Dodge Ram Complaints (2002)

1,381 consumer complaints on file.

#10183063February 20, 2007
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
I HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING RACK AND ALL ITS COMPONENTS AT ONLY 54,000 MILES ON A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. I LOOKED INTO THIS AND THIS IS A VERY COMMON THING TO HAPPEN, AND IT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE, SOME AS LOW AS 20,000 MILES! I THINK DODGE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS AND FIND OUT WHY IT IS FALLING APART SO SOON, AND POSSIBLY ISSUE A RECALL AND A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THOSE OF US WHO ALREADY SPENT THE 1100 TO FIX IT! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183088February 20, 2007
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
I HAVE SUFFERED TWO MAJOR SYSTEM FAILURES IN MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500, BOTH OF WHICH RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOCK OF THE STEERING WHILE DRIVING. IN BOTH INSTANCES, FIRST AT 30,000 KM IN FEB 04, AND NOW AT 72,000 KM IN FEB 07, THE POWER STEERING RACK HAS BROKEN, RESULTING IN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, REQUIRING A KING KONG GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL SIMPLY TO TURN THE WHEEL EVEN ONE INCH. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS COVERED BY CHRYSLER UNDER THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY, BUT THIS ONE IS NOT BEING COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. BOTH FAILURES WERE LUCKILY AT LOW SPEED, BUT IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN IN TWO YEARS, I PRAY THAT IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM FOR THE SAME FAILURE, AND THERE IS ANOTHER DODGE RAM AT THE DEALER RIGHT NOW WITH THE SAME BREAK DOWN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181940February 8, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
LOST ENGINE OIL PRESSURE . USED BERRYMANSB12 IN ENGINE OIL . OIL PRESSURE CAME BACK . DRAINED OIL AND INSTALLED NEW OIL AND FILTER . STARTED ENGINE NO OIL PRESSURE . REMOVED OIL PAN , SUCTION SCREEN PLUGGED WITH SLUDGE AND HARD OIL DEPOSITS . CLEANED EVERYTHING . INSTALLED OIL PAN . NEW OIL AND FILTER . STARTED ENGINE , SO FAR OK . HAVE 110,000 MILES ON ENGINE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180920January 28, 2007
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
FOUND METAL PIECES THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL OF MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB 4X4. THE WHOLE REAR END HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS APPARENTLY A WELL DOCUMENTED KNOWN PROBLEM BASED ON HUNDREDS OF FORUM THREADS UNDER "C-CLIP", "RETAINER CLIP" AND/OR "CLUTCH PACK RETAINER" PROBLEMS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179549January 24, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DRIVING ON RT. 10 IN NJ, OIL PRESSURE GAUGE DROPPED AND ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND STOPPED. BARELY MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AFTER ALMOST GETTING REAR ENDED. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER WHERE DODGE'S INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR SAID IT WAS THE THERMOSTAT. HAD ENGINE REPLACED BY MY MECHANIC AND WAS DETERMINED TO BE SLUDGE BUILD UP WITH THE PUMP COMPLETELY CLOGGED AND THE OIL SCREEN ALSO CLOGGED WITH METAL FRAGMENTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178964January 17, 2007
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FLUID FROM THE RACK AND PINION. THE FIRST LEAK OCCURRED AT 68,000 MILES WHICH WAS A MINOR LEAK ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE RACK AND PINION SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT A MILEAGE OF 70,000. THEN THERE WAS A MAJOR LEAK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AFTER THE REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IS AWARE THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE FOR HIS VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176962December 26, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
MY ENGINE LIGHT COME ON ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. HOOKED IT UP TO A CAR READER AND THE CODE IS A 1491. WHICH MEANS RADIATOR FAN CONTROL RELAY CIRCUIT. I CALLED THE DODGE DEALER HERE IN ENUMCLAW WASHINGTON AND THEY TOLD ME $500 TO FIX. SO I CALLED MY MECHANIC AT CASCADE AUTOMOTIVE IN ENUMCLAW AND HE EXPLAINED TO ME THE SITUATION. IF I REPLACE ONLY THE RELAY IF MAY BE ENOUGH BUT THE $500 COST THE DEALER IS CHARGING IS BECAUSE OF THE WIRING HARNESS BURNING UP AND CAUSE A FATAL SITUATION. MY MECHANIC HAS SEEN A NUMBER OF THESE THROUGH HIS SHOP. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY DODGE CORP. AND PAID FOR BY THEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175713December 10, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
THE RETAINING CLIPS FAIL IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL OF ALL 02-2005 (MAYBE 2006) 9.25" LSDS ARE AFFECTED FROM DODGE RAM'S. MINE HAS FAILED ONCE AND HAS BEEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM IS DODGE JUST REPLACES THEM WITH THE SAME ONES THAT WILL CONTINUE TO FAIL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071879December 1, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SEAT BELTS
THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED WHEN THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. *PH CONSUMER HAD TWO SURGERIES SINCE THE ACCIDENT AND HAD BEEN UNABLE TO RECEIVE ANY HELP REGARDING THE ACCIDENT. *PH *SC (PASSENGER SUBMITTED REPORT) THE SEAT BELT FAILED AS WELL. UPDATED 07/17/06. *JB *NM UPDATED
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
0
