A full quantum theory is adopted to derive the differential equations satisfied by the state of a system that is composed of an electron tunneling-coupled quantum-dot molecule interacting with a single-mode radiation field. The phase of the field is calculated by the Pegg-Barnett quantum phase formalism under the initial condition of a coherent-state field and the tunneling excited state or ground state for the quantum-dot molecule. Phase distribution and fluctuation of the field are analyzed, the influence of interaction between phonons and the quantum-dot molecule on the Pegg-Barnett quantum phase is investigated, and the phase distribution is compared with the Husimi phase distribution of the field. Results indicate that temperature can have a marked impact on the phase evolution. The existence of phonons suppresses the field phase distribution and fluctuation in the case when the quantum dot molecule is initially in the tunneling-excited state, while it enhances the diffusion and fluctuation of the field phase in the case when the quantum dot molecule is initially in the ground state. The Husimi phase distribution and the Pegg-Barnett phase distribution agree with each other fairly well in our study.