DefectRecord Public Record - Not a Government Site

Home / Dodge / RAM 1500 / 2003

Model Year Problem Record

Dodge RAM 1500 2003 - Problems, Recalls, and Investigations

The complete public record for the 2003 Dodge RAM 1500: what owners reported, which systems drew recalls, and where complaints exist that no recall has ever covered.

1,170Distinct owner complaintsSource: NHTSA Complaints
1Recall campaignsSource: NHTSA Recalls
6Defect investigationsSource: NHTSA Investigations
121Complaints reporting a crash or fireOwner Reports, Unverified

Complaints by System

Distinct complaints naming each system, most reported first. Select a system for its own page.

Did a Recall Cover It?

The join between complaints and recalls for this model year, system by system. A gap does not prove a defect - it means owners reported the problem and no recall campaign covers that system on this model year.

Air Bags458 complaints

458 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 15V312000.

Vehicle Structure237 complaints

237 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Power Train128 complaints

128 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Brakes84 complaints

84 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Engine77 complaints

77 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Unknown Or Other67 complaints

67 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Electrical System63 complaints

63 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Suspension59 complaints

59 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Steering44 complaints

44 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Visibility34 complaints

34 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Vehicle Speed Control20 complaints

20 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Lighting20 complaints

20 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Wheels19 complaints

19 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Tires15 complaints

15 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Equipment11 complaints

11 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Fuel and Propulsion System11 complaints

11 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Seat Belts9 complaints

9 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Seats5 complaints

5 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Latches, Locks and Linkages3 complaints

3 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Driver Assistance and Stability Systems1 complaints

1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Recall Campaigns

Every campaign covering this model year, in our own words. The campaign number is the official reference.

15V312000Reported May 26, 2015 - 385,686 vehicles potentially affected

Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on May 26, 2015. The campaign covers an estimated 385,686 vehicles across all affected models. NHTSA records carry a do-not-drive advisory for this campaign.

Do Not Drive Advisory

Defect Investigations

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened these investigations touching this model year.

EA15001Opened February 24, 2015 - Open

Air Bag Inflator Rupture. Resulted in recall campaign 14V668.

EA15001Opened February 24, 2015 - Open

Air Bag Inflator Rupture. Resulted in recall campaign 14V668.

EA21002Opened September 17, 2021 - Open

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

EA21002Opened September 17, 2021 - Open

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

PE14016Opened June 11, 2014 - Closed March 2, 2015

Air Bag Inflator Rupture. Resulted in recall campaign 13V172000.

PE14016Opened June 11, 2014 - Closed March 2, 2015

Air Bag Inflator Rupture. Resulted in recall campaign 13V172000.

Complaints by Year Received

When this model year's complaints reached NHTSA - whether its problems surfaced early or late in its life.

20021
200356
200472
200549
200634
200742
200841
200939
201059
201153
201237
201339
201439
2015275
2016195
201775
201819
201913
20208
20212
20227
20238
20242
20252
20263
How to Read These Counts: complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not failure rates. Older and higher-volume vehicles accumulate more reports, and counts are not adjusted for vehicles sold - no per-sales rate or reliability ranking is shown, because the public data does not support one.

Data as of October 30, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.