10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
59,824 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2003 Dodge Ram 1500 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #51

Mar 232023

Ram 1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

UNKNOWN Everything will stop operating as I'm driving and after coming to a stop will start Right back up. I had one repair shop tell me that it has something to do with the fuel but the problem continue, the second repair shop said it was a brain box issue, if this was safety issue or problem can I get reimbursed.

- Phenix City, AL, USA

problem #50

Sep 112022

Ram 1500

  • miles
This vehicle had last been started and driven 7 hrs prior and exploded in the driveway, caught the house on fire and nearly killed my son who was near the inside wall of the house. The engine blew and then the front tires. Three explosions in all before the fire department was able to stop the fire. Luckily they were only a mile away. This was an older but well running vehicle.

- Ellettsville, IN, USA

problem #49

Dec 232021

Ram 1500

  • miles
When driving the truck the vehicle randomly shuts down and I have to pull over or put it in neutral to restart it I believe there might be a problem with the tipm that dodge has had a ongoing problem for years and ignored the issue

- Plumas Lake, CA, USA

problem #48

Nov 012013

Ram 1500

  • 85,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Dash is cracked and pieces are flying everywhere when the ac is turned on. Very unsafe.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #47

Jun 142017

Ram 1500

  • 163,240 miles
Blower motor wiring harness failed. It burns up in steering column. It in turn causes blower motor to not work. When you are driving windshield fogs up you can not get defrost to come on. dodgeram.info/tsb/recalls/C11.htm

- Waco, TX, USA

problem #46

Feb 242017

Ram 1500

  • miles
Extreme rust and corrosion above both sides of the rear wheel wells. Door locks will randomly lock by themselves while driving, stopped or in park. Has locked me out after stepping out to open a gate, had to go get a spare set of keys to unlock.

- Edmonds, WA, USA

problem #45

Apr 212017

Ram 1500

  • 248,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine stops running while drving electric power turns off to gages pull over turn the key off and back one the truck starts up after a few tries replaced computer.and module still stops running no codes dose this every time I drive

- Havana, FL, USA

problem #44

Aug 262016

Ram 1500

  • 157,000 miles
Airbag light on dash stays on. Contacted Dodge about this problem and they could not help. I don't think it is a good idea to drive around with the airbag light on. The airbag will not engage when this dash control light is illuminated. The vehicle has never been involved in a collision. Just minor scrapes and scratches.

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

problem #43

Jul 272016

Ram 1500

  • 154,317 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V312000 (air bags). The vehicle was repaired. After the repair, the air bag warning light illuminated. The air bag light was not illuminated pior to the repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 154,317.

- Demopolis, AL, USA

problem #42

Mar 162016

Ram 1500

  • 10,000 miles
My 2003 Ram 1500 has had intermittent problems since 2004 which of course dealer can't replicate. Through research from my terrible gas mileage of at times 9mpg to the engine staling and dying and loss of power to a point there isn't enough power to pull out of its onw tracks, I finally found the power distribution center (pdc) and later models call the total integrated power module (tipm). This is a very expensive item and I called Chrysler Corp to find no help at all. So, the local dealer was sympathetic and offered one from their parts dept. Of over $600. I have opted to install it myself as I'm very capable and could not afford the $1200 price tag on this repair that has cost me tons of money in gas/parts/time and labor. Since there was a recall on the later models for the tipm there should be one for the older ones as well that we have lived with for this long. All models with the mopar community have this issue and they very well know it. Remember their bailout? I do... time to own up and fix this and they in turn can file a claim on whom ever their supplier is for this defective part.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #41

Nov 022015

Ram 1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle cuts off while driving can on highway or while turning, many others has same complaint online. Very dangerous no vehicle on the highway should have this problem.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #40

Mar 012015

Ram 1500

  • 117,000 miles
All of a sudden the truck started shutting off, whether in idle or on the freeway. It would happen multiple times during the day. When shutting off, the truck would loose power steering and brakes. Took to multiple dealerships and mechanics who couldn't find anything wrong with the truck, would never throw any codes, finally spoke with a mechanic who talked to a computer person who stated that we needed to have the computer fixed but it wouldn't be available for 3-6 weeks due to it being on national back order. This needs to be recalled, due to safety issues. You are unable to control the vehicle when you lose power steering and brakes. National back order tells me that there is a problem and Dodge knows about it.

