9.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$4,400
Average Mileage:
105,900 miles
Total Complaints:
6 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. rebuilt engine (4 reports)
  2. not sure (2 reports)
2003 Dodge Ram 1500 engine problems

engine problem

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2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Owner Comments

problem #6

Jan 142011

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • 199,540 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

It was the end of my work day, I walked out to my pickup and drove to the Bank. after walking out of the bank I started my truck, it started to make knocking sounds but not that loud, I put my truck into Drive and drove about a block, then notesed that my engine oil pressuer drouped to 0. and the engine knocking noice started getting louder and louder. I stoped my truck inside a parking lot and called Benny Boyed Dodge Dealer for assistance. I had my pickup toweded to Benny Boyed Dodge Dealer in Lampasas Texas 30 miles away, I payed $130.00 for toweing fees. by the time I arived at the Dodge Dealer they were about to close, the services manager informed me that my pickup would be the first truck in the shop the next day. I went to the services department the next morning and it took until 2:00 PM before my truck made it into the bay, the services department did not remove a nut or boult from the engine, everything was still intacked and they still charged me $98.00 to let me know that I need a new engine. To have a new engine put into my truck by Benny Boyed Dodge Dealer would coust me $7,900.00. I dont have that kind of money to have a engine of that magnutued put into truck. after finding out that I'm not the only one having this problems, I would like to see if there is anything that can be done to have the Dodge Dealers/Corps fixs the problem that they all ready know excesst.

- Keith N., Lampasas, TX, US

problem #5

Jun 072009

Ram 1500 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles

Add me to the list. Dodge Ram 1500 4.7 (95,000) Had a ticking noise from engine area.Gauges were OK, stopped and checked oil level and that was OK. Decided to continue on home ( only abt. 5 miles ). Got about 1 mile down the road when I had a noise the sounded like someone threw a bucket of bolts into a tumbler. Before I could pull off to the side of the road, the engine shut down. Got towed to local shop , with a seized engine. $4400 for a salvage with 60,000 miles or $6600 for a re manufactured.

I changed the oil on a regular basis (3,000 - 5,000). Seems to be a real problem with these engines. Don't think I'll be buying a Dodge any time soon.

- Larry R., South River, NJ, US

problem #4

Mar 142009

Ram 1500 SLT 4.6L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 129,000 miles

Well, I brought it used.......I test drove it, looked over it myself and was impressed. Yeah Right. I left the car lot with just barely over 129,000 miles, made a couple of stops in Lawton, Oklahoma and was on my way to to McDonalds with my 2 year old and 4 year old to celebrate our new truck.......if only we made it!!! Within 10 miles of driving the check gauge light came on and a horrible tapping sound appeared from the engine and it shut off right in the middle of the second busiest intersection in town. I tried to start it and it had nothing. Thank God I have AAA Gold coverage and so I called the tow truck........little did they know that I was stuck in the middle of the intersection and so I waited 2 hours frantically waving vehicles around me and my children. In that time I called the car lot and asked for there assistance on where to tow it. They said "sure, just tow it down to the mechanic shop and we will meet you there".

So after the tow truck brought it there, I had a friend take me there with the kids to solve the problem. The guy from the car lot came right out with the mechanic and assessed the Truck. To my utter disgust the mechanic got right in and it started right up. I was fuming as I was trying to explain what had happened and there it was just running smooth as a kitty cat. They looked at me funny when I was trying to tell them that the check gauge light came on, that it had a horrible tapping sound, and the oil pressure gauge dropped down to nothing in an instant and died. The mechanic climbed on to the front bumper and looked over the engine and was like.....ohhh, the fan clutch is out and there's a bad radiator hose. That's it......liar!

I waited in their waiting room for another 3 hours with 2 unruly children and finally they came out and said we replaced the fan clutch and took the oil pan off, cleaned out the sludge in it, put some fresh oil and slapped on a radiator hose. I was satisfied they didn't charge me and left for home. Little did I know that was the beginning to an end.

- motogirl5, Snyder, OK, US

problem #3

Oct 252008

Ram 1500 LTD 5.7V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 93,206 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

oil pressure failed and from the time I pulled over on the highway and shut off the engine i guess it was damaged beyond repair.I had no warning and the engine still runs as the dealership started it and drove it into the shop, [ tower Chrysler,dodge, jeep Calgary, ab] what a bunch of clowns. they quoted a rebuilt engine installed at around 10000.00 +.I got quotes from engine re builders at 7800.00+.I can not believe this truck is dead at 150000+km. They told me it might be an oil pump replace, and now this. The dealer recommends engine replace because of the sound of the engine when it is running with no oil pump, what more damage did they cause.There are other problems but they are minor such as instrument cluster is fried, power windows work sometimes,battery died right after warranty,Tower charged me 400.00 for a battery .Replaced brakes at 120000kms and rotors.and the trany is starting to act funny.I will never buy a dodge product again. So put 10000.00 into a piece of sh*t dodge or use the hemi as a paper weight and buy a real truck.I will tell everyone I know about this and dont buy dodge.

- Jim G., Calgary, AB, Canada

problem #2

Jun 232003

Ram 1500 Quad Cab Larmine 5.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 86,371 miles

I bought the Dodge Ram after reading reports stating how good this truck is and its comfort.

Boy was I in for a surprise. I have looked after this truck and treated better then a Cadillac.

I was coming back from the lake with friends when the truck started to loss extreme power, but before I can figure out what is going on, the truck started to over heat and started to knock and ping. I drove the truck to the local Dodge dealership, for them to tell me that the engine was blown.At a 139,000 km, I asked how can this be. I contacted the Dodge corporation, Canada, and explained to them what has happened.To make a long story short I contacted Dodge Corp,Canada to hear them basically say, your power train warranty is up and you are on your own. No good will offer nothing. I am more disappointed with how I was treated with Dodge Corporation Canada then my engine blowing. I have to say that I will never by Dodge vehicles again. Not to say that all products will end up this way, however, customer treatment needs a lot of improvement. I f people were to ask about my opinion regarding dodge vehicles I would strongly encourage them to look at Ford or Chevy.

Thanks for reading

- Mark I., Saskatoon, SK, Canada

problem #1

Jul 022006

(reported on)

Ram 1500 Sport SLT

  • 32,000 miles

I cannot f***ing believe this, I bought a 2003 Dodge Ram 4x2 Quad Cab with a Hemi for the reliability that i read about, no my truck is sitting in a dealership lot because my damn motor let go on me, i was driving with my Girlfriend to her parent's cottage in northern Michigan and out in the middle of nowhere, (being guided by my Garmin GPS unit, worth the money) my check engine light came on and before i had a chance to figure out what the hell was going on my oil pressure dropped off completely and my motor blew itself all over the road, complete engine detonation, and i mean detonated, there were parts all over the road and oil to go along with it. worst part is i call chrysler roadside assistance, and they cant find us, we sat on the side of this road for 3 and a half hours before the tow truck found us, so i guess the worst part is that they towed my truck to Sault Sainte Marie Michigan to be repaired, problem is i live in Windsor Ontario. and chrysler will not ship my truck back to me when its finished, so i have to take time off of work to drive up to the Soo to pick up my truck and bring it back, the dealership informed me that it was a massive failure of my engine, apparently the oil pump failed which caused the motor to seize and when it did cylinders 2 and 4 blew themselves through the damn block... WHERE IS THE DURABILITY IN THIS MOTOR.... ITS A PIG ON GAS, but it does haul, and blow little imports away though, i just want my truck back

- William C., Windsor, ON, Canada

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