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2003 Dodge RAM Van

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
16Owner complaints

Model-year median: 15

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
29
200033
200114
200216
2003
Compare all RAM Van years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
5Visibility
4Power Train
2Steering
2Suspension
2
All reported categories
Air Bags
1Child Seat
1Exterior Lighting
1Seats
1Structure
1Unknown Or Other
1

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: 11 of 16 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Visibility complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
30,000 miles · Sep 5, 2009
Visibility

COLD WEATHER OUTSIDE. WINDOWS FOG UP AND GET ICE ON THEM. SIDE WINDOWS CAN NOT SEE OUT OF AND FRONT WINDOW GETS OVAL ON IT. MUST USE ICE SCRAPER TO SCRAPE ICE AWAY TO SEE. TOOK TO DEALER, FIRST TIME FIXED FOR ABOUT A YEAR WITH REPLACING A PART IN THE DEFROSTING SYSTEM, NEXT TIME DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THIS COULD BECOME…

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COLD WEATHER OUTSIDE. WINDOWS FOG UP AND GET ICE ON THEM. SIDE WINDOWS CAN NOT SEE OUT OF AND FRONT WINDOW GETS OVAL ON IT. MUST USE ICE SCRAPER TO SCRAPE ICE AWAY TO SEE. TOOK TO DEALER, FIRST TIME FIXED FOR ABOUT A YEAR WITH REPLACING A PART IN THE DEFROSTING SYSTEM, NEXT TIME DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THIS COULD BECOME A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS YOU CANNOT SEE OUT THE WINDOWS AT TIMES AND I HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER. GETS WORSE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10282950

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2007
Visibility

WINDOWS IN 2003 DODGE RAM VAN FOG UP AND FROST IN COLD TEMPERATURES. THE FASTER I GO, THE MORE IT FROSTS UP. WE HAVE TO USE AN ICE SCRAPER ON THE INSIDE, WHICH IS A SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN I PARK THE VAN FOR A FEW MINUTES, IT DEFROSTS. CHRYSLER SAYS THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO FOR IT. AIR IS LE…

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WINDOWS IN 2003 DODGE RAM VAN FOG UP AND FROST IN COLD TEMPERATURES. THE FASTER I GO, THE MORE IT FROSTS UP. WE HAVE TO USE AN ICE SCRAPER ON THE INSIDE, WHICH IS A SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN I PARK THE VAN FOR A FEW MINUTES, IT DEFROSTS. CHRYSLER SAYS THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO FOR IT. AIR IS LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE VAN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10182251

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2005
Visibility

IN COLD WEATHER ALL WINDOWS IN THE VAN FREEZE UP. I HAVE TO TURN THE DEFROST BLOWER TO HIGH JUST TO SEE OUT THE FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD. TO TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT I HAVE TO LOWER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS TO SEE IF THERE IS ONCOMING CARS. GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE I AM NOT ABLE TO SEE OUT THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS. THE…

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IN COLD WEATHER ALL WINDOWS IN THE VAN FREEZE UP. I HAVE TO TURN THE DEFROST BLOWER TO HIGH JUST TO SEE OUT THE FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD. TO TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT I HAVE TO LOWER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS TO SEE IF THERE IS ONCOMING CARS. GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE I AM NOT ABLE TO SEE OUT THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS. THE ONLY WAY TO SEE A LITTLE IS TO USE MY ICE SCRAPER ON THE INSIDE OF THE VAN. HAVING FOUR SMALL CHILDREN IN THE VAN I SEE THIS AS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE SENT IT TO THE DODGE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. THEY HAVE EVEN SAID THEY HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10112216

14 miles · Dec 20, 2004
Visibility

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS FOG UP AND ICE OVER WHILE DRIVING IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES. TYPICALLY THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ALSO FOGS OVER ON THE CORNERS FORMING AN OVAL THAT IS FOG FREE. TURNING THE VENT SYSTEM TO FULL DEFROST DOES VERY LITTLE TO REMOVE THE FOG AND FROST. I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE FANS TO ASSIST IN KEEPING…

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THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS FOG UP AND ICE OVER WHILE DRIVING IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES. TYPICALLY THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ALSO FOGS OVER ON THE CORNERS FORMING AN OVAL THAT IS FOG FREE. TURNING THE VENT SYSTEM TO FULL DEFROST DOES VERY LITTLE TO REMOVE THE FOG AND FROST. I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE FANS TO ASSIST IN KEEPING MY WINDOWS CLEAR. THIS CONDITION PREVENTS ME FROM BEING ABLE TO USE MY SIDE MIRRORS AS WELL AS SEEING IF THERE IS ON COMMING TRAFFIC WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN, TYPICALLY I HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOW OR EVEN THE DOOR IF THE FROST IS SO BAD THAT THE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL DOWN (SUCH AS WHEN DRIVING FOR A COUPLE OF HOUR.). I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO LOOK AT AND THEY HAD NO SOLUTION, THEY EVEN CONTACED THE MANUFACTURER WHO BASICALLY SAID THAT'S "NORMAL". I HAVE SEEN AT LEAST TWO OTHER DODGE RAM VAN'S THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10104111

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

1

PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate

Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.