2003 Dodge Ram: problems, recalls and reliability
7 recalls and 191 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is structure (28% of complaints); the 2004 and 2005 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Apr 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 191 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Mar 2019
“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!”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2017
“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.”Owner report · Structure · Sep 2016
Show 7 more owner reports
“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.”Owner report · Engine · Apr 2016
“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.”Owner report · Power Train · Oct 2015
“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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2015
“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”Owner report · Structure · Nov 2014
“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”Owner report · Structure · Sep 2014
“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”Owner report · Electrical System · Jun 2014
When filing, owners marked a crash in 15 of these complaints and injuries in 22 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 7 campaigns
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 1,364 WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULES, P/N 55077098AJ, SOLD DURING THE 2008 AND 2009 CALENDAR YEAR FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON MY 2002-2009 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS. THESE WIPER MODULE ASSEMBLIES MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WATER INTRUSION THAT COULD RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF WINDSHIELD WIPER CAPABILITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MODULE ASSEMBLIES WITH VENTED WIPER MOTOR HOUSINGS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 18,000 AFTERMARKET STEERING LINKAGES USED FOR SERVICE ON SOME MY 2003 THROUGH 2008 DODGE RAM HEAVY DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. THE SUBJECT LINKAGES MAY EXPERIENCE DRAG LINK INNER TIE ROD TO PITMAN ARM BALL STUD FRACTURE, ALSO, THE STEERING LINKAGE DAMPER ATTACHING BRACKET MAY YEILD AND SHIFT ON THE LINKAGE. THE PART NUMBERS OF THE AFFECTED ASSEMBLIES IS 52122362AA THROUGH 52122362AD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING LINKAGE DRAG LINK INNER TIE ROD END ASSEMBLY, AND INSPECT THE STEERING LINKAGE DAMPER BRACKET FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 6, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINES AND MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, MAY EXPERIENCE AN ELEVATED IDLE SPEED AFTER EXTENDED CRUISE CONTROL USE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SOFTWARE IN THE CUMMINS ENGINE CONTROLLER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 10, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS. DUE TO INCORRECT WIRING OF THE HARNESS, THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.
Remedy: ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE TOW PACKAGES ARE STILL AT THE DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL AND HAVE NOT BEEN SOLD TO ANY CONSUMERS.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
ON CERTAIN VAN AND WAGON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS (ABS), AFTERMARKET BATTERIES MAY LEAK ELECTROLYTE ONTO THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR, WHICH CAN COMPROMISE SEALING INTEGRITY OF THE CONNECTOR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR FOR ELECTROLYTE DAMAGE AND REPLACE THE CONNECTOR AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2003 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Ram by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Dodge Ram reliable?
NHTSA has 191 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on record for the 2003 Dodge Ram. The most complained-about area is structure (28% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2003 Dodge Ram problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 50,797 miles or less.
Does the 2003 Dodge Ram have open recalls?
7 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.