← New search

2003 Dodge Dodge Truck

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Dodge Truck years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 12 of 15 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Power Train complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
22,300 miles · Jan 16, 2005
Power Train

TRUCK SHIFTS OUT OF GEAR WHEN STOP AND IS LEAFED RUNNING. 1) STOP TO GET SOME INFORMATION ON A NEIGHBORHOOD STORE, STOP THE TRUCK SHIFT THE TRUCK INTO PARK, OPEN THE DOOR GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK, CLOSE THE DOOR, AS I WAS WAKING TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE TUCK I WAS APPROXIMATELY 5? FEET AWAY FRONT THE DOOR THE CAR STARTED TO …

Read full complaint

TRUCK SHIFTS OUT OF GEAR WHEN STOP AND IS LEAFED RUNNING. 1) STOP TO GET SOME INFORMATION ON A NEIGHBORHOOD STORE, STOP THE TRUCK SHIFT THE TRUCK INTO PARK, OPEN THE DOOR GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK, CLOSE THE DOOR, AS I WAS WAKING TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE TUCK I WAS APPROXIMATELY 5? FEET AWAY FRONT THE DOOR THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE IN REVERSE. I QUICKLY CHASE THE TRUCK BACK OPEN THE DOOR JUMP INTO THE TRUCK (WHILE THE TRUCK WAS MOVING) APPLY THE BRAKES AND STOP THE TUCK. THE SHIFT INDICATOR IT SHOWED THAT HE TRUCK WAS IN PARK. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10106443

22,556 miles · Aug 10, 2004
Power Train

MY SON WAS DRIVING THE 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 ON THE 405 FREEWAY AT APPROX.70MPH WHEN THE RIGHT REAR AXLE BROKE. MY SON LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT SPUN AGAINST THE TRAFFIC. HE GAINED CONTROL, VEERED AGAINST THE RIGHT OUTSIDE SIDEWALL OF THE FREEWAY WITH HIS FRONT RIGHT TIRE AND WHILE DRAGGING THE RIGHT BACK TIRE, CAME TO A …

Read full complaint

MY SON WAS DRIVING THE 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 ON THE 405 FREEWAY AT APPROX.70MPH WHEN THE RIGHT REAR AXLE BROKE. MY SON LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT SPUN AGAINST THE TRAFFIC. HE GAINED CONTROL, VEERED AGAINST THE RIGHT OUTSIDE SIDEWALL OF THE FREEWAY WITH HIS FRONT RIGHT TIRE AND WHILE DRAGGING THE RIGHT BACK TIRE, CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT. THE RIGHT BACK TIRE WAS DRAGGED FLAT ON THE FREEWAY FOR 400 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. HE WAS ONLY LUCKY NOT TO BE SERIOUSLY HURT OR DEAD.

NHTSA ODI #10086562

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2003
Power TrainCrash

I AM A TOOL & PROCESS ENGINEER WORKING FOR DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION'S DETROIT AXLE PLANT, 6700 LYNCH ROAD, DETROIT, MI AND WISH TO ABSOLVE MYSELF OF ANY GUILTY KNOWLEDGE CONCERNING THE INCORRECT MANUFACTURE OF AXLE SHAFTS AND SUBSEQUENT DILATORY AND EVASIVE TACICS OF MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN HIDING THE ACTIONS. THE AXLES ARE …

Read full complaint

I AM A TOOL & PROCESS ENGINEER WORKING FOR DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION'S DETROIT AXLE PLANT, 6700 LYNCH ROAD, DETROIT, MI AND WISH TO ABSOLVE MYSELF OF ANY GUILTY KNOWLEDGE CONCERNING THE INCORRECT MANUFACTURE OF AXLE SHAFTS AND SUBSEQUENT DILATORY AND EVASIVE TACICS OF MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN HIDING THE ACTIONS. THE AXLES ARE IN THE FIELD AND THE FEATURES INVOLVED ARE A SAFETY ITEM ON THE BLUEPRINTS. ONE KNOWN FAILURE HAPPENED RECENTLY IN NEW JERSEY. THE SPLINED END OF THE AXLE SHAFT HAS NOT BEEN HEAT TREATED CORRECTLY. FIELD FAILURES SHOULD BE EXPECTED. SERIOUS INJURY INCLUDING DEATH POSSIBLE. PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING IN MANUFACTURING PROCESS. IN A LIKE AND SIMILIAR CASE, ANOTHER SAFETY ITEM OCCURRING APPROXIMATELY THE SAME TIME FRAME (LAST FALL AND THROUGHOUT THIS WINTER) HAS ARISEN. THE FLANGE WHICH IS WELDED ON THE TUBE HAS FIELD FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURING FACILITY CHANGED ITS PROCESSING FROM A FLUX CORE WELDING PROCESS TO A GAS-ASSISTED PROCESS. PRODUCT WAS MADE INCORRECTLY, SHIPPED TO ASSEMBLY PLANTS, AND DELIVERED TO DEALERSHIPS WITHOUT A SYSTEM INSPECT OR PURGE. THIS IS ANOTHER SAFETY FEATURE ON THE BLUEPRINT. AGAIN, SUCH FILED FAILURE OF THIS ITEM MAED TO SERIOUS INJURY AND DEATH. NO ACTION FROM MANUFACTURER FOR PUBILC INJURY PREVENTION OR MANUFACTURING PROCESSING REMEDY OCCURRING. THREAT OF RETAILATORY ACTIONS FOR REPORTING THIS INFORMATION TO THE NHTSA IS HIGHKY LIKELY. I HAVE NO INTEREST IN PARTICIPATING IN ENGINEERING ACTIVITIES WHICH MAY HARM THE PUBLIC AND FEEL I HAVE THE LEGAL OBLIGATION TO DIVULGE ANY SUCH ACTIVITIES TO THE PROPER AUTHORITIES. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER DOCUMENTATION.

NHTSA ODI #10007842

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.