2003 Dodge Ram Quad Cab Body & structure Problems

2003 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB 4X4 HAD VEHICLE TOWED AND WHEN TOW TRUCK DRIVER HOOKED CHAINS TO FRAME RAILS TO WINCH VEHICLE ON TO TOW TRUCK THE CHAINS RIPPED THE STEEL OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME DO TO THE FRAME BEING ROTTED I HAVE UPLOADED PHOTOS. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN DO TO THE FACT THE FRAME IS ENCLOSED AND THERE IS NO REAL WARNING OR SIGNS OF THE INTEGRITY OF THE REMAINING STRUCTURE OF THE FRAME. IT IS IN MY OPINION THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND FRAME SHOULD BE RECALLED THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME TRUCKS EVEN A LOT NEWER THAN THIS ONE BUT SAME FRAME AS MINE AND THE SAME PROBLEM THERE IS NO REASON OTHER THAN POOR ENGINEERING AND PREP OF THIS FRAME I OWN MANY OLD PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT ARE 30+ YEARS OLDER THAN THIS TRUCK AND NO ROT ISSUES LIKE THIS WEAR AND TEAR IS ONE THING BODY ROT ECT IS NORMAL BUT THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT GIVES NO WARNING MANY OF THESE TRUCKS DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD SUCH AS MINE HAULING EQUIPMENT ECT IMAGINE 20K LBS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK SPLITS IN HALF DO TO THE INTERNAL FRAME ROT HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL DIE BEFORE THIS ISSUE I'D RECALLED BY CHRYSLER? TOYOTA DID IT TO THERE TRUCKS WHY SHOULDN'T DODGE PLEASE DON'T LET DODGE IGNORE THIS IT COULD BE SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY THAT GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR DIES DRIVING ONE OF THESE TRUCKS OR FROM SOMEONE ELSE DRIVING ONE OF THESE TRUCKS. FYI I HAD THE PITTMAN ARM JOINT SNAP ON MY TRUCK WITH OUT WARNING IT WAS A SCARY MOMENT WHEN U LOSE STEERING I WAS LUCKY AND DIDN'T CRASH AND NO ONE GOT HURT .

NHTSA ID

11031653

Incident

Apr 21, 2016

Mileage

220,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD AND HVAC SYSTEM HAS CRACKED TO PIECES CAUSING THE DEFROSTERS TO BE INOPERABLE MOST OF THE TIME AND CONSTANTLY BLOWS PIECES OF PLASTIC AND FOAM OUT OF THE VENTS OCCASIONALLY GETTING IN THE DRIVER'S EYES AND NOSE CAUSING SNEEZING AND DISTRACTING IRRITATION.

NHTSA ID

11004058

Incident

Jan 10, 2005

Mileage

500,000 mi

THERE IS A ENTRY GRAB HANDLE MOUNTED TO THE INTERIOR DOOR POST NEAR THE WINDSHIELD INTENDED AS AN ASSIST HANDLE. MY TRUCK IS EQUIPPED WITH RUNNING BOARD TO MAKE ENTRY EASIER INTO THE TRUCK CAB. I USED THE ASSIST HANDLE WHILE GETTING INTO THE TRUCK CAB, IT PULLED LOOSE FROM THE PILLAR CAUSING ME TO NEARLY FALL FROM THE TRUCK. I WAS ABLE TO GAIN MY BALANCE AND STEP DOWN FROM THE RUNNING BOARDS WITHOUT DOING ANY INJURY. I AM OF AVERAGE HEIGHT AND WEIGHT APPROPRIATE. WHEN I EXAMINED THE HANDLE I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THE ONLY MOUNTING INVOLVED WAS PLASTIC WITH A BOLT THROUGH IT SCREWED TO THE DOOR FRAME. THIS IN NO WAY SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS AN APPROPRIATE ASSIST HANDLE TO AID ONE IN THE ENTRY OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10748863

Incident

Aug 7, 2015

Mileage

130,454 mi

DRIVER WAS USING GRAB BAR TO PULL SELF UP INTO VEHICLE WHEN THE GRAB BAR BROKE SUDDENLY AND PULLED OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED DRIVER TO FALL AND SUFFER A FRACTURED HAMATE BONE IN THE WRIST AND CHRONIC SHOULDER PAIN. INJURIES REQUIRE SURGERY AND ARE NOT YET HEALED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10676357

