2003 DODGE RAM 1500 Power Trainautomatic Transmission Problems

15 NHTSA complaints on file

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Power Trainautomatic Transmission Issues in the 2003 DODGE RAM 1500

15 power trainautomatic transmission complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. Of these, 4 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, and 2 resulted in injury.

15
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
2
Deaths

All Power Trainautomatic Transmission Complaints

#10606214 |
TL* THE CONTACT STATED 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD THUMPING SOUND AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AND TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
#10302357 |
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONSUMER STATED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE FOR 10-15 SECONDS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION OIL SUMP, COOLER BYPASS AND TORQUE CONVERTER. SINCE THEN, HE HAS HAD TO RETURN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER THEN STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 2/22/10 *CN UPDATED 06/25/10.*JB
#10262858 | Crash 1 Death
THIS IS AN UPDATE TO THE COMPLAINT I FILED DUE THE INCIDENT WITH MY STEPFATHER. THAT COMPLAINT IS #10246879 WHEREIN I REPORTED A FAILURE IN THE IGNITION/PARKING SYSTEM THAT CAUSED HIS 2003 THIS IS AN UPDATE TO COMPLAINT ODI 10246879 WHEREIN I REPORTED THE FAILURE OF THE IGNITION / PARKING SYSTEM OF HIS 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK. THE FAILURE CAUSED HIS TRUCK TO ROLL OVER HIM, CATCHING HIM UP UNDER THE TRUCK AND DRAGGING HIM OVER A CURB WHERE IT JUMPED THE NEIGHBORS FENCE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. AT FIRST IT WAS THOUGHT HE WOULD SURVIVE HIS INJURIES BUT HE DIED FROM COMPLICATIONS OF HIS INJURIES AFTER A LONG AND PAINFUL HOSPITALIZATION. I AM UPDATING THAT COMPLAINT TO ADVISE OF HIS DEATH. THIS APPEARS TO BE A NOT SO UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I NOTE THAT THE 2002 MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR
#10251143 |
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMPLAINT IN REFERENCE TO MY 2003 DODGE RAM 15 QUAD CAB THAT CAUSED INJURY TO MYSELF BY JUMPING OUT OF GEAR. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED ON THE DATE OF NOV28 WILE IN A CONVENIENT STORE PARKING LOT I HAVE TWO OF MY VEHICLES THAT WERE RUNNING AT THE TIME AND THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS IN PARK POSITION. I HOPPED OUT OF MY TRUCK TO GO IN STORE BUT TO MY SURPRISE I FELT A SHARP PAIN IN THE LOWER RIGHT LEG WHEN I LOOKED AT WHAT WAS GOING ON TO MY SURPRISE I WAS HIT BY MY OWN VEHICLE I WAS STUNNED MY TRUCK WHICH WAS IN PARK HIT ME AND THERE WAS NOONE ELSE IN MY TRUCK LUCKY FOR ME THAT STORE HAD A BIG CONCRETE CURB TO STOP THE TRUCK OR I MIGHT NOT BE THE ONE WRITING TO YOU...
#10246879 | Crash
THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING FILED ON BEHALF OF THE 2003 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCK 1500 MR. JP WATERS BY HIS STEPSON. MR. WATERS WAS SEVERELY INJURED ON OCTOBER 22, 2008 AFTER PLACING THE AFORESAID VEHICLE IN PARK ON AN INCLINE, TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, AND EXITING THE TRUCK. AS HE WENT AROUND TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO RETRIEVE SOME ITEMS THE TRUCK ROLLED, KNOCKING HIM DOWN AND DRAGGING HIM ACROSS A CURB INTO A NEIGHBORS YARD. HE SUSTAINED A FRACTURED HIP/ NUMEROUS LACERATIONS/ CONTUSIONS ALL OVER HIS BODY AND CONSEQUENTLY SUFFERED HEART FAILURE AND HAD TO BE AIR LIFTED TO A HEART HOSPITAL. HIS RECALL IS THAT HE DEFINITELY PLACED THE TRUCK IN PARK POSITION (IT IS AN AUTOMATIC)/ TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND NOTICED NO MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN HE EXITED--IT WAS PARKED ON A STEEP INCLINE. THE REAR MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL HE...
#10229369 |
HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES! WHEN PARKED ON ANY KIND OF INCLINE, THE TRUCK RUNNING OR NOT (HAS HAPPENED BOTH WAYS) HAS ROLLED BACKWARDS AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP WITH THE BRAKES. LUCKILY NO ONE HAS BEEN RUN OVER, AND IT HASN'T HIT ANYTHING, BUT NEXT TIME MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY! I NOW USE THE PARKING BRAKE AT ALL TIMES WHEN TRUCK IS PARKED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS ADDRESSED BY CHRYSLER! *TR
