2.2

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,444 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2003 Dodge Ram 3500 Owner Comments

problem #19

Dec 312003

Ram 3500

  • miles

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

The dash is completely fractured and broken into shards of sharp hard plastic that should the takata airbag ever deploy will be propelled like shrapnel through the passenger compartment at explosive speeds. It's like driving a car with broken class covering the dashboard. This issue, the dash fracturing and splitting into pieces as a result of sun exposure and age seems to be a known problem on almost all of the online forums I went to to discover if this was unique to me. I cannot understand how such an obvious and common hazard experienced by so many, is allowed to persist.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #18

Jun 232015

Ram 3500

  • 70,000 miles
Dash cracked, broken, pieces completely broken away, missing, sharp edges, vents grills gone items can fall into the heat, defroster. All Dodge trucks I've seen have seen of this year, mod and similar defects.

- Conway, SC, USA

problem #17

Sep 122017

Ram 3500

  • 289,000 miles
Was driving down the road and went to shift gears and the shifter lever arm broke off at the bottom.

- Nutter Fort, WV, USA

problem #16

Jan 052015

Ram 3500

  • 145,000 miles

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

The dash is cracking and deteriorating producing small sharp objects in the cab that come lose and are a hazzard to all occupants.

- Seneca, SC, USA

problem #15

Apr 122009

Ram 3500

  • miles
The dashboard of my Dodge Ram truck is cracked. When I say cracked I don't mean a small crack but cracks all over the entire dashboard. It is cracked so badly that I fear pieces of the hard plastic are going to break off during our travels and cause injury to me, my passengers or my grandchildren. I am also concerned that if we were in an accident that the cracks would fly off and cause severe injury or death to the driver, passengers or my grandchildren. This is a problem in a lot of the Dodge Ram trucks. It is not a cosmetic problem but a danger to the life of people in the vehicle.

- Alexandria, AL, USA

problem #14

Jan 012008

Ram 3500

  • miles
Dash cracked creating a safety hazard if ever involved in an accident. Also small fragments of the dash have gotten into the vents blowing into drivers face which my cause an accident if struck in eye. Stationary, motion what type of roadway does not matter. Defective parts used!!!!

- Southport, NC, USA

problem #13

Jun 012012

Ram 3500

  • 150,000 miles

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

Dash board falling apart

- Goshen, OH, USA

problem #12

Dec 032016

Ram 3500

  • miles
Dash is cracking and I am afraid that if I were to get in an accident there would be sharp pieces of plastic sent into the occupants of the cab specifically my children. The dashes should be recalled.

- Battle Ground, WA, USA

problem #11

Sep 012011

Ram 3500

  • 30,000 miles
Dash board starting breaking apart voluntarily several years ago and has been getting continuously worse to the point that entire dash has crumbled.. dash board pieces are hard sharp plastic material and could come back and injure someone in the event of an accident. Dodge dealerships state that all Ram trucks have this problem but no recall has been issued.

- Aragon, GA, USA

problem #10

Aug 152008

Ram 3500

  • 100,000 miles
Safety issue 1..interior dash board first cracked, then cracked all over, then finally fell apart. The safety issue is pieces of the dash made up of plastic is breaking up in large sharp chunks when a bump in the road is encountered or jarring occurs. When going over a rr track a 5" jagged piece broke off and a small shard hit me in the eye. This issue is way more than cosmetic. I am the original owner and the dealer will not take any responsibility for this defective product. Safety issue 2.. air bag light has been on for several years and intermittent. I received an air bag recall and I took the truck to the dealer for corrective action. After so called fix, the warning light was off for 1 day then came back on. The dealer states the recall has nothing to do with the warning lights. Now I have a current 2nd air bag recall. I took the vehicle to the dealer, but they state they don't have the parts and will contact me. Its been months ago and still no part. Again they say air bag warning light is not related. Safety issue 3... brake light warning and ABS warning stays on all the time. Paid $100 for them to troubleshoot and they say its a sensor on the rt front ABS. I feel this is another safety issue.

- Lake City, FL, USA

problem #9

Jul 012013

Ram 3500

  • 130,000 miles

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

The front top dash is cracking in several pieces

- Coaling , AL, USA

problem #8

Apr 162014

Ram 3500

  • 99,000 miles
Noticed the dashboard had a small crack in it, used a dash protector mat and when I took it off to clean the entire dashboard was cracked into pieces. This dashboard looks worse than a jigsaw puzzle. While driving down the road pieces just break off and fall into the dash!