Incident

Sep 25, 2014

Mileage

165,000 mi

THE DASH IS FALLING APART. IT BEGAN LAST SUMMER AND PIECES ARE FALLING INTO THE AIR CONDITIONER VENTS. CHEAP MATERIAL USED FOR THE DASH BOARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10653518

Incident

Nov 6, 2014

Mileage

168,000 mi

THE DASH BOARD ON THIS VEHICLE IS CRACKING ALL OVER. IT HAS CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND PIECES HAVE FALLEN INTO THE AIRBAG COMPARTMENT. THIS HAS NOT CAUSED INJURY YET, BUT IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THE BROKEN PIECES WILL DEFINITELY CAUSE INJURY AND I HOPE THAT THEY DO NOT AFFECT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. PIECES BLOW INTO YOUR FACE WHILE RUNNING THE DEFROST WHICH IF STRUCK IN THE EYE COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10632508

Incident

Apr 5, 2014

Mileage

82,100 mi

MY DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING UP AND LARGE SHARDS OF THE PLASTIC BECAME AIRBORNE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK ME IN THE FACE . THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE IN MY OPINION AND I HAVE A $50000.00 DRIVEWAY ORNAMENT AS I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ANYMORE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10630269

Incident

Sep 1, 2009

Mileage

100,000 mi

DASH AND DEFROSTER GRILL SHATTERED . ONLY 60,000 MILES ON TRUCK THIS SEEMS TO BE A FACTORY DEFAULT AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY DODGE WITH BETTER MATERIALS. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK NEW WITH THE 5 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10622094

Incident

Feb 1, 2014

Mileage

62,000 mi

THE DASH IS FALLING APART. IT BEGIN LAST SUMMER AND PIECES ARE FALLING INTO THE AIR CONDITIONER VENTS AND BLOCKING THE AIR FLOW AND CAUSING IT TO FREEZE UP.. I HAVE HAD A PIECE FALL UNDER THE ACCELERATOR AND CAUSE ME TO BE UNABLE TO ACCELERATE IN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. NOW A PIECE HAS FALLEN OFF CAUSING THE STEERING TO JAM. PART OF THE DASH HAS FALLEN ON THE WIRING AND I'M AFRAID IT IS GOING TO CATCH FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10593915

Incident

Jun 15, 2013

Mileage

108,000 mi

BACK IN 2009 MY DASH ONE DAY JUST CRACKED....AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS SUCH A HUGE DODGE AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10587716

Incident

May 5, 2009

VEHICLE DASH IS COMING APART IN PIECES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563394

Incident

Feb 7, 2014

Mileage

17,500 mi

SEVERELY CRACKED DASHBOARD WHICH POSES A DANGER IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION REQUIRES ATTENTION AND/OR POSSIBLE RECALL FOR REPAIR. VEHICLE LESS THAN TEN YEARS OLD SHOWING DAMAGE, WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE AND CARE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10462025

Incident

Jun 17, 2012

Mileage

93,000 mi

PLASTIC DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED IN TWO PLACES LEAVING SHARP UNEVEN EDGES STICKING UP. I CAN'T USE THE VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT MY GRANDCHILDREN BECAUSE I FEAR THEY WILL TOUCH THE AREA AND GET CUT. ACCORDING TO 3 EMPLOYEES OF THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER THEY ARE STILL USING THIS DEFECTIVE PART IF IT IS REPLACED...SAD! *TR

NHTSA ID

10450363

Incident

Nov 15, 2011

Mileage

63,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD IN MY TRUCK HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS AND MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN CUT BY ONE OF THE CRACKS IT IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE DODGE THE CRACKS ARE GETTING BIGGER EVERY DAY AND SOON I WILL LOOSE A LARGE SECTION OF THE DASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448467

Incident

Feb 5, 2012

Mileage

69,000 mi

WE BOUGHT A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB TRUCK AND THE DASH BOARD HAS CRACKED IN 6 DIFFERENT PLACES AND I TALKED WITH OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM SO IT'S A FACTORY DEFECT DODGE IS AT FAULT AND SHOULD HAVE TO RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *KB

