Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2003 record →
CRACKED DASH I OPENED THE DOOR TO MY TRUCK ONE MORNING AND LOOKED UP AT MY DASHBOARD AND THERE WAS A CRACK ALL THE WAY ACROSS IT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND ALMOST ALL DODGE RAM TRUCKS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DOWNSHIFT AND REDUCE SPEED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS LEAKING AND CAUSING THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT METAL WAS USED FOR THE BRAKE LINE, WHICH WAS OF BAD QUALITY, AND CAUSED THE BRAKE LINES TO BECOME CORRODED WITH RUST. THE BRAKE LINE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
CUT MY HAND ON A CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD. DODGE IS NOT STANDING BEHIND ITS PRODUCT, THEY HAVE DEFECTIVE DASHBOARDS AND WILL NOT REPLACE THEM. *TT
DASH CRACKING. *TR
DASHBOARD CRACKED AND HVAC AIR FLOW RECIRCULATOR VENT BROKEN AS WITH MANY OTHER RAM 1500S FROM VARIOUS MODEL YEARS. CUSTOMER CARE ONLY OFFERS TO REMOVE THE LABOR COSTS FOR REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED AREAS. OWNER IS MADE TO PAY FOR MATERIALS AT FULL RETAIL COST. WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT AGAIN! *TR
DASHBOARD CRACKED BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE PLASTIC NEAR PASSENGER AIR BAG. *TR
I BOUGHT MY 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 NEW FROM THE DEALER..WITHIN THE LAST YEAR AND HALF...SEVERAL PARTS OF THE TRUCK THAT ARE PLASTIC MOLDS HAVE BEGUN TO BREAK..THE DASH (BOTH PARTS), LOCK SWITCH BEZELS, HOOD SCOOP INSERT, AND A FEW OTHER PIECES. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE TYPE OF PLASTIC OR QUALITY THAT DODGE USED IN MANUFACTURING THESE PARTS HAS LED TO NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF PARTS BREAKING WHERE IN MOST CASES THE PARTS SHOULD HOLD UP TO THE LIFE THE OF VEHICLE. I FEEL LIKE A RE-CALL, ESPECIALLY ON THE DASHBOARDS OF THE RAM TRUCKS, SHOULD BE ISSUED SO THAT DODGE CAN CORRECT A PROBLEM FROM A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME AND CONSIDERATION INTO THIS MATTER. *TR
DASHBOARD HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS AND THE A/C VENTHOLE COVERS HAVE COMPLETELY COLLAPSED INTO THE A/C UNIT. *TR
DASHBOARD CRACKING AND FALLS APART AT THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH. CANNOT ORDER REPLACEMENT PARTS DUE TO DODGE CLOSING. CHRYSLER ADVISED IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CHEAP DASH. *JS
WHILE DRIVING CAME UP TO LIGHTS AND THE ENGINE STALLED HAD NO STEERING AND NO BRAKE PUT ENGINE IN PARK RESTARTED AND DROVE ON THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES IN ND OUT OF TRAFFIC. WHEN PULLING HARD TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT THE ENGINE WILL BEGIN TO STALL DID THIS WHILE TRUCK WAS SITTING IN FRONT YARD. HAD A TUNE UP DONE AND WENT AWAY FOR A WHILE BUT NOW IT IS STARTING UP AGAIN. *TR
THE TRUCK WAS PARKED WHEN THE FIRST CRACK OCCURRED. LEFT SIDE OF GLOVE BOX ON TOP. NEW CRACK APPEARED YESTERDAY. BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF FAILURES PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, THIS MUST BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THEY ONLY WANT 3000.00 DOLLARS TO FIX WITH NO MONETARY ASSISTANCE. *JS
DASH BOARD CRACKED WHICH HAS CAUSED VERY SHARP EDGES AND EXPOSES THE AIRBAG. *TR
VERY LARGE AND SHARP JAGGED EDGES COMING UP FROM A VERY BADLY CRACKED DASHBOARD. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON 02-09 DODGE RAM TRUCKS. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. ESPECIALLY IF THAT VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN HE CRASHED INTO A SEMI-AUTOMATIC TRUCK. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES AS A RESULT OF IMPACTING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
DASH BOARD/PANEL, CRUMBLED AND CRACKED. LITERALLY DISINTEGRATED WITH VENT GUARDS FALLING INTO VENTS AND THEN PIECES BLOWING OUT WHEN DEFROSTER COMES ON. DEALER SAID NO WARRANTIES ON DASH,DUE IT BEING COSMETIC, OFFERED TO SELL A DASH COVER FOR $200. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE TIRE AND THE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO A DITCH. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE DRIVER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HUB WAS FRACTURED, CAUSING THE TIRE TO DETACH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS FRACTURED AND FALLING APART FROM THE WINDSHIELD TO THE FRONT PORTION OF THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
DASH STARTED TO CRACK SLIGHTLY A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WITHIN A FEW DAYS IT WAS ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE FORWARD PANEL IN THE CENTER. I HAVE NOTICED RECENTLY THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER CRACKS THAT HAVE DEVELOPED IN BOTH THE FORWARD AND REAR PORTIONS OF THIS DASH. THERE ARE PLACES THAT I CAN LITERALLY PULL PIECES OUT OUT THE DASH, ALL OF THE GRIDS OVER THE VENTS ARE SO BRITTLE THAT WHEN I PUT MY SUN SHIELD IN THE FRONT WINDOW 3 OF THEM BUSTED OUT JUST BY TOUCHING THEM WITH THE SHIELD. THE CONDITION OF THIS DASH IS SO BAD THAT I FEAR IF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WERE TO INFLATE IT COULD POSSIBLY THROW PIECES OF THE DASH PLASTIC AT THE PASSENGER AND SEVERELY INJURE THEM. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A PARTS MANAGER AT A DODGE DEALERSHIP AND HE SAID THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE DASH BOARDS OF MODELS FROM 1999 THROUGH 2005, BUT HE SAID DODGE HAS MADE NO EFFORT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I PURCHASED A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 FROM A LOCAL CAR SALESMAN. THE FIRST FEW MONTHS WERE PERFECTLY FINE, HOWEVER, THAT DID NOT LAST FOR LONG. ONE DAY, I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK ABOVE MY STEERING WHEEL. I FIGURED IT WAS NOTHING AND BEGAN CLEANING THE INTERIOR OF MY TRUCK. HOWEVER, WHEN I STARTED WIPING DOWN THE DASHBOARD, THAT CRACK SPREAD AT LEAST FIVE OR SIX INCHES. BY THE END OF THE MONTH, THERE WERE SEVERAL CRACKS THROUGHOUT MY DASHBOARD, SOME LEAVING PIECES COMPLETELY REMOVABLE. SEVERAL THE PIECES HAVE FELL INTO MY DEFROSTING VENTS, LEAVING ME TO REMOVE THEM. I QUICKLY STARTED LOOKING ONLINE FOR REPLACEMENT DASHBOARDS, AND I NOTICED THAT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS, SOME EVEN BECOMING CUT WHILE TRYING TO CLEAN THE INTERIOR. THIS POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. IF A PERSON WERE TO HAVE A COLLISION, THAT INDIVIDUAL WOULD MOST LIKELY GET CUT BY FLYING DASH DEBRIS. IT MIGHT EVEN COST THAT INDIVIDUAL HIS OR HER LIFE. SO I URGE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION TO STEP IN AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WOULD OPERATE OCCASIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
ON 1/9/2012 AS I WAS GETTING SOMETHING OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAB, I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD. THIS CRACK WAS NOT THERE THE DAY BEFORE. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 6" LONG, JUST TO THE LEFT OF THE GLOVE BOX ON THE TOP OF THE DASH. *TR
HORRIBLE CRACKS ALL OVER DASHBOARD. PLASTIC IS CRUMBLING. SOME PARTS ARE VERY SHARP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DASHBOARD DEVELOPED A FRACTURE ABOVE THE LEFT SIDE OF THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT THAT CONTINUED UP TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE DASHBOARD WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE AND EXPLAINED TO THE CONTACT THAT ONCE THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, SHE COULD SEND THE PAPER WORK IN TO DETERMINE ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
DASHBOARD CRACKED AROUND SPEAKER GRILL. THEN ANOTHER, NOW 5 CRACKS ONE BY GLOVE BOX THAT IS SHARP AND HAS CUT ME TWICE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH DODGE TRUCKS FROM MODEL YEARS 1998-2006. SHAMEFUL!!!!!! *TR
