2003 Dodge RAM 1500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other RAM 1500 years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 19 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 1,171 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Dodge RAM 1500. That is the most of any RAM 1500 model year in the database (19 years). The most reported problem area is air bags (458 complaints, 39%), typically at around 112,500 miles. Complaints mention 76 crashes, 12 fires, 80 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 1,171owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 76complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Dodge RAM 1500 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 458 | 39% | 112,500 | “takata air bags” (27%) | — |
| Structure problems | 237 | 20% | 75,000 | “dashboard cracked” (12%) | $1,200 |
| Power Train problems | 125 | 11% | 74,000 | “rear end” (26%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 67 | 6% | 91,276 | — | — |
| Electrical System problems | 62 | 5% | 62,250 | “ignition switch” (11%) | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 62 | 5% | 10,000 | “rotors warped” (26%) | — |
| Suspension problems | 57 | 5% | 69,500 | “rear axle” (18%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 56 | 5% | 42,318 | “valve spring” (13%) | — |
| Steering | 44 | 4% | 76,504 | — | — |
| Visibility | 24 | 2% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 21 | 2% | 132,850 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 20 | 2% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 19 | 2% | 99,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 18 | 2% | 67,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 15 | 1% | 78,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 11 | 1% | 48,729 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 9 | 1% | 86,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 9 | 1% | 92,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 8 | 1% | 117,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 6 | 1% | 128,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 0% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 5 | 0% | 1 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 0% | 43,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 0% | 7,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 0% | 9,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | 109,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 0% | 18,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Dodge RAM 1500 recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleDo not drive
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2003 Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks manufactured August 29, 2002, to July 25, 2003 to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. 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.
Risk: 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.
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. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R26. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 14V770.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.
- Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA15001) — opened Feb 24, 2015, still open, led to recall 14V668.
- Air Bag Inflator Rupture (PE14016) — opened Jun 11, 2014, closed Mar 2, 2015, led to recall 13V172000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
brought my 2003 dodge ram 1500 to Romeo dodge to have a Passenger Airbag Recall Repair on [XXX] and I was called one hour later and told my airbag replacement was finished and I could pick up my truck. So i picked up my truck and drove it from Romeo dodge [XXX] to [XXX] where I live I parked the…
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V312000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired; however, the contact was informed that the part to…
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being driven by a friend at 45 MPH, the rear axle detached. The driver was stranded by the roadside. The vehicle was towed to the driver's residence. There were no warning lights illuminated. An unknown local…
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the steering wheel and the front wheels were uncontrollable. While driving from Georgia to Memphis, there was an unknown object loose by the wheel. The ball joint suspension was replaced by an independent mechanic. The low tire…
Rear fenders are rusted such that wiring harness falls off from underside if fenders and rubs on tires. Middle of frame rusted through on right and left side and dealer's floor lift went about half-way through both sides when the technician. tried to raise truck to check wiring under truck. The…
Other Dodge RAM 1500 years
← 2002 RAM 1500 · 2004 RAM 1500 →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 RAM 1500 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 RAM 1500 | 698 | 6 |
| 2011 RAM 1500 | 689 | 4 |
| 2010 RAM 1500 | 487 | 4 |
| 2009 RAM 1500 | 670 | 2 |
| 2008 RAM 1500 | 554 | 5 |
| 2007 RAM 1500 | 517 | 4 |
| 2006 RAM 1500 | 792 | 9 |
| 2005 RAM 1500 | 1,170 | 4 |
| 2004 RAM 1500 | 1,099 | 5 |
| 2003 | 1,171 | 1 |
| 2002 RAM 1500 | 815 | 3 |
| 2001 RAM 1500 | 1,112 | 2 |
| 2000 RAM 1500 | 513 | 2 |
| 1999 RAM 1500 | 610 | 0 |
| 1998 RAM 1500 | 520 | 0 |
| 1997 RAM 1500 | 361 | 0 |
| 1996 RAM 1500 | 298 | 0 |
| 1995 RAM 1500 | 213 | 0 |
See all Dodge RAM 1500 problems by year, every Dodge model, or the Dodge VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Dodge RAM 1500?
Owners most often report air bags, structure, power train problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 458 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Dodge RAM 1500?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Dodge RAM 1500 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other RAM 1500 model years, the 2003 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.