- South Jordan, UT, USA

problem #39

Sep 132015

Ram 1500

  • 120,000 miles
Incident occurred while driving on the 91 freeway in ca. All of a sudden the engine cut out, and ground to a halt. I repeatedly tried to restart the truck but to no avail. The engine would not turn over.I was trapped in the fast lane unable to make my way to the soft shoulder. Fortunately the hazard warning lights were functional and I was able to apply these to warn other drivers. Eventually a tow truck was deployed to get my out of harms way. It was a very scary moment and I was very fortunate not to be hit. The following day I got the truck towed to a garage where they checked it over and the only thing they could find wrong was a fuse had blown that controlled ignition unlock/run start function. The garage was not able to find what would cause such a failure and now I am reluctant to travel on the freeway. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

- Fullerton , CA, USA

problem #38

Sep 042015

Ram 1500

  • 84,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the driver side signal and emergency blinkers failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that there was a loose wire in the integrated fuse box. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,000. The VIN was not available.

- Cannon Falls, MN, USA

problem #37

Aug 052015

Ram 1500

  • miles
My wiper motors work but stop half way in the window and I replaced them with new ones and it does the same thing ? this is a big issue up here in wny as alot of Dodge Ram you see on the road have their wipers stuck half way reducing their site to drive!

- Jamestown, NY, USA

problem #36

Jul 152015

Ram 1500

  • miles
My brake lights is staying on, while the truck is crank up. 3rd barke light working fine. As soon, I shut the. Truck off brake lights goes off. Take the truck to the dealership, they replace the brake light switch. Problem went away for awhile and came right back. So, I order two new brake light control panel from the dealership problem again went away. Now it's back again. Driving down the road everybody thinking, I'm riding my brakes. When, I do come to a stop it won't light up too warn drivers behind me. That, I"M stopping.

- Georgetown, SC, USA

problem #35

Oct 122013

Ram 1500

  • 43,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, the doors on the front passenger and the rear passenger side failed to open. Also, the contact mentioned that the windows and the locks would not operate. The contact stated that this was a recurring failure. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the vehicle was working up to specifications. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was involved in a crash and the air bags failed to deploy. No further details of the crash were provided. The vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 43,000. The VIN was not available.

- Lee , MA, USA

problem #34

Jun 302014

Ram 1500

  • 105,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. While driving at 35 mph, the air conditioner shut off independently. The failure recurred constantly. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,000.

- Manteca, CA, USA

problem #33

Nov 102014

Ram 1500

  • 61,500 miles
TL-the contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle defroster/defogger system windshield blower failed making it difficult to view outside the vehicle during cold weather conditions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the defrost/defogger system needed to B E replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 61,500. Djr

- Pueblo, CO, USA

problem #32

Aug 062014

Ram 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 155,000 miles
While driving on the freeway at night the headlights, tail lights, blinkers, 4-ways, brake lights, and tail lights went out and when slowing down to pull over the engine stalled. The engine started back up to get to the side of the road and stalled again with no warning. The truck now stalls at all stop lights and stop signs and is not giving any codes. The truck now has a large draw and kills the battery shortly after turning the truck off. The truck is still in the shop and so far the FCM, pdc and some wiring has been replaced but the power draw persists and the engine stalling still persists. Researching the issue on the internet this is a common problem on this vehicle and has been for quite some time. This is a very dangerous issue and needs to be addressed.

- Hackensack, MN, USA

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