Vehicle Data Hub

2003 Dodge Ram 1500 engine problems

73 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2003 Dodge Ram 1500, which is 5% of all its NHTSA complaints.

At a glance

Complaints
73 5% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
66,000 miles 64 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
0 and 2
Injuries and deaths
0 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 66,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 20 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 5 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 4 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 9 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 4 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 6 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 8 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 3 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 1 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 1 complaints 200k+ miles: 3 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 66,000 miles
Based on 64 complaints that include mileage. 45% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles20
20k to 40k miles5
40k to 60k miles4
60k to 80k miles9
80k to 100k miles4
100k to 120k miles6
120k to 140k miles8
140k to 160k miles3
160k to 180k miles1
180k to 200k miles1
200k+ miles3

What the data shows

Of the 64 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 66,000 miles, and 45% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 2 fires.

What owners wrote

Dt: the contact stated after the vehicle was parked for eleven hours he turned the key in the ignition and heard a loud backfire noise coming from the engine. The passenger compartment filled with smoke , and he exited the vehicle. The parking attendant extinguished the fire and there was minimal fire damage. Eleven days later the vehicle was towed to the insurance company's salvage lot. Upon inspection the insurance company determined it was a mechanical problem.

Reported at 15,200 miles, December 2005 Fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge ram 1500. While driving various speeds, the vehicle experienced a loss of engine power without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the cam shaft sensor was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 319,000.

Reported at 319,000 miles, May 2018

Other problems reported for the 2003 Dodge Ram 1500

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Dodge models