2003 Dodge RAM 2500: complaints, problems and recalls

SEAT BECOMES A PROBLEM WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GETS COLDER. COOL MORNINGS WILL CAUSE THE SEATS TO RISE 3 INCHES CAUSING DRIVER OR PASSENGER NOT TO SIT CORRECTLY AND BUCKLE SEAT BELT. THIS ALSO CAUSES DRIVER TO READJUST MIRROR AS TEMPERATURES RISE AND CUSHION LOWERS. AS THESE CHANGES OCCUR DRIVER MUST ADJUST SEAT FORWARD AND BACK MAKING USE OF MIRRORS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT NUMEROUS CORRECTIONS DAILY.ALSO, VEHICLE WANDERS ON HIGHWAY, DRIVER MUST CONTINUOUSLY MOVE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP VEHICLE BETWEEN LINES ON CONSUMER'S SIDE OF THE ROAD. IN ADDITION…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006409 at NHTSA ↗

THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. *NLM *TS ALSO THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB THE AIR CONDITION WAS INOPERATIVE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 3,518 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017801 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2003 2500 DODGE RAM DIESEL WITH 15,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE JUST BEGUN EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION TROUBLES. AS I'M DRIVING 80 MPH DOWN THE FREEWAY THE TRUCK WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN (ON ITS OWN) SLIP DOWN INTO 2ND GEAR (NOT 3RD, BUT 2ND) WHILE GOING 80. THE ENGINE IS RED-LINING AND ABOUT TO BLOW. I CHECK THE DASH AND THE COLUMN AND ALL SAY IT IS STILL IN D(RIVE) WHEN IN FACT IT'S IN 2ND. IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE TRUCK JUST SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL ALL BY ITSELF AND THE DASH AND COLUMN SAY IT IS STILL IN D(R…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018590 at NHTSA ↗

I BOUGHT A NEW 2003 DODGE 2500 CUMMINS DIESEL 5.9L 24L FROM CERRITOS DODGE ON FEB 26TH 2003 , NOW MILES 2591 3 WEEKS LATER I RECEIVED A TRANSMISSION RECALL. ON 9TH MAY I GAVE THE TRUCK FOR SUGGESTED REPAIRS AND RECEIVED BACK SAME EVENING. NEXT MORNING 10TH OF MAY 2003 , SATURDAY , TRAFFIC WAS VERY LIGHT ,I WENT TO WORK HEADED 91 WEST , ON RAMP CARMENITA & EXITED GARFIELD . USE OF BRAKES WAS PRACTICALLY NOT REQUIRED . THE TRUCK WAS PARKED ALL DAY. AROUND 6 IN THE EVENING HEADED FWY EAST 91 , IN MEDIUM TRAFFIC , WHEN THE TWO CARS IN FRONT O…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,591 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018847 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE WILL SUDDENDLY ACCELERATE AT HIGH SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP/ SERVICE MANAGER IS UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029541 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A 2003 DODGE 2500 WITH THE SO CUMMINS' DIESEL ENGINE. I NOTICED THE STRONG SMELL OF DIESEL FUMES WHEN IDLING WITH THE FAN AND/OR AIR CONDITIONER ON. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE TRUCK ABOUT FORTY DAYS. I ASSUMED THE SMELL WAS BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS NEW. I NOTICED SMALL PLUMES OF OILY RESIDUE FORMING ON THE WINDSHIELD ABOVE THE AIR VENTS. I HAD THE TRUCK DETAILED AND THE INSIDE WINDSHIELD POLISHED. THE PLUMES APPEARED AGAIN AFTER SEVERAL DAYS. THEY ARE NOT WATER VAPOR BECAUSE THEY REMAIN ON THE WINDSHIELD AFTER THE TRUCK HAS BEEN PARK…

