2003 Dodge Ram 3500 complaints

4TH TIRE FAILURE, GOODYEAR LT235?80R17 SEVERAL SIDE WALL TIRE SPLITS,BOTH OUTER SURFACES OF TIRE. TIRE HAD 10/32 OF 15/32 TREAD REMAINING, THIS TIRE IS ONE ALREADY REPLACED BY GOODYEAR. THE CASING IS AT WEST TIRE SVC, 4000 HWY 281 NORTH, MARBLE FALLS ,TX78654, PHONE 830/693-0475, FAX: 830/693-0602. WOULD BE NICE IF YOU IMPOUNDED TIS TIRE FOR EXAMINATION AND FACT FINDING BEFORE THEY SHIP IT AWAY. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR CURB BOUNCE INVOLVED, JUST A FAULTY TIRE AND IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT ALL MY DRIVING ON MICHELIN TIRES NEVER HAD A MESS LIKE THIS ONE AND MY DRIVING STYLE HAS NOT CHANGED. *NM

READING YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT DODGE DURANGO AND DAKOTA GAVE ME SOME SATISFACTION OF MY ISSUE. I HAVE 03 DODGE RAM WITH INFERIOR/FAULTY BALL JOINTS. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO GET THE DEALER TO ADDRESS WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE ARGUMENT IS OVER HOW MUCH PLAY IS ALLOWED. INDEPENDENT SHOPS WILL NOT ALIGN AND SAY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DODGE. I CONTACTED DODGE TO ATTEMPT TO GET INFORMATION ON THE NUMBER OF OWNERS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINT AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS GENERATION OF DODGE MUST USE A DIFFERENT BALL JOINT THAN THE PRIOR GENERATION. I SAW YOUR ALERT AND WAS CURIOUS IF IT INCLUDED THE RAM PICK UP? ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *JB

WHENEVER MY TRUCK IS LOADED TO MGCW AND I HAVE TO MAKE A QUICK STOP, IF THE ABS RELEASES TO REGAIN WHEEL SPIN UP, THE BRAKING NEVER COMES BACK TO ANYTHING LIKE IT WAS BEFORE THE ANTI SKID RELEASED. THE BRAKING IS DEFINITELY VERY DANGEROUS IF THE ABS ENGAGES ON A QUICK STOP. IF THE ABS ENGAGES YOU HAD BETTER BE LOOKING FOR SOMEPLACE TO GO BECAUSE YOU AREN'T GOING TO STOP. I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN TWICE IN 47000 MILES AND I CONSIDER IT AN URGENT SAFETY FACTOR. I HAVE DRIVEN TRUCKS WITH ABS SINCE THEY CAME OUT AND THIS ONE IS DANGEROUS. *JB

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE ROLLED OFF WHILE PARKED. *AK

WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND MOVED ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

MY 2003 DODGE RAM 3500 DIESEL HAS BEEN JUMPING INTO REVERSE FROM PARK. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY. I PARKED AT MINI MART AT 6AM TO GET A CUP OF COFFEE. IT WAS COLD SO I LEFT THE ENGNE IDLING TO WARM UP. I CAME OUT TO FIND MY VEHICLE GONE. I LOOKED ACROSS THE STREET AND FOUND IT SMASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE TRUCK HAD MINIMAL DAMAGE, BUT EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE BUILDING. I THOUGHT MAYBE I MISTAKINLY PUT THE LEVER IN REVERSE AT FIRST, BUT BUT YOU CANT GET OUT OF THE DOOR WITHOUT THE VEHILE TAKING OFF WHEN YOU LEAVE IT IN REVERSE, IF YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE IT TAKES OFF. THIS HAPENED AGAIN IN MID MARCH. I LEFT THE VEHICLE TO CHECK A FIELD, I HERD A KLUNK AND TURNED AROUND TO FIND MY PICKUP BACKING DOWN THE ROAD. AT THIS POINT I HAD THE DEALER CHECK THE TRANSMISSON. THE FOUND NOTHING WRONG. IN MID I JUNE WAS CHECKING RICE BOXES ON A CANAL BANK WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME THE PICKUP WENT INTO THE CANAL AND FILLED 1/4 FULL OF WATER, AS WILL AS BODY DAMAGE. I AGAIN TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY HAD A REPRESENATIVE FROM DIAMLER-CHRYSLER COME OUT AND CHECK THE VEHICLE. HE DID A WHOLE SERIES OF TESTS. THEY LATER SENT ME A LETTER STATING MY CLAIM HAD BEEN DENIED. THEY ARE DOING NOTHING! THESE VEHICLES ARE UNSAFE. I DONT KNOW WHERE TO GO FROM HERE.*AK

THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD IN EVERY GEAR EXCEPT IN NEUTRAL WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLUTCH, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE TRANSMISSION WAS HARD TO SHIFT, THE CLUTCH CONTROL WAS DEFECTIVE DUE TO THE SLAVE CYLINDER BLEEDING BACK INTO THE MASTER CYLINDER. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LURCH UNEXPECTEDLY. *SC

DUE TO VALVE STEM SEPARATION THE TIRES CONTINUED TO GO FLAT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE TIRES BACK TO GOODYEAR. *AK *JB

VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN IT REACHES 20 MPH IN GEAR OR NOT IN GEAR. IT VIBRATES SO HARD THAT THE MIRRORS ON THE EXTERIOR SHAKE LIKE THEY ARE COMING OFF.*AK

THE HUB ON THE LEFT FRONT BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH. VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO TOLD HIM THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS. *AK

THE TIRES HAD AN ONGOING FAILURE WITH DEEP TORQUE CRACKS AROUND THE SIDEWALL. THIS COULD RESULT IN A BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE ORIGINAL TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 15,000 MILES, THE SECOND REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE AT 20,0000 MILES. CURRENTLY, THIRD REPLACEMENT INVOLVED ALL TIRES FOR THE SAME FAILURE.*AK

AFTER ABOUT SIX MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE NEW THE REAR END MAKES A WINNING SOUND. DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK

2003 DODGE 3500 FOUR DOOR PICKUP 4X4 FRONT WHEELS SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHEN TRAVELING OVER ROUGH PATCHES OF INTERSTATE. EVERYTHING SHAKES, FEELS LIKE THE TRUCK IS COMING APART. WITNESSES SAY THE FRONT WHEELS ARE STEERING LEFT TO RIGHT RAPIDLY, HOWEVER IT FEELS LIKE THE TIRES ARE BOUNCING OFF OF THE PAVEMENT. THIS HAPPENS REGULARLY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 65MPH. WHEN I SLOW TO 40 MPH THE SHAKING STOPS. IT IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN IT IS SHAKING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING A BURNING ODOR WAS COMING INSIDE OF THE VENTS. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT GASKET, FAN, AND OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND WERE REPLACED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE ALTERNATOR BRACKET WAS BROKE. . *NM THE DEALER INDICATED THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *NM

DIESEL FUMES ARE COMING THROUGH THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THERE IS A BURNING OIL SMELL . *AK

2003 DODGE RAM 3500. 76000 MILE. REAR AXLE SEAL LEAKING ONTO RIGHT REAR EMERGENCY BRAKE PADS. LOSS OF REAR END FLUID. HAD THE TRANSMISSION AND REAR END SERVICED AT LOCAL DODGE DEALER AT 30,000 AND 60,000 MILES. THEY STATED BOTH TIMES THE REAR END WAS LOW ON FLUID. BUT COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHERE THE FLUID WENT TO. DURING A RECENT BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT THE TECHNICIAN REMOVED THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL TO TURN THE DISK, AND FOUND THE PROBLEM. THE LOCAL DEALER STATED THEY HAD THE SEALS BUT WHEN THEY ARRIVED THEY WERE THE WRONG SIZE. SEVERAL PHONE CALLS LATER THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO LOCATED THE CORRECT SIZE BUT THEY COULD NOT BE DELIVERED UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. ALSO THERE HAS BEEN A CLICKING NOISE COMMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE TRUCK FOR SOME TIME. I ASSUMED IT WAS THE SHOCK. BUT AGAIN THE TECHNICIAN DOING THE BRAKE JOB FOUND THE UPPER A ARM BALL JOINT WAS WARN TO THE POINT OF ALLOWING SIDE TO SIDE MOVEMENT OF THE TIRE. THE LEFT (OR DRIVERS SIDE SEEMED TO BE GOOD.) BUT SINCE MY TRUCK WOULD BE DOWN AGAIN I HAVE DECIDED TO REPLACE BOTH A ARM BALL JOINTS. MY BUSINESS DEPENDS ON ME BEING ABLE TO TRAVEL 200 OR 300 MILES A DAY, SO MAINTENANCE IS A MUST. BUT IT SEEMS A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF IS GOING WRONG JUST AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRES.*AK

