2003 Dodge Ram 2500 complaints

MY 2003 RAM 2500 HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. IN FIRST TWO YEARS THE BEARINGS/HUBS, U-JOINTS, UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED, I HAVE SPENT OVER $2000.0 IN FRONT END PARTS ALONE. MY FRIEND HAS A 2003 DUALLY, HE HAS REPLACED ALL THE SAME PARTS. ALSO, AN INJECTOR LINE RUPTURE ON CHRISTMAS EVE, WHILE I WAS IN RURAL MAINE, NEEDLESS TO SAY IT GOT VERY EXPENSIVE, ONCE THEY FOUND A PART IN MICHIGAN. ALL I CAN SAY IS NO MORE DODGES FOR ME OR MY FAMILY, BUYING A TOYOTA OR NISSAN NEXT TIME. THE DODGE IS A $40,000 PIECE OF CRAP....TF. *NM

EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT IN POOR QUALITY OEM BALL JOINTS, ALONG WITH ROAD FEED BACK THROUGH A MULTI PIECE, AND MOVABLE STEERING SHAFT AND STEERING COLUMN. MAKE THIS SERIES OF TRUCK UNSAFE, A HAZARD, AND A LIABILITY ON THE ROAD. *NM

SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED IN THIS THING. I'VE TAKEN IT TO TWO DEALERS AND TWO FRONT END SHOPS. THE PROBLEM IS WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP WHERE THE TIRES DON'T HIT IT AT THE SAME TIME. THEN THE LEFT TIRE USUALLY STARTS BOUNCING UNTIL IT ALMOST SHAKES THE TRUCK APART AND YOU RUN OFF THE ROAD TRYING TO GET IT STOPPED. I'VE CHANGED THE SHOCKS, TIE RODS AND MISC OTHER PARTS TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION. EVERYONE SAYS IT ALL LOOKS FINE. BUT SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT HERE. I LIKE THE CUMMINS BUT I'M AFRAID I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GET A CHEVY BEFORE I HURT MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. IT'S PRETTY BAD WHEN YOU GET PARANOID OF THE ROAD AHEAD WHEN YOU GO FASTER THAN 65 MPH. I EVEN WENT TO A REAL STIFF TIRE TO ELIMINATE THIS. NOW IT NOT ONLY SHAKES TO PIECES, BUT IT RIDES LIKE A BUCKBOARD BECAUSE OF THE TIRES. THERE SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF A RECALL FOR THIS THING. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE AT 50 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS PUSHED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWLY DRIVEN HOME. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS NOTICED THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE LINE WAS TOUCHING THE RIM. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FAILED FOUR TIMES. THIS OCCURS AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED. THE FIRST THREE TIMES, AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP INSTALLED A REFURBISHED PUMP. THE PUMPS HAVE CONTINUED TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE REPAIR SHOP AWAITING A NEW PUMP. UPDATED 05/22/06. *JB

MY 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 HEAVY DUTY PICKUP WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND DIESEL ENGINE ROLLED BACKWARDS AFTER BEING PLACED IN "PARK". I LEFT THE VEHICLE TO TALK TO SOMEONE. THE INDICATOR WAS IN "P" BEFORE I LEFT THE VEHICLE AND STILL IN "P" AFTER ROLLING BACKWARDS ~ 150' THROUGH 2 SNOW BANKS MADE BY CLEARING THE DRIVEWAY. THE PICKUP STOPPED UPON HITTING A SIGN WHICH RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE; BUT THE RIGHT REAR PICKUP BED RECEIVED ~ $450.00 IN DAMAGE. NOBODY WAS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. NOBODY WAS INJURED. THE SIGN PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM CROSSING A BUSY STREET. I RECEIVED THE SAFETY RECALL LETTER TO INSTALL THE "OUT OF PARK ALARM" ON MONDAY FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT ON THURSDAY. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE ALARM INSTALLED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. A LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH INDICATING THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS. THE CONTACT REPLACED EVERY BULB. THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE DASH CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT INSTALLED ANOTHER DASH CLUSTER. THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DASH CLUSTER, THE LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL AND LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT WILL NOT WORK.

