2002 DODGE RAM 1500 Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PINION NUT WAS LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V038000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,622. UPDATED 4/30/15*CN UPDATED 05/12/15*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FRACTURED IMPACTING THE DRIVE SHAFT WHICH THEN FRACTURED THE TRANSFER CASE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE BOLT FRACTURED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND PARKED TO BE FURTHER TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V796000 (POWER TRAIN). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 5/4/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO FIX THE TRUCK WITH USED PARTS AND WAS ALSO ABLE TO SAVE THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE. THE REAREND AND DRIVESHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 11/16/2015*JS

MY SON WAS ON THE I-5 COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL WHEN THE SEALS BLEW ON THE RACK AND PINION. UPON TAKING IT TO A REPAIR SHOP WE WERE INFORMED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT OF THE DODGE RAM TRUCKS AND THEY ARE KNOWN TO BLOW ANY WHERE FROM 50,000-100,000 MILES. IF WE HAD KNOWN ABOUT THIS DEFECT WE WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THE TRUCK. WHEN THE SEALS BLEW THE TRUCK STEERING COMPONENTS BEGAN TO GRIND AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND LUCKILY MY SON HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY WITH OUT INJURING ANYONE. MY FATHER WHO HAS CONTRACTED WITH A LOCAL RESERVATION CONTACTED THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE DODGE RAM TRUCKS WERE KNOWN TO HAVE SERIOUS POWER STEERING AND FRONT END ISSUES. THE ONLY REASON THEY PURCHASED THE TRUCKS WERE THAT DODGE PROVIDED THE LOW BID AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN A GOVERNMENT RECALL ON THE STEERING AND THEIR PRACTICE IS TO ACCEPT THE LOW BID. THE POWER STEERING. TIE RODS AND SUSPENSION ARE MAJOR COMPONENTS TO GOING DOWN THE ROAD SAFELY. IT SHOULDN'T TAKE SOMEONE DYING TO SOLVE THE ISSUE. WHILE WE ALL ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACTS CAUSED BY LARGER VEHICLES AGAINST THE NEW SMALLER LIGHTER WEIGHT CARS IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW THE LARGER TRUCKS ARE SAFE TO DRIVE ON OUR ROADS. THE DODGE RAM HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET, AS WELL AS DEALERS AND REPAIR SHOPS NOTING THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE. CHEVY TRUCKS, FORD TRUCKS AND TOYOTA TRUCKS DO NOT HAVE THE REPUTATION FOR HAVE ISSUES WITH THE FRONT END AND STEERING COMPONENTS. THUS THIS WOULD APPEAR TO BE A DEFECT ISOLATED TO THE DODGE RAM TRUCKS. SINCE YOU CANNOT REQUIRE AND INDIVIDUAL TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION THEMSELVES EVERY 50,000 MILES THE ONLY OPTION WOULD BE TO REQUIRE DODGE TO SOLVE THE ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTIONS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT MAIN BRACKET SNAPPED AND THE SEAT BECAME UNSTABLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRACKET NEEDED TO BE WELDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

I HAVE EMAILED DODGE MANY YEARS AGO ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE OF MY DASH BUSTING IN SEVERAL PLACES WHEN MY TRUCK WAS JUST ONE YEAR OLD. THE ONLY RESPONSE I RECEIVED WAS AN OFFER TO BUY A DISCOUNTED DASH. I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND I REALIZE MY TRUCK IS NOW 12 YEARS OLD BUT THIS HAPPENED IN ONLY 1 YEAR. I HAVE SINCE READ WHERE I AM NO WHERE NEAR ALONE. DODGE KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT DISENGAGED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V038000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000.

WE WERE DRIVING ALONG AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOT OF VIBRATION COMING FROM THE REAR END AND A LOUD BANG. THE TRUCK WOULD KEEP ROLLING EVEN IN PACK. AFTER PARKING BRAKE APPLIED THE TRUCK STOPPED. LOOKING UNDER THE TRUCK THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS LYING ON THE GROUND SHEARED IN TWO ABOUT 75% WAS SHEARED OFF. THE LARGEST FRONT SECTION WAS ON THE GROUND AND THE REAR SECTION STILL ATTACHED TO THE DIFFERENTIAL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

REAR AXLE SEIZED AND THE DRIVE SHAFT FELL OFF. MECHANIC STATED THAT PINION NUT LOOSEN, CAUSING THE REAR AXLE TO SEIZE. THE DRIVE SHAFT ALSO DETACH, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. CAN FORWARD PICTURES IF NEEDED.. *TR

DASHBOARD HAS BEEN CRACKING SINCE 2006, NOW DASHBOARD HAS COMPLETELY CRUMBLED APART. TOTALLY UNSAFE HAZARDOUS SITUATION NOW. *TR