POOR FUEL MILEAGE IN COMPARISON TO SEVERAL OTHER DODGE'S OF THE SAME YEAR. *PH WHILE PULLING A TRAILER AT 63 MPH THE VEHILCE HAD A LOW OF 6.85 MPG. ON AVERAGE THE VEHICLE GOT 7.5-8.0 MPG LOADED AND 12-14 MPG EMPTY. THE DEALER REFLASHED THE COMPUTER. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER BUT NOW IT WAS MISSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE TRUCK WAS LEFT THERE FOR A WEEK BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINED THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS ERETURNED TO THE CONSUMER. THE DEALER CONTACTED THE COSUMER TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO PERFORM SERVICE SUGGESTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER THE TRUCK STARTED BLOWING TRANSMISION FLUID THROUGH THE RADIATOR OVERFLOW. THE DEALER HAD TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION, REPLACE THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION COOLER. THE U-JOINT AT THE REAR AXLE SNAPPED WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVE SHAFT TO COLLAPSE ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE FUEL LIFT PUMP FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE LEAKED.

CONSUMER WILL PROVIDE PICTURES, AND WILL PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION ON U JOINT AND FRONT AXLE. *AK

TIE ROD ENDS WORE OUT, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER VEHICLE. *AK THE STABILIZER BAR AND WHEEL BEARING ALSO FAILED. *JB

THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS SLIPPING INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING AND SOMETIMES UPON PULLING OUT. THE TRUCK IS 10 WEEKS OLD AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THIS CONDITION 4 TIMES, WITH THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT ON 3 OF THOSE TRIPS, ONCE IT WENT IN ON A ROLLBACK BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. IT HAS ALSO DOWNSHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR, BARKED THE TIRES AND SLUNG US FORWARD SO HARD IT ALMOST SNAPPED OUR NECKS TWICE NOW. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED ALSO. THEY NOW SAY SINCE I AM REQUESTING A FULL REFUND FOR THE TRUCK THAT THERE IS NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS OR DAMAGE ONLY A SOFTWARE PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER. THEY SAY MICHIGAN IS AWARE OF IT, BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A PROGRAM WRITTEN TO CORRECT IT YET, BUT THEY WILL NOTIFY ME WHEN THERE IS. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, YOU CAN'T MERGE INTO TRAFFIC FOR FEAR OF IT NOT MOVING, YOU ARE AFRAID OF IT DOWNSHIFTING, BUT THEY ASSURE ME IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE, AND THE REP WON'T CALL ME BACK LIKE HE WAS SUPPOSED TO. THEY ARE TRYING TO IGNORE ME COMPLETELY SINCE I ASKED FOR A REFUND UNDER THE TENNESSEE LEMON LAW, OF WHICH THE 4 UNSUCCESSFUL REPAIR ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE, WITH NOTIFICATION BY CERTIFIED LETTER TO THE DEALER AFTER THE 3RD ATTEMPT. THEY SAY NOW THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, WHEN BEFORE I ASKED FOR A REFUND THEY COULD.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, AND VEHICLE ROLLED INTO A LAKE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED VEHICLE FAILS TO ACCELERATE AND STAYS IN THE IDLE POSITION. WHEN THIS OCCURS THE CONSUMER COASTS VEHICLE FORWARD FOR A FEW SECONDS THAN RESTARTS THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH SUDDENLY STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN AND LOCKED UP. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE STEERING GEAR BOX BEING TIGHTENED TOO TIGHT AT TIME OF MANUFACTURING, PER DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE PART. *AK *NLM

PROBLEMS WITH TIRE EQUIPMENT ON 2003 DODGE DIESEL 3500 TRUCK.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO THE CONSUMER'S TEN POUNDS BELOW THE MINIMUM PRESSURE FOR A SAFE RIDE. THE CONSUMER'S TEST DROVE ONE 3500, BUT DIDN'T LIKE THE ROUGHNESS OF THE RIDE. THE SECOND 3500, THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION RODE MUCH SMOOTHER. THEY HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP TO INSURE IT WAS READY FOR A LONG TRIP. AFTER BEING DRIVEN 3000 MILES, THE VEHICLE HANDLED VERY BAD ON WET AND MUDDY ROADS. CONSUMER HAD THE TIRES CHECKED AND REALIZED IT RODE SMOOTH AT FIRST BECAUSE IT WAS 10 POUNDS UNDER PRESSURE. WHEN INFLATED TO THE PROPER PRESSURE (55) IT RODE ROUGH EVEN AT 40 MPH OR LESS. *PH

