2003 Dodge RAM 1500 Seat belts Problems
- Complaints
- 9about this part
- Share
- 1%of 1,171 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 86,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 9 complaints about the seat belts of the 2003 Dodge RAM 1500, 1% of the 1,171 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 86,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Rear seat belt does not lock, causing child safety seat to slam into back of drivers seat. Was driving on 294 in chicago, cars slammed on brakes, at 40-50 MPH I also slammed on my brakes to avoid hitting cars in front of me. My son's graco turbo booster seat which was correctly strapped in flew off the seat with him in it and into the back of the drivers seat.”
NHTSA complaint #10229367, filed 2008-05, 60,000 miles“2003 Dodge 1500 ram truck - 2 of the 3 rear seat belts have malfunctioned, and will not allow car seats to be secured. The part broken is a plastic piece near the male end of the seat belt buckle. This is not my very day family vehicle and in fact it is rare for me to use this vehicle with car seats. After contacting the dealership and chrysler corp. I was told to pound sand. They insisted that I pay the the diagnosis fee before they review this for re-call review process. This may be a wide spread problem amongst chrysler products. While the fix for me is simple, a $2 part at the kids store.. …”
NHTSA complaint #10213104, filed 2007-12, 36,000 miles“Seat belts fail to retract automatically. I would consider this a major flaw in the seat belt hardware. It started on the drivers side and then a year later the passenger side. Also causes you to sometimes close the door on the seat belt because it didn't retract and hung out the door. It broke the button on the seat belt fabric so now my seat belt has no stopper either.”
NHTSA complaint #10441173, filed 2011-12“I own a 2003 Dodge ram with about 46,000 miles. In less than 3 years I have owned the vehicle, all three rear seat belts have had a crack in part of the seat belt that prevents the belt from sliding when it is used to secure a child seat. The first 2 were replaced under warranty, but the third now will be replaced at my cost. Dodge has refused to assist in the matter, and they also refuse to recognize that the plastic piece they have designed to prevent the seat belt from sliding is woefully inadequate. The dealer I went to also was of no help fighting for the consumer. …”
NHTSA complaint #10165192, filed 2006-08“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 attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 112,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10670962, filed 2015-01, 112,000 milesSeat belts: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 5 | 1% |
| 2011 | 3 | 0% |
| 2010 | 4 | 1% |
| 2009 | 6 | 1% |
| 2008 | 7 | 1% |
| 2007 | 16 | 3% |
| 2006 | 22 | 3% |
| 2005 | 4 | 0% |
| 2004 | 10 | 1% |
| 2003 | 9 | 1% |
| 2002 | 6 | 1% |
| 2001 | 8 | 1% |
| 2000 | 4 | 1% |
| 1999 | 24 | 4% |
| 1998 | 34 | 7% |
| 1997 | 2 | 1% |
| 1996 | 3 | 1% |
| 1995 | 2 | 1% |
| 1994 | 2 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2003 Dodge RAM 1500
458 complaintsBody and structure
237 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
125 complaintsBrakes
73 complaintsOther or unknown
67 complaintsElectrical system
62 complaintsSuspension
57 complaintsEngine cooling
56 complaintsSteering
44 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
33 complaintsEngine
21 complaintsVehicle speed control
20 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Dodge RAM 1500
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology