Dodge Ram Complaints (2002)

1,381 consumer complaints on file.

#10160151June 19, 2006
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
FAILURE OF RACK AND PINION UNIT ON 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 SLT. UNIT DEVELOPED A SEVERE LEAK THAT CAUSED THE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR TO DRAIN COMPLETELY WITHIN AN HOUR OF DRIVING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160105June 18, 2006
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED CAUSING EXCESSIVE LEAKING OF POWER STEERING FLUID AND FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING. DODGE/CHRYSLER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE TO THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB, 4.7 LITER ENGINE. 72,000 HIGHWAY MILES. IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION FROM THE DEALER THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT CAN HAPPEN 2,000 MILES TO 200,000 MILES INDICATING THE CONTINUED USE OF A DEFECTIVE PART. DESPITE MY WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT THE LABOR COSTS OF THE REPAIR CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ASSIST WITH THE COST OF THE $600.00 PART. THERE IS NO AFTER MARKET PART AVAILABLE DUE TO THE TRUCK BEING "TOO NEW" ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. THIS PART FAILED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE AND NOT ABUSE ON MY PART. THE PART CAN NOT BE REPAIRED AND MUST BE REPLACED SINCE DODGE/CHRYSLER DOES NOT SUPPLY A PARTS PACKAGE TO REPAIR THE PART. DUE TO THIS FACT THE PART MUST BE REPLACED AND NOT REPAIRED. THIS IS ALSO A GREAT SAFETY ISSUE AS THE POWER STEERING LEAKED OUT WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE RESULTED FROM THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159884June 14, 2006
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY TRUCK HIT A POTHOLE NOT BIG AT ALL AND JUMPED IN THE OTHER LANE AND I ENDED UP IN SOMEONE'S FRONT YARD. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10159702June 13, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS STOPPED BY POLICE DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY PARKING/RUNNING LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THE SIGNALS AND STOP LIGHTS WORKED FINE. MY 2002 DODGE RAM IS AT THE GARAGE. THEY FOUND THE CIRCUIT BOARD (POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER) UNDER THE FUSE BOX IS BURNED OUT. COST FROM DODGE, $400.00. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE LIGHT WENT OUT FROM THE CAB. THE DASH LIGHTS WORKED AND THE HEAD LIGHTS WORKED. THE GARAGE INFORMED ME THAT IS HAPPENING A LOT TO OTHER DODGE RAMS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159519June 10, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MY 2002 DODGE RAM VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY, I WAS ON THE RAMP GETTING ONTO THE INTERSTATE. I THOUGH MY TIRES WERE BEEN RIPPED OFF. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE ONLY TO HEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR BEEN BANGED AS IF THE FLOORBOARD WAS COMING UP INTO THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED ONLY TO FIND OUT I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE WITH MY THREE CHILDREN AND MY THREE NIECES AND NEPHEWS THAT WERE RIDING WITH ME TO THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. THE UNIVERSAL JOINT HAD COMPLETELY BROKEN OF THE TRANSMISSION AND MADE A HOLE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK ONTO THE FLOORBOARD. LUCKILY I STOPPED THE CAR ON TIME BEFORE A TRAGEDY WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. I FEEL THE TRUCK IS NOT OLD ENOUGH FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN ON ANY TYPE OF COLLISION THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP AND MY HOME DEALERSHIP, THEY ONLY CARED ABOUT HAVING OR NOT HAVING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE TO MAKE SURE I DID NOT CAUSE THE PROBLEM (HOW COULD I HAVE RIPPED THE U-JOINT). ULTIMATELY, THEY SAID, IT WOULD BE UP TO CHRYSLER IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME AT ALL. WHAT A GREAT COMPANY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE HUH?? