8.7
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $1,220
- Average Mileage:
- 83,300 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 76 complaints
Most common solutions:
- should recall (33 reports)
- recall-new paint job (18 reports)
- should have new boxsides installed by dodge (14 reports)
- not sure (11 reports)
« Read the previous 20 complaints
2003 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 has Rust Both Back Wheel Wells, Only has 45,000 miles. Original cost $35,000.00. I love my truck and don't want to trade it in, because the new trucks has the nasty rough interior. My wife has a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 135,000 miles no rust, WTF. I want Chrysler to do a recall.
- Barry S., Columbus, OH, US
just very disappointed with dodge. $30.000 truck and 6or7 years later has rust.
- csteward, Clinton, MO, US
Rust Both Back Wheel Wells
My husband took his Dodge (which he loves) to the dealer where he was told that the warranty had ran out the month before however the body shop manager was going to contact Chrysler about an extension since the rust started from the inside out and was occurring before the month before. They said no. We wrote letters sent pictures and have been shot down again and again. He has been told that it is a factory default where the robot does not get a good enough coat of primer in the weld. We have not had the rust fixed yet because we have started process of filing a class action lawsuit against Chrysler, but we need more people who are Ram owners and are having the issues and who want to have it fixed. Interested?
- Sarah H., Columbus, IN, US
I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 AND THE BOTH REAR WHEEL FENDERS ARE RUSTING OUT. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER-IN 2007-WHO HAS SINCE GONE OUT OF BUSINESS, AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT BAD ENOUGH TO DO ANYTHING WITH AND THEY WOULD HAVE IT ON RECORD FOR THE FUTURE. ALOT OF GOOD THAT DOES ME NOW! AFTER READING ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE TO BELIEVE DODGE HAS A DEFINATE PROBLEM IN THEIR DESIGN OF THIS TRUCK. THEY SHOULD GIVE SOME COMPENSATION TO PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO PROVE THEY HAVE THS PROBLEM. I RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE FROM A BODY SHOP FOR OVER $2000.00 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED.
- John O., Forty Fort, PA, US
I can't believe a 6 year old truck has the paint around the drivers side rear fender bubbling and peeling!!! I love my truck and think Chrysler should make good on the Dodge Ram name and offer a solution. I didn't realize there were other trucks with the same trouble, is there anyone who can help?
- John J., Rocky Point, NY, US
I can not believe the rear fenders are rusting away! I bought my truck used with 49000 miles about 2 years ago. It was in perfect condition. Had I known of the proble with the paint I would have thought twice. Of course the warranty is expired, an autobody shop told me the only way to fix the proble would be to cut out rusting sections and weld in new metal. should ONLY cost $1700! I really hope someone from Chrysler is aware of this website and will restore the faith in their company, Not happy at all. It all started the same as everyone else, small bubbles in the paint on the rear fenders and is spreading. Unbelievable!
- John J., Rocky Point, NY, US
I purchase this 2003 dodge ram brand new in July of 2003. I noticed the paint started bubbling in may of 2009 and now it is really bad. I called Chrysler and they won't assist in any way.During further investigating I noticed many other people are having this problem. I went on the internet and checked dodge forum they have many complaints.If anyone has any idea's something needs to be done a 5 year old truck should not be rusting from the inside out. There is a problem with the design and Chrysler needs to admit that.
- Joe B., Terryville, CT, US
cant believe that a 6 year old vehicle with 60k miles on it should be rusting! what a coincidence that all these vehicles are rusting in the same spot! HMMMMM!!!!! can you say "bad seam job" its obvious dodge failed to see a potential problem in the engineering department. Maybe they should rely on people who have common sense to design their products. My next step is dodge themselves.
- Felix D., Lakewood, NJ, US
i bought this my dodge with 36000 miles. a month later i noticed a bubble in the drivers side rear wheel well. It is slowly rusting through. i love the truck but its starting to look like sh*t. i called the dodge dealership and they said the warranty was up by 6 months. figures. they told me they might still cover it because of the mileage being so low. nope the district manager of the dealership was an as*hole and declined. so i called Chrysler. they approved it and was going to put a new bed panel on. a $2000 dollar job. i was very happy until the dealership called me and told me the district manager caught wind of chryslers approval and declined it for a second time. i found out he has the top say. bullsh*t. he is just an ass*hole. they wouldnt even give me his number.
