This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Differential/ rear end has gone out on me twice now. The first time was after camping, where I was towing a light truck bed trailer with camping stuff. Noise developed and increased over a few months. Took it in before it failed. Had to have it rebuilt - clips coming off, etc. The 2nd time was about two years later - I was on city streets, going only 5mph since it was busy, when I stopped at a light. I felt / heard a clunk. My rear differential had totally lost the clips, and coils broke. Thank god I was not going fast. I had it totally rebuilt again. I know from facebook and the web that it is known that Ram 2002 to 2005 rear end C-clips are bad, and have caused many accidents, some at high speed. I don't understand why this is not a recall!!! I have spent my own money 2X to get this fixed and I do not tow even though I bought a truck that was supposed to be a work / towing truck.
My son (16) was driving his 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 up to a stop light before turning onto our street, when truck made a loud noise and it felt like someone ran into the back of the truck, he lost control of truck while all this going on, but managed to keep in the lane he was in. Truck finally stopped and when he got out the drive shaft had fallen off and the rear wheels are locked up. Some men pulled him off the main road and we called for a tow truck to tow us to our house, until I could find out where to take the truck to on Monday. The rear wheels just skid across the road while being pulled to a safe spot and I am hoping I don't need new tires, since the tires we have on were just bought in July/August 2013.
I own a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 V8 with 4.7 now with 155K miles, I had truck since 2005. I always took great and still take great care of it. The following event has happen twice to me, one year apart from each other. The first time 2011 truck has about 120K miles, I was doing 30 mile an hour when a loud grinding started I was able to slow down to 10 miles an hour before the big bang noise occur and drive shaft felt off in the middle of a very busy intersection in stpete Florida ( 49th St and ulmerton ) the rear end had lock up my tires, even the big flat bed tow truck had hard time picking me up, the second time 2012 it happen in tampa Florida 140K miles also in a very busy hwy (veterans express). Second time the grinding noise was less louder when I first heard it, or I heard it way early jeje I knew what it was already so I let off the gas and let truck slow down but the big bang happen, lucky this was the second time this happen I knew what it was and I was already getting off the right shoulder, the second event happen with a second set of drive shaft and rear end, both time the rear end lock up my rear tires. Due to pinion and pinion nut malfunction and costly repairs I write to you today. The truck runs today, but the grinding noise is back. Is their recall or new better parts.
I was driving my Dodge when I heard a grinding popping noise coming from the rear end. I immediately pulled over. And a local mechanic shop. They said bring it in so I did my pinion nut backed off and I needed a whole new rear end for the second time something needs to be done cause im only 17 and cant afford to keep putting $1000 + in a truck for the same thing.
While reverse parking at approximately 10 mph; the accelerator stuck to bottom of vehicle floor (sending vehicle to speed exceeding 70 mph) and it accelerated out of control. In an attempt to stop and avoid hitting pedestrians and building behind me; I hit the brakes, but the brakes would not stop the vehicle. I was forced to place the vehicle in park shift position while hitting brake, in order to stop vehicle. At first the shift control stopped in 'd' and the vehicle shot forward, but I kept hitting the brakes. And eventually; I managed to get it in the park position and it stopped the vehicle.
- Miami, FL, USA
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While driving, heard a loud noise and lost control as the back wheels locked up and back end fishtailed. Turns out the drive shaft dropped because of a sudden rear differential failure. Apparently there is a known flaw in the manufacturing \ design of the rear differential and sadly, Chrysler\Dodge is doing nothing to resolve the problem and insure the safety of their customers and vehicles. It is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured....... Chrysler\Dodge's profits should not be allowed to grow at the expense of public safety....
Truck stalls every time I start slowing down for a stop sign or red light and sometimes when I turn corners. When idling it shuts off immediately unless I throttle to keep rpms up. Also stalls when I put it in reverse. I've been almost hit several times when pulling into an intersection. Replaced all known causes and nothing has fixed the issue. I have read in some sites I may need a software update from Dodge dealership.
While pulling out into busy traffic my truck lost power and I had no acceleration. After about 30 seconds the vehicle kicked back in and took off. This has occurred multiple times, at random, with no warning. I have had it in the shop and repaired the throttle positioning sensor, and treated it for water in the gas. Neither one of these solved the problems, and they have no answers for what else may be wrong. This is a dangerous situation that is not unique to my vehicle. I have read many other cases online for the same problem. I do hope that Dodge issues a recall and finds a remedy before someone is seriously injured or killed.
I was driving the truck at approximately 45 mph when suddenly their was a loud bang and the rear wheels completely locked up. This caused the vehicle to skid about 60 feet before coming to a stop in the right lane of traffic. Upon examination, it appeared that the rear differential had locked up, causing the drive shaft to separate from the rear differential. I was sitting in the right lane of traffic, unable to move the truck from the road way. We had to direct traffic until the tow truck arrived. Fortunately no one was injured. Total repair bill to replace the faulty rear differential: $2,681.31.