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158888June 3, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES START TO SQUEAK AND SHIMMY. SQUEAKING VERY LOUD WHEN COMING TO STOP. SQUEAK LASTS FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS THEN SOUNDS LIKE METAL TO METAL AND CAN FEEL IN PEDAL. TRUCK STARTS TO SHIMMY AT HIGH SPEED THEN APPLYING BRAKES TO STOP. I HAVE DOWN 3 COMPLETE BRAKE JOBS FRONT AND REAR, BEST PADS, ROTORS, EVERYTHING. NEW REPLACEMENT ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO WARPING. THE BRAKES SHOULD LAST LONGER THE 3-4 MONTHS WHICH IN MILES TERMS IS LESS THAN 25,000 MILES. I AM NOW ON MY 4TH BRAKE JOB AND I SHOULDN'T BE. THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM. NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THIS IS BECOMING EXTREMELY COSTLY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158772June 1, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AFTER PUTTING IT IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND A BYSTANDER GOT IN AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE DONE TO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V462000, REGARDING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 7/25/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158263May 25, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE HEATER/AC FAN WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED FROM THE LOCK. SOMETIMES THE CIRCUIT IS ENERGIZED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE KEY IS REMOVED AND AT OTHER TIMES IT ENERGIZE'S ON ITS OWN. IF NOT IDENTIFIED IN TIME THE FAN WILL DRAIN THE VEHICLE BATTERY. THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER CLAIMS THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I SUSPECT THE IGNITION LOCK/SWITCH IS PROBABLY DEFECTIVE AND IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156379April 28, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON SATURDAY APRIL 15, 2006 WE WERE DRIVING HOME AND THE TRANSMISSION IN OUR 2002 DODGE RAM TRUCK BEGAN SLIPPING. WE HAD TO DRIVE IN LOW GEAR TO GET HOME. WE TOOK THE TRUCK TO SCHAEFER AND STROMINGER, THE DEALER WE PURCHASED THE TRUCK BRAND NEW FROM IN 2002 AND WERE TOLD "OH ITS PROBABLY JUST A SWITCH, WE'LL REPLACE IT AND ITS GOOD YOU BOUGHT THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY...WELL THIS 2002 TRUCK ON HAS APPROXIMATELY 26,000 MILES ON IT! AFTER HAVING THE TRUCK FOR OVER A WEEK, I WAS TOLD THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THIS TRUCK....A TRUCK THAT ONLY HAS 26,000 MILES ON IT. WELL NOT ONLY SCHAEFER AND STROMINGER, BUT ALSO CHRYSLER THEMSELVES DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SENSE TO GIVE ME A LOANER CAR FOR THE INCONVENIENCE OF DEALING WITH THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. THERE IS NO WAY I SHOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN A TRUCK THAT IS HARDLY DRIVEN AND HAS NEVER, EVER HAULED ANYTHING. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOUT THIS, I AM FINDING OUT THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM EVERYONE IS HAVING WITH THESE TRUCKS AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CHRYSLER TO MAKE THEM FIX THESE AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. I AM THOROUGHLY DISGUSTED WITH THE "OH WELL, WHAT A SHAME" ATTITUDE CHRYSLER HAS, WE CONSUMERS SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON THESE VEHICLES AND WE ALL DESERVE NOT ONLY A BETTER PRODUCT, BUT ALSO BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE. PLEASE TELL ME THERE IS SOMEONE OUT THERE WHO CAN MAKE THESE MANUFACTURES STAND BEHIND THE PRODUCTS THEY SELL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED DRIVING ON OF THESE TRUCKS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156348April 27, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I HIT A TREE DOING 45 MPH NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON EITHER THE DRIVERS OR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE TRUCK. I HAD SEVERE DAMAGE TO MY FACE AND I AM FACING TWO MORE OPERATIONS IN THE NEXT YEAR. CAUSE FOR AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING IS UNKNOWN BUT CHRYSLER CORP HAS CHECKED THE COMPUTER AND FOUND NO CODES IN THE COMPUTER TO CAUSE THE AIR BAGS NOT TO COME OUT. THE TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THEY HAVE NOT FOUND OUT WHY THEY DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10156137April 26, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHEN DRIVING ON ROUGH PAVEMENT, THIS TRUCK JUMPS ALL OVER THE ROAD. I ALMOST WAS THROWN INTO A RETAINING WALL YESTERDAY. YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING ON ROUGH SURFACES!! DANGEROUS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155911April 23, 2006
STEERING