- Newton, NC, USA

problem #7

Sep 162005

Ram 3500

  • 95,602 miles
The dash in my 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 has cracked in two places. The truck had 95,602 miles at the time. Low mileage for the model but I only live 3 miles from my job. I use a sunscreen when the truck is not in use and I do not believe this is sun damage. Now little pieces of plastic, foam and fiber looking material are being spewed from air vents. I think it is from the deterioration of the dash. I feel that Chrysler should replace this dash as the deterioration is through no fault of mine as I have given reasonable care to the truck. I also fear that if I am involved in an accident where the airbags deploy, I or my passengers could be injured or killed by the damaged dash flying into shrapnel.

- Englewood, TN, USA

problem #6

May 012009

Ram 3500

  • 86,000 miles
Failed components= driver and passenger sunvisor drivers side sunvisor fails to remain in the fully upright position when passing over a bump, resulting in reduced forward visibility and distraction to driver. Subsequent failure of passenger side sunvisor results in decreased visibility to drivers right. Investigation through Dodge truck websites reveal this problem experienced by others and that Dodge redesigned the sunvisor in 2005 model year. There is no available repair, just a full replacement of sunvisors at a cost of up to $150 (parts/labor) as documented on Dodge truck websites. Sunvisors on subject vehicle are now secured via safety pins and velcro strips to prevent accidental visor movement.

- Lake Wales, FL, USA

problem #5

May 012010

Ram 3500 4WD 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
My 2003 Dodge 3500 trucks dash board is broken/cracked in several places. I have reported it to Dodge and they have offered to replace it with a $1000 co-pay. This is a wide spread problem and I believe dangerous as broken parts can become dis-lodged during a collision and caught by the air bags. Please keep on Dodge to do the right thing here. I would be willing to help with the costs but $1000 is to much!

- Clayton, CA, USA

problem #4

May 202007

Ram 3500 4WD 6-cyl Diesel

  • Manual transmission
  • 55,000 miles
1. our dashboard has cracked after not using the truck for several weeks we noticed during a trip since then the crack has gotten bigger in less then 48 hours. 2. I've read that this can cause electrical issues and we have had our ac quit working for a little while since the crack was notice 3. so, far nothing has been done. I have E-mail the dealership and Dodge and so far not much is being said. I have notice that the main Dodge that are cracking are 01 but mine is newer it is an 03 I can't think what it will look like in 2 years.

- Hazel Green, AL, USA

problem #3

Dec 012006

Ram 3500

  • miles
Even though I have taken care of my vehicle, the dashboard has several cracks in it. The dealership will not help me. They say I must purchase a new dashboard for about $700. I have other friends with the same type of vehicle and they also have cracks. Shouldn't there be a recall? my dad's 93 Chevy is fine.

- Richmond, TX, USA

problem #2

Apr 152003

Ram 3500

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,779 miles
We bought our 2003 Dodge 2500 diesel Ram pickup on January 25, 2003 with 10 miles on it. We noticed it pulled to the right and once in awhile would shake a little, we thought it was out of alignment. On April 27, 2003 we where driving on the freeway at about 80 miles per hour when all of a sudden the truck was violently shaking back and forth. It took everything my husband had to keep us on the road. After what seemed like an eternity he was able to pull onto the shoulder and get it stopped. We decided to try to get to the next town that was 20 miles away. Traveling at 40 M.P.H. with our flashers on, it happened again. My husband called the tow truck, and we haven't seen our truck since! the mechanic said a bolt on the track bar mount had come loose and fell out and they would need to replace the entire front axle. Spoke to the mechanic today and they received the front axle today. Now they need to replace the ball joints, they have been ordered and will take another couple of days. I have spoken to a couple of mechanics today and none of them can figure out why the front axle along with the ball joints would need to be replace because of the loose track bar mount. You can find this on the NHTSA website, sorry I don't have the exact website address. www.NHTSA.dot.gov once in the website go to: Complaint search criteria: Vehicle 2003 Dodge truck

- St. George, UT, USA

problem #1

Jun 152003

Ram 3500

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60 miles
To whom it may concern, we recently purchased a Dodge quad-cab pickup from East tulsa Dodge in tulsa, Oklahoma. We purchased it at night, the next day we noticed blemishes/flaws in the paint. We brought it to the dealership's attention they admitted that it is in fact a factory defective paint job. The daimler Chrysler district rep. Looked at the vehicle and he too admitted that it is a factory defective paint job but he only belittled me and insinuated that I was only being picky. His words were those blemishes aren't going to do anything as if to say why can't you just live it?? if you can do anything at all to help us we would be so grateful! thank you so much for any help, clifford B. rodgers 329 N. date St. Jenks, Oklahoma 74037 (918)-260-8645 (918)-299-6149 email address kipanddebbie@aol.com

- Jenks, OK, USA

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