2003 Dodge RAM 2500 problems
Owners have filed 866 complaints about the 2003 Dodge RAM 2500 with NHTSA. Steering accounts for 19.5% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of structure at 16.9%.
Complaints866
Crashes44
Fires3
Injuries37
Deaths4
What owners report breaking
Steering 19.5% · 169
Structure 16.9% · 146
Air bags 15.9% · 138
Suspension 15.6% · 135
Power train 6.5% · 56
Visibility 4.3% · 37
Unknown or other 4.0% · 35
Electrical system 3.0% · 26
Severity
Of those complaints, 44 describe a crash, 3 describe a fire, 37 report an injury and 4 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 19 model years of the Dodge RAM 2500 in this data, 2003 ranks 2nd by complaint volume — 2006 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 7 in the last three years against 14 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 78,000 miles.
In owners' own words
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge RAM 2500. The contact stated that when recovering from making a turn, the steering wheel locks when he attempts to straighten the wheel. The failure causes him to loose control of the vehicle. The failure has occurred approximately forty times. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vin was unknown. The current mileage is 44,000 and failure mileage was 28,000. Steering · reported at 28,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge RAM 2500. The contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign number: 13v528000 (steering); however, the parts were unavailable for the repair. The contact called the dealer numerous times and was unable to schedule a service appointment for months. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer knew when the parts would be available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Steering
My 2003 Dodge RAM 2500 will shake violently and possibly go out of control if I hit a bump above 40 mph. This condition is called "death wobble" and has been shown to be on may trucks. It has happened more than 20 times and must slow to 25 mph to make the steering wheel stop shaking. This is a very dangerous situation and could cause the truck to go out of control if I don't slow down at an emergency rate. Steering · reported at 55,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…