2003 Dodge Ram Van Owner Complaints

IN JULY OF 2015, THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE STEERING ARM TO THE FRAME, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED AS I WAS MAKING A TURN. THIS I HAD REPAIRED (WELDED) SHORTLY AFTERWARD. THE FRAME WAS DISINTEGRATING FROM UNDERNEATH ME. ON 09/02/2016 THE FRAME TOTALLY SEPARATED WHERE THE STEERING CONNECTS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. I FIND THE METAL THAT WAS USED FOR THE FRAME THIN, CHEAP, UNTREATED, AND UNSAFE! 12 YEARS IS MUCH TO SHORT OF TIME FOR A VEHICLE TO BE RETIRED BY A RUSTED FRAME! CHRYSLER HAS A DOCUMENTED COMPLAINT FROM ME ABOUT THIS AND OF COURSE THEY'RE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ID

10918694

Incident

Sep 2, 2016

Mileage

190,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 65 MPH AND LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF VEHICLE STEERING FOUND OUT IT WAS DUE TO A RUSTED FRAMED. TOTALLY UNSAFE VAN. I WAS GLAD IT WAS NOT VERY BUSY ON THE INTERSTATE OR I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED A MANUFACTURE CAN HAVE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. IT IS TOTAL FRAME LOST TO RUST.

NHTSA ID

10780681

Incident

Oct 5, 2015

Mileage

148,505 mi

FOR 2 DAYS PRIOR TO INCIDENT , NOTICED STEERING WHEEL KEPT CHANGING ORIENTATION WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. A LOT OF GROANING AND CREAKING NOISE FROM RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION IN RIGHT TURNS AS WELL AS VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED. PARKED VEHICLE AND INSPECTED UNDERSIDE TO FIND THAT IDLER ARM BRACKET WAS TEARING AWAY FROM FRAME RAIL DUE TO ROT. AFTER PARKING VEHICLE , I MOVED IT AROUND IN THE DRIVEWAY NO MORE THAN 3 TIMES BEFORE IDLER ARM BRACKET COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME RAIL WITH A VERY LOUD POP.. VAN NOW HAS NO STEERING AND IS JUNK SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. INSPECTION OF FRONT FRAME RAIL AREA REVEALS HEAVY ROT ON BOTH FRONT FRAME RAILS AND STEERING GEAR MOUNT AS WELL. THE REST OF THE BODY IS TYPICAL FOR 10 YRS OLD IN UPSTATE NY. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY OWNED VEHICLES 20+ YRS OLD WITH BODY ROT , BUT HAVE NEVER HAD ANY FRAME ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH ROT. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH , THIS APPEARS TO BE QUITE COMMON ON FULL SIZE DODGE VANS. WILL BE FILING A COMPLAINT WITH CHRYSLER CORP. , BUT DON'T EXPECT MUCH TO COME OF IT. ABSOLUTELY AMAZED THAT PEOPLE HAVE NOT DIED AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT. CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF THESE VANS STILL ON THE ROAD , I WOULD CONSIDER THIS A GROWING CONCERN FOR THOSE THAT OWN AND DRIVE THEM AS WELL AS OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD WITH THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557231

Incident

Nov 20, 2013

Mileage

120,993 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE CONTACT WAS SITTING IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, SMOKE WAS EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DASHBOARD THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE BEGAN IN THE AIR CONDITIONING SWITCH. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 8/19/13 *CN

NHTSA ID

10515477

Incident

Aug 30, 2010

Mileage

30,000 mi

VAN SHUTS DOWN ANY WHERE ANY TIME ANY SPEED AND READS NO BUS THIS HAS BEEN HAPPEN FOR TO LONG AND THEY DON'T EVEN OFFER A SOLUTION.I BOUGHT A SCANNER FOR A 100.00 DOLLARS IT WAS A WASTE OFF MONEY CAN'T READ CODES WITH THE NO BUS ANY WAY IF IT'S NOT THE PCM THEN WHY HAVE CODES FOR ALL THE OTHER SENSORS IF IT TURNS OFF ANYWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10367303

Incident

Nov 10, 2010

Mileage

143,508 mi

AFTER PURCHASING A PRE-OWNED DODGE RAM CONVERSION VAN, I DISCOVERED THAT THE LATCH SYSTEM IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CHILD CAR SEATS THAT I PURCHASED FOR MY CHILD. THE SIDE ATTACHMENTS WORK FINE, BUT THE SEAT BACK EXTENDS TOO FAR UP TO ALLOW THE TIP LATCH HANESS TO REACH THE ATTACHMENT POINT LOCATED UNDER THE SEAT ITSELF.

NHTSA ID

10322497

Incident

Jun 15, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM VAN. HE CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE BOOTH WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, THEY PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,563.

NHTSA ID

10285916

Incident

Aug 6, 2009

Mileage

58,563 mi

COLD WEATHER OUTSIDE. WINDOWS FOG UP AND GET ICE ON THEM. SIDE WINDOWS CAN NOT SEE OUT OF AND FRONT WINDOW GETS OVAL ON IT. MUST USE ICE SCRAPER TO SCRAPE ICE AWAY TO SEE. TOOK TO DEALER, FIRST TIME FIXED FOR ABOUT A YEAR WITH REPLACING A PART IN THE DEFROSTING SYSTEM, NEXT TIME DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THIS COULD BECOME A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS YOU CANNOT SEE OUT THE WINDOWS AT TIMES AND I HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER. GETS WORSE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282950

Incident

Nov 25, 2008

Mileage

30,000 mi

THIS VEHICLE BELONGS TO VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS. THE VAN HAD AN UNDER HOOD FIRE THAT ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA WHILE PARKED. THE VAN IS DECLARED A "TOTAL LOSS". DAIMLERCHRYSLER ISSUED SAFETY RECALL D20 IN 2004 TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BUT THE RECALL REPAIR HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. VERIZON HAS HAD 29 UNDER HOOD FIRE INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10243637

Incident

Oct 19, 2007

Mileage

21,000 mi

WINDOWS IN 2003 DODGE RAM VAN FOG UP AND FROST IN COLD TEMPERATURES. THE FASTER I GO, THE MORE IT FROSTS UP. WE HAVE TO USE AN ICE SCRAPER ON THE INSIDE, WHICH IS A SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN I PARK THE VAN FOR A FEW MINUTES, IT DEFROSTS. CHRYSLER SAYS THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO FOR IT. AIR IS LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE VAN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10182251

Incident

Nov 5, 2006

DT: 2003 DODGE CARAVAN, THE MAIN COMPUTER SHUTS THE CAR OFF. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP, AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT THE MAIN COMPUTER ITSELF. WITH OUT THE COMPUTER ON, THE CAR STAYS ON. WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS REQUESTED BUT FOUND OUT ON 5/20/05 THAT IT HAD NOT BEEN ADDED TO PURCHASE PRICE.

NHTSA ID

10121933

Incident

May 20, 2005

Mileage

50,000 mi

IN COLD WEATHER ALL WINDOWS IN THE VAN FREEZE UP. I HAVE TO TURN THE DEFROST BLOWER TO HIGH JUST TO SEE OUT THE FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD. TO TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT I HAVE TO LOWER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS TO SEE IF THERE IS ONCOMING CARS. GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE I AM NOT ABLE TO SEE OUT THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS. THE ONLY WAY TO SEE A LITTLE IS TO USE MY ICE SCRAPER ON THE INSIDE OF THE VAN. HAVING FOUR SMALL CHILDREN IN THE VAN I SEE THIS AS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE SENT IT TO THE DODGE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. THEY HAVE EVEN SAID THEY HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10112216

Incident

Feb 26, 2005

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS FOG UP AND ICE OVER WHILE DRIVING IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES. TYPICALLY THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ALSO FOGS OVER ON THE CORNERS FORMING AN OVAL THAT IS FOG FREE. TURNING THE VENT SYSTEM TO FULL DEFROST DOES VERY LITTLE TO REMOVE THE FOG AND FROST. I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE FANS TO ASSIST IN KEEPING MY WINDOWS CLEAR. THIS CONDITION PREVENTS ME FROM BEING ABLE TO USE MY SIDE MIRRORS AS WELL AS SEEING IF THERE IS ON COMMING TRAFFIC WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN, TYPICALLY I HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOW OR EVEN THE DOOR IF THE FROST IS SO BAD THAT THE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL DOWN (SUCH AS WHEN DRIVING FOR A COUPLE OF HOUR.). I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO LOOK AT AND THEY HAD NO SOLUTION, THEY EVEN CONTACED THE MANUFACTURER WHO BASICALLY SAID THAT'S "NORMAL". I HAVE SEEN AT LEAST TWO OTHER DODGE RAM VAN'S THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10104111

Incident

Dec 1, 2004

Mileage

14 mi

AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW HOURS WITH THE LIGHTS ON IN THE EVENING TIME THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE HAD OCCASSION TO SIMPLY GO OUT. IF I STOP FOR ABOUT 10 MIN OR SO THE LIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON. I WITNESSED ANOTHER VAN EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING AND FOLLOWED THE DRIVER TO CONFIRM THE SITUATION. THAT DRIVER ADVISED THAT THEIR IS A BAD SWITCH THAT GETS TO MUCH VIBRATION AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SO FAR I'VE BEEN LUCKY AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID

10058535

Incident

Feb 19, 2004

Mileage

7,179 mi

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PASS A LINE OF MOTOR VEHICLE, A COMPUTER WITHIN THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF THE FUEL PUMP AT EIGHTY SIX MPH, THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO CUT OFF AND ALMOST CAUSED A NEAR FATAL HEAD ON COLLISION. *TT (LAWYER ON BEHALF OF CLIENT MR. DAVID ROMANAK). *JB

NHTSA ID

10026527

THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICE 4 TIMES FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE SHIFTING GEARS. (ROADTREK RECREATIONAL VEHICLE). *JB

NHTSA ID

10011697