2003 Dodge Ram Van recalls & problems
The 2003 Dodge Ram Van has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 16 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (5 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2003 Dodge Ram Van.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Van
| Overall | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Ram Van 1500 2WD
| City / highway | 13 / 15 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
3.9 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel
Ram Van 1500 2WD
| City / highway | 13 / 15 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
5.2 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel
Ram Van 1500 2WD
| City / highway | 12 / 17 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
5.9 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel
Ram Van 2500 2WD
| City / highway | 13 / 15 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
5.2 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel
Ram Van 2500 2WD
| City / highway | 12 / 13 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
3.9 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel
Ram Van 2500 2WD
| City / highway | 11 / 17 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
5.9 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel
Ram Van 2500 2WD CNG CNG
| City / highway | 10 / 18 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Natural Gas |
5.2 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 5 | 40,000 mi |
| Visibility Defroster/defogger/hvac system | 4 | — |
| Power train | 2 | — |
| Exterior lighting Headlights; Headlights › Switch | 2 | — |
| Steering | 2 | — |
| Suspension | 2 | — |
| Air bags | 1 | — |
| Seats | 1 | — |
| Unknown or other | 1 | — |
| Child seat | 1 | — |
| Structure Body | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Sep 2, 2016 · 190,000 milesStructure › Body
IN JULY OF 2015, THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE STEERING ARM TO THE FRAME, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED AS I WAS MAKING A TURN. THIS I HAD REPAIRED (WELDED) SHORTLY AFTERWARD. THE FRAME WAS DISINTEGRATING FROM UNDERNEATH ME. ON 09/02/2016 THE FRAME TOTALLY SEPARATED WHERE THE STEERING CONNECTS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. I FIND THE METAL THAT WAS USED FOR THE FRAME THIN, CHEAP, UNTREATED, AND UNSAFE! 12 YEARS IS MUCH TO SHORT OF TIME FOR A VEHICLE TO BE RETIRED BY A RUSTED FRAME! CHRYSLER HAS A DOCUMENTED COMPLAINT FROM ME ABOUT THIS AND OF COURSE THEY'RE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. - Oct 5, 2015 · 148,505 milesPower train
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 65 MPH AND LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF VEHICLE STEERING FOUND OUT IT WAS DUE TO A RUSTED FRAMED. TOTALLY UNSAFE VAN. I WAS GLAD IT WAS NOT VERY BUSY ON THE INTERSTATE OR I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED A MANUFACTURE CAN HAVE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. IT IS TOTAL FRAME LOST TO RUST. - Nov 20, 2013 · 120,993 milesSteering
FOR 2 DAYS PRIOR TO INCIDENT , NOTICED STEERING WHEEL KEPT CHANGING ORIENTATION WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. A LOT OF GROANING AND CREAKING NOISE FROM RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION IN RIGHT TURNS AS WELL AS VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED. PARKED VEHICLE AND INSPECTED UNDERSIDE TO FIND THAT IDLER ARM BRACKET WAS TEARING AWAY FROM FRAME RAIL DUE TO ROT. AFTER PARKING VEHICLE , I MOVED IT AROUND IN THE DRIVEWAY NO MORE THAN 3 TIMES BEFORE IDLER ARM BRACKET COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME RAIL WITH A VERY LOUD POP.. VAN NOW HAS NO STEERING AND IS JUNK SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. INSPECTION OF FRONT FRAME RAIL AREA REVEALS HEAVY ROT ON BOTH FRONT FRAME RAILS AND STEERING GEAR MOUNT AS WELL. THE REST… - Aug 30, 2010 · 30,000 miles · fireElectrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE CONTACT WAS SITTING IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, SMOKE WAS EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DASHBOARD THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE BEGAN IN THE AIR CONDITIONING SWITCH. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 8/19/13 *CN - Nov 10, 2010 · 143,508 milesElectrical system
VAN SHUTS DOWN ANY WHERE ANY TIME ANY SPEED AND READS NO BUS THIS HAS BEEN HAPPEN FOR TO LONG AND THEY DON'T EVEN OFFER A SOLUTION.I BOUGHT A SCANNER FOR A 100.00 DOLLARS IT WAS A WASTE OFF MONEY CAN'T READ CODES WITH THE NO BUS ANY WAY IF IT'S NOT THE PCM THEN WHY HAVE CODES FOR ALL THE OTHER SENSORS IF IT TURNS OFF ANYWAY. *TR - Jun 15, 2009Seats
AFTER PURCHASING A PRE-OWNED DODGE RAM CONVERSION VAN, I DISCOVERED THAT THE LATCH SYSTEM IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CHILD CAR SEATS THAT I PURCHASED FOR MY CHILD. THE SIDE ATTACHMENTS WORK FINE, BUT THE SEAT BACK EXTENDS TOO FAR UP TO ALLOW THE TIP LATCH HANESS TO REACH THE ATTACHMENT POINT LOCATED UNDER THE SEAT ITSELF. - Aug 6, 2009 · 58,563 miles · crash · 1 injuryAir bags
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM VAN. HE CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE BOOTH WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, THEY PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,563. - Nov 25, 2008 · 30,000 milesVisibility
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
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- PE02082 · opened Nov 6, 2002 · closed Apr 23, 2003SAFETY BELT CINCHING LATCH PLATE
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.