2003 DODGE RAM 2500 Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE DEFROSTER AND HEAT MALFUNCTIONED. THE VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WAS LIMITED. THE DEFROSTER WAS ON FOR 45 MINUTES AND THE WINDSHIELD WOULD NOT DEFROST. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DOOR THAT DIRECTS THE AIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 02/14/08 *TR

MY SON AND I HAVE 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESELS WITH THE RECALL ALERT WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT READILY SHIFT INTO PARK AND CHRYSLER AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION WILL INSTALL AN ALARM ON THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM IS MUCH TOO SERIOUS TO BE CORRECTED BY AN ALARM. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM BY CORRECTING THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ITSELF. I AM CONSIDERING LEGAL COUNSEL IF NOTHING IS DONE TO ACTUALLY CORRECT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR

2003 DODGE RAM 2500. WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON, I HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE HUBS, CV JOINTS AND THE RIMS ARE SPLITTING. MECHANIC WAS SURPRISED THAT THE WHEELS OR TIRES DID NOT FLY OFF. CALLED THE GARAGE WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED,AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MY PROBLEM. WITHIN 6 MONTHS, I HAD TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN. NOW IT HAS BEEN THREE WEEKS AND IT HAS TO BE DONE AGAIN. IT HAS RUINED 2 SETS OF TIRES IN LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. CALLED CHRYSLER AND EXPLAINED EVERYTHING TO THEM. THEY WANT ME TO TAKE IT TO THERE GARAGE TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED, THEN THEY WILL SEE IF THEY CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THREE MECHANICS HAVE SAID THAT THE MOTOR (IT IS A DIESEL) IS TOO HEAVY FOR THE FRONT END. THE RIMS NOR THE HUBS CAN SUPPORT THE WEIGHT. HAD WE NOT NOTICED THE RIMS, SOMEBODY COULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR KILLED. AT ANY TIME THE FRONT END COULD GIVE AND CONTROL WOULD BE LOST. I HAVE NO PROBLEM GIVING YOU THE NAMES OF THE MECHANICS AND THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT HAS BEEN SPENT AND THE VEHICLE STILL CANNOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY. DODGE TAKES THE ATTITUDE THAT IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM BECAUSE THE WARRANTY ENDED AT 36,000 MILES. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. *TR

OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, MY 2003 DODGE RAM DIESEL HAS GRADUALLY EXHIBITED SHIFT PROBLEMS. IT HANGS IN GEAR AND DOWNSHIFTS WHEN IT RANDOMLY GETS INTO THIS MODE. I CAN WORK-AROUND THIS PROBLEM BY SHIFTING FROM PARK DIRECTLY TO FIRST, THEN BACK TO DRIVE. I HAVE TO PULL OVER WHEN THIS OCCURS TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE TRANS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE FANS FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER WERE NOT WORKING. AFTER HE ADJUSTED THE STEERING COLUMN, THE AIR CONDITIONER WORKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE REMAINED AND THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WIRING CIRCUITS WERE BURNED, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED. THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE BECAUSE IT EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000. THE CONSUMER STATED CUEVAS INFORMED HIM THE AIR/HEAT CONTROLS DID NOT WORK IN ALL POSITIONS. UPDATED 12/13/07 *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 QUAD CAB 4X4 CUMMINS DIESEL AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAME OFF CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. EXACT COST OF REPAIR IS YET TO BE DECIDED, BUT DAMAGE WAS MORE THAN MODERATE. THE LUG NUTS DID NOT FALL OFF. THE HUB BOLTS SHEERED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. DAMAGE IS IN THAT TIRE, THE ROTOR, BRAKE SYSTEM, FRONT RIGHT QUARTER PANEL, RIGHT SIDE FRONT PASSENGER'S DOOR, AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THE POLICE OFFICER SAID WE WERE LUCKY TO BE GOING SO SLOW AROUND A CURVE WITH A 40 FOOT EMBANKMENT DROP-OFF. I HAVE READ NHSTA BULLETINS AND DODGE FORUM WEBSITES AND FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS MORE THAN COMMON. MY TRUCK DID HAVE A SLIGHT VIBRATION ON BUMPS WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS NORMAL. HOWEVER, AFTER THIS INCIDENT AND READING HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS, THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE HANDLED NOW...WITH SOLE RESPONSIBILITY LYING ON DODGE CORPORATION. THIS IS UNSAFE. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HURT. ALL READERS SAY THE SAME THINGS AND AGREE THAT DODGE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WE NEED SOMEONE TO CONFRONT THE AUTOMAKERS AND DEMAND SAFETY RECALLS IMMEDIATELY. *TR

BLOWER DAFTERS WILL NOT OPERATE PROPERLY TO DEFROST WINDSHIELD IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES OR RAIN. MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHILE DRIVING IN THIS KIND OF WEATHER. *TR

OVERNIGHT A CRACK APPEARED IN MY DASHBOARD FROM THE WINDSHIELD ALL THE WAY TO THE FRONT OF THE DASH RIGHT BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CRACK IS ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE TRUCK. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT DODGE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE. MY VEHICLE IS A 2003 AND HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT. I HAVE NOT YET COMPLETED PAYING FOR THE VEHICLE. ITS A RAM 2500 4X4 CUMMINGS DIESEL AND MY 4TH AND FINAL RAM TRUCK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AFTER DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT TIE ROD END WAS LOOSE AND WORN. THEY REPLACED THE FRONT TIE ROD END; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. AS OF OCTOBER 16, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,127 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,170. UPDATED 11/05/07. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT NOTICED TWO LONG CRACKS ON THE DASHBOARD ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THIS WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 87,000.