2003 DODGE RAM 2500 Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, HE EXECUTED A LEFT TURN AND THEN HE HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, HE SAW THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD WAS HANGING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIE ROD WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND REALIGNED. HE WAS ALSO INFORMED OF A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V350000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 203,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 204,500.

AT ABOUT 7 YRS OLD, OUR TRUCKS' DASH STARTED CRACKING AT WHAT LOOKS LIKE THE MOUNTING SEEMS. THERE WAS NO CRASH THAT DAMAGED IT. WE LIVE IN THE DESERT, BUT ALWAYS USE WINDOW SHADES. SINCE WE'RE OUT OF WARRANTY DODGE WILL DO NOTHING. IT HAS SINCE BROKE OFF IN LARGER CHUNKS, FALLING INTO THE AIR VENTS. WE HAVE OWNED VEHICLE FOR MUCH LONGER AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN READING FORUMS WHERE OTHERS WITH THIS TYPE VEHICLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, AND AGAIN, DODGE DOES NOTHING. IS IT GOING TO TAKE ONE FALLING COMPLETELY APART, AND A CHILD STICKING THEIR HANDS IN THERE AND BEING SHOCKED FOR SOMEONE TO MAKE DODGE RECALL THEIR FAULTY DASH BOARDS? *TR

AT APPROX. 55-60 MPH, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VERY VIOLENTLY. APPLIED BRAKE, TO ATTEMPT TO GET TRUCK UNDER CONTROL; WE ENDED UP IN THE DITCH. MYSELF AND MY DAUGHTER WERE INJURED. LUCKILY, NEITHER OF US WERE INJURED BAD, JUST BUMPS AND BRUISES. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE TRUCK; HE STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL DODGE TRUCKS FROM 2002-2008. THE STEERING GEAR BOX AND FRONT SUSPENSION ARE AT FAULT. I CONTACTED A LOCAL DODGE DEALER. THEY INFORMED ME, "DODGE IS NOT AT FAULT AND THERE ARE NO NEED FOR ANY RECALLS". THEY DID SAY THEY COULD FIX THE PROBLEM, AT ALMOST $2700. THEY WOULD PUT A NEW FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING BOX. I FEEL IF THEY WILL FIX THE PROBLEM, THEN THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS. I AM ASKING THE NTSB TO FULLY INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATE 45MPH, WHEN I WAS ON A BANK AND NOTICED THAT THE TRUCK WAS HARD TO STEER, THE TRUCK HAD STALLED. THE TRUCK STARTED BACK UP, THANKFULLY I HAVE A MANUAL, THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD (ITS HARD TO CONTROL A 3/4 TON TRUCK WITH NO POWER STEERING), AND COULD JUST PUSH THE CLUTCH IN TO START THE TRUCK. WHEN I GOT THE TRUCK STARTED, IT DIED ON ME AGAIN, STARTED IT UP, AND DROVE LESS THAN A MILE, AND DIED AGAIN. I WENT TO THE STORE, ON MY WAY HOME HAD THE SAME ISSUE, AS SOON AS I WOULD SLOW, THE TRUCK WOULD DIE, THANKFULLY IT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE ON THE WAY HOME. RAN IT FOR A LITTLE IN MY DRIVEWAY, AND REVVED THE ENGINE, AND IT DIE, THREE TIMES. DID SOME RESEARCH AND SEEMS THE ISSUE MAY BE FAULTY FUEL CONTROL ACTUATOR ( OR KNOWN AS MPROP). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED AND DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE CRACKS LOCATED BY THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. *TR

THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 TRUCK IS SEVERELY CRACKED AND FRAGMENTED. I FIRST NOTICED A LONG (6"+) CRACK DOWN THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD, FROM WINDSHIELD TOWARDS THE INTERIOR OF THE TRUCK) IN 2010. I HAVE USED A DASHBOARD MAT/COVER IN THE VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASED IN 2002. THE CRACK WAS NOTICED WHEN REMOVING THE DASH MAT COVER TO CLEAN/WIPE DOWN THE DASHBOARD. THE DASHBOARD HAS NOT BEEN SUBJECT TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT FOR THE DURATION OF THE TIME THAT I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE (SINGLE OWNER). SINCE THE INITIAL CRACK IN 2010, THE CONDITION OF THE DASHBOARD HAS CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE. WITH NO INSTANCES OF DIRECT CONTACT OR ACCIDENT, THE SMALL SLITS FOR THE DASHBOARD AIR VENTS HAVE STARTED TO BREAK OFF ENTIRELY, AND FROM TIME TO TIME USE OF THE AIR VENT NEAR THE WINDSHIELD SHOOTS LITTLE BITS OF PLASTIC BACK INTO THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DURING NORMAL OPERATION, AND A FURTHER HAZARD SHOULD THERE BE A HARD STOP, CRASH OR OTHER ABRUPT EVENT. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT IF THE DASH IS SUBJECT TO ANY SORT OF IMPACT FROM THE VEHICLE CABIN (PERSONS OR OBJECTS) IT MAY FURTHER SHATTER AND CREATE UNNECESSARY CUTTING OR IMPACT INJURIES TO PASSENGERS. *TR

THE SPARE TIRE ON A DODGE RAM 2500 IS SECURED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WITH A STRANDED CABLE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF. WHEN IT FELL, IT BOUNCED INTO THE REAR BUMPER, JOLTED THE VEHICLE, AND THEN ROLLED DOWN THE ROAD. ALTHOUGH NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED, IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC IF OTHER VEHICLES HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME. THE ROOT CAUSE IS MOST LIKELY DUE TO A FAILURE AT THE LOCATION WHERE THE CABLE IS SWAGED TO THE PLATE. DODGE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO INSPECT AND REPAIR THESE AT THEIR EXPENSE. *TR

THE UPPER DASHBOARD ON MY RAM 2500 CRACKED. THE EXPOSED EDGES ARE SHARP, AND REPRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD UNDER NORMAL OPERATION. THE SITUATION COULD BE CATASTROPHIC IF THE SHARP EDGES WERE TO CUT THE AIRBAG WHEN DEPLOYED. THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO DODGE BY A LARGE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS, AND THEIR TYPICAL RESPONSE IS THAT THEY BEAR NO RESPONSIBILITY SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

THE DASHBOARD IN MY TRUCK STARTED TO CRACK AND IS NOW FALLING APART WITH HUGE SHARP PIECES COMING OFF I AM AFRAID MY SMALL CHILDREN WILL BE INJURED FROM THE DASH. *TR

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING "DEATH WOBBLE" AT 55 MPH AND OVER AND BEEN HAVING THE ISSUE FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND HALF AND HAVE HAD THE ENTIRE FRONT END STEERING REPLACED AND IM STILL HAVING THE ISSUE. PLEASE FIND A CAUSE I'VE ALMOST LOST CONTROL EVERY TIME IT OCCURS! I WOULD LIKE TO BE CONTACTED BY A RAM FIELD ENGINEER! *TR