2003 Dodge RAM 2500 electrical problems

Filed Apr 9, 2023 · Electrical, Lights · IL

After driving in heavy rain. During the following day started having electrical issues the parking lights would stay on even when the switch was turned off the driver's side headlight would also come on. and the parking lights would either turn off or flash when the high beams were turned on this happened with front and back parking lights the only way to fully get them to stay off was to pull the relay or disconnect the battery. The problem is with the power distribution center and front control module the poor design allows them to corrode damaging the copper tracing and causing shorts in the system this is a common problem as there are several online forums dedicated to these problems with a lot of people having the same issues so I'm not sure why there hasn't been a recall for this since it is a major safety problem when it affects lights, windshield wipers and several other things that could cause accidents. my brother's truck is also having sign's of the pdc and fcm being bad. and at over $1000 to replace both for a manufacturing defect it's not right that dodge customer's should have to pay that bill. I'll be attaching a picture of another board but the damage is the same and in the same spot

Filed Dec 18, 2017 · Electrical · 141,959 miles · SC

The trailer connector on my truck has never been used by me so I didnt know it didnt work. I now have a travel trailer but nothing works but the driver side signal. Nothing else. I checked the connector and there is no current coming out of it except for the left signal. I see there was a recall but cant find any info. Cant take it anywhere without lights!!! Have to go out of town with it but cant until its working. Help please.

Filed May 12, 2017 · Acceleration, Brakes · 140,000 miles · TX · crash

Sudden loss of braking while approaching intersection; the brake pedal just went to the floor when applying approximately two hundred feet before intersection; applied emergency brake to effectively stop;speed was below 30 MPH when approaching intersection and brake loss occurred; truck has also had four "death wobble" experiences even with pittman arm and associated parts replacement; two experiences of sudden acceleration (possible jammed open throttle) of the turbo, leading to loss of control; sudden accelerations occurred shortly after cruise control usage and traveling less than 30 MPH; while stationary, vehicle has experienced wiring harness short and fire on firewall while connected to trailer. Pictures attached were taken within 12 hours of sudden loss of brakes.

Filed Mar 18, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · 81,000 miles · MI

Truck has the same electrical issues as the recalled newer trucks. It melted the fuse box and the truck wont run. I have replaced the fuse box, computer, all coils, all plugs, all wires, throttle body over 3,000.00 and the truck still does not run. Only has 81,000 miles on it. It was towed to a chrysler dealership and towed back out of the dealership because they could not tell us what is wrong with it. After 3,000.00 of lets try this I can not afford any more lets try this or that. This is a common problem and most people think they broke a valve in the hemi motor. I have run a compression test and this is not the case. My issue is electrical and I don't feel as thou I should have to spend any more money trying to figure it out when the dealership cant. The truck was under warranty the first time it was brought in for an electrical issue. Which they could not find anything wrong, and then it escaladed to the point of not running any longer. Started by melting fuses then melted the fuse box. And who knows what else it took out. When scanned it brings up different codes each and every time. Dealership charges for each and every wrong part that is replaced and then rescanned and they also charge labor for each wrong part replaced. Vehicle was running fine. Driving 2 miles down a dirt road speed of 25mph, vehicle started to miss and just continued to get worse to the point it will not idle. You can not hold a steady fuel pedal and keep it running it stalls. Passenger side airbag is recalled and not available, tie rod assembly is recalled not available a few months ago when I asked at the dealership. I currently own a 2003 2500 hd yard ornament. How can chryslers get away with this?

Filed Jun 16, 2015 · Airbags, Electrical · 80,000 miles · TX

Multiple breaks in the vent portion of the dash cover with missing pieces and the main dash component is completely cracked through on the passenger side. With the ventilation system on, pieces of plastic and deteriorated insulation blows freely in the cab of the truck. With the dash continuing to crack and break apart pieces of plastic have dropped below the dash and could potentially could expose and cause wiring problems with the electrical system. The cracked dash is a danger to the eyes of anyone riding in the vehicle with the ventilation system circulating condition air. I fear that the dash will act as shrapnel in the event of air bag deployment. ...updated 07/30/15

Filed Oct 6, 2014 · Body, Electrical · 142,311 miles · PA

While searching for a fix for my dash which just cracked I found several reports of after the dash cracked where electrical issues arise. As in headlights not working at all or when switching to hi beam. I also saw a video on this issue from a news broadcast and when chrysler was questioned about this there was never any response while the public was requesting a recall. From what I can find out just in the hour I was looking this up this would apply to just about every dodge ram made between 1996 and 2006. My truck is garage kept and I keep it in excellent condition so for this to happen due to sitting in the sun it's entire life I might understand but there is no way this should have happened to mine. My father was a mechanic for chrysler for over 20 years and this is just plain cheap made products. Which from what I can find out could and most likely will lead to some safety issue with the vehicle. Since I can not find anything more out with regards to what the federal safety agency is doing only monitoring the issue?? The broadcast I saw was from 2012, I would think something would have become of this by now for sure after seeing that video. Yet at that time the news channel stated your doing nothing.

Filed Aug 24, 2014 · Electrical · 107,000 miles · WA

The front passenger window cannot be controlled by the passenger sitting in said set and can only be controlled by the drivers main panel. This is a safety issue in the event the driver is incapacitated and the passenger must escape through the passenger window. My other concern is that there must be a circuit malfunction in the control module which could burn and start a fire in the drivers door.

Filed Feb 11, 2014 · Electrical · 166,000 miles · MO

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge ram 2500. The contact stated that all the gauges in the vehicle failed and all the warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact mentioned that the windshield wipers also failed. The failure would recur intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was unable to be replicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 166,000 and the current mileage was 180,000. Updated 04/22/14*lj updated 04/23/14

Filed Jan 13, 2014 · Electrical, Visibility · 105,145 miles · KY

Blend door will not work, common failure in models 02-06, poor design breaks after a year or so...cant defrost windshield when windshield frost due to snow or cold temperatures. Unable to remove foggy windshield on rainy days.

Filed Oct 27, 2012 · Electrical, Visibility · 89,881 miles · TX

The defroster will not activate-found tsb 24-004-03 relates to this issue. Chrysler should have recalled these vehicles for repair due to numerous number of failures and safety issue related to not having de-ice or defrost capability.