2003 Dodge Ram 2500 visibility problems

“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”

“THE MECHANISM (HVAC) THAT DIRECTS HOT AND COLD AIR AMONG THE WINDSHIELD, DASH, AND FLOOR FAILED. IT WAS A VERY COLD DAY IN DECEMBER AND I WAS ATTENDING A FUNERAL 150 MILES FROM HOME. IT WAS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD KEPT FROSTING UP AND MY FEET BECAME VERY COLD BECAUSE ALL THE HEAT WAS COMING OUT OF THE DASH. THE HVAC COULD NOT BE FIXED EN ROUTE BECAUSE (1) IT TOOK THREE WEEKS TO GET A NEW HVAC HOUSING, (2) IT WAS A SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND REPAIR STATIONS WERE CLOSED, AND (3) THE REPAIR TAKES ABOUT 8 HOURS BECAUSE THE ENTIRE DASH HAS TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE THE HVAC HOUSING AND DOORS. IT COST $1,417.45 TO FIX. (I CAN FURNISH A COPY OF THE INVOICE IF YOU LIKE.) I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE FAILURE OF THIS HARD-TO-GET-AT PLASTIC HOUSING IS NOT UNCOMMON AMONG DODGE TRUCKS. IN FACT IN THIS SMALL TOWN OF 2,500 PEOPLE ANOTHER 2003 DODGE TRUCK CAME IN FOR REPAIRS TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE SAME WEEK. DODGE IS OBVIOUSLY USING FAULTY MATERIALS.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR VENT DOOR WAS IMPROPERLY CALIBRATED AND THE AIR WAS NOT DIRECTED TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISORS FRACTURED AND OBSTRUCTED THE VIEW OF THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. MA 08/13/15 UPDATED 09/10/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE SUN VISOR NEVER FRACTURED, BUT WOULD PIVOT DOWN. THIS WOULD BLOCK THE VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. UPDATED 12/1/2015*JS”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROSTER FAILED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD WHEN IT WAS COLD OR WHEN THE WINDOW WOULD BECOME FOGGY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLEND DOOR CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 152,000.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN USING THE DEFROSTER, VERY LITTLE AIR WAS EMITTED FROM THE VENTS AND WOULD NOT DEFROST THE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE DEFROSTER DOOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 225,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”