#10174505November 28, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CRACKED DASHBOARD IN 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 IT'S CRACKED IN SEVERAL AREAS RIGHT NOW. THE DEALER WAS UNSURE HOW TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION, AS THEY ARE A USED CAR LOT. I NEVER WITNESSED ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE AND SEEING AS HOW I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE, I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A 4 YR OLD TRUCKS DASHBOARD BREAKING UP LIKE A JIGSAW PUZZLE. I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE AIRBAGS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, OR WORSE YET, BEING DEPLOYED WITH THE SLIGHTEST OF BUMPS FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE. FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM OTHER OWNERS, THEY'VE BEEN TOLD THAT DODGE IS BASICALLY BRUSHING THEM OFF, SAYING THAT THEIR VEHICLES ARE PASS THEIR MILEAGE AND WARRANTY AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO FOR THEM. WELL, HERE'S A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB WITH BARELY 60,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS NOT YOUR USUAL WEAR AND TEAR ITEM, LIKE A PAIR OF TIRES OR A FAN BELT. IT'S A DASHBOARD. THEY REALLY DO NEED TO REPLACE IT WITH A BETTER ITEM AND ANY OTHERS THAT ARE POSSIBLY OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174173November 24, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE BEGAN TO MISFIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT CYLINDERS 1, 3, AND 5 WERE MISFIRING, AND THAT THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A RADIATOR, COOLANT, AC BLOWER FAN, AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED, WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. A WEEK AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE AC BLOWER FAN STOPPED FUNCTIONING, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS NOTICED THAT COOLANT WAS DRIED ON THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR AND CAP. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT COOLANT OVERFLOWED. THE MISFIRING PROBLEM RECURRED 2 & 1/2 WEEKS AFTER THE FIRST REPAIR, AND WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. IT WAS NOTICED THAT COOLANT WAS FOUND INSIDE THE PORTS, AND THE HEADS ON THE ENGINE WERE WARPED. ALSO, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT NEW HEADS WOULD HAVE TO BE INSTALLED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE PAPERWORK STATED EXHAUST FUMES WERE FOUND INSIDE THE COOLING SYSTEM. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174051November 22, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PARKING LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT FUNCTION. LAMP OUT INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASH IS NOT ON. PROBLEM DIAGNOSED TO BE IN THE FUSE BOX CIRCUIT BOARDS ALSO KNOWN AS THE PDC (POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER). APPARENTLY CORROSION OCCURS INSIDE THE BOX AND THE GROUND IS LOST. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT PART NUMBER IS 56045433AE. THAT PART NUMBER IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND HAS BEEN REPLACED BY PART NUMBER 56045433AF. NEITHER PART IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE FROM DODGE DEALERS. THERE DEPOTS ALSO SHOW NO STOCK AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. AS THE CORROSION CONTINUES OTHER ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE LOST RESULTING IN A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173611November 15, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DODGE 1500 RAM TRUCK, ENGINE SEIZED. CHRYSLER CORPORATION WILL NOT HONOR THE CLAIM DUE TO FINDINGS OF SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. I HAVE PROVIDED RECORDS OF MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173044November 9, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CRACK DASH, JUST ABOVE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG.. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172984November 8, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
I HAVE A 2002 DODGE 1500 PICKUP WITH THE LIMITED SLIP REAR DIFFERENTIAL. MY DIFFERENTIAL "CAME APART" AT 37,000 MILES. SINCE MY INCIDENT I HAVE DISCOVERED NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS DIFFERENTIAL IN '02-'05 PICKUPS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I WOULD THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IF THE BROKEN PARTS WERE TO GET INTO THE RING AND PINION GEARS IT COULD CAUSE THE TRUCK TO GO OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASH. THE MANUFACTURE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT SEEMS UNCONCERNED. I THINK THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. BOB BRANDENBERG. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171967October 27, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE MALFUNCTIONED BY INDICATING HIGH SPEEDS AS THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CALLED AND SUGGESTED A SENSOR MAY HAVE FAILED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVER THE WEEKEND, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED, AND DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, BUT HAD NOT COMPLETED THE INVESTIGATION. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR AND PHOTOS WERE TAKEN. ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172018October 27, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE DRIVER WAS GOING 30 MPH AND HIT A TREE. ALL THE FRONTAL PART OF THE VECICLE WAS BENT INWARD AND THE RADIATOR WAS DAMAGED. NEITHER THE FRONTAL NOR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. IT HAS NOT BEEN YET REPORTED TO THE DEALER. THE TRUCK HAD TO BE TOWED AND IT IS CURRENTLY NOT DRIVABLE. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171885October 26, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE.I HAVE TO DUMP A WHOLE BOTTLE IN ONCE A WEEK. BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACED. LIFTERS IN MOTOR KNOCK AND HAVE TO BE FIXED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171601October 23, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, AND A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC IDENTIFIED A FAILURE TO THE CONDENSER FAN RELAY, DUE TO AN UNDERSIZED FUSE. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, # O8-002-03, WAS ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER, WHICH STATED THE FUSE WAS NOT LARGE ENOUGH AND THE CONDENSER FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170095October 6, 2006
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
A/C CONDENSER SHROUD FAN STOPPED. INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THAT THE DESIGN WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED WITH A NEW DESIGN AT A REPLACEMENT COST OF APPROX $500.00. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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