2003 Dodge RAM 3500 Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 2%of 286 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 94,535miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2003 Dodge RAM 3500, 2% of the 286 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 94,535 miles.
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.
“Trailer lighting for 2001-2005 Dodge ram light duty (1500-5500) trucks with integrated heavy duty towing package relays can fail if accidental connection to mis-wired trailer, but are not repairable and parts are not available to replace the integrated power module (ipm). The relays for such are inside a sealed portion of the ipm, and cannot be replaced. There are no fuses or serviceable parts to protect against this failure. This failure results in non- or incorrectly-working trailer lighting which can result in motor vehicle accidents and injury or death.”
NHTSA complaint #10456112, filed 2012-04, 70,000 miles“Turn signals on a 2003 Dodge 3500 crewcab 4x4 diesel truck when activated, actually flash the opposite direction than the inside controls (turn signal lever). It's safer to use no turn signal at all.”
NHTSA complaint #10251621, filed 2008-12, 139,000 miles“Dt: the contact owns a 2003 Dodge RAM 3500 one ton. The warning lights kept coming on. The dashboard lights came on and off. The contact cited a recall on manual transmissions, and his vehicle had automatic transmission. He noticed this on 9-13-05.”
NHTSA complaint #10136638, filed 2005-09, 50,000 miles“The contact owns a 2003 Dodge RAM 3500. The contact stated that the headlights failed intermittently without warning. In addition, the windshield wipers failed intermittently and worked only at the slow setting. The dealer diagnosed that the tipm module failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because the part was on back order. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 06e023000 (exterior lighting) and 09e009000 (visibility). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000. Updated 08/14/2017”
NHTSA complaint #10969589, filed 2017-03, 230,000 miles“Re: high intensity discharge (hid) headlights. Hid's are often blinding both from oncoming traffic and from rear view mirrors. Combine this with the fact that many auto headlights are not properly adjusted and it gets even worse. Add SUV's, with their headlights already aimed so high, and hid's are especially bad. Please ban hid headlights.”
NHTSA complaint #10021196, filed 2003-06Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 11 | 3% |
| 2011 | 1 | 0% |
| 2009 | 3 | 3% |
| 2008 | 5 | 3% |
| 2007 | 1 | 0% |
| 2006 | 44 | 17% |
| 2005 | 7 | 4% |
| 2004 | 7 | 3% |
| 2003 | 6 | 2% |
| 2001 | 3 | 2% |
| 1999 | 3 | 3% |
| 1998 | 14 | 13% |
| 1997 | 25 | 20% |
| 1996 | 9 | 7% |
| 1995 | 5 | 5% |
| 1994 | 5 | 7% |
| 1993 | 5 | 25% |
| 1992 | 1 | 10% |
Other parts of the 2003 Dodge RAM 3500
80 complaintsBody and structure
53 complaintsSteering
37 complaintsSuspension
32 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
26 complaintsOther or unknown
18 complaintsTires
16 complaintsFuel system
12 complaintsElectrical system
9 complaintsVehicle speed control
8 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
8 complaintsBrakes
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Dodge RAM 3500
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