2.6

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
56,980 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 3500 body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2003 Dodge Ram 3500 Owner Comments

problem #14

Jun 262020

Ram 3500 6-cyl Diesel

  • 116,000 miles

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

Frame rusted through in several places. Service provider had problems placing truck on lift due to frame integrity to replace brake lines. Upon my inspection frame is rusted through in several places. Cannot determine if truck is safe to drive.

- Colebrook, CT, USA

problem #13

Feb 162010

Ram 3500

  • miles
Dash board is cracking and caveing in.

- Manorville, NY, USA

problem #12

Jun 152015

Ram 3500 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that there was premature cracking and deterioration of the dashboard. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and provided no solution other than for the contact to replace the part. The dealer stated that to complete NHTSA campaign number: 15V312000 (air bags), the dashboard would also need to be replaced. The parts had not been available for an extended period of time so the contact was uncertain of when the recall repair would be completed. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect. Updated 01/27/17

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #11

Jul 232014

Ram 3500

  • 135,000 miles

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

There are stripes of melting plastic on the back of the right side mirror and on the back of the front seats

- Coaling, AL, USA

problem #10

Jun 062014

Ram 3500

  • 52,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge 3500 Ram. The contact stated that water entered the cabin. The contact had to replace four out of the five cab lights. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 52,000. The VIN was not available.

- Creedmoor, NC, USA

problem #9

Apr 012012

Ram 3500

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that the dashboard fractured in the center close to the speedometer and the fracture continued to spread throughout the dashboard. The manufacturer stated that the dashboard failure was not recalled. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 110,000 and the current mileage was 160,000.

- Mount Juliet, TN, USA

problem #8

Jan 112012

Ram 3500

  • 70,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that the dashboard was cracked and detaching from the vehicle. There were cracks located by the air bag compartment on the passenger's side. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the defect. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000 and the current mileage was 106,500.

- Greenwood , MO, USA

problem #7

Sep 252013

Ram 3500

  • 81,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that there were cracks in the dashboard and she feared that there would be projectiles during a collision. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 81,000.

- Alexandria, KY, USA

problem #6

Jul 032013

Ram 3500

  • 71,201 miles
On the date noted above I noticed a 10 inch long crack had developed on the passenger side front dashboard slightly to the right of center. In a collision where the front airbags are deployed, this will become razor sharp shrapnel causing severe injury or death. Dodge refuses to do anything to mitigate this flaw, which they have acknowledged is due to Dodge utilizing sub-standard materials when making the dashboards for the Ram truck series. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of complaints regarding the cracked dashes in Ram trucks from frustrated owners. Its only a matter of time until someone is injured or killed when one of these dashes explodes like a grenade when the airbag goes off during a collision.

- Blaine, WA, USA

problem #5

Jun 012013

Ram 3500 6-cyl Diesel

  • miles
Cracked dash and broken, very sharp all over, junk.

- Zanesville, OH, USA

problem #4

Aug 122008

Ram 3500

  • miles

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

Dash has cracked and there is a whole large enough to put your head into it. Parts fell out onto my feet while driving. A pillar grab handles have pulled out while climbing into truck. I fell and cracked a rib. Dodge refuses to do anything about this issue. Both of these issues should be a recall as they are safety related. The dash pieces almost cut my foot open. If I had of been wearing shoes instead of boots it would have. My truck is a manual transmission. It fell on top of my ankle and wedged on the pedals while I was holding clutch in the boots protected my ankle when I let off the clutch to grab the plastic piece. If not it would have cut my ankle pretty good as it left a good mark in the leather of my boot.

- Trabuco Canyon, CA, USA

problem #3

Sep 012009

Ram 3500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 35,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated the dashboard developed large cracks. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to diagnose the failure nor was it repaired. The contact also stated that the cracks had become larger over time. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 35,000. Updated 11/18/11 updated 11/28/11

- Baxter, TN, USA

problem #2

May 022011

Ram 3500

  • 127,520 miles
The hand grip in the cab of the pickup has broken away twice since I have had this vehicle. This time I wrenched my back when this broke away. I confronted Dodge dealer and they said its not a lifting handle but an assist handle? if they put it in the truck they should make it safe enough so that someone won't get hurt

- Camp Verde, AZ, USA

problem #1

Jun 102008

Ram 3500

  • miles
I have a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 w/cummins diesel. A year ago (2008) the dashboard developed a small crack in the dashboard. Thinking that it was just a stress crack and comes with age I did not think anymore about it until as of late, the entire dash is shattering and collapsing onto itself. This is dropping shards of plastic into areas not intended to have plastic dropped into it. I thought that this was an isolated case until I started researching the problem and found that this is a very common problem with Dodge Ram trucks. Dodge has evidently refused to acknowledge that this is a common problem with their quality control.

- Humble, TX, USA

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