10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
59,747 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2003 Dodge Ram 3500 Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #13

Nov 012004

Ram 3500

  • 40,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500. While driving 70 mph, the contact stated the steering wheel on the vehicle became unbalanced. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and an independent mechanic for diagnosis but they were unable to determine the cause of failure. The contact stated he independently changed the rotors bearings, and shocks but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the incident. The approximate failure mileage was 40000.

- Naples, FL, USA

problem #12

Dec 302013

Ram 3500

  • 152,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 hd. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle began to jerk without warning. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the upper ball joints, lower ball joints, inner and outer tie rods needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 11V350000 (steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 152,000.

- Winnie , TX, USA

problem #11

Dec 262013

Ram 3500

  • miles
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that NHTSA campaign number: 13V528000 (steering) had surpassed a reasonable amount of time. The dealer was contacted and stated the part would not be available until mid February 2014. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not experienced the failure listed in the recall but did notice a squeaking noise coming from the front driver's side. The failure mileage was not available.

- Lancaster, CA, USA

problem #10

Oct 072013

Ram 3500 4WD 6-cyl Diesel

  • 67,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that while having the vehicle serviced, the mechanic noticed that the driver's side tie rod was fractured. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 11V350000 (steering), but was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall campaign. The vehicle was repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 67,000. Updated 11/19/13

- Joseph, OR, USA

problem #9

Jun 232013

Ram 3500

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving in reverse approximately 1 mph, an unusual noise emitted from the vehicle after turning the steering wheel. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the front driver's side tie rod bolt was fractured. There was a recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 11V350000 (steering), however the contact's VIN was not included. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

- Wading River , NY, USA

problem #8

Feb 172004

Ram 3500

  • 15,000 miles
From 55mph and above if a bump in the road is hit, small or large the vehicle will suddenly shack uncontrollably. I am the original owner of this truck. I installed an after market high performance front stabilizer that prevented the death rumble from occurring. This worked for 50-60 thousand miles. The death rumble has returned. I bought another after market stabilizer however it was not effective this time. This vehicle is unsafe to drive. My question is how many people have to die before Dodge does something about it. I paid 50,000 for a truck that has not operated properly for 40 of the 90thousand miles. Dodge is aware of this issue. I have sent my truck to Dodge to no prevail. Help!

- Bennett, CO, USA

problem #7

Mar 102011

Ram 3500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 92,000 miles

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

Driving at hwy. Speeds when you hit a seam or bump on hwy. Front end shakes violently. This happens at random times. You never know when it will happen.it is very dangerous. Also known as (death wobble) there are many other Dodge Ram trucks with this problem. No one seems to be able to fix it. I have all the upgrades from Chrysler & still have this problem, even though they say there is no problem.

- Saint Ann, MO, USA

problem #6

Jan 232010

Ram 3500

  • 143,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 pickup. While driving 40 mph the steering wheel failed and the front end began to vibrate violently which over corrected itself and crashed into a ditch. The contact was trying to stop the vehicle by pulling the steering wheel to the left and it failed to work. The dealer advised the contact that there was a safety recall; however, he would have to pay to have the vehicle repaired. The dealer also stated that they would sell him the parts needed to repair the vehicle. The failure mileage was 143,000. Updated 11/16/10.

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #5

Aug 022009

Ram 3500

  • 80,000 miles
The death wobble has happen several times- the last time was Aug 2nd, 2009 on the freeway going 75mph passing a semi trailer, we hit a bump in the road the truck began to shake violently, my husband was trying to control this shake while going 75mph- it would not stop until we slowed down and pulled off to the side of the road. We almost cause an accident but thanks to my husband excellent driving skills he was able to avoid an accident. We have replace tierods, ball joints, steering box, tires, shocks, and more. I am afraid to get back into this truck.

- Surprise, AZ, USA

problem #4

Jul 062009

Ram 3500

  • 150,000 miles
For over a year our 2003 Dodge 3500 4X4 pick up has been shaking when the right tire on the truck goes up before the left. We have taken it to many places and told to replace several parts that was suppose to be causing the problem. We have had to put several sets of tires on the truck and are in need of new tires now. The last three times that our truck has done, what I am now being told and believe it to be, the death wobble... the front end of the truck has snapped and slung me off the road. This happened twice in one day. The first two times it happened the adjustment sleeve snapped. The third time the tire rod snapped. All three times were near death for me and I do not feel safe driving it anymore. I need the truck fixed because we are a one vehicle family and we both work. There has been several recalls on the parts on my truck that I was not notified of. My truck is at sorenson schade Chrysler Dodge in lake wales and everyone there has given me a different excuse why they are not responsible for my truck repair. Could you please help me get my truck repaired so that it is safe to drive so that I can get rid of it and not worry about someone else getting killed? please contact me as soon as possible.

- Frostproof, FL, USA

problem #3

May 262009

Ram 3500

  • 56,000 miles

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

I went to Chrysler with I thought shock problems.the mechanic told me there was a recall on the steering linkage he tim/ also said Chrysler would only replace one small part but that the other rods and bushings would have to be replaced also because they were part of the problem and if I did not replace rods and bushings they would eventually brake and I would have no steering control right now the bushing are rattling real bad and the steering is loose and walks on the road tim the mechanic said this is one whole problem and all linked together also I have cost guard insurance and since part is on recall they would not pay for the other parts which will cost over $700 I feel Chrysler is responsible and need to pay Chrysler already had one repair on same breakdown last week please check into this for us.

- Elkins, AR, USA

problem #2

Jun 162005

Ram 3500 4WD 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,199 miles
Steering box gears disintegrated due to misalignment causing steering wheel to lock and failure of related systems. Power steering and power brakes are tied to same pump system. Fortunately, I was in parking lot rather than traveling down freeway when failure occurred.

- Edgewood, WA, USA

problem #1

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

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