Dodge Ram Complaints (2002)

1,381 consumer complaints on file.

#10472718August 28, 2012
STRUCTURE
MAIN DASH BEGAN CRACKING IN MULTIPLE PLACES. FORWARD DASH PANEL HAS NOW CRACKED AND SPLIT INTO MANY SEPARATE PIECES CREATING LOOSE, SHARP, PLASTIC MATERIALS WHICH POSE A SAFETY HAZARD IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. SOME OF THE PIECES HAVE CRACKED AWAY AND HAVE FALLEN BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND SOME HAVE FALLEN INTO THE DUCT WORK AS WELL. HAVING OCCURRED ON MANY DODGE RAMS, THIS CREATES A WIDE-SPREAD SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT JUST AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED ON THE AFFECTED YEARS AND THE FAULTY DASH PANELS SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO PREVENT ANY UNNECESSARY INJURIES OR SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472351August 24, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH A PIECE OF THE DASHBOARD FRACTURED AND BEGAN TO CRACK IN FOUR DIFFERENT PLACES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO REPAIRS BUT INSTEAD, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 94,000. ...UPDATED 10/17/12 *BF UPDATED 10/17/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472391August 24, 2012
ENGINE
2002 DODGE RAM 1500 DRIVING AT 55 MPH CAME TO A STOP, SUDDENLY WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF TAIL PIPE WITH SWEET SMELL OF ANTI-FREEZE. VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER TOLD THAT ENGINE HEADS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A ENGINE DESIGN FLAW FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL THAT DODGE IS NOT WILLING TO ADMIT NOR REPAIR THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS BUT THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL. VEHICLE WILL SMOKE UPON STARTING AND SMOKE WILL COME BACK OFF AND ON. JUST WANT DOD GE TO ADMIT THE ISSUE AND COVER REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471443August 19, 2012
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SHORTLY AFTER ENTERING HIGHWAY 281, MY ENGINE FELL ON IT'S FACE. I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL BUT GOT NOTHING BUT RPM'S FROM THE ENGINE. I BEGAN TO MOVE OVER TO THE RIGHT WITH NO POWER, LITTLE STEERING, A DASH FULL OF ERROR LIGHTS, AND DOING MY BEST NOT TO GET HIT BY PASSING VEHICLES. ONCE I GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE ENGINE WASN'T RUNNING. I STARTED THE ENGINE AND CHECKED MY GAUGES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, THE WATER TEMP WAS NEAR THE RED ZONE, AND THE ENGINE SOUND LIKE BOWLING BALL IN A DRYER. THERE WAS FLUID ON THE GROUND OR SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPES SO I FELT IT WAS SAFER TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY WITH THE TRUCK. NEAR THE EXIT, I PULLED IN A STATION WHERE I CHECKED THE TRUCK AND TOP-OFF THE WATER. THE SOUND WAS LIKE A DROPPED ROCKER ARM. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FROM THE "FACTORY" COATING INSIDE THE OIL PAN HAD DELAMINATED AND WAS SUCKED INTO THE PICKUP TUBE. THE COATING THEN PLUGGED THE SCREEN AND PICKUP TUBE. I CALLED DODGE CARES AND THEY TRIED TO BLAME ME THEN THE OIL. I TOLD THEM I'VE NEVER USED ADDITIVES, ALWAYS USE MOBIL ONE, AND I HAD RECEIPTS DATING BACK TO THE DAY I DROVE THE TRUCK OFF THE LOT NEW. THEY CLAIMED THIS WAS A NON-ISSUE AND IT HAD NOT BE REPORTED BEFORE NOW. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLES AND TO BE TOLD A MANUFACTURING ERROR IS MY FAULT DOES NOT SET WELL WITH ME. NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE BECAUSE SOME ENGINEER WAS DUMB ENOUGH TO COAT THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE OIL PAN. I NORMALLY TRAVEL DURING THE NIGHT INTO EARLY HOURS OF THE DAY. WHAT IF THIS HAD HAPPEN WHILE I WAS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NO-WHERE. I'M HANDICAPPED; I COULDN'T HAVE WALKED A QUART OF A MILE FOR HELP. WHAT IF MY 70-YEAR MOTHER HAD BEEN DRIVING MY TRUCK AT THE TIME! THIS COULD HAVE BEEN REAL BAD!!! AND THEN TO BE TOLD IT'S NON-PROBLEM. I HAVE PICTURES IF YOU WANT TO SEE THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469281August 6, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AIR CONDITIONING WORKS FINE, AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR INTERSECTIONS, THE A/C GETS WARM, AS IF THE CONDENSER IS NOT WORKING. WHEN STARTING UP AGAIN, IT GETS COLD AFTER A BIT OF TIME. SEARCHED THE INTERNET, AND FOUND THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT OCCURS OFTEN, AND MANY SAID CHECK THE FUSE #39. ON AUG. 1, I CHECKED THE FUSE, AND FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC AND METAL PARTS OF THE FUSE HAD MELTED ONTO THE SPOT IT WAS PLUGGED INTO. ALL OF THE OTHER FUSES SEEM TO BE FINE, BUT THERE IS A TINY CHUNK OF METAL I CANNOT REMOVE FROM THE FUSEBOX TO PLUG IN ANOTHER FUSE, NOR DO I WANT TO PLUG IN ANOTHER FUSE, AS I DON'T KNOW WHY THE PREVIOUS ONE MELTED. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS COVERED IN ANY RECALLS. ALSO, WHEN I TRIED TO HAVE THE TRUCK INSPECTED, IT FAILED FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL RECALLS LISTED IN THE POSSIBLE CAUSE LIST FOR THE CODE THAT REGISTERED IN THE INSPECTION MACHINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468183July 30, 2012
