Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Dodge Ram owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
2003 Dodge Ram quad cab 4x4 had vehicle towed and when tow truck driver hooked chains to frame rails to winch vehicle on to tow truck the chains ripped the steel out of the bottom of the frame do to the frame being rotted I have uploaded photos. This is a real safety concern do to the fact the frame is enclosed and there is no real warning or signs of the integrity of the remaining structure of the frame. It is in my opinion this needs to be addressed and frame should be recalled there are many other people with the same trucks even a lot newer than this one but same frame as mine and the same problem there is no reason other than poor engineering and prep of this frame I own many old pieces of equipment that are 30+ years older than this truck and no rot issues like this wear and tear is one thing body rot ect is normal but this is a real safety issue that gives no warning many of …
There is a entry grab handle mounted to the interior door post near the windshield intended as an assist handle. My truck is equipped with running board to make entry easier into the truck cab. I used the assist handle while getting into the truck cab, it pulled loose from the pillar causing me to nearly fall from the truck. I was able to gain my balance and step down from the running boards without doing any injury. I am of average height and weight appropriate. When I examined the handle I was shocked to see the only mounting involved was plastic with a bolt through it screwed to the door frame. This in no way should be classified as an appropriate assist handle to aid one in the entry of the vehicle.
Driver was using grab bar to pull self up into vehicle when the grab bar broke suddenly and pulled out of the vehicle without warning. This caused driver to fall and suffer a fractured hamate bone in the wrist and chronic shoulder pain. Injuries require surgery and are not yet healed.
The dashboard and HVAC system has cracked to pieces causing the defrosters to be inoperable most of the time and constantly blows pieces of plastic and foam out of the vents occasionally getting in the driver's eyes and nose causing sneezing and distracting irritation.
I was getting into my pickup truck while in the process of leaving work to go home for day. I reached in and grab the grab handle located on the "a-pillar" and started to pull my self into my vehicle. The "a-pillar" grab handle broke, causing me to fall backward sticking my head on the drivers door and then the ground as I continued the fall to the ground. As a result of this fall I developed a subdural hematoma and almost died twice as a result of this defective part. Both the drivers side "a-pillar" grab handle and "b-pillar" grab handle from the passenger side are in the hands of a forensic engineer who has determined that both parts were substandard. The passenger side was also cracked around hold down bolts and ready to fail. Pickup truck was a 2003 Dodge quad cab 1500 4x4 on factory 20" tires. Chrysler llc. Is well aware that this problem exists but has chosen to do nothing! …
03 1500 Ram quad cab wind noise driving on the highway the wind noise is so bad that you think there is a window down especially on the passenger side, I had to take the truck back to the dealership numerous times they replaced weather striping on both sides but the vehicle still has a very bad wind noise on the right side. Dealer keeps saying (could not duplicate complaint) I am a retired mechanic and know better because I ride in the passenger seat when my wife drives and it will drive you crazy I know that the wind noise is not a normal condition you can look at the rear doors on both sides and see they need to be adjusted down but it's out of factory warranty now but it was in it at the time of (complaint's) so I guess I will have to repair it myself. I have ridden in other trucks with quad cabs and they are so much quieter so what is the deal ! …
My 2003 Dodge Ram quad cab, laramie dash started cracking and now has 3 cracks. I thought I was only one with this problem until today. One sight alone had 103 reports of the same cracks where they started and in the same order as how mine started. Dodge recognizes this as a defect but are not willing to recall. At this point it is customer satisfaction issue as well as safety issue. With the airbags installed in the dash, what happens if the cracks continue and cause an airbag to deploy without a crash. Is it going to take someone getting killed before the company recognizes they need to recall such as Ford did several years ago with the defective tires, they waited until people died, I just do not understand why a company would represent themselves falsely, Dodge promotes their products as quality and top of the line. …
On March 23, 2003 I was in the process of getting in my 2003 Dodge 1500 quad cab. The "a-pillar" with the grab handle on it came loose from the truck(the plastic cracked and went over the bolts holding it on.) I fell back and struck my head on the drivers door and then again struck my head on the ground. I suffered a subdural hematoma and was flown by helicopter to st. Louis for surgery. My family was told to tell me bye on two different occasions because e doctors thought I was going to die. I made it but ran up hugh medical and therapy bills. When researching this on the internet, I found that this grab handle failure has happened many times causing some injuries to major injuries. I also found out that Chrysler has been aware of this problem in 2003. Motor trend magazine experience this same failure in 2003 when they were testing this vehicle. …
A-pillar-mounted ingress handle on passenger side. I own a 2003 Ram 1500 quad cab pickup. I bought this truck new in October 2003. Today, I was trying to get in the truck through the passenger's side and stood up to to clean the windshield and the a-pillar-mounted ingress handle came off. This truck has 4x4 so it is taller then the regular truck. You have to use that handler to keep your balance. Luckily ,I didn't get hurt because I used the seat and the door to avoide falling. I called the dealership, and unfortunatelly they won't be able to do anything to replace the a-pillar-mounted ingress handle because the truck was out of warranty. The truck has over 60,000 miles and I've had it 36 months. My complaint was why don't they builld this handles stronger. Their purpose was to help the persons get into the vehicles. Shouldn't they be able to hold at least an average size person?
My wife was getting into my 2003 Dodge 2500 Ram pick-up using the grab bar located on the passenger side of the truck. Grab bar is located on the interior of the a-pillar of the truck. Grab bar failed. The grab bar on the driver side failed 4 years ago, so I use the steering whee to get into the truck. She fell out of the truck onto the pavement injuring her knees. Upon inspection of the molded plastic grab bar. The failure occurred when the grab bar interior trim piece tearing at were the bolt interfaces with the trim piece. The bolts remained in the metal thread holes in the metal part of the a-pillar. The molded grab handle bolt to trim interface is not adequate to support any load.
Body complaints in other Ram years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2003 Dodge Ram?
NHTSA has 56 complaints about the body & structure of the 2003 Dodge Ram, 30% of the model year's 189 complaints. The component named most often is body (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Dodge Ram body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2003 Dodge Ram, though it has 2 recalls 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 body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 7 injuries to body & structure 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.