2003 DODGE RAM PICK UP HAVE ALREADY COMPLAINED OF STALLING, NOW THE ELECTRIC IS STARTING TO GO WRONG. 09/22/04 PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO GO UP OR DOWN, DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW. 11/28/05 PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IN BACK OF CAB, THE SPEAKER WENT OUT AND EVERYTIME THE DOOR LOCKED AUTOMATICALLY THE SPEAKER MADE A LOUD BUZZING NOISE. NEEDED A HARNESS $50.00 11/28/05 WINDOW ON PASSENGER SIDE STOPPED WORKING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE NEEDED REGULATOR BINDING SWITCH $160.00 11/28/05 LIGHTS AROUND THE HEATING ELEMENT ON THE DASH BOARD STARTED GOING OUT AND 1/2 WOULD BE OUT AND 1/2 WOULD BE ON NEEDS A CONTROL HD $183.00. *JB

05/26/05 NOISE IN FRONT END CLUNKING WHILE DRIVING, TOOK TO DEALER NOT WHERE WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK FROM BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT HELPING US WITH ANY OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS WE WERE HAVING. BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE HUB FROZEN REPLACED THE RIGHT HUB BEARING AND BOTH SIDE BALL JOINTS. REPLACED THE FRONT AXLE U JOINTS REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS NOW IT IS MARCH 13 2006 AND THE BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN , AND U JOINTS ARE BAD. SEEMS TO BE ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. *JB

2003 DODGE 2500 4X4 PU REPORTED RATTLING NOISE FRONT END AT LOW SPEED. UNDER WARRANTY 3/36 VEHICLE TAKEN IN DEALER MANAGER REPORTS UPPER LOWER BALL JOINTS GONE. UPON CHECKING ON VEHICLE STATUS NEXT DAY DEALER REPORTS MISDIAGNOSIS AND SWAY ARM CONTROL NEEDS ONLY REPLACEMENT. DEALER NEVER INTENDED TO INFORM OWNER (ME) OF CHANGE. INTERESTINGLY THEY CHANGED POSITION AND ARE NOW TRYING TO SELL ME INTO EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH ONLY 1500 MILE LEFT ON 3/36. *NM

A RECALL IS DUE. DRIVING THE 2003 DODGE HEAVY DUTY 2500 HEMI PICKUP TOWARDS WORK IN THE DARK MORNING HOURS OF 02-10-05 IN ANCHORAGE ALASKA, THE WIPER ARM AND ATTACHED WIPER BLADE ON THE (LEFT) DRIVERS SIDE WINDSHIELD FELL OFF AT 45 MPH WHILE IN USE ON A RARE 40 F DEGREE WARM MORNING, HEAVILY SANDED AND SLUSHY COVERED ROAD WAY. THE VIEW BECAME INSTANTLY BLURRY AND HARD TO FOCUS ON THE DANGERS AHEAD, WHILE THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES BARELY ESCAPED THE PROJECTILE OF THE ASSEMBLY OF STEEL AND PLASTIC. THE SECOND VEHICLE HIT IT AND DESTROYED ANY ATTEMPTS TO INVESTIGATE ITS REASONS FOR FAILURE TO STAY WITH THE TRUCK. WHEN SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP AND CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD TO SEE SHE WAS GREATLY SHAKEN AND AFRAID OF THE FINAL DURATION TO WORK. SHE THEN SWAPPED THE PASSENGER SIDE TO THE DRIVERS SIDE AND FINISHED HER TRIP. SHE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT THE ARM FELL OFF AGAIN, AND SAID THAT IT HAD HAPPENED BEFORE, DUE TO THE ICE AND SNOW THAT DEPOSIT IN THE PLASTIC TRIM COVER OF THE ARMS LOCKING CLIP BELOW THE ARMS BASE. THAT THE ARM HITS THE ICE AND SWITCHES THE LOCK INTO THE OFF POSITION AND THAN THE MOTOR POWER TOSSES THE ARM OFF THE TRUCK IN ANY GIVEN DIRECTION. THE DODGE DEALER DECLARES TO US THIS IS A COMMON EVENT IN THE NORTHERN ENVIRONMENTS. THEY WARRANTED THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY AND ADMITTED THAT THIS ONLY HAPPENS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THEY ADMITTED THE PROBLEM WAS ALWAYS THE DRIVERS SIDE BECAUSE THE WAY THE SNOW PILES AND MELTS INTO AN ICY DAM IN THE ARMS WAY TO OPERATE FREELY. I BELIEVE T