NHTSA ID

10426334

Incident

Sep 19, 2011

MY WIFE WAS GETTING INTO MY 2003 DODGE 2500 RAM PICK-UP USING THE GRAB BAR LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE TRUCK. GRAB BAR IS LOCATED ON THE INTERIOR OF THE A-PILLAR OF THE TRUCK. GRAB BAR FAILED. THE GRAB BAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE FAILED 4 YEARS AGO, SO I USE THE STEERING WHEE TO GET INTO THE TRUCK. SHE FELL OUT OF THE TRUCK ONTO THE PAVEMENT INJURING HER KNEES. UPON INSPECTION OF THE MOLDED PLASTIC GRAB BAR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE GRAB BAR INTERIOR TRIM PIECE TEARING AT WERE THE BOLT INTERFACES WITH THE TRIM PIECE. THE BOLTS REMAINED IN THE METAL THREAD HOLES IN THE METAL PART OF THE A-PILLAR. THE MOLDED GRAB HANDLE BOLT TO TRIM INTERFACE IS NOT ADEQUATE TO SUPPORT ANY LOAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10422615

Incident

Aug 27, 2011

Mileage

155,547 mi

2003 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD-CAB PICKUP PROBLEM: CRACKED DASH DASH CRACKED SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE PREVALENT IN ALL DODGE RAM TRUCKS OF THIS VINTAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10421232

Incident

Jan 17, 2008

Mileage

75,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 DODGE RAM AND THE DASH HAS 2 CRACKS IN IT. I AM AFRAID THAT THE CRACKS COULD SOMEHOW CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. *KB

NHTSA ID

10413460

Incident

Apr 11, 2009

DASH HAS SEVERAL CRACKS IN IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10383999

Incident

Jun 1, 2008

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE ROLLED BOTH REAR WINDOWS DOWN, THE NOISE LEVEL WAS VERY HIGH. THE HEADLINGER IN THE CEILING SHOOK AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY AND IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,962.

NHTSA ID

10383081

Incident

Oct 15, 2010

Mileage

32,962 mi

JUST FOUND A CRACKED DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE CLOSE TO THE AIR BAG IN MY 2003 DODGE RAM. SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY 1999 RAM AND GOT WORSE. I AM CONCERNED THIS COULD BE A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH ELECTRONICS AND AIRBAGS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10366803

Incident

Nov 18, 2010

Mileage

114,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 IS CRACKED AND CONTINUES TO CRACK MORE AND MORE EACH DAY. I AM AFRAID THAT PIECES THAT MAY FALL INSIDE THE AIRBAG COMPARTMENT WHICH MAY LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY IF THEY BECOME DEPLOYED. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10360256

Incident

Apr 1, 2010

Mileage

70,000 mi

MY 2003 RAM 1500 QUAD CAB DRIVER SIDE HANDLE BROKE AT JUST 36,500 MILES AND THE SERVICE TECH AT THE DEALER THE THERE IN NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THAT IT WAS ON MY OWN. I ONLY WEIGHT 150 LBS. AND LANDED ON MY BACK ON THE STREET. IF THE DEALER WOULD JUST REPLACE IT I WOULDN'T BE COMPLAINING. THAT IS A REALLY CRAPPY MATERIAL USED TO MAKE THIS HANDLES. PS: MUST OF THE PLASTICS USE ON THE INTERIOR OF THIS TRUCKS IS CRUMBLING DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10347948

Incident

May 1, 2006

Mileage

36,500 mi

OUR 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 DASH STARTED CRACKING AND CAVING IN NEARLY A YEAR AGO. AS TIME GOES BY CRACKS WORSEN AS WELL AS NEW CRACKS HAVE APPEARED. PLASTIC DASH PIECES ARE FALLING BEHIND (INTO) DASH BOARD AND COMING OUT SOMETIMES IN THE FLOORBOARD. CONCERNED ABOUT AIR BAG SAFETY. WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE ENTIRE DASHBOARD IN ORDER FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE FIXED. OUR DAUGHTER OWNS THE SAME YEAR DODGE TRUCK AND HERS IS DOING THE SAME THING. ALSO, OUR STEERING WHEEL MAKES CRACKING, POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNING. AND THE BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO BE BAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10347909

Incident

Aug 7, 2009

2003 RAM 1500 UPPER AND LOWER DASH IS FALLING APART. I HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS TRUCK SENSE I PURCHASED IT OFF THE LOT. CHRYSLER SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT IT IS HAPPENING ON MOST OF THE TRUCKS OUT THERE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10343103

Incident

Jul 14, 2006