Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500. While driving in snow at approximately 30 MPH, the steering wheel seized and required excessive force. The contact crashed into guard rails. The vehicle sustained front end, passenger, and rear end damage. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was not repaired. On another occasion, when the vehicle was shifted into park with the engine running, the gear independently shifted into reverse. The contact placed the vehicle into park and shut off the vehicle engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure could not be determined. An alarm system was applied to the vehicle to alert the driver of independent gear changes, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the vehicle was unsafe to operate. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. …
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. …
I lost control of steering , the steering wheel just spun with no control and I was driving through a school zone with grade school letting out and I went in other lane of traffic in between cars and headed to a gas pump at gas station and I hit brakes as soon as I was out of opposite lane with head on traffic and gas pump was rite off side of road I could have been killed or killed others when this happened, I had to fix my truck because I never knew of recall and also transmission went out at 55,000 miles and transfer case also another 20,000 miles later , I have a truck I can't drive because I can't afford to put a transmission and transfer case in it and I almost lost my life from all the trouble it's gave me and I could have killed others at the school zone. …
Vehicle is a 2003 Dodge 2500, serial #x3g-790016 and it jumps from park into reverse. Vehicle has approx 10,000 miles and this happened the day before we were to leave for ellensburg, wa on central ave in great falls and then again in ellensburg at a goodwill store parking lot. I had a good friend killed by this happening on a Ford truck so am very concerned that it be taken care of. The friend was woodrow mccracken in the late 60's or early 70's at conrad, mt. I have contacted Chrysler and the dealer, but have been waiting over a week to hear back from Chrysler legal. Accident happened in ellensburg wa and the police report number is e03=09377. It was reported to my insurance (safeco) and that claim number is #844587412007 just think this should be reported. Dick brown.
My 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 heavy duty pickup with an automatic transmission and diesel engine rolled backwards after being placed in "park". I left the vehicle to talk to someone. The indicator was in "p" before I left the vehicle and still in "p" after rolling backwards ~ 150' through 2 snow banks made by clearing the driveway. The pickup stopped upon hitting a sign which received minor damage; but the right rear pickup bed received ~ $450.00 in damage. Nobody was in the vehicle at the time. Nobody was injured. The sign prevented the vehicle from crossing a busy street. I received the safety recall letter to install the "out of park alarm" on Monday following the accident on Thursday. I have contacted the local dealer to have the alarm installed.
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.
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 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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated his vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 05V462000 (power train) but the vehicle rolled away after he exited it. The contact immediately jumped out of the way. The vehicle hit a light post. The light post fell into in a highway. The contact sustained a broken wrist and hand after falling from trying to stop the vehicle. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 180,000.
Consumer pulled into a parking space and placed the vehicle in park with engine on and got out of the car. About 40 seconds later, heard a crash. The vehicle had rolled backwards and hit another moving car. Took to Dodge and they stated consumer was not shifting properly. Ts the shift lever stops between park and reverse and then slowly disengages itself, resulting in roll-a-way. Consumers wife was present in the vehicle at the time of the crash and is now under doctors supervision.
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift
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.
Remedy: Dealers will perform a software modification to equip these vehicles with an out-of-park alarm. Owners May contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA investigations
FALSE PARK
There have been 50 complaints to odi and daimlerchrysler alleging incidents of reverse powered rollaway in subject vehicles that were parked with the engine running and the parking brake disengaged.the incidents are alleged to have resulted in 42 crashes and 3 injuries.
FALSE PARK
The subject vehicles are heavy duty pickup trucks with diesel engines and automatic transmissions commonly used for commercial and work purposes.a column mounted shift lever is used for gear selection and an electronic PRNDL on the instrument panel provides gear position information to the driver.the subject vehicles are also equipped with a brake-transmission shift interlock that prevents the shift lever from being…
Transmission complaints in other Ram 2500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2003 Dodge Ram 2500?
NHTSA has 55 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2003 Dodge Ram 2500, 8% of the model year's 661 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (22 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 05V-462 (column shift, Oct 6, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 12,000 miles, and 62% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 11 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries and 1 death to transmission & drivetrain 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.