10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
53,475 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 2500 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2003 Dodge Ram 2500 Owner Comments

problem #17

Jun 022021

Ram 2500

  • miles

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

I was driving on I55 this morning and all of a sudden my truck started vibrating really bad, the steering wheel was veering, I had to constantly fight to keep in my lane. And when I touched my brakes it veered. Riding really rough, and has power loss. I took it to the nearest shop and they said my driveshaft was very loose, and that it is affecting everything that I described. The center driveshaft support bearing is also failing.

- Tilly, AR, USA

problem #16

Jan 302021

Ram 2500

  • 135,000 miles
On a 35mph street, truck suddenly bucking as if it was going to stall, and the RPM's were erratic. I put it in N pulled over and shut it off. It restarted with no issues. I drove about 9 miles, pulled into my driveway and was coasting up it, when suddenly the truck accelerated. I depressed the brake, nothing. I slammed it in park and shut it off. It happened a few times while idling, or moving at a slow rate. I was stopped at a light when it suddenly accelerated into a 50mph, 4 lane main thoroughfare. I stepped on parking brake, turned it off and thanked god that I was unharmed. I started back up, put it in D, depressed the gas pedal (light turned green) and it would not accelerate. I took my foot off the gas, then it bucked a few times and accelerated on it's own. I depressed the brake pedal, but it kept revving up and accelerating. Again, I depressed the emergency brake and shut it off. It just happened again as I was coming up my Suburban 35mph street. I got to approximately 20mph when it wouldn't accelerate further. I bucked and choked, RPM's jumping up and down the last 100 yards. I turned into my driveway at an idling rate and it took off like a shot. I pressed the brake and it still kept accelerating. If I hadn't turned the wheel, I would have driven through my garage. This is not an isolated incident. I suffer from idiopathic cardiomyopathy and ckd, these incidents have caused me to be unable to breathe as my heart was beating so fast. This must be addressed immediately!

- Sicklerville, NJ, USA

problem #15

Oct 042005

Ram 2500

  • miles
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 05V462000 (power train). The contact called mark Dodge at 337-474-2640 (located at 3777 gerstner memorial blvd, lake charles, la) and was informed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Sulphur, LA, USA

problem #14

Mar 302016

Ram 2500

  • miles

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

Takata recall. Passenger airbag recall; another recall because the vehicle can jump out of gear and move forward.

- Gatesville, TX, USA

problem #13

Jan 012003

Ram 2500

  • 9,500 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that the gear would shift out of the park position into reverse and roll backwards independently. Whenever the vehicle was placed into park, the contact had to apply the emergency brake to avoid the vehicle reversing without warning. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who provided a temporary remedy, in which if the vehicle's door was open and the vehicle began to reverse, the horn would automatically sound to warn those nearby. The failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 9,500.

- Hutchenson, KS, USA

problem #12

Mar 222006

Ram 2500 4WD 6-cyl Diesel

  • 2,500 miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 05V462000 (power train) and 15V312000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. Updated 08/17/16 the consumer stated the transmission failed at 2,500 miles. The ball joints and water pump failed and the windshield leaked. Updated 10/26/16.

- New Castle, IN, USA

problem #11

Nov 212015

Ram 2500

  • 111,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that the gear shift failed to switch from the park position without warning. The contact was able to shift gears after the brake transmission shift interlock was disconnected. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however, the diagnosis was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 111,000.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

problem #10

Nov 082015

Ram 2500

  • 141,000 miles
At 138916 mile took vehicle in for warranty recall N62 left outer tie rod assemble, since that time have had six instances of uncontrolled sever and dangerous vibrations almost to the point of losing control at highway speeds of 60-70mph. The most recent occurrence was yesterday while making a left hand curve at 60mph; vehicle not has approximately 141,000 miles

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #9

May 132015

Ram 2500

  • 182,000 miles
I lost control of steering, the steering wheel just spun with no control and I was driving through a school zone with grade school letting out and I went in other lane of traffic in between cars and headed to a gas pump at gas station and I hit brakes as soon as I was out of opposite lane with head on traffic and gas pump was rite off side of road I could have been killed or killed others when this happened, I had to fix my truck because I never knew of recall and also transmission went out at 55,000 miles and transfer case also another 20,000 miles later, I have a truck I can't drive because I can't afford to put a transmission and transfer case in it and I almost lost my life from all the trouble it's gave me and I could have killed others at the school zone. I'd like for Dodge to fix my truck for all the trouble iv had and this happen on city street and I was in motion wen this happened, if I'd hit gas pump it would have blown up and killed a lot people and children

