2003 Dodge DODGE TRUCK: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
22,428 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 15 complaints (13.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 26.7% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 26.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 6.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 6.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 2 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 1 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 2; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Power Train:Axle Assembly: 1; Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2003: 6; 2004: 5; 2005: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10007842 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)
I AM A TOOL & PROCESS ENGINEER WORKING FOR DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION'S DETROIT AXLE PLANT, 6700 LYNCH ROAD, DETROIT, MI AND WISH TO ABSOLVE MYSELF OF ANY GUILTY KNOWLEDGE CONCERNING THE INCORRECT MANUFACTURE OF AXLE SHAFTS AND SUBSEQUENT DILATORY AND EVASIVE TACICS OF MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN HIDING THE ACTIONS. THE AXLES ARE IN THE FIELD AND THE FEATURES INVOLVED ARE A SAFETY ITEM ON THE BLUEPRINTS. ONE KNOWN FAILURE HAPPENED RECENTLY IN NEW JERSEY. THE SPLINED END OF THE AXLE SHAFT HAS NOT BEEN HEAT TREATED CORRECTLY. FIELD FAILURES SHOU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007842 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010246 · 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)
STEERING GEAR AND TRACK BAR FAILED AT 46,000 HIGHWAY MILES CAUSING EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STEERING . DODGE IS AWARE THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THESE COMPONENTS AND IS UNWILLING TO ADDRESS UNDER WARRANTY.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010418 · 2003-03-13 (March 13, 2003)
2003 DODGE RAM 2500 PICKUP. FRONT TIE ROD ENDS, SPINDLES, AXLES ARE ALL COVERED WITH RUST AFTER ONLY 2 MONTHS. I AM AFRAID THESE PARTS WILL RUST THROUGH AND CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING. IF THE TIE RODS RUST THROUGH, YOU WILL HAVE NO STEERING. IF THE SPINDLE RUSTS THROUGH, YOU WILL LOSE A WHEEL. EITHER OF THESE SCENARIOS CAN KILL. THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR SEEMS TO BE SMALLER THAN NORMAL. IT DOES NOT PROVIDE FULL COVERAGE OF A REAR VIEW. DOES THIS MIRROR MEET LEGAL REQUIREMENTS? THE REAR SEAT HAS NO HEAD RESTRAINTS. I THOUGHT TRUCKS WERE …
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015687 · 2003-04-18 (April 18, 2003)
EXHAUST FUMES LEAKED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER PROVIDED THE CONSUMER WITH A NEW VEHICLE AND THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN 300-500 MILES AFTER AN OIL CHANGE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REFUND OF THE PURCHASE AMOUNT. *MR *SCC *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015687 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016728 · 2003-04-29 (April 29, 2003)
WE WHERE TRAVELING ON I-15 AT 80 MPH WHEN OUR NEW 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL PICKUP BEGAN VIOLENTLY SHAKING ON THE INTERSTATE. MY HUSBAND BARELY MANAGED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER. WE DECIDED TO TRY TO DRIVE TO THE NEAREST TOWN THAT WAS ABOUT 20 MILES AWAY. WE PROCEEDED AT ABOUT 40 MPH WITH OUR BLINKERS ON AND AFTER HITTING A VERY SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD THE TRUCK SHOOK VIOLENTLY AGAIN. WE REFUSED TO DRIVE THE TRUCK ANY FURTHER AND CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE TRUCK IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AT THIS TIME AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,360 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046997 · 2003-11-16 (November 16, 2003)
2003 DODGE QUADCAB 5.7 HEMI ENGINE. FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AT 3400 MILES AND AGAIN AT 9400 MILES APPROXIMATELY. DEALER TURNED ROTORS FIRST TIME AND REPLACED ROTOR [SAME PART NBR AS ORIGINAL] THE SECOND TIME. HAVE READ MANY POSTS ON WEBSITES. IT SEEMS THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE TRUCKS 2002-2003 AND DAIMLER CHRYSLER WILL NOT ADMIT A PROBLEM EXISTS AND DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY NHTSA. WHEN THE ROTORS ARE WARPED THE VEHICLE WILL STILL STOP BUT SOMETIME WHEN B…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,487 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046997 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086370 · 2004-08-07 (August 7, 2004)
IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS I HAVE HAD 3 FLAT TIRES ON GOODYEAR TIRES ON 2 VEHICLES WITH METAL AND RUBBER COMBINED VALVE STEMS. THE STEMS COME APART. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 20,108 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086370 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086562 · 2004-08-10 (August 10, 2004)
MY SON WAS DRIVING THE 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 ON THE 405 FREEWAY AT APPROX.70MPH WHEN THE RIGHT REAR AXLE BROKE. MY SON LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT SPUN AGAINST THE TRAFFIC. HE GAINED CONTROL, VEERED AGAINST THE RIGHT OUTSIDE SIDEWALL OF THE FREEWAY WITH HIS FRONT RIGHT TIRE AND WHILE DRAGGING THE RIGHT BACK TIRE, CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT. THE RIGHT BACK TIRE WAS DRAGGED FLAT ON THE FREEWAY FOR 400 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. HE WAS ONLY LUCKY NOT TO BE SERIOUSLY HURT OR DEAD.
Owner-reported narrative. 22,556 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086562 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.