STRUCTURE
I WAS REAR ENDED AT A RED LIGHT AND MY DASH BOARD SUSTAINED MULTIPLE FRACTURES. PART OF THE DASH BOARD FRACTURED AND BECAME AIRBORNE IN THE VEHICLE. IT WAS THE SIZE OF AN IPHONE. THERE WAS ALSO ANOTHER PART OF THE DASHBOARD WHERE A HOLE IS PRESENT AND THE DASH BOARD IS SUNKEN IN. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE QUALITY AND SAFETY ISSUES. PHOTOS WERE FORWARDED TO MY ATTORNEY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10468065July 28, 2012
STRUCTURE
THE DASH HAS CRACKED IN MULTIPLE AREA'S CAUSING SHARP EDGES IN THE DASH. VERY EASY FOR KIDS TO CUT THERE HANDS. ALSO IF VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT THE SHARP EDGES WOULD COME LOSE HITTING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE CAUSING BODILY HARM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466814July 20, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE PARKED WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, THE CONTACT'S CHILD HAPHAZARDLY MOVED THE GEAR SHIFTER, WHICH WAS LOCATED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARD AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V55500 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT) BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SHIFT INNER LOCK SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465684July 15, 2012
STRUCTURE
CRACKS BEGIN TO APPEAR IN THE DASHBOARD IN APRIL 2009 JUST BELOW THE WINDSHIELD AND HAVE NOW BEGAN TO SHOW UP IN THE MAIN DASHBOARD CAP. A LARGE GAPING SLIT NEAR THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY APPEAR ON JULY 5, 2012. ON JULY 11, 2012 POWER WAS LOST TO THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHICH ALSO INCLUDED THE HAZARDS, TURNING SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND ONE HEAD LIGHT. REQUESTED ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH THE CHRYSLER/DODGE, OFFICIAL WEBSITE POSSIBLE RECALLS AND I WAS CONTACTED VIA PHONE 24 HOURS LATER WITH A CONFIRMATION THAT NO PENDING OR MISSED RECALLS WERE IN PLACE FOR THE TRUCK. WHEN ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY SOLUTIONS TO THE COMPLAINTS OF CRACKED DASHBOARDS IN THE DODGE RAM 1500 MADE IN 2002, THE REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO KNOWN COMPLAINTS LISTED FOR THE DASHBOARD AND PROVIDED NO RESOURCE IN BETTER REPLACEMENT PART. SCHEDULED TO HAVE VEHICLE CHECK THE WEEK OF JULY 16,2012. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465656July 14, 2012
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DASH BOARD HAS DEVELOPED SEVERAL CRACKS BOTH FRONT AND REAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464835July 10, 2012
STRUCTURE
THE DASHBOARD IN THE 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 HAS MULTIPLE HAIRLINE CRACKS AND PIECES ARE BEGINNING TO FALL BEHIND THE DASH. I'M AFRAID THAT THESE PIECES COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE FUNCTION OF THE AIRBAGS, HEATING / COOLING SYSTEM, OR OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE. IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT THERE COULD BE FRAGMENTS THAT BREAK APART AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE EYE DAMAGE OR SEVERE LACERATIONS. I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FROM NUMEROUS OWNERS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464228July 5, 2012
STRUCTURE
THE DASH CAP IN MY DODGE RAM 1500 HAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. THIS HAS CAUSED MANY VERY SHARP SHARDS OF PLASTIC THAT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN A COLLISION RESULTING IN UNNECESSARY INJURY TO ANY PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THIS SHOULD TRIGGER A FULL RECALL OF ALL TRUCKS AFFECTED. CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WILL NOT VOLUNTARILY START A RECALL. I MYSELF HAVE CUT MY FINGERS AND HANDS JUST WIPING OFF THE DASH BOARD WHILE CLEANING. I BEG OF YOU TO START AN INVESTIGATION BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED VERY BADLY IN AN ACCIDENT BY THESE SHARDS BECOMING PROJECTILES. THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE TRUCKS. PLEASE TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10462838June 23, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