- keithslocky, Norway, ME, US
I am concerned I have been enjoying my truck for a long time. I have had experiences from being stuck in the mud in the mountains to extreme snow storms. I plan to keep my Dodge truck for a long time to come,but I noticed rust on my rear wheel wells. I keep my truck immaculate and I notices this I got concerned. It seems to be spreading fast small bubbles and cracking. The warranty is only for 6 years but I'd like it to stay better looking then the competition. Its a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi 5.7 liters. I brought it to the dealers attention, but he said that there is nothing they can do warranty is up. In the day and age when were are trying to pull America out of a whole and reinforce our confidence in the pride we have in our own built vehicles I would really think with backing your product would help me feel confident in continuing to purchase Dodge vehicles and other American products. We can't have shotty workmanship and careless attitudes continue to be how others look at American products. We have to stand behind what we build. I love buying American made products. I would appreciate if you would honor this repair at no cost to me or others that are having same issues. Sincerely, David Penszynski
- penszynski, Hazlet, NJ, US
I noticed bubbles starting on my right rear fender. A month later rust started to form as these bubbles cracked. At that time, bubbles started to form on the other rear fender. Once the other bubbles on the other side started to show rust I noticed the all original rust spots had tiny pin-holes. The fender was rusting right through.
I had a 1995 Ford F-150, which now has approx. 400,000 kilometers on it and it barely has any surface rust on it. I did not have this Ford rust-proofed whereas I did with my Dodge.
There are 4 other Rams from 2003 in my town which have the very same problem. This is not a cheap fix. Dodge should realize their SCREW-UP and, in an attempt to keep customers, warrant this very problem for a 10 year period.
- Derek H., Conne River, NL, Canada
I take very good care of my truck, but noticed that I had some bubbles appearing on the rear fender wells as I was washing it. Within just about a month and a half, the rust is starting to run out of the bubbles. It looks very tacky and is very noticeable. I'm not real happy with this. It's only 6 years old. My husband has trucks older than mine that don't have a speck of rust on them
- Tammie M., Vandalia, IL, US
I was under the rear of the pickup and saw that the inner fender well had completely rotted through. There are holes in the fender well from the rot and rust. This 2003 pickup has rusted through. My 1974 Ford has no rust. My 1974 Dodge has rust. My 1953 Chevrolet has no rust. My 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe with 189,000 miles has no rust or rot. Are these new Dodges designed to completely fall apart from rust and rot at 100,000???? If so, they did a good design job at Chrysler.
- Vernon A., Shingletown, CA, US
The paint is bubbling up over the wheel well and it is rusting out. There should be a recall and Chrysler ought to fix it.
- jforrest, Whites Creek, TN, US
This really sucks , I bought this truck in the summer of 2006 and I loved it. BUT then in the summer of 2007 my son was washing my truck and said he seen a bubble on the left rear bed above the wheel. I checked it myself and found that it was starting to rust out and bubbling the paint, i took it to the dealer for warranty and of course they gave me a run around repairing this panel.The older gentleman in the body shop said the whole panel should be replaced to make the repair last But of course chrysler said no. JUST repair it with metal and bondo and give him a 1 yr warranty, I argued the point of this to chrysler and the dealer and they said this was what they were willing to do for me , what a dam joke.I paid 20,000 dollars for a pile of rust. Ithen had it repaired by the dealer and to my surprise they did a good job or so i thought. After only 1 yr 2 months later it started to pop up again SURPRISE HUH. But not only is the left rear rotting but now the rr side is rotting out and also the tail gate is rotting on the inside body lip. If you new how i take care of this truck , you would sh*t. Ilove my truck but chrysler needs to help out on this problem. It will definitely make me look elsewhere for a truck that not only performs well but does not rot out from under me. thanks for listening and if any body knows of a class action suit or wants to start one please contact me.
- rsnyder, Bangor, PA, US
Have a 2003 Ram 1500, which we've maintained well. Starting this past spring noticing round raised areas on the perimeter of the rear wheel wells. Of course, these rapidly progressed to bleeding rust, and have greatly increased in number over a short time span.
I realize living up north offers more corrosion problems; however, I seem to only see this problem on the other Dodge trucks I pass. Seems like something Dodge should assist in correcting.....otherwise, this will be my last Dodge product.
Terry Ragsdale
- Terry R., New Richmond, WI, US