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAIL WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE. I KNOW OF THREE OWNER 3 TRUCK THAT THE BALL JOINTS FAILED, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO HANDLE WRONG, SHAKE AND BOUNCE OUT OF CONTROL. DODGE WILL NOT FIX, THE COST IS OVER 1,000. MINE FAILED AT 35,000 MILE ALL THE TRUCKS FAILED BELOW 40,000,THIS ON A 35,000 DOLLAR TRUCK. *JB

THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) OPENED AN INVESTIGATION ON JULY 22, 2003 CONCERNING 1998 - 2003 DODGE DURANGO VEHICLES TO ADDRESS COMPLAINTS REGARDING FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS. WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE INVESTIGATION, AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM EXPERIENCED BY SO MANY. MY SUSPENSION BALL JOINT WENT BAD AND BROKE WHILE FIXING SOMETHING ELSE. IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. OBVIOUSLY IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART AND OR DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE, AND THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE TO MAKE THE CUSTOMER PAY FOR THE MISTAKES BY DODGE. *AK

I OWN A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 PICKUP TRUCK. FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WITH A DIESEL ENGINE. VEHICLE HAS 30,000 MILES. ON 2 DECEMBER 2005, WHILE DRIVING TO WORK WITH OUT ANY WARNING THE STEERING LOCKED, RENDERING ME HELPLESS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. AFTER I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE LOCATION I ATTEMPTED TO TEST THE STEERING. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT STEER TO THE RIGHT OF CENTER. IT WILL STEER TO THE LEFT BUT SEEMS TO HAVE A DIMINISHED POWER ASSIST PERFORMANCE AT FIRST. WHILE CYCLING THE STEERING SYSTEM SEVERAL TIMES THE POWER ASSIST TO THE LEFT IMPROVES. HOWEVER ONCE THE STEERING REACHES THE CENTER POINT TO THE RIGHT THE STEERING LOCKS AND WOULD NOT GO ANY FURTHER RIGHT OF CENTER. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DOMINION DODGE SERVICE REP 1259 E. MAIN STREET SALEM VIRGINIA, AND THEY HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX HAS FAILED. ALTHOUGH IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT A COMPONENT OF THIS TYPE COULD FAIL, IN THE 30 YEARS AS AN AUTOMOTIVE MECHANIC AND A MASTER IN HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY I HAVE YET SEEN OR HEARD OF A STEERING GEAR BOX FAILURE THAT WOULD RENDER A VEHICLE COMPLETELY INCAPABLE OF CONTROLLING STEERING. MOST OF MY EXPERIENCE IN THIS FIELD IS USUALLY WORN COMPONENT THAT CAUSE POOR PERFORMANCE IN THE STEERING CAPABILITY. USUALLY THIS OCCURS AT GREATER THAN 100,000 MILES, NOT AT 30,0000. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V462000 CONCERNING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS MODIFIED BY THE BRAUN CORPORATION. THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY A DODGE, RAM, 2500, AND HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO A DODGE RAM B 2500 VAN.*AK UPDATED 01/04/06. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND THERE IS A HEAVY VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. THIS PROBLEM ULTIMATELY RESULTED IN A MINOR ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND RAN INTO A DITCH. NO ONE WAS INJURED, BUT SOME DAMAGE WAS EVIDENT ON FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER NOTICED THE STABILIZER BAR BROKE. NO REPAIRS WERE DONE AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE EXPENSE. *AK

2003 DODGE RAM 2500 IN DECEMBER 2004 I HAD TO HAVE ALL 3 BALL JOINTS REPLACED THE TRUCK ONLY HAD 42262 MILES ON IT. THEN JUST LAST MONTH IN OCTOBER I HAD TO REPLACE ANOTHER BALL JOINT AS IT WAS GOING OUT ALREADY. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR ON A VECHICLE

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY WITHIN THE STEERING AND A SHIMMY IN THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH. THE TRUCK COULD STRIKE A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THERE WOULD BE COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. ALSO, HE NOTED THAT THE PITMAN ARM, TIE ROD, AND STABILIZER BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED DUE TO THE EXPENSE. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY COST ASSISTANCE. *AK

DT: CONSUMER PURCHASED A 2003 RINKER BOAT TRAILER IN JULY 2003. IN AUGUST 2003 THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING ON THE INTERSTATE. THE FOLLOWING JULY 2004 ANOTHER TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER DID NOT REMEMBER LOCATION OF THE TIRE ON THE TRAILER AT THAT TIME. THE NEXT TIRE BLEW OUT IN APRIL 2005 AND AGAIN THE CONSUMER DID NOT REMEMBER WHICH TIRE IT WAS. ON JULY 17, 2005 THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THIS WAS THE FORTH BLOWOUT. EACH TIME A BLOWOUT OCCURRED THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE TRAILER. THE LAST TIRE BLEW OUT ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2005. THE LAST BLOWOUT WAS ON THE LEFT BACK TIRE. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THESE TIRES AT HIS OWN EXPENSE EACH TIME. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THESE BLOODS. *AK

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIE ROD ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE ON THE 2003 DODGE RAM 3500 WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. THE DRIVER DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING DIFFERENT ABOUT THE DRIVING BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. THE STEERING WAS GONE AND THE TRUCK WASUNDRIVEABLE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO PICK UP THE TRUCK AND TAKE IT TO A DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THAT WAS THE FIRST TIE ROD THAT BROKE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONSUMER WAS GOING TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THE DEALER SAID THAT IS WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER WAS NOT GOING TO HELP WITH ANY EXPENSES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED AT THIS POINT. *AK

DT: CONTACT STATES WHEN SHE WENT TO GET INTO THE TRUC, SHE PUT HER HAND ON THE GRAB BAR AND THE WHOLE PANEL THAT HELD THE GRAB BAR CAME OUT IN HER HAND. SHE FELL FLAT ON HER BACK. THOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD HER THAT ALL THAT WAS HOLDING THE GRAB BARS ON WAS PLASTIC. *AK *NM

2003 DODGE 2500 QUAD CAB 4X4. DIESEL: WHEN DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND CONTROL AFTER HITTING A ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROADWAY AND A ROUGH BRIDGE. DOES NOT DO IT ALL OF THE TIME SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN TO EXPECT IT. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE PROBLEM IS TO SLOW WAY DOWN, AT LEAST 25 TO 30 MPH SLOWER. IT DID NOT START DOING THIS UNTIL ABOUT 200 MILES OVER THE FACTORY BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. LOCAL DEALER THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO ROTATING TIRES AND THE TIRES BEING OUT OF BALANCE. I HAD TIRES RE-BALANCED AND ALSO INSTALL A NEW MOPAR STEERING STRUT AND IT STILL DOES IT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I AM AFRAID TO PULL MY 21 FT BOAT NOW. MY WIFE WILL NO LONGER DRIVE IT EITHER. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME KIND OF FACTORY RECALL BEFORE LIVES AND PROPERTY ARE LOST!! *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE CAMPER. THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THE TIRE WAS 3 YEARS OLD AND THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING RV TIRES EVERY THREE YEARS.*JB

THAT MORNING I WAS LEAVING A JOB SITE AND NOTICED MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CALLED THE DODGE DEALER. SERVICE TECH STATED THAT IF IT WAS NOT FLASHING TO BRING IT IN ASAP. LATER THAT DAY WHILE DRIVING BACK TO MY HOUSE, WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO MY HOUSE. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT RE-START. I CALLED THE DEALER AND CHRYSLER HAD A TOW TRUCK OUT. IT WAS FOUND THAT A WIRING HARNESS HAD COME LOOSE AND HAD BEEN RUBBING, THE HARNESS DAMAGED AND A BARE WIRE SHORED OUT, BLEW THE COIL AND RUPTURED THE FUEL LINE! I WAS VERY LUCKY TO NOT HAVE CAUGHT FIRE OR EXPLODED. AFTER REPEATED CALLS AND EMAILS, I HAVE FIGURED CHRYSLER DOES NOT CARE. I'LL BET THER ARE QUITE A FEW 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 PICKUPS OUT THERE. I WOULD HOPE THE REST COULD BE WARNED BEFORE A DEATH OCCURS!

OWNER DROVE TRUCK THROUGH AN OPEN GATE AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO GET OUT AND CLOSE THE GATE. THE VEHICLE WAS ON A FLAT, LEVEL, HARD DIRT SURFACE AND WAS LEFT RUNNING, THE PARK BRAKE WAS NOT SET. OPERATOR WALKED BEHIND VEHICLE AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF CLOSING THE GATE (ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE TRUCK) WHEN IT PASSED THE OPERATOR. OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO RUN BEHIND THE TRUCK AND GAIN ENTRY INTO THE OPEN DRIVERS DOOR WITHOUT INCIDENT. NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE OR ANY PROPERTY, NO INJURY TO OPERATOR. OPERATOR NOW USES THE PARK BRAKE WITH THE TRANS IN NEUTRAL POSITION WHEN LEAVING THE TRUCK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. OPERATOR HAS ADVISED OTHER USERS OF THE VEHICLE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *DSY SEE ALSO VOQ 10058839. *DSY

TRUCK STARTED AND IDLED ROUGH, TURNED OFF TRUCK AND RESTARTED BUT WOULD NOT CONTINUE TO RUN. HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO DEALER WAS TOLD DESIEL FUEL WAS MIXED IN GAS TANK. I RUN A MAJOR LAWN SERVICE AND HAVE HAD ABSOULTELY NO PROBLEMS WITH ANY EQUIPMENT FAILURES DUE TO FUEL PROBLEMS! THE STATION WHERE I BUY MY GAS DOESN'T EVEN CARRY DESIEL FUEL. SO FAR THE DEALER WANTS TO DRAIN GAS TANK CLEAN FUEL INJECTORS, REPLACE SPARKPLUGS.

DT: WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN IDLE WITH NO ONE IN IT TRUCK JUMPED OUT OF PARK AND WENT INTO REVERSE BY ITSELF. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, AND ROLLED AWAY, CAUSING DAMAGE TO TRUCK AND SOME CONCRETE STEPS. THE DEALER PUT THE TRUCK ON THE COMPUTER AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. CONTRACTOR FOR MANUFACTURER SAID HE COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH TRUCK. *AK *TT *NM

VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AT 55MPH WHEN SUDDENLY COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING OCCURRED AND BRAKES LOCKED SIMULTANIOUSLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED ALTHOUGH ONCOMING TRAFFIC ALSO SPUN OUT OF CONTROL TO AVOID ACCIDENT. ENGINE NEVER DIED AND WHEN VEHICLE STOPPED ITSELF STEERING AND BRAKES RETURNED TO WHAT APPEARED TO BE NORMAL. DRIVER WAS TO SHAKEN TO CONTINUE AND HER BROTHER TOOK OVER. HE RE-ENTERED HIGHWAY AND SLOWLY ACCELERATED WATCHING GAUGES TO LOOK FOR ABNORMAL OCCURANCES. WHEN VEHICLE REACHED 45MPH OIL PRESSURE GUAGE JUMPED ALL THE WAY TO TOP READING, COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING RE-OCCURRED, AND BRAKES LOCKED AGAIN CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN AGAIN OUT OF CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER WHERE DEALER SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING. CONTACTED CHRYSLER WHERE THEY SAID THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THAT HAPPENING. PERHAPS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ARE ALL DEAD? WHATEVER CAUSES THIS SEQUENCE OF EVENTS TO BE ABLE TO OCCUR SHOULD BE OF MAJOR CONCERN TO THE PEOPLE AT CHRYSLER. THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY BUT SINCE NO ONE SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN HOW DO I EVER PUT MY FAMILY BACK IN THIS TRUCK AGAIN MUCH LESS HOOK UP OUR HORSE TRAILER TO IT?

BOUGHT BRAND NEW 2003 DODGE RAM PICKUP FROM RAYMOND DODGE. TRUCK STARTED STALLING DURING DRIVING AT ALL TYPES OF SPEEDS, TRUCK STALLS WHEN IDOLING, AND WHEN AFTER REVERSING SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. 04-27-04 18995 MILES- CUSTOMER STATES TRUCK STALLS / CORRECTED, BY UPDATING THE FLASH MODULE 09-21-04 29821 MILES- CUSTOMER STATES CAR STALLS HARD TO RESTART / TEST DROVE AND FOUND NO CONDITION PRESENT, CHECKED CODES NONE PRESENT 12-13-04 32380 MILES- CUSTOMER STATES STALLS WHILE DRIVING , HARD TO RESTART, / REPLACED OIL PAN, REMOVED ACCUMLATOR PISTON AND WAS OK AT TIME, COULD NOT DUPLICATE CUSTOMER CONCERN, REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FILTER WHILE INSPECTING THE ACCUMLATOR PISTON. 04-08-05 36028 MILES CUSTOMER STATES STALLS WHILE DRIVES AND STOPS. / TEST DROVE COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM, UPDATES ARE ALL CURRENT NO PARTS REPLACED. 04-12-05 36079 MILES TOOK BACK TO DEALER FOR 5TH TIME FOR THE STALLING, POWER STEERING LOCKS UP AND NO BRAKES, MY SON AND I WERE ALMOST HIT FOR THE 2ND TIME DUE TO THE STALING. RAYMOND DODGE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. BEEN TAKING IT TO WEATHERS DODGE IN LIMA PA THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT EITHER. 5 TIMES IN 1 YEAR TIME. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THEY ARE NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM.