- Elkview, WV, USA

problem #8

Dec 302003

Ram 2500

  • 20 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500. While driving in snow at approximately 30 mph, the steering wheel seized and required excessive force. The contact crashed into guard rails. The vehicle sustained front end, passenger, and rear end damage. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was not repaired. On another occasion, when the vehicle was shifted into park with the engine running, the gear independently shifted into reverse. The contact placed the vehicle into park and shut off the vehicle engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure could not be determined. An alarm system was applied to the vehicle to alert the driver of independent gear changes, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the vehicle was unsafe to operate. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20.

- Coraopolis, PA, USA

problem #7

Feb 202015

Ram 2500

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V770000 (air bags) and 15V312000 (air bags); however, the parts were not available within a reasonable timeframe to schedule the recall repair. The contact was not notified of NHTSA campaign number: 05V462000 (power train). The dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available. The manufacturer could not provide an estimated date for when the contact's vehicle would receive the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- New Braunfels , TX, USA

problem #6

Jul 212014

Ram 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • miles
2003 Dodge Ram 2500. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle shakes uncontrollably while driving and steering leakage recall notice. The dealer informed the consumer the steering box and transmission pan were leaking. The consumer experienced the vehicle shaking for a second time.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #5

May 092014

Ram 2500

  • 180,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated his vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 05V462000 (power train) but the vehicle rolled away after he exited it. The contact immediately jumped out of the way. The vehicle hit a light post. The light post fell into in a highway. The contact sustained a broken wrist and hand after falling from trying to stop the vehicle. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 180,000.

- Naples , FL, USA

problem #4

Nov 212011

Ram 2500 6-cyl Diesel

  • 48,256 miles
I drive to work on a highway 5 days a week and started to have lots of vibration and it only occurred at higher speeds and would clunk. Turns out both U-joints for the rear drive-shaft had started to fail and were allowing unwanted movement. After replacing the U-joints the truck was fine for a few weeks then I heard squealing of metal on metal contact and there was a slight wobble. Took it to a shop and they said the hub bearings were shot and were moving so much as to allow the wheel to move. After replacing the bearings the truck was fine for about a month then the wobble was back and the tie-rods for the steering linkage were bad, so replaced the steering linkage with Dodge new setup since it was hard to find the original one that came on mine since there is a recall on it. With the new steering linkage I got it aligned and it was good for a week and drove straight and no problems. Then I hit a pothole at 55mph while going to work and I got massive wobble in the steering so much so that the steering wheel was trying to go back and forth and I had to fight to keep it on the road and slow down enough to pull it over. I limped the truck to a shop and there was now lots of play in the steering and I could move the wheel 3+ inches before getting the wheel to move. The shop replaced the steering gearbox since the input shaft would move but the output would hardly move at all. Had it aligned again and it still can not be driven over 35+mph or it gets massive wobble. Everything checks out with the steering components and tires since everything is almost new to try and solve this recurring problem, and I have spent $4578 in parts and labor to try and solve this never ending problem. The latest problem is that the HVAC does not work. It seems the doors controlling the temp are not working since the ac works sporadically, the defrost heats my feet, and windows stay foggy.

- Valparaiso, IN, USA

problem #3

Mar 112009

Ram 2500

  • 88,500 miles
Truck started to act like it wasn't getting any gas, took it to a repair shop and they pulled up a O2 code fixed that was still acting up.they call a dealership and they said it might be a valve spring the make your truck run like no fuel and that they have been seeing alot of this with the 5.7L motor in the trucks.yet Dodge won't do nothing about this or any other problems with their autos.so now me and several other people have to pay to have new valve trains put in our trucks 1 out of a 1000 I can see but when the dealer tells me 4 out of 5 something has to be done.this is why every one is buying foreign cars and trucks.thank you for your time.

- Athens, MI, USA

problem #2

Dec 232003

Ram 2500 4WD 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 11,300 miles
Clutches in positraction rearend on Dodge Ram 2500 4X4, slip causing vibration when turning left or right

- New Albany, MS, USA

problem #1

Apr 202004

(reported on)

Ram 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • miles
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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