NOTICED WHILE DRIVING THAT THE RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THE UPPER DASHBOARD PIECE NEXT TO THE WINDOW WAS RATTLING. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT TWO OF THE ATTACHMENT POST FOR THE PANEL WERE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE UPPER DASH PANEL ON THE UNDER SIDE OF THE PANEL WHICH MATE TO A FRICTION CLAMP UNDER THE PANEL.ALSO NOTICED THAT THE SPEAKER GRILL WAS CRACKED AND COMING APART IN THE SAME AREA. NOTE: THE DASH AREA HAS NEVER BEEN DISTURBED SINCE NEW OR HAS BEEN IN A WRECK OR HAS THE DASH HAD ANY KIND OF IMPACT. PERHAPS IF DODGE HAD PUT MORE EMPHASIS ON QUALITY THAN PROFIT ,THEY WOULD BE IN BETTER SHAPE. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10462203June 19, 2012
STRUCTURE
THE DASHBOARD OF MY DODGE RAM IS DISINTEGRATING INTO SHARP POINTED SHARDS OF PLASTIC. THE PLASTIC MATERIAL WHICH MAKES UP THE DASH HAS CHANGED IN IT CHARACTERISTICS SO AS TO BECOME QUITE BRITTLE. THE POTENTIAL FOR THESE SHARDS TO BECOME PROJECTILES AND/OR ANYTHING COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE DASH CAUSING THE DASH TO FREELY BREAK APART INTO HUNDREDS OF KNIFE-LIKE BLADES AND CAUSING INJURY, IS IMMINENT. WE HAVE MADE GIANT STRIDES IN VEHICLE OCCUPANT SAFETY BY REQUIRING SHATTER PROOF GLASS, REQUIRING OCCUPANTS TO USE SEATBELTS, ETC. . NOW WE ARE FACING OTHER DILEMMAS WHERE MANUFACTURERS HAVE INTRODUCED MATERIALS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF VEHICLES WHICH MAY NEGATE THOSE SAFETY PROGRESSIVE INNOVATION GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO IMPLEMENT. ALTHOUGH MY CURRENT CONCERN MAY BE PREVENTIVE IN NATURE I BELIEVE ANY REASONABLE AND PRUDENT PERSON CAN EASILY DEDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR GRAVE HARM WHICH MAY BEFALL THE CONSUMER UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES. THE DODGE DASHBOARD REPRESENTS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THESE VEHICLES. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10461966June 16, 2012
STRUCTURE, AIR BAGS
MY DASH HAS COMPLETELY CRACKED AND IS IN PIECES,(SHARP PIECES), IT COULD AFFECT THE WIRING IN MY DASH, IF I DID HAVE AN ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS IN THE DASH COULD THROW THOSE SHARP PIECES AT ME AND MY PASSENGERS. NOTE: THESE CRACK WERE AT NO FAULT OF MINE OR MY PASSENGERS. THE CRACKS STARTED TWO YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT THE TRUCK BRAND NEW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460321June 2, 2012
AIR BAGS
DODGE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE FRONT LEFT AND THEN THE OTHER VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND HIT THE SIDE OF THE DODGE. ALL SAFETY AIRBAGS IN CAR FAILED TO DEPLOY AND NO AIRBAG CHECK LIGHT WAS ON DURING THE LIFE OF THE DODGE. ALSO THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS A DODGE AND IT HAD LESS DAMAGE AND ALL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THAT VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460116May 31, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEYS COULD BE EASILY REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN ANY GEAR. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO PARK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE BACKWARD. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 208,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458803May 17, 2012
STRUCTURE
DASH CRACKED,CUT FINGER ON IT AND THE CRACKS ARE GETTING WORSE. PIECES COULD FLY UP AND HIT ME IN THE FACE WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457797May 8, 2012
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE BLOWER MOTOR FUSE WAS BLOWN ON THIS OCCASION, AND THEN LATER DATES THE AC CONDENSER FAN FUSE WAS BLOWN. THE 40 AMP FUSE FOR THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS REPLACED TO FIX THE FIRST PROBLEM. THE CONDENSER FAN FUSE WAS REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE, AND THEN THE FUSE BOX - WHERE THE CONDENSER FAN FUSE GOES - MELTED SO THAT THE FUSE COULD NOT BE REPLACED. TAKING IT TO THE DEALER TODAY. ALSO NOTICED LOTS OF DASHBOARD CRACKING COMPLAINTS. I ALSO HAVE A DASHBOARD THAT IS SERIOUSLY CRACKED. PAID TO REPLACE THE PART CLOSEST TO THE WINDOW, BUT THE DASHBOARD OVER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS NOT REPLACED. ASKED DEALER TO REPLACE IT THREE TIMES, AND ALL THREE TIMES THEY SAID NONE WAS IN STOCK. ONE PERSON TOLD ME THAT THEY DON'T LIKE REPLACING THEM BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THE JOB. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456343April 24, 2012
STRUCTURE
THE DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING AROUND 60,000 MILES. IT HAS CONTINUED TO CRACK AND ALL OF THE PLASTIC VENT COVERS HAVE FALLEN APART INTO THE VENTS. I HAVE NOW FOUND OUT THAT THE INSULATION IN THE DASH IS DRY ROTTING AND FALLING INTO THE A/C VENTS AND CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE A/C MOTOR. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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