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2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 1,171 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Dodge Ram 1500, most often about the air bags (39% of complaints, typically around 112,500 miles). It is the most complained-about Ram 1500 model year since 2000 and has 1 recall.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 problems
Air bags
458 complaints · 39%Half of these problems showed up before 112,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the contact crashed the vehicle into a tractor trailer. The air bags failed to deploy. In addition, the contact stated that the driver side shoulder seat belt webbing failed. The contact sustained a chest injury that required medical…
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. When the vehicle was started, the air bag warning indicator consistently illuminated. The failure recurred on several occasions. The contact also stated that on several occasions the air bag warning indicator illuminated while driving at various speeds. The contact received…
Body and structure
237 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
My 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 the dashboard is cracking and I'm concerned that the pieces will fall down and cut the wires in the dash or get into the airbag system causing blindness or harm when the airbags come out!! This is a defect on Dodge's part and it needs to be a recall on this safety issue!! There are to many of…
The dashboard in my 2003 Dodge ram is cracking and I'm concerned this may cause problems with the electrical components in the dash such as air bag etc.
Transmission
125 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 74,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline, axle assembly, transfer case (4-wheel drive).
I put my truck into park and started to get out with the engine running and the truck rolled backwards, catching me with one leg on the ground and one leg still in the vehicle. The driver's side door hit me in the chest, knocking me to the ground. The above events took place extremely quickly, and I had no time to…
On the way to work one morning, both the brake and ABS lamps came on at the instrument panel on the dash. At the same time I noticed that the speedometer readings began to oscillate 5-10 MPH from true vehicle speed. Truck seemed to drive just fine otherwise but dropped it off at a local dealer just in case. Dealer…
Engine
77 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 63,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
1. Oil pressure gauge started swinging back & forth. I took me about 100 yards to pull over safely and the engine quit. 2. Engine seized and needed to be replaced, bob bose Dodge in bradenton florida said the failure was due to lack of maintenance and will not be covered by the extended warranty. I have maintained…
My 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 4.7 liter engine with 64000 mile oil pressure dropped suddenly without warning, cause was determined by Dodge dealership to be "sludge" in engine, voiding my 70000 mile warranty, daimler chrysler assuming I did not maintain my engine properly, although I change oil myself usually every 4500…
Brakes
73 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 12,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, disc, antilock.
Warped brake rotors have been replaced several times on the front and once on the rear of the truck. This problem started at 11700 miles and continues to this day.
I own a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. The brake rotors warped within 10,000 miles. After extensive talks with the dealer they machined the rotors. After another 10,000 miles, they warped again. After talking to several Dodge ram 2003 owners I learned that many have been having similar problems. I feel that the dealer should…
Other or unspecified
67 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 91,500 miles.
Own a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. Noticed a small crack in the dash on the passenger side of the vehicle by the airbag. Crack has grown from a 1/2 inch to 6 inches and is very noticeable. I heard this is an ongoing problem and talked with other Dodge owners that have the same problem.
The dashboard on this vehicle cracked after about 7 years. A month ago, as my son was driving, a large section of the dashboard popped out and flew off the dashboard onto the floor. There have been multiple complaints about this the dashboard material on this vehicle and when pieces start flying off while driving, I…
Electrical
62 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 62,500 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, ignition, instrument cluster/panel, 12v/24v/48v battery.
We have a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup. We are having problems with our brake lights, turn signals and trailer lights and took our truck into a Dodge dealer. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. We were told we need a new pdc block (power distribution center). We were told it would be $500. They couldn't order…
Tl-the contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle defroster/defogger system windshield blower failed making it difficult to view outside the vehicle during cold weather conditions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the defrost/defogger system needed to b e…
Suspension
57 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 69,500 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the driver's side wheel detached from the vehicle. The contact lost control of the vehicle. Prior to the failure, he noticed that the ABS warning indicator illuminated on the instrument control panel. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer and…
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the front wheel bearing failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Dodge Ram 1500 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengerâs frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began on march 16, 2016. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is r26. Note: this recall partially supersedes recall 14v770.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) is recalling certain model year 2003 dodge ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks manufactured august 29, 2002, to july 25, 2003 to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Air bag inflator rupture
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe14-016 in june 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.all six vehicles were operated in florida or puerto rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.during the course of pe14-016, odi determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.nonetheless, at odi's in
Air bag inflator rupture
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe14-016 in june 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.all six vehicles were operated in florida or puerto rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.during the course of pe14-016, odi determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.nonetheless, at odi's in
Questions about the 2003 Dodge Ram 1500
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Dodge Ram 1500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (458 complaints, typically around 112,500 miles); body and structure (237 complaints, typically around 75,000 miles); transmission (125 complaints, typically around 74,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 26, 2015 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Dodge Ram 1500?
- It is the most complained-about Ram 1500 model year since 2000, with 1,171 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.