2003 Dodge RAM 3500: complaints, problems and recalls

THE GAS NOZZLES ARE TOO SMALL, GAS IS BEING POURED EVERYWHERE. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A FIRE COULD START. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006707 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN THE TRAILER WAS USED, IT BENT THE MAIN SPRINGS WHICH SUPPORTED BOTH THE TRUCK AND TRAILER IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. IF THE SPRING WERE TO BREAK IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018280 at NHTSA ↗

RE: HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) HEADLIGHTS. HID'S ARE OFTEN BLINDING BOTH FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND FROM REAR VIEW MIRRORS. COMBINE THIS WITH THE FACT THAT MANY AUTO HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT PROPERLY ADJUSTED AND IT GETS EVEN WORSE. ADD SUV'S, WITH THEIR HEADLIGHTS ALREADY AIMED SO HIGH, AND HID'S ARE ESPECIALLY BAD. PLEASE BAN HID HEADLIGHTS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021196 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN TOWING THE TRUCKS LIFT PUMP WOULD NOT SUPPORT THE MOTOR AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DIE OUT. THE LIFT PUMP WAS NOT PUMPING ENOUGH FUEL TO THE MOTOR. *AK *CB *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024765 at NHTSA ↗

2001 DODGE 3500 W/HO CUMMINS SPONTANEOUSLY IGNITED AND BURNED TO NOTHING. IT STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, DRIVERS SIDE. MY OPINION IS IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE DUE TO THE SMELL OF THE SMOKE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030796 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031809 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, DRIVER CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER SAID TO POP THE HOOD PUMP, THE PRIMER. VEHICLE STARTED 10 MINUTES LATER AND STALLED ON HIGHWAY, CONSUMER FEELS COULD HAVE BEEN T-BONED AS A RESULT OF ENGINE STALLING AND DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING.DEALER SAID FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED REPLACEMENT, AND WILL ONLY BE REPLACED ONE AT A TIME AS THEY FAIL. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 207 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034438 at NHTSA ↗

2003 DODGE CUMMINS HO PICKUP, I HAVE A NEW TRUCK THAT HAS AN INJECTOR THAT STICKS. IT HAS STUCK WIDE OPEN 4 TIMES, CLOSED TWO TIMES AND PARTIALLY OPEN MANY TIMES. WHEN IT STICKS WIDE OPEN THE KNOCK CAN BE HEARD THROUGH A VEHICLE WINDOW WITH AIR & RADIO RUNNING. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS A BLACK CLOUD OF SMOKE THAT IS SO THICK THAT THE SUN AND ROAD CANNOT BE SEEN. ON INTERSTATE 90 I STOPPED ALL TRAFFIC EAST & WEST WHEN IT HAPPENED. MY WIFE WAS FOLLOWING ME ON THE WAY HOME FROM KELLOGG ID TO ELLENSBURG WA. CUMMINS AGREES WITH ME THAT I HAVE A FAU…

Owner-reported narrative. 111 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037252 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.