10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
29,853 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 transmission problems

transmission problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 Dodge Ram 3500:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2003 Dodge Ram 3500 Owner Comments

problem #11

Sep 072007

Ram 3500 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram. The contact parked the vehicle in her driveway. She exited the vehicle and left the driver side door open. She then heard a loud pop and noticed that the vehicle was moving. She was unable to enter and stop the vehicle. The contact was struck several times by the driver side door. She was pinned between a metal post and the door of the vehicle. The contact was able to free herself and sustained injuries to her midriff, back, and head. The powertrain, speed, and failure mileage were unknown. The current mileage was 46,900. Updated 01/17/08 the dealer stated the right brake lamp is inoperable. The consumer has provided all medical documentation and repair invoices pertaining to the incident. Updated 01/17/08

- Purdy, MO, USA

problem #10

Jul 012006

Ram 3500 4WD 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,000 miles
- the contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500. The vehicle was serviced for recall 05V46200 concerning the power train automatic transmission. The dealer installed an out of park alarm system. The alarm system will activate if the vehicle door is open while reverse gear was engaged. The alarm caused the horn to blow, and the lights to flash. The contact stated he did not want this system in this vehicle. The dealer stated they were unable to remove the out of park alarm system because it was mandated by NHTSA. The vehicle currently had 52,000 miles. Updated 05/21/07

- West Milford, NJ, USA

problem #9

Sep 012005

Ram 3500 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,567 miles
- on 09/05/05 while driving on a major road, the contact stated that his 2003 Dodge Ram was unable to shift out of a low gear staying at a speed of 25 mph. The contact took his vehicle to allen samuels in houston, tx and they stated that they couldn't detect any failure on the vehicle. On 10/28/06 while driving down a hill pulling a 30 ft travel trailer at 50 mph, the contact tried to down shift, but the vehicle would not change gears. The contact stated that he couldn't use the emergency brake to assist in stopping the vehicle. The contact took vehicle to his local dealer( dub herring in picayune, ms) and they couldn't detect any failures with the vehicle. The contact can provide copies of the invoice repair if needed. Updated 03/14/07.

- Carriere, MS, USA

problem #8

Apr 212006

Ram 3500 Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

2003 Dodge Ram fuel lines rotted resulting in a severe leak. ***** the consumer stated the manufacturer cannot or will not produce a replacement fuel line. The consumer stated while the truck was sitting in idle, the vehicle began to move backwards. The consumer attempted to stop the vehicle with no success. The vehicle rolled down a hill and into a tree. The consumer received a recall notice after he experienced the failure with the transmission.

- Sheffield, PA, USA

problem #7

May 152006

Ram 3500 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,000 miles
: the contact stated after exiting the vehicle, with the engine still running in park, it began to reverse down the boat dock. This damaged the boat trailer and the dock. The contact received recall letter #05V462000, for the automatic transmission. Although the recall work has not been performed, the contact believes this will repair the problem.

- Colleyville, TX, USA

problem #6

Apr 192006

Ram 3500 4WD 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles
: the contact stated while the vehicle had been parked on a boat ramp for 10 to 15 minutes with the engine off, after the boat was loaded the vehicle rolled into the water. The vehicle was submerged in the water over the front tires. It was driven out of the water and to the contact's residence 2 miles away. The dealer and manufacturer were contacted and there is a NHTSA recall, # 05V462000, regarding the power train: Automatic transmission. However, both refuse to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer is sending a representative to inspect the vehicle.

- Vinita, OK, USA

problem #5

Mar 282006

Ram 3500 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 61,000 miles

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

: the contact stated a recall letter was received in the mail regarding the power train; automatic transmission, recall number: 05V462000. Prior to receiving this recall, the contact was involved in an accident. The vehicle jumped out of park into reverse and hit another vehicle. There was substantial damage done to the contact's vehicle. The contact does not agree with the remedy listed in the recall. In addition to the out of park alarm listed as the remedy to this recall, the dealership determined a shifter cable needed to be installed.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #4

Sep 132005

Ram 3500 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 one ton. The warning lights kept coming on. The dashboard lights came on and off. The contact cited a recall on manual transmissions, and his vehicle had automatic transmission. He noticed this on 9-13-05.

- Blountsville, AL, USA

problem #3

Jul 152004

Ram 3500 4WD Diesel

  • Manual transmission
  • 23,000 miles
Vehicle vibrates when it reaches 20 mph in gear or not in gear. It vibrates so hard that the mirrors on the exterior shake like they are coming off.

- Northport, NY, USA

problem #2

Dec 092003

Ram 3500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,311 miles
The transmission keeps slipping into neutral while driving and sometimes upon pulling out. The truck is 10 weeks old and has been in the shop for this condition 4 times, with the malfunction light on 3 of those trips, once it went in on a rollback because it would not move at all. It has also downshifted into a lower gear, barked the tires and slung us forward so hard it almost snapped our necks twice now. This has been reported also. They now say since I am requesting a full refund for the truck that there is no mechanical problems or damage only a software problem with the computer. They say Michigan is aware of it, but there has not been a program written to correct it yet, but they will notify me when there is. The vehicle is not safe to drive, you can't merge into traffic for fear of it not moving, you are afraid of it downshifting, but they assure me it is safe to drive, and the rep won't call me back like he was supposed to. They are trying to ignore me completely since I asked for a refund under the Tennessee lemon law, of which the 4 unsuccessful repair attempts have been made, with notification by certified letter to the dealer after the 3rd attempt. They say now they can't duplicate the problem, when before I asked for a refund they could.

- La Follette, TN, USA

problem #1

Feb 072004

Ram 3500

  • 17,500 miles
While vehicle was in park and transmission slipped out of gear, and vehicle rolled into a lake. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

- Kilgore, TX, USA

Not what you are looking for?