IllustrationTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT DETECTED A SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED, SIMILAR TO CAMPAIGN # 04V596000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 57,134.
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
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
Suspension complaints
4 reportsI HAD AN ACCIDENT ON 09/30/04. DRIVER WHEEL CAME OFF. I HIT A MAILBOX, TELEPHONE POLE, WENT AIRBORNE AND LANDED ON A PARKED TRUCK. $10,000 IN DAMAGES TO MY 2003 DODGE DURANGO. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *JB
WE WHERE TRAVELING ON I-15 AT 80 MPH WHEN OUR NEW 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL PICKUP BEGAN VIOLENTLY SHAKING ON THE INTERSTATE. MY HUSBAND BARELY MANAGED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER. WE DECIDED TO TRY TO DRIVE TO THE NEAREST TOWN THAT WAS ABOUT 20 MILES AWAY. WE PROCEEDED AT ABOUT 40 MPH WITH OUR B…
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WE WHERE TRAVELING ON I-15 AT 80 MPH WHEN OUR NEW 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL PICKUP BEGAN VIOLENTLY SHAKING ON THE INTERSTATE. MY HUSBAND BARELY MANAGED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER. WE DECIDED TO TRY TO DRIVE TO THE NEAREST TOWN THAT WAS ABOUT 20 MILES AWAY. WE PROCEEDED AT ABOUT 40 MPH WITH OUR BLINKERS ON AND AFTER HITTING A VERY SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD THE TRUCK SHOOK VIOLENTLY AGAIN. WE REFUSED TO DRIVE THE TRUCK ANY FURTHER AND CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE TRUCK IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AT THIS TIME AND THE MECHANIC SAID AFTER INSPECTION THAT THE FRONT END WASN'T BOLTED IN. (?) HE SAID THEY ARE COMPLETELY REPLACING THE FRONT AXLE. WE HAVE YET TO OBTAIN OUR SCARY NEW TRUCK FROM THE DODGE MECHANIC AND WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE BETTER INFORMATION REGARDING THE EXACT PROBLEM IF NEED BE. FORTUNATELY THERE WASN'T ANY FIRE, CRASH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, BUT PLEASE DON'T LET THAT BE THE ONLY REASON THIS ISN'T INVESTIGATED FURTHER. IT WAS TRULY A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE AND THE END RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC FOR OUR FAMILY. PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CALL WITH ANY QUESTIONS. *NLM
2003 DODGE RAM 2500 PICKUP. FRONT TIE ROD ENDS, SPINDLES, AXLES ARE ALL COVERED WITH RUST AFTER ONLY 2 MONTHS. I AM AFRAID THESE PARTS WILL RUST THROUGH AND CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING. IF THE TIE RODS RUST THROUGH, YOU WILL HAVE NO STEERING. IF THE SPINDLE RUSTS THROUGH, YOU WILL LOSE A WHEEL. EITHER OF THESE SCENARIOS CAN KILL…
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2003 DODGE RAM 2500 PICKUP. FRONT TIE ROD ENDS, SPINDLES, AXLES ARE ALL COVERED WITH RUST AFTER ONLY 2 MONTHS. I AM AFRAID THESE PARTS WILL RUST THROUGH AND CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING. IF THE TIE RODS RUST THROUGH, YOU WILL HAVE NO STEERING. IF THE SPINDLE RUSTS THROUGH, YOU WILL LOSE A WHEEL. EITHER OF THESE SCENARIOS CAN KILL. THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR SEEMS TO BE SMALLER THAN NORMAL. IT DOES NOT PROVIDE FULL COVERAGE OF A REAR VIEW. DOES THIS MIRROR MEET LEGAL REQUIREMENTS? THE REAR SEAT HAS NO HEAD RESTRAINTS. I THOUGHT TRUCKS WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE REAR SEAT HEAD RESTRAINTS AFTER MODEL YEAR 1990. AM I WRONG ON THIS? *JB
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.