2003 DODGE RAM 2500 PICKUP WITH CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINE. LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES SIMULTANIOUSLY DUE TO FAILURE OF FITTING ON POWER STEERING PUMP. HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY WHILE TOWING A TRAILER MAKING STOPPING AND MANUVERING DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT. I KNOW OF SEVERAL OTHERS WITH SAME EVENTS DUE TO POWERSTEERING PUMP /HOSE ISSUES. SOME OFTHESE ARE DETAILED ON THE WEB SITE WWW.TURBODIESELREGISTRY.COM WHICH IS A SITE FOR OWNERS OF DIESEL DODGE RAMS NOTE: BELOW DATE IS AN APPROXIMATEDATE. DID NOT FEEL NEED TO REPORT IT UNTIL HEARING OF OTHERS WITH SIMILAR FAILURE. IF EXACT DATE IS NEEDED PLEASE E-MAIL ME. THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE SAFETY OF THE MOTORING PUBLIC.

WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL FAILURE. (THE LIGHTENING BOLT SYMBOL APPEARED ON THE DASH BOARD) AFTER THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND WAITING SEVERAL MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED NORMALLY. THE CONSUMER FOUND IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL WAS DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THERE WAS NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS RECENTLY INFORMED THAT THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS AVAILABLE FOR THE VEHICLE. THIS IS THE 5.7 L HEMI 2003 RAM 4X4.HAD TRUCK SINCE 11-04 HAS DONE THIS ABOUT 10 TIMES TO PRESENT.IT IS GOING TO GET SOMEBODY INJURED ARE HURT BECAUSE TRUCK DOES IT WHENEVER IT WANTS TO MAYBE TAKING OFF AT A RED LIGHT ARE ETC.!

I WAS DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED 75 MPH WHEN I HIT A SMALL WASHBOARD TYPE BUMP, MY 2003 DODGE 4X4 2500 DIESEL (WITH 39,000 MILES) BEGAN SWERVING SO VIOLENTLY I COULD HARDLY HANG ON TO THE WHEEL. WE NEARLY RAN OFF THE ROAD AND JUST MISSED THE SEMI NEXT TO US. IT WAS SO BAD, MY WIFE'S HEAD WAS HITTING AGAINST THE PASSENGER WINDOW. WE HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES & COME TO A SPEED OF 30 MPH TO GET IT TO STOP. IT SEEMED TO DRIVE FINE UNTIL WE COULD GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN GRAND JUNCTION, WHO DIAGNOSED IT AS A BAD TIE ROD END. REPLACED THAT,, AND SENT US ON OUR WAY. WE AGAIN BEGAN DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, PULLING A SMALL CARGO TRAILER WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS SO MUCH WORSE WHILE I TRIED TO HANG ON TO THE WHEEL THAT I COULD HARDLY FOCUS MY EYES AND AGAIN MY WIFE'S HEAD SMASHING AGAINST THE PASSENGER WINDOW WITH THIS VIOLENT SHAKING. WE TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP IN ST. GEORGE, UT WHERE THEY REPORTED THERE WERE SEVERAL THINGS THEY COULD DO, BUT COULDN'T GUARANTY THAT IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. DID COMMENT THAT THEY WERE WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS AND THE SERVICE TEAM IN SLC, UT HAD NAMED IT "THE DEATH WOBBLE". I QUESTIONED WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL IF IT IS SO COMMON, BUT HE HAD NO ANSWER. HE STATED MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAD THIS PROBLEM 'JUST GOT RID OF THE TRUCK' IN OTHER WORDS SOME OTHER FOOL HAS IT. THIS IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE IF NOT REMEDIED. AS A MATTER OF FACT, MY SMALL WIFE WOULD HAVE NEVER HAD THE STRENGTH TO HANG ON TO THAT W

