Whats gone wrong with your Ram?
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,280
Likes: 10
From: Udaho
Update to my earlier post.
At 100k miles and 8 years my '03 (sold) had the following replaced:
1. Steering box under warranty at 35k.
2. Ball joints under warranty at 35k.
3. Stereo under warranty at 35k.
4. Shocks ~ 70k.
5. Steering box again at ~72k.
6. Rear prop shaft u-joints at ~75k.
7. Front axle u-joints about the same time.
8. Lift pump under warranty at ~80k.
9. Ball joints again at 100k.
10. Also had to install a Modulite at about 60k when the right turn signal to the trailer wiring quit working (bad relay in sealed TIPM).
Only the lift pump left me dead on the road- and even it gave me a warning (which I ignored of course). The premature wearing of the steering box(es) and ball joints were disappointing, but the rest is just normal wear and tear. The good news is any of these items can be upgraded with parts that will last much longer than OEM. Overall it was the best vehicle I ever owned....so far the 2011 is holding up well too, but only 35k miles.
At 100k miles and 8 years my '03 (sold) had the following replaced:
1. Steering box under warranty at 35k.
2. Ball joints under warranty at 35k.
3. Stereo under warranty at 35k.
4. Shocks ~ 70k.
5. Steering box again at ~72k.
6. Rear prop shaft u-joints at ~75k.
7. Front axle u-joints about the same time.
8. Lift pump under warranty at ~80k.
9. Ball joints again at 100k.
10. Also had to install a Modulite at about 60k when the right turn signal to the trailer wiring quit working (bad relay in sealed TIPM).
Only the lift pump left me dead on the road- and even it gave me a warning (which I ignored of course). The premature wearing of the steering box(es) and ball joints were disappointing, but the rest is just normal wear and tear. The good news is any of these items can be upgraded with parts that will last much longer than OEM. Overall it was the best vehicle I ever owned....so far the 2011 is holding up well too, but only 35k miles.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,411
Likes: 2
From: Laredo
whats wrong with mine now?
AC Freon leak.. been dealing with AC problems for a month and a half now.. DC screwed these trucks up bad... been through a new evaporator core and two leaks already, and now on to a third..
Fan clutch goes out once a year...
other than that, already did injectors 20K miles ago
already did an FCA
front suspension at least twice
brakes
batteries
one alternator
shocks
front drive shaft
u joints
carrier bearing
trans solenoids
too much, have a spreadsheet
but my truck has 220K, tows once a week on average, sees a lot of ranch roads, and 4wd useage
AC Freon leak.. been dealing with AC problems for a month and a half now.. DC screwed these trucks up bad... been through a new evaporator core and two leaks already, and now on to a third..
Fan clutch goes out once a year...
other than that, already did injectors 20K miles ago
already did an FCA
front suspension at least twice
brakes
batteries
one alternator
shocks
front drive shaft
u joints
carrier bearing
trans solenoids
too much, have a spreadsheet
but my truck has 220K, tows once a week on average, sees a lot of ranch roads, and 4wd useage
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 641
Likes: 0
From: Lake Nona, Florida
Aside from a few posts... this is a pretty compact list of issues. I'll add mine:
CP3 pump leak - twice (gotta laugh that they tried to deny the warranty both times and said they "never" see CP3 leaks)
front pinion seal
track bar (again, they said "this is rare to fail so soon")
shocks shot, wanted Bilsteins anyway
two tail light bulbs (minor... but two in 5 years? seems a lot compared to my other vehicles)
Sitting at just under 90,000 miles now and wondering how long the lift pump will last. The good news about the issues so far is that none of them stranded me.
CP3 pump leak - twice (gotta laugh that they tried to deny the warranty both times and said they "never" see CP3 leaks)
front pinion seal
track bar (again, they said "this is rare to fail so soon")
shocks shot, wanted Bilsteins anyway
two tail light bulbs (minor... but two in 5 years? seems a lot compared to my other vehicles)
Sitting at just under 90,000 miles now and wondering how long the lift pump will last. The good news about the issues so far is that none of them stranded me.
Lift pump did go just before 100,000 on the clock
Second front pinion seal
Ball joints
Front U-joints
another tail light bulb
muffler
The last set of service also included brakes and new batteries and set me back $3,000 in all - but the truck is still running strong so I didn't feel bad getting the work done.
Hopefully the next big ticket item will only be tires.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
From: Washington
Bought with 63k. Replaced Ball joints, driver's side hub, U Joints, front seat padding fix, Injectors, Heater/AC Fan motor, tires and a lot of fluids/filters. Overall it has been a great truck.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 757
Likes: 0
From: Calgary/Alta
83000Miles----US vehicle brought up the to live it life north of the border @21000 miles in Dec 08,so far not to bad---hope i don't set my self up for a bunch of repairs.55000 miles entire front end done,one bad front u-joint(replaced both),One hub making noise (replaced both)ball joints toast---upgrade to Carli plus 08 steering up grade,front brake pads were 40% but did them anyway.One front pinion seal and tranny cooler line,all this done at the same time-------that"s about it so far besides regular maintenance(fluids)and extras(cosmetic upgrades). Never done anything to the engine or tranny----so far just preventative stuff.CHEERS----DW
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
I feel lucky. very,very few issues here. Maybe I shouldn't have sold my 03 last week. It was an excellent truck for the 50,000 miles I owned it, sold with almost 270,000mi. In the market for another, maybe 4wd this time.
Registered User
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
06 2500 list of problems
Where do I begin...
-Blown crank seal at 9000
-Complete trans rebuild and new torque converter at 60000
-Driver side head light wiring went bad had to put in jumper
-Bad turn signal relay(recall notice)
-Blown seal power steering pump 80000
-Had U-Joints done(Firestone didn't put clips on)joint came loose on highway vibration cracked rear trans case and burned out overdrive.(Firestone payed for all repairs)
-Muffler rusted out at seam 65000(Gave me excuse to put on Banks Monster
)
-blew number 5 Fuel line 80000
-Manual lumbar crank broke
-FM antenna mount broke(I'm sure carwash contributed)
-Clearance lamp seals rotted out and rained inside cab
-Bad pressure selonoid in trans...locked it in 2nd gear
Just hit 96000, I hope I'm over the hump...LOL
-Blown crank seal at 9000
-Complete trans rebuild and new torque converter at 60000
-Driver side head light wiring went bad had to put in jumper
-Bad turn signal relay(recall notice)
-Blown seal power steering pump 80000
-Had U-Joints done(Firestone didn't put clips on)joint came loose on highway vibration cracked rear trans case and burned out overdrive.(Firestone payed for all repairs)
-Muffler rusted out at seam 65000(Gave me excuse to put on Banks Monster
)-blew number 5 Fuel line 80000
-Manual lumbar crank broke
-FM antenna mount broke(I'm sure carwash contributed)
-Clearance lamp seals rotted out and rained inside cab
-Bad pressure selonoid in trans...locked it in 2nd gear
Just hit 96000, I hope I'm over the hump...LOL
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 437
Likes: 2
From: Wolfforth, Tx.
Now @ 140,488 replaced all blend doors w/ Heater Treater's with the help of my wife. Replaced water pump, new tires (E rated now), replaced both batteries, removed damaged CAT w/ test pipe. Other than that its been a great truck. I'm now getting about 23 mpg on the hwy hand calculated (lie-o-meter 28.3) and about 16 mpg in the city.
