Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My girlfriend used the brakes and the ABS system would allow her to slow down and regain control cause it kept kicking the pedal back with no braking control whatsoever. She hit a guard rail and as the air bag deployed a piece of metal inside the steering column caused approx a 1 1/2 inch tear in the side of the air bag causing to not inflate and causing damage to her neck severally to the point where she needs surgery now to have cervical vertebrae fused together and extreme shoulder pain and unsure of the cause for that now. If this air bag would not have tore and worked properly she would have a soar face right now and not needing surgery. Yes we fully intend to start making inquiries to lawyers starting 3/2/2015 and find a remedy because with all the air bag problems Dodge has had this should have never happened.
While drive at the posted speed limit, the drivers side front wheel separated from the vehicle. I lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle crossed the center line, crossed over the on coming lane, hit a mailbox, went airborne, crossed a driveway, hit a tree, rolled, hit another smaller tree and came to rest on the drivers side door facing the opposite way I was originally traveling. At the time the hub assembly separated from the vehicle, I was traveling downhill. My daughter was able to crawl out of the vehicle while I had to be cut out using the jaws of life. I was transported to a local trauma one hospital via life air medical rescue. My daughter was transported by ground. She had five chipped teeth while I sustained a tbi and broken knee cap. The vehicle was a total lost but there was no loss of life.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. While driving at an unknown speed, black smoke emitted from the rear of the vehicle without warning. In addition, when the brake pedal was depressed, an abnormal sound emitted from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the brakes, calipers, and rotors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the hub bearing, wheel hub, axle shaft assembly, and driveshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Lastly, the front driver side headlight failed to operate. The head lamp was replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 201,281. Updated 06/29/16
All of a sudden the truck started shutting off, whether in idle or on the freeway. It would happen multiple times during the day. When shutting off, the truck would loose power steering and brakes. Took to multiple dealerships and mechanics who couldn't find anything wrong with the truck, would never throw any codes, finally spoke with a mechanic who talked to a computer person who stated that we needed to have the computer fixed but it wouldn't be available for 3-6 weeks due to it being on national back order. This needs to be recalled, due to safety issues. You are unable to control the vehicle when you lose power steering and brakes. National back order tells me that there is a problem and Dodge knows about it.
While driving 35 MPH consumer had to make an emergency stop. Consumer slammed on the brake pedal and vehicle did not stop. It hit the passenger's side of another vehicle. Vehicle continued to roll after impact with the driver's foot still on the brake pedal. The passenger in the other vehicle died in the crash. The cause of the brake failure was not determined, but it was suspected that the antilock braking system was the cause of the crash.
Started up and the ABS dash indicator light stayed on. I took the truck to my mechanics and noticed the speedometer wasn't working. My mechanics found the problem with the ABS right away. They said that a fire had occurred and the entire truck could have caught fire. The ABS controller was burnt and the wires leading from it.
While driving consumer depressed the brake pedal to stop the vehicle and front of the vehicle vibrated, the brake pedal went down to the floor, and the vehicle hit the rear of another vehicle. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that front left rotor was bent. This could have caused the brake failure.
10/25/02-bought new 2003 Dodge 1500 extended cab. 11/26/02, ABS light and brake light on. Dealership said "connection at cab had water in it, and dried off and sealed." 12/19/02, 3685 miles, took back because of ABS and brake light on. Short in brake switch and replaced the brake switch. 12/20/02 returned with ABS light and brake light on. Brake switch and rear ABS sensor shorted. Replaced both sensors and found water in the wiring connector. Disconnected, cleaned, dried and sealed. Returned to me on 12/24. 12/30/02, 4339 miles, ABS/brake lights on/RPM spiked. 8-way plug had water in it. "contacted star and was told to cut out plug and solder wires." truck returned to me on 01/02/03. 01/24/03, 5864 miles, ABS and brake lights on/speedometer spiking at idle. Dealership checked codes, checked wiring, rear ABS sensor, connector, ABS controller connector, cleaned, sealed connector. …
1) bought new 03 Dodge qc/laramie/Hemi in oct 2003. 2) at 1000 miles my brakes began to warp 3) at 3,245 miles I brought my truck in for service; told the dealer (rockwall Dodge) that my brakes were warped. They're response was (on service bill) "brake pads worn out" but "no trouble found on test drive" they told me to take my car home because nothing was wrong with it. 4) for the next 3,000 miles I drive it until I cannot handle the truck anymore. Brakes make the vehicle shake violently; under towing loads the vehicle becomes unstable and uncontrollable. I take the truck back to the dealer who refuses to give me a rental for work under warranty to the brakes which now required my calipers, rotors and pads to be replaced because the warping was so severe. Dealer requests I pay for a rental for the time it takes to fix the car because they do not have the parts. …
I purchased my Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 in June of 2003. In September of 2003 I was working in richmond, va. And started getting a vibration in the steering wheel when I braked. I took it to a Dodge dealership in richmond, where they found nothing wrong with the truck. In October of 2003 I traveled to california for work, and still had the problem. I took it to a dealership in orange county where they found "nothing wrong with the truck.". I then returned to texas where I took it to a dealership in corpus christi, tx. Where they told me the rotars where warped, and I must have gotten my brakes wet and warped them. After 7 hours, the district manager OK'd them to turn my rotors- the truck was past its 12,000 mile warranty. They then told me I May have future problems with my rear rotors. In aug. Of 2004, I came to florida to work and started having a severe vibration in my brakes. …
Brake complaints in other Ram 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2003 Dodge Ram 1500?
NHTSA has 73 complaints about the brakes of the 2003 Dodge Ram 1500, 6% of the model year's 1,171 complaints. The component named most often is foundation components › disc › rotor (43 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2003 Dodge Ram 1500, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 12,000 miles, and 73% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 1 fire and 4 injuries and 3 deaths to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.