2003 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB Complaints

AT 3,000 MILE THE BRAKES BEGAN TO SHUDDER, THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE, THEN AT 9,000 MILE SERVICE BULLETIN REPAIR WAS COMPLETED, NOW AT 22,000 I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM, DEALERSHIP STATES THAT ONCE SERVICE BULLETIN IS DONE DODGE WILL NOT REPAIR AGAIN, AND NOW WARRANTY IS EXPIRED ON BRAKES

I JUST HAD MY 2003 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB 1500 SERIES TRUCK IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR ITS 30,000 MILES SERVICE AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY FOUND THE DIFFERENTIAL LOCKING CLIP HAD FALLEN OFF AND HAD DONE DAMAGE TO THE INSIDE OF MY REAR. THEY SAID THAT I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT THEY FOUND IT NOW SINCE IT COULD HAVE CASED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT THE REAR HAD LOCKED UP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE DONE SOME HOMEWORK ON THIS ISSUE AND HAVE SEEN THAT THERE IS A VERY HIGH FAILURE RATE ON THIS PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS I DO A LOT OF TOWING WITH MY CAMPER AND FAMILY. I HAVE ALSO SEEN WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A VERY HIGH FAILURE RATE ON THE REAR AXLES BREAKING. MY DEALERSHIP DID NOT REPLACE MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL BUT HAD REBUILT IT. I WANTED A NEW ONE BUT THEY TOLD ME IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND HAVEN'T HEARD OF MANY DIFFERENTIALS FAILING. WHAT CAN YOUR ORGANIZATION DO TO HELP ME?

REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS BEEN MAKING A GRINDING NOISE SINCE DAY OF PURCHASE. PINION SEAL HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER. THE NOISE AND LOSS OF POWER HAS BECOME UNBEARABLE. DEALER REFUSED TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE OF UNPROFESSIONAL ASSESMENT OF AXLE. PROFESSIONAL REPAIR SHOP SAID I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE MADE IT AS LONG AS I DID WITHOUT IT LOCKING UP AND CAUSING ME TO CRASH.STILL HAS OVER 6000 MILES LEFT ON FACTORY WARRANTY. WHAT GOOD DOES THAT DO WHEN I LIVE 50 MILES FROM DEALER AND HAVE TO DRIVE HOME BECAUSE OF AN UNCONCERNED, UNPROFFESSIONAL AND ABSOLUTELY WRONG ASSESSMENT OF MY AXLE ???? FAILURE WAS DUE TO PREMATURE AXLE BEARING WEAR. ASSESSED BY A REAL PROFESSIONAL.

(REAR AXLE SHEARED) AT 4:00 PM ON MARCH 19TH 2005, I WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE SOUTH BOUND ON CALIFORNIA STATE HIGHWAY 71. WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RIGHT SIDE REAR AXLE SHEARED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A FORCED LEFT HANDED 360 DEGREE SPIN. I TRIED TO CORRECT THE SPIN, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND OR STOP. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN. ALSO, THE ENGINE RPM'S WENT UP WHEN THE AXLE SHAFT BROKE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR IT OR ADMIT TO THE DEFECT. HOWEVER AN EMPLOYEE AT THE DEALERSHIP SHOWED ME ANOTHER SHAFT FROM A CRASHED 2003 TRUCK. THE AXLE SHAFT WAS IDENTICAL TO MINE, THE CENTER PART OF THE AXLE SHAFT WAS CRYSTALIZED. SEE ODI 10116454 ALSO. DSY. *AK

(REAR AXLE SHEAR), T 4:00 PM ON MARCH 19TH 2005, I WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE SOUTH BOUND ON CALIFORNIA STATE HIGHWAY 71. WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RIGHT SIDE REAR AXLE SHEARED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A FORCED LEFT HANDED 360 DEGREE SPIN. I TRIED TO CORRECT THE SPIN, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND OR STOP. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN. ALSO, THE ENGINE RPM'S WENT UP WHEN THE AXLE SHAFT BROKE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR IT OR ADMIT TO THE DEFECT. HOWEVER AN EMPLOYEE AT THE DEALERSHIP SHOWED ME ANOTHER SHAFT FROM A CRASHED 2003 TRUCK. THE AXLE SHAFT WAS IDENTICAL TO MINE, THE CENTER PART OF THE AXLE SHAFT WAS CRYSTALIZED. SEE ODI 10116455 ALSO. *DSY. *AK

VEHICLE VIBRATED/SHOOK WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTORS AND THE CALIPERS. WITHIN 9,000 MILES OF WEAR THE PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AGAIN, BUT REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK

I DRIVE A DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB SLT 4X4. AN ELECTRICAL FIRE WAS OBSERVED IN THE WIRING HARNESS LEADING FROM ABS CONTROL UNIT. IN THE PAST, I HAVE HAD TWO PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS SENSOR AND WIRING HARNESS. ON ONE OCCASION, THE HARNESS WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE SENSOR. ON THE FIRST OCCASION, ONLY THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. IN A DOCUMENTED DIAGNOSIS, THE DEALER'S MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS MOISTURE PRESENT IN THE WIRING HARNESS NECESSITATING REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AWAITING AUTHORIZATION FOR REPAIR. I HAD FOUND A RECALL NOTICE ON AUTORECALLS.ORG (NHTSA NUMBER 04V18500), BUT APPARENTLY MY VEHICLE'S VIN IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL.*AK

I HAD BOUGHT MY 2500 DODGE RAM BACK IN JUNE OF 2003. I HAD OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS WHEN I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY GOING 75MPH AND THE TRUCK STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY OUT OF CONTROL. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO STOP THE VIBRATIONS. I BROUGHT IT IN TO DODGE AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE THINKING THIS WAS A FREAK OCCURRENCE. THEN ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO I WAS ONCE AGAIN DRIVING AROUN 60MPH HIT A BUMP AND THE VEHIVLE STARTED SHAKING OUT OF CONTROL. THIS HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN THREE DAYS( AS I WAS DRIVING A LOT THOSE DAYS). I BROUGHT IT IN TO DODGE AND THEY GAVE ME A HARD TIME, BUT ENDED UP REPLACING THE TRACKBAR AND STEERING STABILIZER. THEY SAID THEY DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM OR NOT. NOW I FEEL THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HAVE HEARD MANY OTHER FOLKS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SHAKING AS WELL. *AK

I HAVE AN 03 DODGE RAM 1500. THE ROTORS HAVE WARPED 4 DIFFERENT TIMES. AT 3,000; 8,000; 13,000 AND 22,000. DEALER WILL ONLY TURN THEM DOWN AND HAS NOT REPLACED THEM. FROM ALL OF MY RESEARCH THIS IS CONSTANTLY OCCURRING ON ALL 1500 RAM TRUCKS WITH FACTORY 20" WHEELS. DODGE DID NOT UPGRADE ANYTHING TO COMPLIMENT THE LARGER WHEELS. THE ONLY CURE HAS BEEN FOR OWNERS TO REPLACE THEM WITH AFTER MARKET ROTORS AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE.

WHILE STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT MY 2003 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCK WAS HIT IN THE REAR AND PUSHED OFF THE ROAD INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS AND MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH RECEIVED HEAD AND FACE INJURIES FROM HITTING THE DASH AND/OR THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK