9.1

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
2,054 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 Dodge Ram 2500:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #5

Feb 012003

Ram 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 250 miles
The vehicle without warning shakes violently and the only way to stop it is to slow down. I hit the brakes a couple of times and that only made it worse and controlling the vehicle in a safe manner was impossible. The only way to stop the shaking is to take foot off of accelerator pedal and ride it out, this creates another major problem. The vehicles behind you do not know what is happening and someone almost rear ended me because my brake lights did not go on. He passed me and honked his horn at me and gave me the "finger" self explanatory. This is a major problem and Dodge will not admit it to anyone.

- Redwood City, CA, USA

problem #4

May 072005

Ram 2500 4WD 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram. The contact stated that his vehicle has a jake brake mechanism that leaks while idling or decelerating. He heard the leak near the engine compartment. The dealer inspected the vehicle and stated that it was an exhaust leak caused by the jake brake system, but stated that this was a normal occurrence for the vehicle. Carbon monoxide fumes are also entering the vehicle. The contact has not filed a complaint with the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 10,000 and current mileage was 34,000.

- Boise, ID, USA

problem #3

May 102005

Ram 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
05/26/05 noise in front end clunking while driving, took to dealer not where we bought the truck from because they were not helping us with any of the other problems we were having. Ball joints were loose hub frozen replaced the right hub bearing and both side ball joints. Replaced the front axle U joints replaced the brake pads now it is March 13 2006 and the ball joints need to be replaced again, and U joints are bad. Seems to be one problem after another.

- Aston, PA, USA

problem #2

Apr 012003

Ram 2500 6-cyl Diesel

  • miles
Problems with defective brakes on a 2003 Dodge Ram. The brakes would self engage while the vehicle was in motion, nearly causing accidents, the A/C was always inoperative blowing out hot air, the A/C compressor made a clunking noise when engaged, the vehicle had been back to the dealer for major engine repairs, a broken piston rod was found and could have been the cause for the engine knocking, there was a vibration upon acceleration.

- Newbury Park, CA, USA

problem #1

Apr 202003

Ram 2500 Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20 miles
The fumes from the exhaust pipe entered the cabin of the vehicle from the climate control system. The fumes were coming from the blow down pipe which comes off the crank casing of the engine. When the cooling fan was in use it blew the fumes into the climate control, thus blowing it into the cabin of the vehicle. The dealership has installed a rubber pipe on the end of the blow down pipe, that leads under the main cab of the vehicle, so now when the vehicle is at a complete stop, with the window open, the fumes are coming through the window. Also at 15,000, when the brake pedal is depressed while driving at high speeds, the vehicle jerks forward and the fails to stop immediately. This occurred because the brake rotors were warped.

- La Mesa, CA, USA