THIS 2003 DODGE WAS PURCHASE AND HAD STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS RIGHT AWAY THERE ARE TIE ROD LINKS IN THE FRONT END THAT SNAP AND IN ARIZONA WE CAN NOT FIND ANYONE THAT SELLS REPLACEMENT PARTS TO FIX IT. OR PARTS THAT FIT THIS YEAR AND MAKE TRUCK. WE HAVE HAD TO GET SOME ONE TO FABRICATE THEM FOR US.THE COMPUTER BOX STARTED FAILING AND ALSO AN OXYGEN SENSOR THAT FAILS AND CAUSES THE TRUCK TO RANDOMLY SHUT OFF YOU LOSE ALL YOUR STEERING YOU HAVE TO THROW THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART AND THROW IT INTO DRIVE TO GET YOUR STEERING BACK. AFTER WE REPLACED THE COMPUTER THE REAR END OF THE TRUCK LOCKED UP AT 65 MILES AN HOUR THANK GOD THE SEAT BELT ARE THE ONLY THING IN THIS VEHICLE THAT ARE WORKING AND THANK GOD WE WERE NOT GOING ANY FASTER AND SOME ONE OTHER THAN ME WAS DRIVING BECAUSE THINGS COULD HAVE ENDED VERY BADLY. IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIX THE REAR END WE COULD ONLY FIND TWO REAR ENDS IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA THAT SOLD FOR 1600.00 DOLLARS WITH OVER 90,000 MILES ON THEM THE REST WERE COMPLETELY MANGLED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MORE PART SERVICE PEOPLE I HAVE TALKED TO ALL SAID THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. AND IN MY OPINION THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO HAVE BOTH REAR TIRES LOCK UP AT 65 AND YOUR BACK END BOUNCE AND THROW YOU TWO LANES OVER. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED A CHRYSLER MANUFACTURE THAT SAID IN 2006 THEY STOPPED SELLING THAT REAR END AS A WHOLE BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE HAD WITH IT! I THINK THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED NOT ONLY FOR TH
MY 2003 DODGE RAM 1500'S DASHBOARD IS COMPLETELY SHATTERED WITHOUT AND FORCE TO IT. IT STARTED CRACKING BACK IN 09 AND IS NOW BECOMING SHARP EDGED PIECES ALL OVER MY CAR. IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT THESE SHARP PIECES COULD EASILY DO SOME DAMAGE TO A SENSITIVE PART, SUCH AS A PERSONS EYE. IF THIS IS TO HAPPEN TO ME, OR ANY OF THE OTHER OF 1000'S OF PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE, THERE WILL BE LAWSUITS OUT THE ASS FOR LACK OF RECALL. THERE IS SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE DASHBOARD IN THESE TRUCKS, AND THEY NEED TO BE FIXED. *KB
THE GRIP HANDLES AND DASHBOARD HAVE DEGRADED FROM HEAT AND UV RADIATION AND CRACKED INTO MANY SHARP PIECES. I CUT MY HAND WHILE WIPING THE INSIDE OF MY WINDSHIELD. I TAKE BLOOD THINNERS AND THIS CAUSED ME TO BLEED FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I DID NOT REALIZE HOW RAZOR SHARP THE EDGES OF THE BROKEN PIECES ARE. THESE WOULD LIKELY SLICE THE AIR BAG & DRIVER/PASSENGERS FACES & ARMS IN A CRASH. THE PLASTIC SELECTED BY DODGE IS NOT SUITABLE FOR THE PURPOSE INTENDED AND PRESENTS A HAZARD. AN ADDITIONAL HAZARD IS THE EXPOSURE OF WIRE HARNESSES EXPOSED TO THE DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND EXTREME HEAT. CRACKED INSULATION WILL LEAD TO ELECTRICAL FIRES & FAILED OPERATOR CONTROLS. THE FAILURE IS MOST PREVALENT IN TROPICAL AND SUB-TROPICAL CLIMATES. THE PLASTIC USED BY DODGE NEEDS TO BE REFORMULATED, AND SALE OF THE FAULTY FORMULATION HALTED IMMEDIATELY. *KB
SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT AUTOMATICALLY. I WOULD CONSIDER THIS A MAJOR FLAW IN THE SEAT BELT HARDWARE. IT STARTED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THEN A YEAR LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE. ALSO CAUSES YOU TO SOMETIMES CLOSE THE DOOR ON THE SEAT BELT BECAUSE IT DIDN'T RETRACT AND HUNG OUT THE DOOR. IT BROKE THE BUTTON ON THE SEAT BELT FABRIC SO NOW MY SEAT BELT HAS NO STOPPER EITHER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ENGAGING THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WOULD ACTIVATE INSTEAD AND WHEN ENGAGING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL, THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WOULD ACTIVATE INSTEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
