2003 Dodge RAM 1500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,170 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 658 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 446 of 1,170 complaints (38.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 112 | 9.6% |
| Steering behavior | 64 | 5.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 49 | 4.2% |
| Engine operation | 31 | 2.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 1.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 0.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 446 |
| Structure | 158 |
| Structure:Body | 72 |
| Unknown Or Other | 65 |
| Power Train | 62 |
| Electrical System | 47 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 43 |
| Steering | 31 |
Air Bags: 446; Structure: 158; Structure:Body: 72; Unknown Or Other: 65; Power Train: 62; Electrical System: 47; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 43; Steering: 31
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 134 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 86 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 129 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 98 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 126 |
| 150,000 and above | 85 |
Under 25,000: 134; 25,000 to 49,999: 86; 50,000 to 74,999: 129; 75,000 to 99,999: 98; 100,000 to 149,999: 126; 150,000 and above: 85
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (134). 512 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 56 |
| 2004 | 72 |
| 2005 | 49 |
| 2006 | 34 |
| 2007 | 42 |
| 2008 | 41 |
| 2009 | 39 |
| 2010 | 59 |
| 2011 | 53 |
| 2012 | 37 |
| 2013 | 39 |
| 2014 | 39 |
| 2015 | 275 |
| 2016 | 196 |
| 2017 | 75 |
| 2018 | 19 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2002: 1; 2003: 56; 2004: 72; 2005: 49; 2006: 34; 2007: 42; 2008: 41; 2009: 39; 2010: 59; 2011: 53; 2012: 37; 2013: 39; 2014: 39; 2015: 275; 2016: 196; 2017: 75; 2018: 19; 2019: 13; 2020: 8; 2021: 2; 2022: 7; 2023: 8; 2024: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 112 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 64 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 49 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 10007006 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND WAS UNABLE TO BE FIXED. *JB SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007006 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008976 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO ABRUPTLY PULL OVER.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008976 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010984 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)
NOTE: I HAD TO WRITE DOWN FLORIDA FOR THE STATE, BECAUSE THERE IS NO OPTION FOR PUERTO RICO. WHILE DRIVING IN A MOUNTANOUS AREA WITH CURVES(ASPHALTED ROAD), AFTER A CURVE AT APPROXIMATELY 10-20 MPH, I FELT THE TRUCK LOST THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT TIRE, WHEN I CHECKED I HAD LOST THE PART OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION THAT HOLDS THE DISC, CALIPER BEARING, TIRE, BALL JOINTS AND ALL OTHER RELATED PARTS. I RECOVERED THE ASSEMBLY THAT INCLUDED THE ABOVE PARTS. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD TO WAIT FOR A CHRYSLER ENGINEER TO DE…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010984 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013625 · 2003-03-28 (March 28, 2003)
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE WHEN LEFT OUTSIDE IN THE COLD. VEHICLE HAS 1200 MILES ON IT. VEHICLE WAS IMPORTED FROM CANADA AND CHRYSLER CORP. WILL NOT WARRANTY, NOR WILL SELLING DEALER TAKE VEHICLE BACK. I PURCHASED VEHICLE 5 WEEKS AGO. I WAS TOLD BY REPAIR STATION THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION BUT IT DOES NOT SURFACE ON CARFAX NOR ON THIS WEBSITE BECAUSE DODGE DOES NOT REPORT RECALLS TO EITHER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 232 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013625 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014624 · 2003-03-27 (March 27, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014624 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015347 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE SIDE WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019275 · 2003-05-25 (May 25, 2003)
MY NEW TRUCK TURNS OFF ALL THE TIME WHEN SITTING AT IDLE FOR 2 MINUTES OR MORE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019275 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021503 · 2003-06-12 (June 12, 2003)
VEHICLE WITH AN UNSAFE POWER WINDOW SWITCH. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021503 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
15V312000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2015-05-26 (May 26, 2015)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2003 Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks manufactured August 29, 2002, to July 25, 2003 to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began on March 16, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R26. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 14V770.
NHTSA campaign record ↗