Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Dodge Ram Quad Cab submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
I TOOK MY 03 RAM IN FOR SERVICE AND THE SERVICE ADVISER FOUND A CLIP THAT HAD BROKEN IN THE REAR END. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR UP TO $2000.00. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE RAM. SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE HAS A REAR END TO LOCK UP AND CAUSE A ACCIDENT. *TR
THE REAR END IN MY 2003 DODGE RAM BURNED UP. I FIRST NOTICED A BURNING SMELL LIKE PROPANE GAS WHICH STARTED TO MAKE ME AND THE FAMILY SICK. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOUND NOTHING. THEN AFTER DRIVING 20 MINUTES LONGER THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. NEXT I OBSERVED ORANGE SPARKS COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. PULLED OVER AGAIN AND CLIMBED UNDER TRUCK AND BURNT MY ARM INSTANTLY WHEN TOUCHING THE REAR PUMPKIN. SAT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 3 HOURS TO LET COOL DOWN. THEN DROVE TO THE DEALER 30 MILES AWAY. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SPEEDOMETER GAUGE WAS JUMPING ALL OVER THE PLACE. TRUCK WAS ALSO SHIFTING IMPROPERLY. DEALER SAID THE REAR GOT SO HOT THAT IT MELTED THE REAR ABS SENSOR AND THE SPEEDOMETER SENSOR. *JB
THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN IN TO BE LOOKED AT BECAUSE THERE WAS A VIBRATION. I TOLD THEM IT WAS A U-JOINT OR BEARING GOING OUT. THE TRUCK HAD BEEN IN THE SAME SHOP 4 TIMES, FOR THE SAME THING -THE U-JOINT OR BEARING. THE MECHANIC AT THE SHOP SAID THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE BALANCED BUT THEY DID NOT DO THAT AT THIER SHOP. I TOKK IT TO ANOTHER PLACE, THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE TIRES DID NOT NEED TO BE BALANCED,BUT THEY BALNCED THEM ANYWAYS. SO I HAD TWO OPINIONS ON THE TRUCK. THE NEXT NIGHT I PICKED UP THE GUYS I WORK WITH AND WE WENT TO WORK. ON THE WAY HOME THE DRIVE SHAFT, DRIVE LINE,YOLK, AND TRANSFERCASE CAME APART AND TRIED TO COME UP THROUGH THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING HOLES IN THE FLOORBOARD, AND IT PULLED THE ELECTRICAL WIRING OUT WHICH CAUSED ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS TO COME ON. ANYONE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT. I GOT THE THE TRUCK TO A NEARBY CONVIENENT STORE AND I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TOW MY TRUCK TO THE SHOP. I CALLED MY WIFE AND WE WENT AND PICKED UP ALL THE PARTS OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE TRUCK, WHICH IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THEY TOOK PICTURES AND SENT THEM TO THEIR REPS. THEIR REPS IN ANOTHER STATE SAID IT WAS IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE IN 4 LOW UNDER EXTENSIVE TORQUE IN A MUD HOLE. IT HAD NOT RAINED HERE IN OVER A MONTH. SO THE DIRT ROAD I WAS ON WAS DRY AND SMOOTH. I DID NOT HAVE IT IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. WHY BUY A 4 WHEEL DRIVE IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO USE IT. THEY SAID I WAS DRIVING FAST CAUSING EXTENSIVE TORQUE!? I WAS DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT AND PEOPLE DRIVE FAST AND THEIR VEHICLES DON'T FALL APART. THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T COVER THE DAMAGE, EVEN THOUGH THEIR MECHANIC MADE A WRONG DIAGNOSIS. IT IS THEIR FAULT AND THEY SHOULD TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX IT, WITH NO MONEY COMING OUT OF MY POCKET. I GET PAID TO DRIVE TO AND FROM WORK. NOW I DON'T HAVE A TRUCK TO GET ME TO WORK. THE SHOP SAYS THEY WILL PAY HALF THE COST TO FIX IT AND I CAN PAY THE OTHER HALF. THEY SAY THEY ARE DOING ME A FAVOR BY DOING THIS. *NM
WE HAVE HAD THE REAR END OF OUR 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 REPLACED IN OUR VEHICLE THREE TIMES IN THE 2 YEARS. THE RING AND PINION WAS SHATTERED THE FIRST TIME WE TOOK IT IN. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN IN MAY 05. WE HAD TO PAY 219.00 AND AGAIN THE REAR END WENT OUT IN AUG 05. *NM
I HAVE A TERRIBLE LAUNCH SHUDDER IN THE DRIVE LINE OF MY TRUCK, WHICH THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK SEPT 03 AND RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER MAY 04 WITH 2027 MILES ON IT. THE TRUCK WOULD SHAKE AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON A HARD ACCELERATION THE DEALER SAID HE WENT BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL MORE TIMES FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT BUT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THERE WAS NO FIX. FINALLY, ON JULY 25, 2005, AT 9028 MILES A SERVICE TECH WENT FOR A RIDE WITH ME AND FELT THE SHUDDER. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DRIVESHAFT AND SAID THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED. I DROVE OFF THE DEALER PARKING LOT AND THE SHUDDER STARTED AS SOON AS I HIT THE PUBLIC STREET. I DROVE RIGHT BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM HASN'T BEEN CORRECTED. THE DEALER HAS SINCE REMOVED AND REINSTALLED THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, REMOVED AND REPLACED 2 BEARING IN THE REAR END, AN ENTIRE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY AND THE ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS. NONE OF THESE HAVE WORKED. JEFF KOSIBA, FROM CHRYSLER ENGINEERING, COMPANY PHN# 313-493-3359, CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD HIM THAT THE REAR BRAKES WERE HANGING UP AT WILL AND THAT THE FOLLOWING SHOULD BE REMOVED AND REPLACED: THE REAR BRAKE HUBS, BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS AND ROTORS. THIS REPAIR HASN'T BEEN COMPLETED AS OF THIS DATE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE ASAP, THIS IS A DANGEROUS VEHICLE. *NM
I JUST HAD MY 2003 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB 1500 SERIES TRUCK IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR ITS 30,000 MILES SERVICE AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY FOUND THE DIFFERENTIAL LOCKING CLIP HAD FALLEN OFF AND HAD DONE DAMAGE TO THE INSIDE OF MY REAR. THEY SAID THAT I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT THEY FOUND IT NOW SINCE IT COULD HAVE CASED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT THE REAR HAD LOCKED UP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE DONE SOME HOMEWORK ON THIS ISSUE AND HAVE SEEN THAT THERE IS A VERY HIGH FAILURE RATE ON THIS PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS I DO A LOT OF TOWING WITH MY CAMPER AND FAMILY. I HAVE ALSO SEEN WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A VERY HIGH FAILURE RATE ON THE REAR AXLES BREAKING. MY DEALERSHIP DID NOT REPLACE MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL BUT HAD REBUILT IT. I WANTED A NEW ONE BUT THEY TOLD ME IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND HAVEN'T HEARD OF MANY DIFFERENTIALS FAILING. WHAT CAN YOUR ORGANIZATION DO TO HELP ME?
REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS BEEN MAKING A GRINDING NOISE SINCE DAY OF PURCHASE. PINION SEAL HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER. THE NOISE AND LOSS OF POWER HAS BECOME UNBEARABLE. DEALER REFUSED TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE OF UNPROFESSIONAL ASSESMENT OF AXLE. PROFESSIONAL REPAIR SHOP SAID I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE MADE IT AS LONG AS I DID WITHOUT IT LOCKING UP AND CAUSING ME TO CRASH.STILL HAS OVER 6000 MILES LEFT ON FACTORY WARRANTY. WHAT GOOD DOES THAT DO WHEN I LIVE 50 MILES FROM DEALER AND HAVE TO DRIVE HOME BECAUSE OF AN UNCONCERNED, UNPROFFESSIONAL AND ABSOLUTELY WRONG ASSESSMENT OF MY AXLE ???? FAILURE WAS DUE TO PREMATURE AXLE BEARING WEAR. ASSESSED BY A REAL PROFESSIONAL.
(REAR AXLE SHEARED) AT 4:00 PM ON MARCH 19TH 2005, I WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE SOUTH BOUND ON CALIFORNIA STATE HIGHWAY 71. WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RIGHT SIDE REAR AXLE SHEARED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A FORCED LEFT HANDED 360 DEGREE SPIN. I TRIED TO CORRECT THE SPIN, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND OR STOP. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN. ALSO, THE ENGINE RPM'S WENT UP WHEN THE AXLE SHAFT BROKE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR IT OR ADMIT TO THE DEFECT. HOWEVER AN EMPLOYEE AT THE DEALERSHIP SHOWED ME ANOTHER SHAFT FROM A CRASHED 2003 TRUCK. THE AXLE SHAFT WAS IDENTICAL TO MINE, THE CENTER PART OF THE AXLE SHAFT WAS CRYSTALIZED. SEE ODI 10116454 ALSO. DSY. *AK
(REAR AXLE SHEAR), T 4:00 PM ON MARCH 19TH 2005, I WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE SOUTH BOUND ON CALIFORNIA STATE HIGHWAY 71. WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RIGHT SIDE REAR AXLE SHEARED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A FORCED LEFT HANDED 360 DEGREE SPIN. I TRIED TO CORRECT THE SPIN, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND OR STOP. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN. ALSO, THE ENGINE RPM'S WENT UP WHEN THE AXLE SHAFT BROKE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR IT OR ADMIT TO THE DEFECT. HOWEVER AN EMPLOYEE AT THE DEALERSHIP SHOWED ME ANOTHER SHAFT FROM A CRASHED 2003 TRUCK. THE AXLE SHAFT WAS IDENTICAL TO MINE, THE CENTER PART OF THE AXLE SHAFT WAS CRYSTALIZED. SEE ODI 10116455 ALSO. *DSY. *AK
I OWN A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 QUAD CAB SLT VIN 1D7-HU18N53S-188168 ASSEMBLY POINT, WARREN, MICHIGAN. THE TRUCK STALLED WHILE IN TRAFFIC MAKING A 10-15 MPH RIGHT TURN. THE SECOND OCCURENCE WAS JULY15, 2004. VERY CLOSE CALL HERE. I WAS IN THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS CAMPING. THE SIX HOUR DRIVE HOME TOWING MY POPUP WAS NERVE RACKING TO SAY THE LEAST. ESPECIALLY, SINCE MY 13, 6 AND 3 YEAR OLD WERE IN THE TRUCK. I MENTIONED THAT THE TRUCK RUNS EXTREMELY ROUGH INTERMITTENTLY TO THE DEALER MORGAN DODGE DURHAM NORTH CAROLINA ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS. I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING AN INTERMITTENT SHUDDER THAT SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION, ALSO MENTIONED TO THE DEALER ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS. THE DEALER SIMPLY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE SHUDDER OR STALL. I ALSO HAD A SEVERE BRAKE PULSATION. THEY DID REPLACE FRONT PADS AND CALIPERS AND CUT ROTORS. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW UP WITH ME REGARDING THE SHUDDER AND STALL BUT AS OF THIS DATE, 7/18/2004 I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVE A CALL BACK.
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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