I HAVE EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS HEATING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE BLEND DOORS GO BAD IN THE HEATING SYSTEM WHICH IN TURN CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO ICE OVER AND WHICH PRODUCES SERIOUS VISIBILITY PROBLEMS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THE DEFROSTER WAS NOT DEFROSTING THE WINDSHIELD AND THERE WAS NO AIR FLOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
2003 DODGE RAM 1500 DASHBOARD CRACKED IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS OF BUYING IT NEW. ACCORDING TO DODGE ITS COSMETIC BUT THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN I DRIVE. THE DASH HAS SO MANY CRACKS AND SHARP JAGGED EDGES THAN CAN SEVERELY HURT SOMEONE. OBVIOUSLY DODGE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ITS CUSTOMERS ONCE THEY HAVE BOUGHT ONE OF THEIR VEHICLES. ITS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT YET DODGE SOMEHOW MANAGES TO GET AWAY WITH POOR QUALITY AT THE CUSTOMERS EXPENSE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE WIRES TO SHORTEN. AS A RESULT, THE HORN AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE AIR BAG WAS ALSO EXPOSED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE COMPROMISED DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING SINCE THE FRAGMENTS WERE TAMPERING WITH THE WIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,643 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ABOUT 45MPH AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE MOTOR BLEW A ROD THROUGH THE OIL PAN, IF SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BEEN BEHIND HIM HE WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR ANOTHER MOTOR FOR THIS VEHICLE AND WHEN ASKING THEY LAUGH ABOUT IT, IT IS A 4.7 LT 8 CYL MOTOR AND APPARENTLY CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND YET NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. THE OIL WAS EVERYWHERE ON THE ROAD AFTER THIS HAPPENED AND THAT IN ITSELF IS A HAZARD. LOOK ONLINE AND A MOTOR TO REPLACE IT IS IN THE 2 TO 3 THOUSAND RANGE. WE ARE STILL PAYING FOR THIS VEHICLE AND THAT IS WITHOUT THE MOTOR PRICE, LOOK UNDER PROBLEMS FOR THIS TRUCK AND YOU WILL FIND A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT THE MOTOR BLOWING UP WITH NO WARNINGS. *TR
HEATER BLOWER FAILS TO BLOW TO THE FLOOR OR DEFROST. TRUCK WINDSHIELD STARTED TO FOG UP AND COULDN'T GET IT TO CLEAR BECAUSE THE DEFROST BLEND DOOR IS BROKEN. VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH DODGE VEHICLES. *TR
I WAS IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT ON THE DATE ABOVE AND AFTER ROLLING THE TRUCK 6 TIMES THE FUEL DIDN'T SHUT OFF TO THE TRUCK AND IT WAS STILL RUNNING. I BELIEVE THAT THE INERTIA SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND DIDN'T SHUT OFF THE FUEL SUPPLY TO THE MOTOR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED AND CAUSING THE DEFROSTER TO MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LACK OF WORKING DEFROSTERS COULD IMPAIR HIS VISION AND CAUSE A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
SEVERE CRACKING OF DASHBOARD. CRACKING IS SO BAD THAT PIECES ARE FALLING INTO/INSIDE THE DASH. THESE EXPOSED EDGES ARE EXTREMELY SHARP, POSING A SEVERE LACERATION HAZARD. *TR
THE DASH HAS A CRACK IN IT FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK. THE TRUCK IS LIKE NEW. IT ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES ON NOW AFTER EIGHT YEARS. UPDATED 10/20/11 *BF ....UPDATED 10/26/11 *BF UPDATED 11/08/11. *JB
DASBOARD CRACKING - VEHICLE IS NOT EVEN 10 YRS. OLD YET. HANDLE INSIDE THAT YOU WOULD GRAB TO HELP YOURSELF IN HAS CRACKED AND IS NOT SAFE TO USE. MY WIFE ALMOST FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HANDLE CRACKED AND CAME LOOSE FROM THE INSIDE OF THE TRUCK. DASHBOARD CRACKS MATCH EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE VIEWED ON-LINE WHILE INVESTIGATING OTHER OWNERS ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE WITH SAME PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE (DODGE) OF VEHICLE. CANNOT FIND ANY INFO ON ANY RECALL BEING ISSUED. I AM WORRIED IF AN AIR BAG DEPLOYED THAT THE DASH WOULD BECOME FLYING SHRAPNEL.
THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITH THE IGNITION REMAINING ON WITH THE KEY OUT. THE NEXT THING WAS THE HEADLIGHTS NOT SWITCHING BETWEEN BRIGHT AND DIM.THIRD CAME THE WIPERS NOT TURNING ON ALL THE TIME.NOW THE TURN SIGNALS ARE WORKING IMPROPERLY. *TR
IF I WERE TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT THE DASH WOULD FLY APART WITH THE AIR BAG ON IMPACT SERIOUSLY HURT SOMEONE, THE DASH IS CRACKED BADLY AND I HAVE ALREADY SEEN CHUNKS COME OUT OF MY BROTHERS DASH THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 WITH MULTIPLE CRACKS IN THE DASH. THE DASH STARTED CRACKING A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW. I CONTACTED THE DEALER SHIP, BIG O DODGE AND MY WARRANTY PROVIDER AND BOTH STATE IT IS COSMETIC AND NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE CRACKS HAVE CONTINUED TO GET LARGER. I HAVE HOLES WHERE THE VENTS ARE SUPPOSE TO BE ON TOP F THE DASH. I ALSO HAVE PARTS OF THE PLASTIC DOWN IN THE VENTS WHERE THEY HAVE FALLEN. THESE SMALL PARTS TEND TO FLY AROUND WHEN YOU TURN ON THE DEFROST OR HIT A BUMP. I HAVE TRIED TO TAKE CARE OF THE DASH BY USING MULTIPLE POPULAR PRODUCTS BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO KEEP IT FROM CRACKING. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND I AM AFRAID IF I GET IN A WRECK MY DASH COULD BREAK APART AND HURT OR KILL ME OR SOMEONE IN MY TRUCK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD COVER BROKE INTO PIECES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE DASHBOARD FAILURE WAS NOT A RECALL AND DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE DASHBOARD COVER WAS MADE OF DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120, 00.
CRACKED DASH BOARD,NOT FIXED SAID IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
2003 DODGE 1500 RAM DASHBOARD CRACKING ACROSS THE FRONT AND SIDES. *TR
DASHBOARD ON MY WELL CARED FOR 03 RAM 1500 HAS CRACKED AND IS SPREADING RAPIDLY, AND EXPOSING SHARP JAGGED EDGES ABOVE AIRBAG WHICH APPARENTLY IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE DODGE TRUCKS. CERTAINLY COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF INVOLVED IN A CRASH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS SPLITTING APART FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
2003 DODGE RAM 1500 1. STARTED TO HAVE SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUES, POWER WINDOWS AND HEATER BLOWER MOTOR WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO OCCASIONAL SMELL OF MELTING PLASTIC. 2. AFTER SOME TIME BLOWER MOTOR TOTALLY QUIT. WENT ONLINE TO TROUBLE SHOOT PROBLEM AND LEARNED OF RECALL ON 2002 DODGE RAM FOR IDENTICAL PROBLEM. THAT WAS CAUSED BY MELTING IGNITION SWITCH. SO I TOOK APART STEERING COLUMN AND FOUND PLUG FOR MY IGNITION SWITCH MELTING AND WIRE BURNT AND CORRODING. AFTER FINDING PROBLEM AND PUTTING THE PLUG BACK TOGETHER BLOWER MOTOR STARTED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AGAIN AND WHEN IT IS ON WIRE GETS EXTREMELY HOT. CONSEQUENCES WOULD BY LOSS OF VISIBILITY IF WINDOWS FOG UP AND OR POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM YET. CHRYSLER WANTED ME TO BRING MY VEHICLE IN AND PAY TO GET THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AT THEIR DEALER. THEN THEY WOULD WORK WITH ME TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED, NOT GUARANTEEING THEY WOULD COVER ANY OR ALL OF THE COST. SO I WILL PROBABLE FIX THE PROBLEM MYSELF WITH USED PARTS BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO PAY CHRYSLER TO FIX A PROBLEM THE ARE VERY AWARE ABOUT. SINCE THEY ISSUED A RECALL ON THE 2002 RAM THAT USES THE SAME IGNITION SWITCH AS MINE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL AT APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE THROTTLE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF FOR A MOMENT AND THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 08/15/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM DIDN'T OCCUR ONLY WHEN DRIVING DOWNHILL. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS COMING DOWN FROM 8,000 ELEVATION, MOSTLY COASTING, APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THROTTLE OCCASIONALLY AS NEEDED PER ROAD REQUIREMENTS. UPON REACHING FLATLAND, HE APPLIED THE THROTTLE AS NORMAL. WITHIN 10 MINUTES, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE THROTTLE WAS NON-RESPONSIVE AND THE THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER RE-STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THERE HAS BEEN NO PROBLEMS SINCE. UPDATED 08/24/11
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
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