Your vehicle report
2003 Dodge RAM
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 53
- Received Oct 2002 to Aug 2012
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly5 complaints · 9.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Seat belt fails to latch or retract3 complaints · 5.7% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Dashboard cracks near passenger airbag3 complaints · 5.7% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #04V185000On certain van and wagon vehicles equipped with 4-WHEEL antilock brake systems (ABS), aftermarket batteries may leak electrolyte onto the ABS control module connector, which can compromise sealing integrity of the connector.
- Recall #03V033000Certain pickup trucks, equipped with cummins diesel engines and manual transmissions, may experience an elevated idle speed after extended cruise control use.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 6 crashes, 1 fire, 5 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 5 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Electrical & lights
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 20 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 53 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 5 | 9.4% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 3 | 5.7% | – | |
| Dashboard cracks near passenger airbag | 3 | 5.7% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 3 | 5.7% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 3 | 5.7% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #04V185000April 12, 200444,588 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
On certain van and wagon vehicles equipped with 4-WHEEL antilock brake systems (ABS), aftermarket batteries may leak electrolyte onto the ABS control module connector, which Can compromise sealing integrity of the connector.
This may allow development of a short circuit in the connector, which could eventually lead to a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the ABS control module connector for electrolyte damage and replace the connector as necessary. The recall will begin on september 27, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA recall #03V033000February 5, 200319,500 vehicles affected
vehicle speed control
Certain pickup trucks, equipped with cummins diesel engines and manual transmissions, may experience an elevated idle speed after extended cruise control use.
This Can result in unintended acceleration and a reduction in braking effectiveness, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will reprogram the software in the cummins engine controller. Owner notification began on march 10, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2003 Dodge RAM.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN