Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 28, 2015
AS WITH MANY OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2003 DODGE RAM 3500'S THIS RAM 3500 HAS HAD ALL SUGGESTED STEERING COMPONENT UPGRADES AND RECALL UPGRADES (CHANGE STEERING TO 2008 STEERING) AND THE TIE ROD RECALL FOR THE 2008 STEERING. THE 2008 STEERING UPGRADE SEEMED TO EXACERBATE THE TIRE WEAR ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, BALL JOINTS AND SHOCKS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE RAM DEATH WOBBLE AND EXCESSIVE TIE WEAR IS STILL PRESENT. THE LAST SET OF TIRES LASTED 8,000 MILES (I AM PUTTING A NEW SET ON TODAY). THE TIRE WEAR ON MY LAST TRIP OF ONLY 360 MILES WAS VERY NOTICEABLE - SO MUCH SO A TRIP OF 1,000 MILES OR MORE WOULD HAVE CAUSED DANGEROUS TIRE WEAR AND POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. DODGE HAS TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY ONLY SKIMMING OVER THE ISSUE WITH MINOR FIXES. AS A RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MILES OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE - THE STEERING AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR IS UNSAFE. SINCE I AM GETTING NEW TIRES AND AN ALIGNMENT TODAY - I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TRACK MILEAGE, DRIVING CONDITIONS, NOTE STEERING ISSUES, AND PHOTOGRAPH TIRE WEAR - IF YOU WISH.
- NHTSA ID
- 10744223
- Incident
- Feb 28, 2014
- Mileage
- 79,168 mi
Fuel systemOther / unspecified
Filed Jun 10, 2010
FAILURE OF 2003 DODGE RAM 3500 WITH HO DIESEL ENGINE AND MANUAL 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION - ENGINE TURNS OVER BUT FAILS TO START. BEEN TO CROWN IN NITRO AND COURTS IN HURRICANE A TOTAL OF 7 TIMES. DEALERSHIPS FAIL TO FIX. HAVE SPENT APPROX. $2500 AND STILL NOT FIXED. CAN STALL AT INTERSECTION OR RAILROAD CROSSING CAUSING GRAVE INJURY OR DEATH; NEED HELP TO GET PROBLEM FIXED BY RECALL PROCESS. ALL CHRYSLER-DODGE SAYS "I APOLOGIZE". CHRYSLER-DODGE KNOWS OF PROBLEM B/C WILL FIX ON AS NEED BASIS IF UNDER WARRANTY; TOLD BY CROWN, NITRO THAT WE WERE LUCKY FUEL PUMP LASTED AS LONG HAS IT HAD WHEN REPLACED (WE HAD TO PAY) OVER A YEAR AGO. HAS CAUSED COMPOUNDED PROBLEMS WITH INJECTORS. MOSTLY LIKELY HAS CAUSED HIGH PRESSURE PUMP THEN INJECTORS TO FAIL AS THESE PARTS USE THE LUBRICATING PROPERTIES OF DIESEL FUEL AS THE LUBRICANT FOR THESE PARTS. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10335728
- Incident
- May 7, 2010
- Mileage
- 119,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Jul 21, 2009
FOR OVER A YEAR OUR 2003 DODGE 3500 4X4 PICK UP HAS BEEN SHAKING WHEN THE RIGHT TIRE ON THE TRUCK GOES UP BEFORE THE LEFT. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO MANY PLACES AND TOLD TO REPLACE SEVERAL PARTS THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD TO PUT SEVERAL SETS OF TIRES ON THE TRUCK AND ARE IN NEED OF NEW TIRES NOW. THE LAST THREE TIMES THAT OUR TRUCK HAS DONE, WHAT I AM NOW BEING TOLD AND BELIEVE IT TO BE, THE DEATH WOBBLE... THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK HAS SNAPPED AND SLUNG ME OFF THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN ONE DAY. THE FIRST TWO TIMES IT HAPPENED THE ADJUSTMENT SLEEVE SNAPPED. THE THIRD TIME THE TIRE ROD SNAPPED. ALL THREE TIMES WERE NEAR DEATH FOR ME AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT ANYMORE. I NEED THE TRUCK FIXED BECAUSE WE ARE A ONE VEHICLE FAMILY AND WE BOTH WORK. THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS ON THE PARTS ON MY TRUCK THAT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF. MY TRUCK IS AT SORENSON SCHADE CHRYSLER DODGE IN LAKE WALES AND EVERYONE THERE HAS GIVEN ME A DIFFERENT EXCUSE WHY THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MY TRUCK REPAIR. COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME GET MY TRUCK REPAIRED SO THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE SO THAT I CAN GET RID OF IT AND NOT WORRY ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE GETTING KILLED? PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10277613