I HAD A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH I HEARD A LOW HUMMING NOISE. SUDDENLY THE TRUCK VEERED TO THE LEFT. I WAS NOW IN INCOMING TRAFFIC AND NARROWLY MISSED ONE CAR. I TRIED TO GET THE TRUCK BACK TO THE RIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF PLAY IN IT. THE TRUCK FISHTAILED BACK TO THE RIGHT ONLY TO VEER AGAIN TO THE LEFT. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS HIT BY A CAR, RAN UP A LAWN, HIT A TREE AND FLIPPED THE TRUCK. BOTH MYSELF AND THE DRIVER OF THE CAR SUFFERED MINIMAL PHYSICAL INJURIES. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST DAIMLER CHRYSLER INVOLVING THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE DURANGOS. I BELIEVE THAT MY VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10155736April 20, 2006
STEERING:RACK AND PINION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
RACK & PINION STEERING LEAKING ON LEFT SIDE. TRANSMISSION ROUGH. NO DASH LIGHTS. BLOWER MOTOR WORKS SELDOM. DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. SEEMS LIKE THESE HAVE WIDESPREAD TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155737April 20, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SUSPENSION
WHEN ON THE SLIGHTEST ROUGH SURFACE, THIS TRUCK JUMPS AND BOUNCES ALL OVER THE ROAD. I LOSE ALL CONTROL OF THE TRUCK WHEN IT IS JUMPING. WORSE, THE BRAKES BOUNCE AND GRAB WHEN YOU APPLY THEM. DANGEROUS. WIDE SPREAD KNOWLEDGE OF THESE SAFETY ISSUES. NEED A RESOLUTION AND RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155576April 18, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE CORRODED AND BROKE. 8JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155419April 16, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FIRST, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO AN OVERDRIVE BAND THAT BROKE AND THEN THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. SECOND, I HAD THE MECHANICS CHECK THE DIFFERENTIAL FOR NORMAL SERVICING. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE LTD SLIP COMPONENT HAD BROKEN, WHICH THEN CAUSED BEARINGS TO BREAK, WHICH THEN NEARLY DESTROYED THE AXLE HOUSING. $4500 OR MORE TO REPAIR TRANSMISSION AND TO REPLACE REAR AXLE. 77337 MILES, NO OFF ROAD USE AND GENTLE DRIVING HABITS. I CAN HAVE THE OLD AXLE I BELIEVE. 10 DAYS IN SHOP SO FAR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155281April 13, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE FRONT BRAKES SHUDDER VIOLENTLY WHEN I TRY TO STOP. I HAD THE BRAKES FIXED BUT THEY ARE DOING IT AGAIN. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A GENIUS TO KNOW THAT THE ROTORS ARE INFERIOR!!! THE DEALER SAID THIS IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER OF THIS TRUCK SO I KNOW THAT I DO NOT OVER BRAKE... THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154008March 29, 2006
AIR BAGS
I WAS TRAVELING ON A DIRT ROAD WHICH IS ALL WE HAVE IN THE AREA AND THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY 2002 DODGE RAM WHICH THEN PLOWED OVER SEVERAL TREES AND FINALLY COMING TO REST HEAD ON IN A GROUP OF 3 TREES TOTALING MY TRUCK. THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK WAS MORE THAN EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING NECK AND BACK INJURIES AS WELL AS MY TOOTH BEING BROKE IN HALF. DAIMLER CHRYSLER WAS NOTIFIED AND SCANNED THE ON BOARD COMPUTER AND STATED THAT SINCE NO CODES SHOWED UP THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE FULLY FUNCTIONAL. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10153777March 27, 2006
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR OR SO I LOST MY OVERDRIVE AND 3 RD GEAR OF MY TRANSMISSION. DODGE DEALER REPORTS THE VALVE BODY WENT OUT ON MY TRUCK IT HAD ONLY BEEN OUT OF WARRANTY BY ABOUT 3000 MILES. DODGE WOULD NOT WORK WIT ME EVEN THOU THEY ADMITTED TO HAVING SOME COME IT. SO I HAD TO HAVE THE VALVE BODY REPLACED. WHILE SITTING IN THE SERVICE AREA WAITING FOR MY TRUCK TO BE FIXED A CUSTOMER CAME IN TO GET A HEATER CORE FOR HIS 2002. GUESS WHAT LESS THEN A MONTH AFTER SPENDING 1300.00 TO GET MY TRANSMISSION FIXED THE HEATER CORE WENT OUT ON MINE . IS THIS COMMON OR AM I JUST THE LUCKY ONE? AS THE HEATER CORE FAILED IT DID DUMP ANTI FREEZE IN THE CAB OF THE TRUCK AND ON THE CARPET. I HAVE YET TO HAVE THE HEATER CORE REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153715March 25, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SUSPENSION:FRONT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FIRST THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING IN 3RD GEAR AT TIMES,THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUE THAT THE DEALER CAN'T REPRODUCE. THE LAMP OUT LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF WITH THE BELL THIS WILL DO IT INTERMITTENTLY FOR AS LONG AS 30 MIN STRAIGHT AND THIS TRUCK IS ALL OVER THE ROAD WHEN YOU HIT BUMPS AT HIGH SPEED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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