Was driving our vehicle 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 P/U in normal conditions, suddenly there was a whining noise from the rear end and a lot of drag. Shortly after a loud thud, the driveline had disconnected from the rear differential. The repair shop said the differential had seized, most probably due to a bad pinion bearing. After conducting research, both by myself and the shop owner, we both have found that it is a defect common to Dodge, as even acknowledged by the local dealership and that it is extremely difficult and/or expensive to locate replacement parts for the problem.
The contact owns 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 quad St (na). While driving at an unknown speed, the contact stated that the rear end of the vehicle locked up, causing the vehicle to come to a stop without warning. The dealer and manufacturer were informed and they both stated that there was no warranty on the vehicle and that the rear end needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The current and failure mileages was approximately 100,000.
Driving on highway in 2004 & 2008, engine quit running(Dodge calls it a stall). Dodge trouble shooting database does not include this problem. Other independent data bases point to loss of crankshaft or camshaft pulse. There are no codes for this event, therefore no corrective action was taken after several scans at dealers. Safety hazard: Possible multiple rear end collisions and possible fires. Ref. Dot / NHTSA vehicle owner's questionnaire no. 10251962.
Hydraulic clutch went out, unable to shift gears (standard trans) odom under 60,000 could cause crash due to low speed. And inability to safely stop vehicle.
2003 Dodge Ram 1500 laramie (5.7L hemi). Vehicle passed warranty, began to hear a low hum upon acceleration and deceleration. Hum/whining noise became increasingly worse, led to catastrophic failure of the rear end. Dodge engineers have determined that the rear end in the 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 - 3500 truck has an engineering flaw which causes the "C" pins in the rear end to break off and destroy the rear end. This damage has cause some of these vehicles rear ends to seize up and other to literally shear off the rear wheels. Repair consists of total replacement of the rear end in these vehicles. Although there have been numerous injuries and wrecks due to this failure and because Dodge does not recognize this as a major problem, there has never been a recall on any of these vehicles to correct the deficiency. Dealerships will not honor warranty, or accept liability for this catastrophic failure of one of their systems, for full or partial repair costs.
03 Dodge Ram 1500 was in for service, mechanic found clip broken in rear end. Service adviser said the broken clip was problem seen many times, I was glad it was found at this time, rear end could have locked up at high speed and caused a accident. Rear end was replaced with 70,000 mile warranty for $100. I have talked to people that had this problem more than once. The dealer replaces the rear end with the same defective parts. There should be a recall before someone gets hurt or killed.
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. The vehicle would immediately stall and restart when it was initially started. While driving at an unknown speed on the highway, the vehicle would also stall without warning to the point that the contact would be unaware that the vehicle had shut off. The dealer replaced several sensors; however, the failure still persists. The failure mileage was 68,000 and current mileage was 120,000.
The 9.25 lsd rear end on my 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 has keeper springs that are notorious for failing and damaging the rear end. The dealer is replacing it but with the same parts. So in all likelihood it will fail again. There are pages and pages of people with this same problem going back to at least 2001 year vehicles.
2003 Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab-lsd clip/differential/ rear axle assembly failure. Clips fell out twice with rebuild twice in warranty. First incident around 12000 miles. Currently at 96000 miles. Both times at highway speed with accompanying bang and jolt. Clip runs up in ring and pinion, damaging same along with bearings/races/housing. Noise followed by failure each time. Currently out of warranty, making noise, and found partial clip on differential magnet during oil change. Failure imminent soon. Rear axle assembly now requires third complete rebuild. The truck is used in a light duty manner generally hauling people at highway speeds. This is an inferior part/assembly and have not been able to remedy through daimler Chrysler. This problem is experienced eventually with all Ram 1500 owners that have a limited slip differential in the rear axle assembly.
I have a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 series, 4.7 litre engine and am experiencing a stall out problem when I go to turn a corner. This has happened to me several time. It's a very dangerous and scary situation to lose complete power, steering and braking power. Thank god this has never happened at an intersection or I might not be typing this complaint too you at this time. I thought I was crazy until my husband showed me an article from the toledo blade on May 21, 2005 in regards too the government investigating this same problem with the 2004 and 2005 Dodge Ram. Sincerely, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Numerous problems with 2003 Dodge Ram since ownership. The consumer experienced a stalling problem that occurred whenever the vehicle was coming to a stop or idling. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who could not diagnose the problem. Power steering fluid leaked due to faulty clamp. The vehicle was leaking transmission fluid due to a faulty output seal at the transfer case.
- Warren, MI, USA
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Norwalk, CA, USA