2003 Dodge Ram Quad Cab Owner Complaints

WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS OVER 30 AND USUALLY TEMPS BELOW 50, THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND WILL IMMEDIATELY LOSE THROTTLE. "DEAD PEDAL" SOMETIMES THE THROTTLE WILL SURGE THEN DROP OFF OTHER TIMES WHEN SLOWING THE TRANS (AUTOMATIC) WILL START TO CHATTER AS IF A MANUAL,. I USE A STORE PURCHASED OBD COMPUTER TO RESET. GET CODES 2121, 2123 SOMETIMES 0700. THIS SOMETIMES TAKES 2-3 TIMES TO RESET. VERY UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS, NUMEROUS TIMES, USUALLY IN WINTER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SOMETIMES AT INTERSECTION WHILE ACCELERATING. HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR SOLUTION FOR YEARS!! SEE MANY OTHERS ON NET WITH SAME PROBLEM. WHY ISN'T THIS FIXED BY DODGE AND OR CUMMINS. AGAIN VERY UNSAFE!!

NHTSA ID

11287510

Incident

Dec 6, 2019

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD IS FALLING APART WITH SHARP PIECES FALLING INSIDE UNDER THE DASH WHICH MAY CUT WIRES OR EVEN THE AIR BAG. IT IS VERY BRITTLE. IT CAN BE MOVING OR STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID

11193027

Incident

Mar 11, 2019

Mileage

86,725 mi

WIPERS DO WHAT THEY WANT TO, NO- OFF DONT SEAT STOP IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD

NHTSA ID

11120153

Incident

Dec 1, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL / I RECEIVED THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V312000 (AIRBAGS) FRONTAL PASSENGER AIR BAG INFLATOR HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE THE DASHBOARD WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REMOVE THE EXISTING DASHBOARD WITHOUT DAMAGING THE DASHBOARD FURTHER. DODGE STATED THEY WILL NOT COVER THE PARTS NOR LABOR TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER CONTACTED WAS NATIONAL DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM LOCATED AT 2223 N MARINE BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, NC 28546. I BELIEVE THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR AND SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE CAUSED IN THE COMPLETE OF THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND CONTACTED THE DEALER. SEE ATTACHED EMAILS/PICTURES.

NHTSA ID

11102894

Incident

Apr 20, 2017

CRACKED DASHBOARD FOR NO REASON. CAR WAS PARKED. OPENED VEHICLE TO FIND CRACKED DASH. TOLD BY DEALERSHIP NOT THEIR PROBLEM. NEVER HAD ANY VEHICLE EVER DO THIS BEFORE. HAVE PURCHASED DODGES FOR YEARS, BUT NOW WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER IF THEY DON'T OWN UP TO THEIR OBLIGATIONS.

NHTSA ID

11041600

Incident

Jul 15, 2009

Mileage

38,490 mi

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

SO MANY OF THESE TRUCKS HAVE DASHBOARDS THAT ARE LITERALLY FALLING APART AND THE RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS CAN'T BE DONE WITHOUT THE DASHBOARDS BEING REPLACED WHICH IS ABOVE $1400.00! MY 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER DASHBOARD DID THE SAME THING, ONLY NOT AS EXTREME AS FALLING APART LIKE MY DODGE RAM 1500. TOYOTA DID THE RIGHT THING AND RECALLED THE DASHBOARD! THIS TRUCK WAS JUST PURCHASED FOR MY SON AND NOW THEY CAN'T AND WON'T REPLACE THE AIRBAG UNLESS WE PAY TO HAVE THE DASHBOARD REPLACED? IF THE MANUFACTURER OF DODGE DOESN'T DO THE SAME AND I OR ONE OF MY PASSENGERS IS HURT BECAUSE OF THE RECALL AIRBAG, YOU BEST BELIEVE THERE WILL BE A HUGE LAWSUIT COMING THEIR WAY!

NHTSA ID

11004734

Incident

Jul 12, 2017

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

WHILE DRIVING THE VALVE SPRING BROKE AND DROPPED THE VALVE INTO THE CYLINDER CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 5.7 HEMI ENGINE . ONE THAT DODGE IS WELL AWARE OF . THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF FAVOR GIVEN ON THE MATTER . OUT OF ALL THE ENGINES I HAVE OWNED AS WELL AS WORKED ON THIS IS THE ONLY THAT HAS HAD THIS AS A COMMON FAILURE AND IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA ID

10860937

Incident

Apr 13, 2016

Mileage

146 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A DEER AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CORN FIELD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V312000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10759976

Incident

Aug 23, 2015

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

THE WINDSHIELD APPEARS WEAK HAVING MANY POCK MARKS IN IT. THIS CAUSES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO NEED TO BE REPLACED OFTEN. THE DASH IS SEVERELY CRACKED AND WE ARE AFRAID THAT THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO RUPTURE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE (BESIDES THE FACT THAT IT IS COMING APART).

NHTSA ID

10747871

Incident

Jul 1, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 DODGE QUAD CAB 1500 4X2 THAT I BOUGHT NEW AND HAS ONLY 71,000 ORIGINAL MILES. I HAVE NOTICED SOME NOISE AND VIBRATION COMING FROM THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION COMING FROM THE FRONT END. I'VE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT CHRYSLER/DODGE HAS ISSUED A RECALL (N49, N62 AND NHTSA 13-V528) THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE BUT SHOULD BE INCLUDED AFTER FURTHER INSPECTIONS. THE PART IN QUESTION IS THE LEFT TIE ROD AND STEERING LINKAGE. NEW PARTS (CBUEN491AA. CBUEN492AA) APPARENTLY ARE READILY AVAILABLE PRIOR TO JANUARY 2014 BUT MY TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND REPAIR. DO I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE PART TO SNAP OFF CAUSING INJURY AND DEATH TO ANYONE ESPECIALLY MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED FOR THIS MODEL YEAR? WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE FOR NOW THAT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED BUT WHY DOES THE CONSUMER HAVE TO EXPERIENCE A LOSS FIRST BEFORE THE MANUFACTURER TAKES HONORABLE RESPONSIBILITY? ANOTHER ISSUE AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED BY OTHER TRUCK OWNERS IS THAT THE DASH BOARD DETERIORATES AND CRACKS AND MATERIALS FALL INTO THE AIR/DEFROST DUCTING. I HOPE FOR ACTION SOON RATHER THAN RE-ACTION AFTER THE FACT AND THE PREVENTION OF LOSS TO LIFE OR INJURIES.

NHTSA ID

10743761

Incident

Jul 27, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V354000 (AIRBAG) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED 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 NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10678916

Incident

Jan 26, 2015

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

MY PASSENGER DOORS, FRONT AND REAR, WILL NOT FUNCTION WITH THE POWER LOCK AND THE WINDOWS CAN ONLY BE ROLLED DOWN FROM THE DRIVERS CONTROLS. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN TO ME AS IT WILL MAKE IT DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE FOR SOMEONE TO QUICKLY GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE IF THEY NEED TO BAIL OUT, OR GET OUT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. IF THE DRIVER BECAME ILL HAD A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, PASSENGERS WOULD BE UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE DOOR HARNESSES HAVE BROKEN AND CAUSED THE ISSUE TO OCCUR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10632512

Incident

Jun 14, 2014

Mileage

88,563 mi

THE PLASTIC TENSION DEVICE ON THE SEAT BELTS (BUCKLE END) ARE BREAKING OFF. THIS IS OF MOST IMPORTANCE WITH MY CHILD SAFETY SEATS. IT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THE SEATS TO STAY IN PLACE AS THEY LOOSEN UP IN JUST ONE SHORT TRIP. THIS AFFECTS THE SAFETY, SECURITY AND LIFE OF MY CHILDREN. THIS NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED RIGHT AWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10632509

Incident

May 10, 2014

Mileage

85,500 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

I GOT WIND OF THE RECALL AROUND DEC 2013 & FIGURED IT DIDN'T APPLY TO MY TRUCK SINCE I HAD SPENT CLOSE TO $2000 REBUILDING THE FRONT SUSPENSION WITH OEM & AFTER MARKET PARTS. I FINALLY RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE N62 AT THE END OF JAN 2014. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO MY DEALERSHIP & THEY CONFIRMED MY TRUCK WAS INDEED INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SINCE THE PARTS I USED WERE DEFECTIVE & BEING RECALLED. THE SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME IT WOULD BE AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR OR LONGER BEFORE THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR MY TRUCK WOULD ARRIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP. I ASKED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE TIE ROD BALL STUD FAILED AT HWY SPEEDS(I ALREADY KNEW THE ANSWER) & WAS TOLD IT WOULDN'T BE PRETTY. IF THE PART DID FAIL I WOULD LOSE ALL STEERING ABILITY & MORE THEN LIKELY END UP IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. MY TRUCK WEIGHS IN AT 8600 LBS + OR -,UNLOADED, WHAT EVER I RUN INTO/HIT IF THE TIE ROD BALL STUD FAILED WOULD CERTAINLY CAUSE INJURIES OR DEATH. WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO? PARK OUR TRUCKS UNTIL DODGE/CHRYSLER SHIPS THE PARTS IN ANOTHER YEAR OR SO? MOST FOLKS WHO OWN HD PICKUPS USE THEM TO MAKE A LIVING & CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THEIR TRUCK PARKED FOR A COUPLE DAYS MUCH LESS A YEAR. WOULD BE NICE IF OWNERS OF THE TRUCKS AFFECTED WOULD BE REIMBURSED BY DODGE/CHRYSLER IF WE PURCHASED AFTERMARKET PARTS MAKING OUR TRUCKS SAFE TO DRIVE, RATHER THEN WAITING TO WHO KNOWS WHEN. I KNOW THAT WON'T HAPPEN, *TR

NHTSA ID

10577442

Incident

Dec 18, 2013

Mileage

114,200 mi

VEHICLE DASH IS COMING APART IN PIECES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563394

Incident

Feb 7, 2014

Mileage

17,500 mi