- Incident
- Jul 6, 2009
- Mileage
- 150,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Dec 14, 2008
DRIVING AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT, WITHOUT WARNING, THE TRUCK MADE AN ABRUPT LANE CHANGE THEN I MANAGED TO GAIN CONTROL. WHAT HAPPEN IS THAT ON THIS VEHICLE, THE WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY IS ONE PIECE AND CAN'T BE GREASED OR MAINTAINED IN ANY WAY. IT HEATED UP AND LOCKED THE FRONT WHEEL CAUSING A SERIOUS AND VIOLENT TURN AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10251703
- Incident
- Oct 19, 2008
- Mileage
- 107,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Oct 10, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE TRUCK. THE CONTACT PURCHASED AN ALUMINUM DOMINATOR ALLOY ADAPTER PLATE, WHICH WOULD ALLOW HIM TO SWITCH FROM AN EIGHT LUG BOLT PATTERN TO A TEN LUG BOLT PATTERN. THE ADAPTER PLATE FAILED AND CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AND TIRE TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE ROTOR TO FAIL AND DAMAGED THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. WHILE REPLACING THE OTHER THREE ADAPTERS; THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE ADAPTER WAS ALSO CRACKED, BUT HAD NOT FAILED. NO OTHER VEHICLE OR EQUIPMENT INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE.
- NHTSA ID
- 10205345
- Incident
- Sep 5, 2007
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Aug 2, 2007
I HAVE A 2003 DODGE QUAD CAB 3500 5.7 HEMI WITH 21,432 MILES. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH LOWER BALL JOINT AFTER FAILURES. THE BALL JOINT SEPARATED ON EACH OCCASION AND DAMAGED THE RIMS ON THE INSIDE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10198299
- Incident
- Jun 26, 2007
- Mileage
- 21,406 mi
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Nov 3, 2006
2003 3500 DRW 4X4 DIESEL WHILE TRAVELING ON IMPROVED ROADS/HIWAYS ABOVE 40 MPH VEHICLE HITS POTHOLE, EXPANSION JOINT OR UNEVEN ROADWAY, FRONT END STARTS TO JUMP VIOLENTLY, WHOLE VEHICLE RATTLES AND SHAKES UNTIL BRAKES ARE APPLIED, SERVICE TECH. FROM DODGE DEALER WAS PRESENT DURING DUPLICATION OF EVENT, HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR OVER 1 WEEK AND THEY HAVE REPLACED TIE ROD ENDS AND BALL JOINTS AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, CONTACTED DAMILER/CHRYSLER AND THEY STATE THAT CUSTOMER REPLACED SHOCKS WITH AFTERMARKET PRODUCT. VEHICLE UNUSABLE IN THIS CONDITION, VERY GOOD POSSIBILITY OF INJURY OR DEATH AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM
- NHTSA ID
- 10172515
- Incident
- Oct 21, 2006
- Mileage
- 65,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed May 6, 2003
WHEN THE TRAILER WAS USED, IT BENT THE MAIN SPRINGS WHICH SUPPORTED BOTH THE TRUCK AND TRAILER IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. IF THE SPRING WERE TO BREAK IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10018280
- Incident
- May 5, 2003
- Mileage
- 3,200 mi
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.