ONLINE FORUMS I WENT TO TO DISCOVER IF THIS WAS UNIQUE TO ME. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW SUCH AN OBVIOUS AND COMMON HAZARD EXPERIENCED BY SO MANY, IS ALLOWED TO PERSIST.

NHTSA ID

11040570

Incident

Dec 31, 2003

DASH CRACKED, BROKEN, PIECES COMPLETELY BROKEN AWAY, MISSING, SHARP EDGES, VENTS GRILLS GONE ITEMS CAN FALL INTO THE HEAT, DEFROSTER. ALL DODGE TRUCKS I'VE SEEN HAVE SEEN OF THIS YEAR, MOD AND SIMILAR DEFECTS.

NHTSA ID

11035724

Incident

Jun 23, 2015

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE TRUCK WILL NOT SHUT OFF. AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND REMOVING THE KEY, THE TRUCK REMAINS RUNNING. SOMETIMES, AFTER ABOUT FIVE MINUTES IDLING IT WILL SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN. OTHER TIMES WE HAVE HAD TO REMOVE A FUSE.

NHTSA ID

11025299

Incident

Sep 23, 2017

Mileage

30,000 mi

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WENT TO SHIFT GEARS AND THE SHIFTER LEVER ARM BROKE OFF AT THE BOTTOM.

NHTSA ID

11024169

Incident

Sep 12, 2017

Mileage

289,000 mi

THE DASH IS CRACKING AND DETERIORATING PRODUCING SMALL SHARP OBJECTS IN THE CAB THAT COME LOSE AND ARE A HAZZARD TO ALL OCCUPANTS.

NHTSA ID

11016274

Incident

Jan 5, 2015

Mileage

145,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE RECEIVED 3 RECALL NOTICES,I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THAT THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THIS REPAIR LAST CALL WAS ON 3/2017

NHTSA ID

10971020

Incident

Mar 6, 2017

THE DASHBOARD OF MY DODGE RAM TRUCK IS CRACKED. WHEN I SAY CRACKED I DON'T MEAN A SMALL CRACK BUT CRACKS ALL OVER THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD. IT IS CRACKED SO BADLY THAT I FEAR PIECES OF THE HARD PLASTIC ARE GOING TO BREAK OFF DURING OUR TRAVELS AND CAUSE INJURY TO ME ,MY PASSENGERS OR MY GRANDCHILDREN. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT IF WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT THAT THE CRACKS WOULD FLY OFF AND CAUSE SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS OR MY GRANDCHILDREN. THIS IS A PROBLEM IN A LOT OF THE DODGE RAM TRUCKS. IT IS NOT A COSMETIC PROBLEM BUT A DANGER TO THE LIFE OF PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10970817

Incident

Apr 12, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY AND WORKED ONLY AT THE SLOW SETTING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIPM MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 06E023000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND 09E009000 (VISIBILITY). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 230,000. UPDATED 08/14/2017*JS

NHTSA ID

10969589

Incident

Mar 30, 2013

Mileage

230,000 mi

DASH CRACKED CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD IF EVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. ALSO SMALL FRAGMENTS OF THE DASH HAVE GOTTEN INTO THE VENTS BLOWING INTO DRIVERS FACE WHICH MY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF STRUCK IN EYE. STATIONARY, MOTION WHAT TYPE OF ROADWAY DOES NOT MATTER. DEFECTIVE PARTS USED!!!!

NHTSA ID

10958545

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

2003 DODGE RAM. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR RECALL NOTICE. *SMD

NHTSA ID

10954668

Incident

Feb 1, 2017

DASH BOARD FALLING APART

NHTSA ID

10949529

Incident

Jun 1, 2012

Mileage

150,000 mi

WIPER ONLY FUNCTIONS WHEN WASHER MODE IN PUSHED. THEN ONLY MAKE 1 SWIPE. HAVE REPLACED WIPER MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION, REPACED MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, REPACED WIPER RELAY IN FUSE BOX. STILL NO WIPERS.

NHTSA ID

10934008

Incident

Mar 6, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

DASH IS CRACKING AND I AM AFRAID THAT IF I WERE TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT THERE WOULD BE SHARP PIECES OF PLASTIC SENT INTO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE CAB SPECIFICALLY MY CHILDREN. THE DASHES SHOULD BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ID

10929741

Incident

Dec 3, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V312000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10926278

Incident

May 1, 2015

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

NHTSA ID

10924317

Incident

Jun 15, 2015