THE CONSUMER HAS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH DECELERATING WHEN DRIVING 40 MPH OR MORE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE COMPUTER HAS BEEN REPROGRAMMED THREE TIMES, THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE SENSOR AND THE MAP SENSOR AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *JB

I CURRENTLY HAVE A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. AT 50,000 MILES THE DEALER NOTIFIED ME THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE SHOWING WEAR. AT 55,000 THE FRONT END STARTED TO MAKE NOISE. AS SOON AS I HEARD THE NOISE I DROVE THE VEHICLE OVER TO DON MILLER DODGE. WHEN THE DEALER CONTACTED ME, INFORMING ME THAT ALL BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS NOT COVER UNDER THE 7/70 DODGE WARRANTY. THE PRICE TAG FOR THE WORK CAME OUT TO $1200. AFTER HANGING UP THE PHONE, I CONTACTED DODGE DIRECTLY AND TOLD THEM OF THE PROBLEM. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT I HAD GREAT MAINTENANCE REPORTS, BUT SINCE I HAD PLACED NEW TIRES ON THE VEHICLE AT 45,000 AND INCREASED THE TIRE FROM 275 TO 285 (.5" DIFFERENCE). THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DUE FOR ME. I CONTACTED SEVERAL DODGE DEALERS IN THE AREA AND SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH THE 02-03 DODGE DURANGOS AND 02-03 DODGE RAM PICKUP'S. DODGE REF#13452182 I FIND THIS PERFORMANCE FROM A SO CALLED HEAVY DUTY VEHICLE HIGHLY DISAPPOINTING. THIS IS MY SECOND DODGE RAM. I UPGRADED FROM MY 1999 1500 GAS TO THE 2500 DIESEL HEAVY DUTY JUST TO AVOID THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS. IF I WOULD NOT HAVE GONE TO THE DEAL RIGHT AWAY. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSING THE FRONT TIRE. CAUSING INJURY OR WORSE. SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE 03 DURANGO. I LUCKY ENOUGH TO RECOGNIZE THE CHANGE IN STEERING. IF MY WIFE WAS DRIVING SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT WAS TO LATE. I WILL OBTAIN THE OLD PART FROM THE DEALER. *NM

WHILE LOADING THE VEHICLE, THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SUSTAIN MAJOR INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. *NM

CARBON MONOXIDE WAS GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE WHEN AIR CONDITIONER OR HEATER WAS USED. A DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

WITH 25000 MILES ON TRUCK HAD NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. I INSPECTED TO FIND BALL JOINT ALMOST READY TO FAIL. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED. VEHICLE WENT TO 80 MPH IN A MATTER OF MOMENTS. CONSUMER PRESSED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING. CONSUMER HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY TO OFF IN ORDER STOP THE VEHICLE.*AK

2003 DODGE RAM 2500 HEMI ENGINE STALLS OUT. NOW TRUCK IS IN GARAGE BECAUSE VALVE SPRING BROKE,CAUSING PISTON AND VALVE FAILURE. DODGE DEALER WOULD NOT CHECK ALL CYLINDERS ONLY THE ONE WITH PROBLEM. 2 WEEKS PASSED FINALLY PARTS ARE IN AND THEY ARE REPLACING WHAT BROKE. *AK

WHEN DRIVING OVER A POT HOLE AT 60 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATED SEVERELY. VEHICLE STOPPED VIBRATING WHEN SPEED DECREASED TO 30 MPH. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. DRIVER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK

ON AIR FILTER BOX, AIR GAUGE MINDER FELL OFF WITHOUT NOTICE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN WITH UNFILTERED AIR GETTING TO THE ENGINE... POSSIBLY CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE. *JB

UNCONTROLLED WOBBLE OF FRONT WHEELS ON 2003 DODGE RAM HEAVY DUTY TRUCK DUE TO WORN BALL JOINTS AND STEERING COMPONENTS, I'M TOLD THESE ARE THE SAME BALL JOINTS USED ON THE DURANGO. *AK

WHEN HITTING MODERATE BUMPS IN THE ROAD AT SPEEDS OVER 45MPH, THE FRONT WHEENS START BOUNCING UNCONTROLLABLY. NOTHING STOPS THE SHAKING EXCEPT DECELERATION TO <40 MPH. CONTOL OF THE VEHICLE IS COMPROMISED WHILE THE WHEELS ARE BOUNCING. *AK