Owner-reported narrative. 12 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031082 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE IS A 2003 DODGE 2500, SERIAL #X3G-790016 AND IT JUMPS FROM PARK INTO REVERSE. VEHICLE HAS APPROX 10,000 MILES AND THIS HAPPENED THE DAY BEFORE WE WERE TO LEAVE FOR ELLENSBURG, WA ON CENTRAL AVE IN GREAT FALLS AND THEN AGAIN IN ELLENSBURG AT A GOODWILL STORE PARKING LOT. I HAD A GOOD FRIEND KILLED BY THIS HAPPENING ON A FORD TRUCK SO AM VERY CONCERNED THAT IT BE TAKEN CARE OF. THE FRIEND WAS WOODROW MCCRACKEN IN THE LATE 60'S OR EARLY 70'S AT CONRAD, MT. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THE DEALER, BUT HAVE BEEN WAITING OVER A WEEK TO HE…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033108 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT FELL APART, THE DRIVER LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE STEERING SHAFT FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE PINCH BOLT FALLING OUT. *AK THE CONSUMER MAKING A RIGHT TURN TOWING A SMALL TRAILER WHEN THE STEERING SHAFT SEPARATED AND THE VEHICLE VEERED INTO THE DITCH. *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034026 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-02-05 (February 5, 2003)

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINES AND MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, MAY EXPERIENCE AN ELEVATED IDLE SPEED AFTER EXTENDED CRUISE CONTROL USE.

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND A REDUCTION IN BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SOFTWARE IN THE CUMMINS ENGINE CONTROLLER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 10, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2003-06-05 (June 5, 2003)

CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS, THE ALUMINUM WHEELS MAY HAVE EXCESSIVE POROSITY IN THE CENTER HUB AREA WHICH CAN CAUSE A WHEEL TO CRACK.

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WHEELS AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN JUNE 17, 2003.. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-992-1997.

Reported: 2005-10-06 (October 6, 2005)

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, IN AN ATTEMPT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE QUICKLY WITHOUT SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND REMOVING THE KEY, THE DRIVER MAY INADVERTENTLY LEAVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL IN INDICATED REVERSE.

Consequence: THIS ERROR IS AN UNINTENDED ACTION THAT MAY RESULT IN A LACK OF TRANSMISSION PARK PAWL ENGAGEMENT AND POSSIBLY DELAYED REARWARD MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERFORM A SOFTWARE MODIFICATION TO EQUIP THESE VEHICLES WITH AN OUT-OF-PARK ALARM. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2011-07-06 (July 6, 2011)

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 2500/3500 4X4, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH MARCH 28, 2011; MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 3500 CAB CHASSIS 4X2, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH MARCH 28, 2011; AND MODEL YEAR 2008 DODGE RAM 1500 MEGA CAB 4X4, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH AUGUST 15, 2008, BECAUSE THE LEFT TIE ROD BALL STUD MAY FRACTURE. THIS CONDITION TENDS TO OCCUR DURING LOW SPEED PARKING LOT TYPE MANEUVERS WHEN THE CUSTOMER IS MAKING A TIGHT TURN. ADDITIONALLY, MODEL YEAR 2003-2008 DODGE RAM 2500/3500 VEHICLES MAY HAVE RECEIVED THE AFFECTED TIE ROD ASSEMBLY AS A REPLACEMENT PART DURING NORMAL SERVICE.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL STABILITY IN THE LEFT HAND FRONT WHEEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TIE ROD ENDS FOR RELATIVE ORIENTATION AND REPLACE THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD AS REQUIRED AND PERFORM A FRONT END TOE ALIGNMENT AS NEEDED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 3, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2013-11-06 (November 6, 2013)

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Dodge RAM 2500 4x4 and 3500 4x4, model year 2007-2008 Dodge RAM 3500 4x2 Cab Chassis and model year 2006-2008 Dodge RAM 1500 Mega Cab 4x4 trucks manufactured February 12, 2002, through February 13, 2008. The left tie rod assembly may break.

Consequence: A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler notified owners and launched its recall campaign in January 2014. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N62.

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 passenger’s 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.