Just a few thoughts after having owned my truck for a year.

In the last 12 months I have put just a little over 51K miles on the truck. I was a little worried when I first got it because the mileage stayed down around 15 MPG but at 11K miles I pulled my travel trailer about 650 miles and after that the mileage started improving. Now on Interstate I will average from 18 to near 19 MPG at 70 MPH depending on the flatness of the road and the wind direction.

The only problem I have had is that I wore a hole in the carpet near the accelerator where I rest my foot. I use my truck for work which calls for some trips up and down electrical power line right of ways, driving the rough and often dirt roads in South Texas, but mostly highway driving. The truck has few if any sqeaks and rattles which is impressive to me since the roads are so bad down here in and around the border towns.

I really didn't need a diesel since I don't do very much towing but as long as I am working it will be hard for me to buy a gas powered truck again. Once I retire I may buy one of the toy trucks so I can get better gas mileage and still have a bed to carry something small if I need to. The diesel does a great job of creeping down the right of way and I think it is easier to control than a gas engine. One improvement I would make is to add some room in the back seat and improve the rear seat some. Hopefully Dodge is already taking care of that. Since I am selfemployed I will probably have to buy a new truck in a year or 2 or whenever the CPA tells me I need another deduction and it will most likely be another Dodge Cummins.

Since my family has a long history with Dodge, my father owned a Dodge/Plymouth dealership from 1936 to 1969, I have always been partial to Chrysler products but I had a bad experience with a 2000 Dodge truck. I was working for an electric utility company and they furnished me with a company truck. That Dodge got terrible gas mileage, rode rough, and had a transmission that slipped all the time and it was a 1/2 ton truck. Another man with the company had a 3/4 ton Dodge and it was so rough you had trouble talking while driving at highway speeds. He also had several transmissions replaced in his truck. After that I said I would never own a Dodge truck but when I got ready to buy I did some research and made up my mind I wanted a Cummins.

Overall I am glad I bought a Dodge Cummins and will most likely buy at least one more before I retire. This has been a great truck and has done everything I have asked it to do. I know I am "preaching to the choir" here but if anyone is just checking out this site doing research I just want to be one to tell you that you can't go wrong with a Dodge Cummins.

 

Mine is a year old this month (May) also. I only have 16,000 miles on mine with probably 2500 of those towing a stock trailer with a horse or two in it. No problems so far, had the flash done on it when it was a few months old, fuel mileage is good 17 - 18 mpg. It is used for personal transportation only, so it has easy treatment but I dont baby it. I plan on keeping this one as I am now 64 yearsold and at the mileage I put on one this one should last a long time.

 

Thanks for the reports...mine is almost a year old (15K mile) and have had a couple of issues repaired:

1) several injectors replaced, (engine knock and smoking)

2) Power steering pump replaced after leakage detected

3) Driver side rubber door seal replaced

I think now that these small bugs are out of the way I can look forward (knock wood) a good twelve months ahead. And by the way a good service department sure makes life alot easier on you.

 

HD Power,

Can you describe your symptoms in more detail on needing the injectors replaced? Mine will usually smoke and run rough for a few seconds when I start for the first time during any given day. Some days maybe not do it, but often so.
After it has run a minute or so, it seems fine.

Mine has been trouble free otherwise. I did do the TSB for mileage and the Door mouldings. Mine is at 17-18k now used as a daily driver with some light pulling and a couple of heavy pulls.

 

TexasCTD, It started off having a bluish smoke on initial startup after sitting for about 8 hours with a rough idle lasting about 45 seconds to a minute, fuel economy dropped, performance dropped and the engine had a loud ticking noise till warm which later turned into a knock. Dealer replaced first injector and all was good for a couple hundred miles and it came back again, took it in again found 2 more bad replaced those ...been ok for about 12K miles but sounds like its starting to do it again....I hope its just a bad tank of fuel this time.

 

Mine will be a year old in 3 weeks, just over 30 K miles. I've had no trouble to speak of, mileage averages about 18.5, but I can't keep it under 75 on the interstate. About half my driving is there.

No torn door seals, no vibration, no milage issues, not to mention no romps, dead pedal or fuel in the oil like some other brands.

Just one real nice truck

Bud

 

mine will too be a year old come June 16th, and it will probably have 20k miles on it by then, with no issues to speak of yet, and I still love getting in my truck every **** day!
Scott

 

the only time I've had a rough idle at start up was when I had about 1/2 quart too much motor oil in it. I drained it out and was as good as new.

FYI Jamie

 

Hi Jamie,

Last oil and filter change I put in 3 gallons of Shell Rotella T. When I check the dipstick it shows to the top of the cross marks on the stick. Do you think removing some of the oil would make a difference? I have a fumotovalve, so removing a little bit of oil would be easy enough. Why would having a 1/2 quart to much oil make a difference on that? Thanks

 

I have owned my '03 CTD for 20 months. I bought it new at the year end close out. It now has 13 K miles and the only problem was a radiator clamp broke when I first got it.

Mileage averages about 18.5, with the 4:10 rear 6 spd and cruises about 75 mph on the interstate. This thing pulls like a locomotive!

No torn door seals, no vibration, no mileage issues, no romps, dead pedal or fuel issues.

I have to say that I guess I was Lucky. I walked into the dealership to see an old friend and rode out in a 3500 Ram. I did no research and had never heard of any issues with the truck, after all it was the 2003 truck of the year.

I luv my RAM truck, jim

 

Mine will be 1 year old the 21st,only got 9700 miles on it but so far so good..