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 3500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 diesel has been jumping into reverse from park. This has happened three times. The first time was in the middle of January. I parked at Mini mart at 6 am to get a cup of coffee. It was cold so I left the engne idling to warm up. I came out to find my vehicle gone. I looked across the street and found it smashed into a building. The truck had minimal damage, but extensive damage was done to the building. I thought maybe I mistakinly put the lever in reverse at first, but but you cant get out of the door without the vehile taking off when you leave it in reverse, if you take your foot off the brake it takes off. This hapened again in mid March. I left the vehicle to check a field, I herd a klunk and turned around to find my pickup backing down the road. At this point I had the dealer check the transmisson. The found nothing wrong. …
Dt*: the contact stated a recall letter was received in the mail regarding the power train; automatic transmission, recall number: 05V462000. Prior to receiving this recall, the contact was involved in an accident. The vehicle jumped out of park into reverse and hit another vehicle. There was substantial damage done to the contact's vehicle. The contact does not agree with the remedy listed in the recall. In addition to the out of park alarm listed as the remedy to this recall, the dealership determined a shifter cable needed to be installed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled and could not be shifted. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle had to be towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the shifter cable fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
Was changing oil on my 03 Dodge Ram 3500 and noticed the frame rail near cab mount on drivers side was completely rusted thru with a hole approximately 2 inches long and 1/4" wide. I'm afraid to haul my goose neck trailer under these conditions. I'm afraid that additional weight could cause the frame to collapse. I don't remember seeing a recall for this condition.
The vehicle lurched forward in every gear except in neutral when depressing the clutch when starting the engine. The dealer replaced the clutch, but problem recurred. The transmission was hard to shift, the clutch control was defective due to the slave cylinder bleeding back into the master cylinder. This caused the vehicle to lurch unexpectedly.
Dt*: the contact stated after exiting the vehicle, with the engine still running in park, it began to reverse down the boat dock. This damaged the boat trailer and the dock. The contact received recall letter #05V462000, for the automatic transmission. Although the recall work has not been performed, the contact believes this will repair the problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact started the vehicle and the gear lever failed to shift into four wheel drive. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 05V462000 (power train). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500. While towing a trailer at 70 MPH, the transmission seized without warning. The contact stated that the trailer jack-knifed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
The transmission keeps slipping into neutral while driving and sometimes upon pulling out. The truck is 10 weeks old and has been in the shop for this condition 4 times, with the malfunction light on 3 of those trips, once it went in on a rollback because it would not move at all. It has also downshifted into a lower gear, barked the tires and slung us forward so hard it almost snapped our necks twice now. This has been reported also. They now say since I am requesting a full refund for the truck that there is no mechanical problems or damage only a software problem with the computer. They say michigan is aware of it, but there has not been a program written to correct it yet, but they will notify me when there is. …
Tl contact owns a 2003 Dodge 3500. After placing the vehicle into park, it began rolling backwards. The contact returned to the vehicle and observed that the gear shifted into reverse on its own. The contact received a recall notice that stated that, in certain circumstances, the vehicle May move without warning. It further stated that the manufacturer will modify the vehicle free of charge by installing an out of park alarm system. The recall repair consisted of rewiring the vehicle so that the horn would blow when the vehicle shifted from park into reverse. The contact has experienced the safety risk involved due to the failure. A supervisor at the manufacturer stated that the repair was mandated by law and cannot be reversed. The manufacturer could not offer any further assistance. The contact expected the vehicle to be repaired for safety reasons. The recall number was unknown. …
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 3500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2003 Dodge Ram 3500?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2003 Dodge Ram 3500, 9% of the model year's 286 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 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 3500 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 52,000 miles, and 35% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries 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.