FROM DAY ONE OF OWNING MY 2500 RAM IT SEEMED OUT OF ALIGNMENT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN LAS VEGAS WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE. THEN UPON MOVING TO COLORADO I AGAIN TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. A YEAR LATER I NOTICED SEVERE WEAR ON THE FRONT TIRES, INDICATING THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER AND WAS TOLD AT 38,000 MILES I NEEDED BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF 1,400! I DECLINED AND TOOK IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. ALSO THE DEALER TOLD ME TO CONSIDER AN ELIPTICAL SHAPED BALL JOINT IN LIEU OF THE STANDARD BALL SHAPED. ANYWAY, THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THEM. STILL I HEAR THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.*AK

2003 DODGE 2500 DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRE SIDEWALLS.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE SIDEWALL OF THE MICHELIN LTX A/S TIRES DEVELOPED CRACKS. ON SOME OF THE TIRES THERE ARE SOME AREAS WERE AT LEAST THE FIRST FEW LAYERS OF RUBBER WAS MISSING. *NM

THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WILL PERIODICALLY DOWN SHIFT INTO LOW GEAR. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB

(1) DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 75 MPH SPEED LIMIT. HIT RUTS IN ROAD LEFT FROM SEMIS. TIRES STARTED BOUNCING. TRUCK WENT OUT OF CONTROL. I THOUGHT I HAD MULTIPLE BLOWOUTS. STRUGGLED TO PULL OVER WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE ELSE. GOT TRUCK STOPPED AND GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT TIRES. NO DAMAGE TO TIRES. RESEARCHED SYMTOMS ON-LINE WHEN HOME AGAIN, DISCOVERED WHAT IS BEING CALLED "DEATH WOBBLE". TOOK TRUCK TO ALIGNMENT SHOP TODAY AND THEY INFORMED ME THEY CANNOT ALIGN BECAUSE ALL OF MY BALL JOINTS HAVE WAY TO MUCH PLAY AND TIE ROD ENDS ARE WORN OUT. FURTHER RESEARCH DONE TODAY ON DODGE OWNERS WEBSITES AND HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING "DEATH WOBBLE" ISSUES AND BAD BALL JOINTS, BUT DODGE IS NOT REPLACING THEM BECAUSE THEY STATE PLAY IS ACCEPTABLE. (2) THIS FAILURE IS ONE OF THE MOST SCARY THINGS I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED WHILE DRIVING A VEHICLE. TWENTY MINUTES EARLIER I WAS TOWING MY TRAVEL TRAILER BEHIND ME AND I THINK IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH THE TRAILER ON I WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE TRUCK. I AM TERRIFIED OF IT HAPPENING AGAIN. (3) I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PARTS REPLACED YET DO TO THE WEEKEND, BUT I WILL BE CALLING A SECOND SHOP ON MODAY FOR A SECOND OPINION AND PRICING TO HAVE THE PARTS REPLACED. MY FAMILY MEANS TO MUCH TO ME TO WAIT FOR A RECALL FROM DODGE ON THESE BALL JOINTS. I DO KNOW THAT THEY JUST RECALLED DURANGOS AND DAKOTAS FOR THE SAME REASON AND IN MY OPINION, THEY SHOULD RECALL FULL SIZED TRUCKS AS WELL. THIS CONDITION COULD HAVE VERY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES

AFTER VEHICLE WAS WARMED UP A CLANKING SOUND STARTED. ALSO, WHEN TOWING A FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER, AFTER AND AFTER TRAVELING 100 MILES VEHICLE SHOOK LIKE THE REAR END WAS GOING TO FALL OUT. DEALER DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM , AND STATED IT WAS EITHER THE REAR END OR THE DIFFERENTIAL. MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO HELP.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WRONG LUBE IN THE REAR END DIFFERENTIAL. MANUFACTURER ADVISED A DIFFERENT LUBE. CONSUMER WAITING FOR RESULTS WHEN 5TH WHEEL RV IS BEING TOWED. *TC

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE CONSUMER COULD FEEL THE MOVEMENT OF THE BALL JOINTS IN IT'S SOCKET WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE IT ALIGNED WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE CRACKED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

WHEN IDLING IN PARK ON A FLAT SURFACE THE VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT THE PARK GEAR TO REVERSE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACK AND HIT A CAR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM