5.4

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,125 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Dodge Ram 1500 steering problems

steering problem

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2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Owner Comments

problem #4

Mar 042007

Ram 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 44,500 miles

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

Seal on rack and pinion unit leaking and causing squealing. Need to top off power steering fluid to keep noise down. Not covered by manf. Coverage for 36K I have 45K.

- Solon, OH, USA

problem #3

Jan 252006

Ram 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 23,000 miles
2003 Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab, temperature 38 below. Rack & pinion failed, vehicle would not turn. 23000 miles on vehicle. This has been a problem in cold climates. Fix is replace unit. That's great under warranty when that runs out then its my dime, not acceptable. What happens when it gets cold next winter my warranty will be expired. Next time it could cause a fatal car accident.

- Fairbanks, AK, USA

problem #2

Feb 232005

Ram 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The end of the truck locked up, preventing the driver from steering the vehicle and maintaining control. Took vehicle for check up, and results showed that the rack and pinion sheared off.

- Eureka, CA, USA

problem #1

Dec 092003

Ram 1500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,000 miles
1) bought new 03 Dodge qc/laramie/hemi in Oct 2003. 2) at 1000 miles my brakes began to warp 3) at 3,245 miles I brought my truck in for service; told the dealer (rockwall Dodge) that my brakes were warped. They're response was (on service bill) "brake pads worn out" but "no trouble found on test drive" they told me to take my car home because nothing was wrong with it. 4) for the next 3,000 miles I drive it until I cannot handle the truck anymore. Brakes make the vehicle shake violently; under towing loads the vehicle becomes unstable and uncontrollable. I take the truck back to the dealer who refuses to give me a rental for work under warranty to the brakes which now required my calipers, rotors and pads to be replaced because the warping was so severe. Dealer requests I pay for a rental for the time it takes to fix the car because they do not have the parts. 4) steering gears warp which causes the need for the entire rack assembly to be replaced at 14,000 miles; more than likely from the ruined brakes. 5) brakes replaced again at 19,000 and 21,000 miles. 6) 4 total inquiries on brake issues. Contacted Dodge about the problem and they quote "will fix the brakes until the warranty is over. After 36,000 miles the problem is no longer ours and you are out of luck". contacted dealership truck was bought from. Says they do not know anything about the Texas lemon law and offered to help me out of the situation first by saying I'd get an even trade for a new 04, but when I showed up in person they responded if I gave them $8,000 to trade for the new truck.

- Plano, TX, USA

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