2003 Dodge RAM 1500 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2003 Dodge RAM 1500, and owners have filed 1,171 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2003 Dodge RAM 1500
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Inflator module (air bags) Do not drive
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2003 Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks manufactured August 29, 2002, to July 25, 2003 to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. This…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the…
1,171 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Dodge RAM 1500 have filed 1,171 complaints with NHTSA; 76 describe a crash and 12 describe a fire. Reports cite 80 injuries and 6 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 78,541 miles. Complaints peaked in 2015 with 275 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“brought my 2003 dodge ram 1500 to Romeo dodge to have a Passenger Airbag Recall Repair on [XXX] and I was called one hour later and told my airbag replacement was finished and I could pick up my truck”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 5, 2026 · Air bags
“The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V312000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The v”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 23, 2026 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup (Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD, Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 13–16 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 11–14 / 15–19 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 3.7/4.7/5.7/5.9 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Automatic 5-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Dodge RAM 1500 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Dodge RAM 1500 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 Dodge RAM 1500 | 0 | 7 |
| 1992 Dodge RAM 1500 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 Dodge RAM 1500 | 0 | 6 |
| 1994 Dodge RAM 1500 | 0 | 116 |
| 1995 Dodge RAM 1500 | 0 | 213 |
| 1996 Dodge RAM 1500 | 0 | 298 |
| 1997 Dodge RAM 1500 | 0 | 361 |
| 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 | 0 | 520 |
| 1999 Dodge RAM 1500 | 0 | 610 |
| 2000 Dodge RAM 1500 | 2 | 513 |
| 2001 Dodge RAM 1500 | 2 | 1,112 |
| 2002 Dodge RAM 1500 | 3 | 815 |
| 2003 Dodge RAM 1500 | 1 | 1,171 |
| 2004 Dodge RAM 1500 | 5 | 1,099 |
| 2005 Dodge RAM 1500 | 4 | 1,169 |
| 2006 Dodge RAM 1500 | 9 | 792 |
| 2007 Dodge RAM 1500 | 4 | 517 |
| 2008 Dodge RAM 1500 | 5 | 554 |
| 2009 Dodge RAM 1500 | 2 | 670 |
| 2010 Dodge RAM 1500 | 4 | 486 |
| 2011 Dodge RAM 1500 | 4 | 689 |
| 2012 Dodge RAM 1500 | 6 | 697 |
| 2014 Dodge RAM 1500 | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 2003 Dodge RAM 1500
How do I know if my 2003 Dodge RAM 1500 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2003 Dodge RAM 1500; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Dodge dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 15V312000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Dodge models
- Durango13,770 complaints
- Grand Caravan13,508 complaints
- Caravan10,526 complaints
- Dakota6,629 complaints
- RAM 25006,443 complaints
- Intrepid6,228 complaints
- Charger5,741 complaints
- Journey5,290 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.