EXHAUST PIPE OUTLET DOES NOT EXTEND OUT PAST THE BODY ON MY 2003 DODGE 3500 TRUCK. IT SEEMS THAT THE PIPE WAS DESIGNED FOR A 2500 OR 1500 MODEL TRUCK, WHICH HAVE NO EXTERNAL FENDERS. I AM UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE PIPE IS SUPPOSED TO BE LONG ENOUGH TO DIRECT THE EXHAUST GASES AWAY FROM, NOT UNDER, THE BODY. *LA

THE TIRES ARE WEARING OUT AT AN UNUSUALLY FAST RATE.VEHICLE ONLY HAS 4000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, AND THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN VEHICLE HAD ONLY 500 MILES. THE CONSUMER IS A HOUSE BUILDER, AND DOES NOT DO ANYTHING UNUSUAL WITH THE VEHICLE.*AK

2003 DODGE CUMMINS HO PICKUP, I HAVE A NEW TRUCK THAT HAS AN INJECTOR THAT STICKS. IT HAS STUCK WIDE OPEN 4 TIMES, CLOSED TWO TIMES AND PARTIALLY OPEN MANY TIMES. WHEN IT STICKS WIDE OPEN THE KNOCK CAN BE HEARD THROUGH A VEHICLE WINDOW WITH AIR & RADIO RUNNING. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS A BLACK CLOUD OF SMOKE THAT IS SO THICK THAT THE SUN AND ROAD CANNOT BE SEEN. ON INTERSTATE 90 I STOPPED ALL TRAFFIC EAST & WEST WHEN IT HAPPENED. MY WIFE WAS FOLLOWING ME ON THE WAY HOME FROM KELLOGG ID TO ELLENSBURG WA. CUMMINS AGREES WITH ME THAT I HAVE A FAULTY INJECTOR; HOWEVER FAILURE DOES NOT SET ANY CODES IN THE COMPUTER. CONSEQUENTLY DODGE WILL NOT FIX IT. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES AND HAVE A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH BECAUSE THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THE TRUCKS COMPUTER DOES NOT RECORD THE INCIDENTS. I AM RUNNING WITH TWO TEMPERATURE INSTRUMENTS TO READ CYLINDER OUTLET TEMPERATURES WHEN IT HAPPENS AND CYLINDER SIX IS 10 TO 20% HIGHER THAN THE OTHER CYLINDERS. I AM TOLD I NEED TO DRIVE IT UNTIL I HAVE A TOTAL FAILURE. I FEEL THAT A FAILURE ON A CROWDED FREEWAY COULD VERY POSSIBLY CAUSE A MULTICAR ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES AND FATALITIES. MY DODGE CASE NUMBER IS 11579365 AND THEY HAVE A COMPLETE CASE FILE; HOWEVER THEY WILL DO NOTHING.*AK

WHEN ACCELERATING AT VARIOUS SPEED VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE, CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO CONSUMER. DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, DRIVER CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER SAID TO POP THE HOOD PUMP, THE PRIMER. VEHICLE STARTED 10 MINUTES LATER AND STALLED ON HIGHWAY, CONSUMER FEELS COULD HAVE BEEN T-BONED AS A RESULT OF ENGINE STALLING AND DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING.DEALER SAID FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED REPLACEMENT, AND WILL ONLY BE REPLACED ONE AT A TIME AS THEY FAIL. *AK

2001 DODGE 3500 W/HO CUMMINS SPONTANEOUSLY IGNITED AND BURNED TO NOTHING. IT STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, DRIVERS SIDE. MY OPINION IS IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE DUE TO THE SMELL OF THE SMOKE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK

WHEN TOWING THE TRUCKS LIFT PUMP WOULD NOT SUPPORT THE MOTOR AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DIE OUT. THE LIFT PUMP WAS NOT PUMPING ENOUGH FUEL TO THE MOTOR. *AK *CB *NLM

RE: HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) HEADLIGHTS. HID'S ARE OFTEN BLINDING BOTH FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND FROM REAR VIEW MIRRORS. COMBINE THIS WITH THE FACT THAT MANY AUTO HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT PROPERLY ADJUSTED AND IT GETS EVEN WORSE. ADD SUV'S, WITH THEIR HEADLIGHTS ALREADY AIMED SO HIGH, AND HID'S ARE ESPECIALLY BAD. PLEASE BAN HID HEADLIGHTS. *JB

WHEN THE TRAILER WAS USED, IT BENT THE MAIN SPRINGS WHICH SUPPORTED BOTH THE TRUCK AND TRAILER IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. IF THE SPRING WERE TO BREAK IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *JB

THE GAS NOZZLES ARE TOO SMALL, GAS IS BEING POURED EVERYWHERE. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A FIRE COULD START. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH