RoadVitals

2003 Dodge Ram Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Dec 10, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
15%
of 53 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Dodge Ram submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Dec 10, 2004

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10103548
Incident
Dec 10, 2004
Engine
Filed Oct 20, 2004

WHEN DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. **JB

NHTSA ID
10097227
Incident
Aug 11, 2004
Mileage
28,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 14, 2004

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP VEHICLE WOULD ONLY GO 5-10 MPH. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE TO TEMPORARILY FIX THE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10081965
Incident
May 23, 2004
Mileage
16,900 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 9, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE SHUT OFF. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER HAD TO COAST OFF THE ROAD. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID
10081633
Incident
Jul 3, 2004
Mileage
10,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Apr 20, 2004

NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH 2003 DODGE RAM SINCE OWNERSHIP. *PH THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A STALLING PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS COMING TO A STOP OR IDLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED DUE TO FAULTY CLAMP. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID DUE TO A FAULTY OUTPUT SEAL AT THE TRANSFER CASE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10071449
Engine
Filed Apr 13, 2004

WHILE STARTING UP THE VEHICLE ENGINE IDLED ON ITS OWN. ALSO, WHEN COMING TO STOP VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART, AND WAS ABLE TO START VEHICLE AND DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10067115
Incident
Apr 13, 2004
Engine
Filed Jun 6, 2003

THE CONSUMER WAS SELF INSPECTING THE VEHICLE AND HE NOTICED THE FLUID LEVEL WAS READING LOW. *AK

NHTSA ID
10022611
Incident
Jun 6, 2003
Engine
Filed May 15, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10019966
Incident
May 15, 2003

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Body & structure8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .