Problems · by component

2003 Dodge Ram 2500 power train problems

55 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 cite power train, 8% of all 661 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
55
8% of all complaints
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I was driving on I55 this morning and all of a sudden my truck started vibrating really bad, the steering wheel was veering, I had to constantly fight to keep in my lane. And when I touched my brakes it veered. Riding really rough, and has power loss. I took it to the nearest shop and they said my driveshaft was very loose, and that it is affecting everything that I described. The center driveshaft support bearing is also failing.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 2, 2021Steering, Suspension, Power trainODI 11419423
“ON A 35MPH STREET, TRUCK SUDDENLY BUCKING AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL, AND THE RPM'S WERE ERRATIC. I PUT IT IN N PULLED OVER AND SHUT IT OFF. IT RESTARTED WITH NO ISSUES. I DROVE ABOUT 9 MILES, PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS COASTING UP IT, WHEN SUDDENLY THE TRUCK ACCELERATED. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE, NOTHING. I SLAMMED IT IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF. IT HAPPENED A FEW TIMES WHILE IDLING, OR MOVING AT A SLOW RATE. I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO A 50MPH, 4 LANE MAIN THOROUGHFARE. I STEPPED ON PARKING BRAKE, TURNED IT OFF AND THANKED GOD THAT I WAS UNHARMED. I STARTED BACK UP, PUT IT IN D, DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL (LIGHT TURNED GREEN) AND IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS, THEN IT BUCKED A FEW TIMES AND ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT KEPT REVVING UP AND ACCELERATING. AGAIN, I DEPRESSED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SHUT IT OFF. IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN AS I WAS COMING UP MY SUBURBAN 35MPH STREET. I GOT TO APPROXIMATELY 20MPH WHEN IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE FURTHER. I BUCKED AND CHOKED, RPM'S JUMPING UP AND DOWN THE LAST 100 YARDS. I TURNED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AT AN IDLING RATE AND IT TOOK OFF LIKE A SHOT. I…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 30, 2021Power train, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11390758
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V462000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT CALLED MARK DODGE AT 337-474-2640 (LOCATED AT 3777 GERSTNER MEMORIAL BLVD, LAKE CHARLES, LA) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2019Power trainODI 11232010
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR WOULD SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION INTO REVERSE AND ROLL BACKWARDS INDEPENDENTLY. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO PARK, THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID THE VEHICLE REVERSING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO PROVIDED A TEMPORARY REMEDY, IN WHICH IF THE VEHICLE'S DOOR WAS OPEN AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REVERSE, THE HORN WOULD AUTOMATICALLY SOUND TO WARN THOSE NEARBY. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,500.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 20, 2016Power trainODI 10936501
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 05V462000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 15V312000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 08/17/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 2,500 MILES. THE BALL JOINTS AND WATER PUMP FAILED AND THE WINDSHIELD LEAKED. UPDATED 10/26/16.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 20, 2016Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Visibility, Air bags, StructureODI 10875210
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT FAILED TO SWITCH FROM THE PARK POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS AFTER THE BRAKE TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK WAS DISCONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER HOWEVER, THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 27, 2015Power trainODI 10807134

Showing 6 of 55 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Power train: column shift

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, IN AN ATTEMPT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE QUICKLY WITHOUT SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND REMOVING THE KEY, THE DRIVER MAY INADVERTENTLY LEAVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL IN INDICATED REVERSE.

Power trainReported Oct 6, 2005NHTSA 05V462000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 11, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.