#10172095 | Crash
I PLACED THE TRUCK IN PARK AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE TRUCK THEN BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS IN REVERSE. I WAS KNOCKED DOWN BY THE OPEN DOOR BEFORE I COULD REENTER THE TRUCK AND ROLLED AWAY TO AVOID BEING RUN OVER. THE TRUCK BACKED INTO A FENCE POST DAMAGING THE DRIVERS DOOR AND RIGHT FRONT FENDER. THE FENCE POST WAS ALSO BENT OVER. *NM
#10154425 |
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK AND MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO MY SERVICE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPAIRED IT. I ONLY HAD 37,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AT THE TIME. I DIDN'T HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE. I HAD TO USE A RENTAL CAR. THEN ON TOP OF EVERYTHING, CHRYSLER DAMLER WOULD NOT PAY FOR MY RENTAL. THE REAL ISSUE HERE IS THAT MY TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT UNDER 40,000 MILES. *JB
#10116026 | 1 Death
ON FRIDAY, NOV. 28, 2003 MY HUSBAND DIED AS THE RESULT OF OUR 2003 DODGE RAM JUMPING FROM PARK INTO REVERSE, THE DRIVERS DOOR HIT HIM FROM BEHIND AND ROLLED HIM OVER FORWARD, PENNING HIM UNDER THE DRIVERS DOOR AND PAVEMENT. THIS INCIDNET WAS REPORTED TO AND INVESTIGATED BY THE BIRMINGHAM POLICE DEPT. *NM
#10090734 | Crash
10/25/02-BOUGHT NEW 2003 DODGE 1500 EXTENDED CAB. 11/26/02, ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ON. DEALERSHIP SAID "CONNECTION AT CAB HAD WATER IN IT, AND DRIED OFF AND SEALED." 12/19/02, 3685 MILES, TOOK BACK BECAUSE OF ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ON. SHORT IN BRAKE SWITCH AND REPLACED THE BRAKE SWITCH. 12/20/02 RETURNED WITH ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ON. BRAKE SWITCH AND REAR ABS SENSOR SHORTED. REPLACED BOTH SENSORS AND FOUND WATER IN THE WIRING CONNECTOR. DISCONNECTED, CLEANED, DRIED AND SEALED. RETURNED TO ME ON 12/24. 12/30/02, 4339 MILES, ABS/BRAKE LIGHTS ON/RPM SPIKED. 8-WAY PLUG HAD WATER IN IT. "CONTACTED STAR AND WAS TOLD TO CUT OUT PLUG AND SOLDER WIRES." TRUCK RETURNED TO ME ON 01/02/03. 01/24/03, 5864 MILES, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON/SPEEDOMETER SPIKING AT IDLE. DEALERSHIP CHECKED CODES, CHECKED WIRING, REAR ABS SENSOR, CONNECTOR, ABS CONTROLLER CONNECTOR, CLEANED, SEALED CONNECTOR. TRUCK RETURNED TO ME ON 01/28/03. 08/20/03, 19775...
#10041254 |
TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. THERE IS A PERIOD OF FREE-WHEELING WHEN IT DOWNSHIFTS FROM THE OD BACK INTO FOURTH GEAR, CAUSING INCREASED PRESSURE TO HAVE TO BE APPLIED TO BRAKING THE PICKUP WHICH IN TURN CAUSES A JERKING WHILE BRAKING. THERE IS ALSO A PAUSE BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, IT IS SLOW GETTING INTO EACH GEAR AND DOES NOT DOWNSHIFT PROPERLY. THE REAR-END HAS EXCESSIVE SLACK TO THE POINT OF STARTLING PEOPLE IF NEARBY WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEARS. THESE HAVE ALL BEEN DESCRIBED AS NORMAL BY THE DEALER. NOT SO! *JB
#10040506 |
WHILE SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE CONSUMER HEARD CLUNKY NOISE. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK A FACTORY REP. LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND STATED IT WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE RAM 1500. CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. *PH *NLM
#10031389 |
CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD AT TIMES, STALLED AND HESITATED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THIS HAPPENED WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. ON THREE OCCASIONS, VEHICLE HAD FAILED TO START. WHEN IT DID RESTART BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. *PH *JB
#10013625 |
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE WHEN LEFT OUTSIDE IN THE COLD. VEHICLE HAS 1200 MILES ON IT. VEHICLE WAS IMPORTED FROM CANADA AND CHRYSLER CORP. WILL NOT WARRANTY, NOR WILL SELLING DEALER TAKE VEHICLE BACK. I PURCHASED VEHICLE 5 WEEKS AGO. I WAS TOLD BY REPAIR STATION THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION BUT IT DOES NOT SURFACE ON CARFAX NOR ON THIS WEBSITE BECAUSE DODGE DOES NOT REPORT RECALLS TO EITHER. *JB
#10008976 |
THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO ABRUPTLY PULL OVER.*JB

