2003 Dodge Ram 3500: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2003 Dodge Ram 3500: 6 recalls, 286 owner complaints.
Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 3 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #03V033000 · 2003 · 19,500 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain pickup trucks, equipped with cummins diesel engines and manual transmissions, May experience an elevated idle speed after extended cruise control use.
Why it matters: This can result in unintended acceleration and a reduction in braking effectiveness, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the software in the cummins engine controller. Owner notification began on March 10, 2003.
Wheels Vehicle recall #03V212000 · 2003 · 1,086 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain heavy duty pickup trucks, the aluminum wheels May have excessive porosity in the center hub area which can cause a wheel to crack.
Why it matters: This could cause a loss of vehicle control and result in a crash without warning.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the wheels and replace them if necessary. Owner notification is expected to begin June 17, 2003..
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #05V462000 · 2005 · 250,433 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain pickup trucks equipped with diesel engines and automatic transmissions, in an attempt to exit the vehicle quickly without shutting off the engine and removing the key, the driver May inadvertently leave the automatic transmission shift control in indicated reverse.
Why it matters: This error is an unintended action that May result in a lack of transmission park pawl engagement and possibly delayed rearward movement of the vehicle.
The fix: Dealers will perform a software modification to equip these vehicles with an out-of-park alarm.
Steering Vehicle recall #11V350000 · 2011 · 242,780 vehicles
What's wrong: This condition tends to occur during low speed parking lot type maneuvers when the customer is making a tight turn. Additionally, model year 2003-2008 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 vehicles May have received the affected tie rod assembly as a replacement part during normal service.
Why it matters: This condition could result in the potential loss of directional stability in the left hand front wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the tie rod ends for relative orientation and replace the left outer tie rod as required and perform a front end toe alignment as needed. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on October 3, 2011.
Steering Vehicle recall #13V528000 · 2013 · 706,664 vehicles
What's wrong: The left tie rod assembly May break.
Why it matters: A failure of the tie rod assembly May result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler notified owners and launched its recall campaign in January 2014.
Airbags Vehicle recall #15V312000 · 2015 · 385,686 vehicles
What's wrong: This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that May have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag May have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengerâs frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began on March 16, 2016.
3 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Suspension Equipment recall #07E009000 · 2007 · 3,350 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain lki enterprises, Inc., brand name superlift suspension, pitman arms sold as replacement equipment for 2003-2007 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 4x4 light trucks. Due to inadequate heat treatment during production, the affected pitman arms May develop cracks in the upper splined attachment attachment to the steering output shaft. Movement between the pitman arm and the output shaft May deform splines, resulting in…
Why it matters: Pitman arm wear or failure May lead to loss of vehicle control, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Lki will notify owners and replace the pitman arm, if necessary. The recall began on March 12, 2007.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Equipment recall #07E104000 · 2007 · 1,657 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain curved tempered replacement glass manufactured by hangzhou safety glass Ltd and supplied to safelite by auto temp Inc., identified as dot-430, and sold for use on certain domestic and foreign vehicles May not break into small pieces as expected of tempered glass and fails to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 205, "glazing materials."
Why it matters: In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant(s) May be seriously injured by shattered glass.
The fix: Safelite will notify its retail customers and replace the glass free of charge. Retail customers can contact safelite toll free at 1-888-843-2906. Safelite will notify its wholesale customers and reimburse wholesale customers for current inventory and at a specified rate for replacing their…
Steering Equipment recall #10E013000 · 2010 · 1,500 vehicles
What's wrong: Fts93001 and ft44039, installed for use on certain 2003 through 2008 Dodge 2500 4wd, 3500 4wd, and 1500 4wd mega cab vehicles. The pitman arm can fracture and break away from the steering box causing total loss of steering control.
Why it matters: Steering loss could result in a vehicle crash possibly resulting in property damage, injury or death.
The fix: Fabtech will notify owners and authorized installers will inspect for defective pitman arm and replace if necessary free of charge. The safety recall began on May 24, 2010.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 6 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (80): the most common themes are deploys unexpectedly / inflator (6), fails to deploy (4).
- Body & structure (53): the most common themes are rust / corrosion (2).
- Steering (37): the most common themes are steering problems (30), noise or vibration (6).
- Suspension (32): the most common themes are steering problems (9), noise or vibration (6).
The 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 has 286 owner complaints, ranking #2 of 22 Ram 3500 model years for complaints (2.0× the average Ram 3500 year). Complaints peaked in 2015 (48 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 8 years old, at a median of 76,258 miles. Neighboring years: 2002 (44 complaints, 0 recalls), 2004 (214 complaints, 4 recalls).
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2003 Dodge Ram 3500.
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FAQ
Does the 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2003 Dodge Ram 3500, plus 3 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 problems?
Owners have filed 286 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (80), body & structure (53), steering (37).
Where can I get a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.