2003 Dodge RAM Problems

What owners report

The largest group of owner reports describes the engine stalling or losing power, sometimes when stopping or idling, followed by cracked dashboard pieces and failed defroster or defogger parts. Other topics include steering shake and power steering leaks, fuel leaks and fuel odor, and transmission shift failures. Less frequent topics in these reports are brake rotor complaints and airbags or seat belts that did not work as expected.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Stalling, power loss, and throttle or cruise problems

   • 10 complaints (19%)
   • median 16,900 mi at 1.8 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2012

   Owners describe the engine stalling, idling on its own, or losing power, sometimes when pulling away or stopping and sometimes at highway speed. In some reports the engine stopped and would not restart, and the dealer or mechanic could not reproduce the problem. Others describe the truck hesitating when braking and then accelerating on its own, or a throttle sensor that stuck with cruise control engaged so the truck would not slow on a downhill. Mileage given ranges from about 10,000 to about 168,000 miles, and the stalls are described when stopping or idling, and at speeds up to about 60 mph.

   Recall 03V0330001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the bulletin for engine surge at idle and the fuel control actuator was performed, and on a test drive check for stalling or hesitation when stopping and pulling away.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving 60 MPH vehicle shut off. As a result, consumer had to coast off the road. 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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10081633, filed 2004-07, 10,000 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10081965, filed 2004-07, 16,900 miles
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Cracked dashboard pieces and defroster failures

   • 10 complaints (19%)
   • median 67,500 mi at 4.6 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2012

   Owners describe dashboard cracks, with pieces falling into the vents and in one case fragments blowing out toward the face when the ventilation ran. Other reports describe defroster or defogger failures, where vent panels or flaps broke and heat stopped reaching the windshield, and one owner says a melted wire stopped the defroster. In some cases the dealer said it could not fix the fogging, or the repair was not done because of cost. Mileage given ranges from 10 to about 137,000 miles, and the dashboard complaints that give mileage cite about 60,000 to 70,000 miles.

   What to check: Look at the top of the dashboard and the vent areas for cracks or loose fragments, and run the defroster and defogger on high during a test drive to confirm both work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dt: the contact stated defogger system stopped working due to the design. The inner routing flap broke, allowing the heat to go to the air conditioning vents instead of the windshield defroster/defogger blower. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer however, no repairs have been made due to excessive expense.”

   NHTSA complaint #10144540, filed 2005-12, 78,000 miles

   “The windows of the van will not clear of fog with the heater on hot and the blower on high. The dealer said that they can't fix the problem,that all vans of this year act the same. I have to drive with the rear window open.”

   NHTSA complaint #10108152, filed 2005-01, 10 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Steering shake, hard steering, and pump leaks

   Mentioned in 5 of 44 sampled complaints

   Owners describe steering wheel shaking or the truck pulling to one side, including violent shaking at highway speed. One owner says power steering suddenly became hard while changing lanes, and according to the complaint this led to a crash, and another describes loose lower ball joints found during an oil change. Other reports describe a power steering fluid leak from a clamp, and a problem with the steering gear and pump that the dealer says was remedied. Mileage given ranges from about 3,800 to about 49,500 miles, and the shaking is described at about 10 mph and at about 80 mph.

   What to check: Check for play in the lower ball joints and steering components, and check the power steering pump, hoses and clamps for fluid leaks during a test drive or inspection.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Numerous problems with 2003 Dodge RAM since ownership. 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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10071449, filed 2004-04

   “While traveling 65-70 MPH and changing lanes power steering became hard. This resulted in a tractor trailer rear ending consume's vehicle and pushing it on side of mountain. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy.”

   NHTSA complaint #10075482, filed 2004-06
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Fuel leaks, fuel odor, and a dropped fuel tank

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • median 5,389 mi at 0.7 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2006

   Owners describe repeated fuel leaks from the injection system or a high-pressure fitting, with fuel dripping toward the manifold or exhaust, and one owner worries about a fire. Other reports describe rotted fuel lines that leaked badly, a diesel odor entering the cabin through the vents at idle, and a fuel tank that dropped while driving at about 50 mph. One report says the truck stayed at the dealer for a long time, and an invoice quoted in the complaint points to an improperly installed tank strap. Only one of these complaints gives mileage, about 7,000 miles; the odor is described at idle, and the tank drop happened at about 50 mph.

   What to check: Check the fuel lines, injectors and high-pressure fittings for wet spots or fuel smell, and confirm that the fuel tank straps are secure and any fuel-system repairs are documented.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Fuel is leaking from a high pressure fitting, and may be dripping on the manifold or the exhaust system. Consumer feels that eventually this will cause a serious fire. This was the second fuel leak from the fuel injector system.”

   NHTSA complaint #10037681, filed 2003-09, 7,000 miles

   “The fuel tank on the vehicle fell off while the consumer was driving at 50 MPH. Contacted dealer and the vehicle has been at the dealer for about two weeks and the problem has not been fixed. Per invoice-the the fuel tank strap was improperly installed and the strap had come loose, dropping the fuel tank and damaging it-replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #8020209, filed 2002-10
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shift failures and unintended rollaway

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • median 51,567 mi at 3.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2007

   Owners describe transmissions that failed while shifting, or that would not shift out of a low gear or downshift. One owner says the truck began rolling backward while idling and rolled into a tree, and another reports the truck moved after being parked, with the owner outside. In one case a coolant line was repaired, but the owner said the problem recurred. Only one complaint gives mileage, about 51,600 miles, and the shift failures are described at speeds around 25 to 50 mph, while the rollaway happened while idling.

   What to check: On a test drive, check that every gear engages including a downshift, confirm the truck holds in park, and ask for records of any transmission or cooler line repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “- on 09/05/05 while driving on a major road, the contact stated that his 2003 Dodge RAM was unable to shift out of a low gear staying at a speed of 25 MPH. The contact took his vehicle to allen samuels in houston, tx and they stated that they couldn't detect any failure on the vehicle. On 10/28/06 while driving down a hill pulling a 30 ft travel trailer at 50 MPH, the contact tried to down shift, but the vehicle would not change gears. The contact stated that he couldn't use the emergency brake to assist in stopping the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10179168, filed 2007-01, 51,567 miles

   “While driving transmission failed while shifting. Consumer pulled over, and had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection. Mechanic determined that coolant line needed to be replaced. Consumer informed the mechanic that this problem had not been resolved, it recurred.”

   NHTSA complaint #10101103, filed 2004-11

Buying note. Before buying, ask for records of any stalling, transmission, fuel-system, or steering repairs, and check whether recall 03V033000 applies to the engine and transmission in the vehicle. A pre-purchase inspection that looks at the fuel lines, the dashboard vents and defroster, and the steering components can address several of the reported issues.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 44 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.