Other 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 Problem Areas

Air Bags 445 complaints Structure 158 complaints Structurebody 72 complaints Unknown Or Other 65 complaints Power Train 62 complaints Electrical System 47 complaints Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdiscrotor 43 complaints Steering 31 complaints Suspension 31 complaints Engine And Engine Coolingengine 23 complaints Engine And Engine Cooling 22 complaints Engine 21 complaints Vehicle Speed Control 20 complaints Wheels 16 complaints Exterior Lighting 12 complaints Power Traindrivelinedifferential Unit 12 complaints Air Bagsfrontal 11 complaints Power Trainaxle Assembly 11 complaints Visibility 11 complaints Visibilitywiper 9 complaints Power Trainaxle Assemblyaxle Shaft 8 complaints Power Traindrivelinedriveshaft 8 complaints Service Brakes 8 complaints Service Brakes Hydraulic 8 complaints Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip 8 complaints Tires 8 complaints Equipment 7 complaints Suspensionrear 7 complaints Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac System 7 complaints Fuelpropulsion System 6 complaints Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline 5 complaints Seat Belts 5 complaints Suspensionfrontwheel Bearing 5 complaints Equipmentapplianceair Conditioner 4 complaints Power Traintransfer Case 4 Wheel Drive 4 complaints Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdisccaliper 4 complaints Steeringrack And Pinion 4 complaints Suspensionfrontcontrol Armupper Ball Joint 4 complaints Tiressidewall 4 complaints Electrical System Instrument Clusterpanel 3 complaints Electrical Systemwiring 3 complaints Power Trainautomatic Transmissioncontrol Module Tcmpcmtecm 3 complaints Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdiscpads 3 complaints Steeringlinkagestie Rod Assembly 3 complaints Structurebodydoor 3 complaints Suspensionfront 3 complaints Suspensionfrontcontrol Armlower Ball Joint 3 complaints Electrical Systemignition 2 complaints Electrical Systemwiringinteriorunder Dash 2 complaints Engine And Engine Coolingcooling Systemradiator Assembly 2 complaints Exterior Lightingbrake Lightsswitch 2 complaints Exterior Lightingturn Signal 2 complaints Fuel System Gasoline 2 complaints Latcheslockslinkages 2 complaints Power Trainautomatic Transmissiongear Position Indication Prndl 2 complaints Power Trainaxle Hubs 2 complaints Seats 2 complaints Seatsmidrear Assembly 2 complaints Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slipcontrol Unitmodule 2 complaints Steeringcolumn 2 complaints Steeringhydraulic Power Assisthose Piping And Connections 2 complaints Structurebodytailgate 2 complaints Structureframe And Members 2 complaints Suspensionfronthub 2 complaints Suspensionrearaxlespindle 2 complaints Visibilitypower Window Devices And Controls 2 complaints Electrical System12v24v48v Battery 1 complaint Electrical Systemhorn 1 complaint Electrical Systemignitionmodule 1 complaint Electrical Systemignitionswitch 1 complaint Electrical Systemsoftware 1 complaint Electronic Stability Control Esc 1 complaint Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System 1 complaint Engine And Engine Coolingcooling Systemfan 1 complaint Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Control 1 complaint Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Controlgas Recirculation Valve Egr Valve 1 complaint Exterior Lightingbrake Lights 1 complaint Exterior Lightinghazard Flashing Warning Lights 1 complaint Exterior Lightingturn Signalswitch 1 complaint Fuel System Gasolinedeliveryhoses Linespiping And Fittings 1 complaint Fuel System Gasolinefuel Injection System 1 complaint Fuel System Gasolinestorageauxillary Tank 1 complaint Interior Lighting 1 complaint Latcheslockslinkagesdoorslatch 1 complaint Parking Brake 1 complaint Parking Brakeconventionalmechanicallinkage And Cable 1 complaint Power Trainclutch Assembly 1 complaint Seat Belts Rearotherbuckle Assembly 1 complaint Seat Beltsfront 1 complaint Seat Beltsfrontretractor 1 complaint Seat Beltsrearother 1 complaint Seatsfront Assemblyhead Restraint 1 complaint Service Brakes Airantilock 1 complaint Service Brakes Airdisc 1 complaint Service Brakes Airdisccaliper 1 complaint Service Brakes Airdiscpads 1 complaint Service Brakes Airdiscrotor 1 complaint Service Brakes Electric 1 complaint Steeringlinkages 1 complaint Steeringlinkagesknucklespindlearm 1 complaint Structurebodydoorhinge And Attachments 1 complaint Suspensionfrontspringstorsion Bar 1 complaint Suspensionrearaxlenon Powered Axle Assembly 1 complaint Tirespressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems 1 complaint Tirestemporaryemergency Spare Tire 1 complaint Tirestreadbelt 1 complaint Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac Systemheater Core 1 complaint Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac Systemwindshieldelectrical Heating Element 1 complaint Visibilitywindshield 1 complaint Visibilitywindshield Wiperwashermotor 1 complaint Visibilitywindshield Wiperwasherswitchwiring 1 complaint Wheelshub 1 complaint Wheelslugsnutsboltsstuds 1 complaint Wheelsrim 1 complaint
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