2002 Dodge Ram 1500 complaints

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING, ROADS WERE WET, TEMPERATURE WAS 23 DEGREES. WAS DRIVING ON A TWO LANE ROADWAY ABOUT 40 MPH. WAS ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH WHEN TRUCK STARTED TO FISH TAIL SLIGHTLY. REAR OF THE TRUCK SLID SLIGHTLY TOWARD DRIVERS SIDE. I TURNED THE WHEELS SLIGHTLY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SLIDE AND THEN STARTED TO TURN THE WHEELS BACK THE OTHER DIRECTION AS TRUCK STARTED TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. AT THAT POINT I FELT SOMETHING GIVE IN THE FRONT END ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE TRUCK STARTED PULLING ACROSS THE CENTER LINE AND OFF THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR A TELEPHONE POLE. I TRIED PUSHING THE BRAKES FULLY, BUT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I CUT THE WHEELS ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT , JUST MISSING THE TELEPHONE POLE. MY FRONT FENDER STRUCK A STEEL POLE FILLED WITH CEMENT NEXT TO A SPLIT RAIL FENCE. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WAS LAYING UNDER THE TRUCK, ONLY HELD ON BY THE TIE ROD END. THIS WAS BY NO MEANS A VERY BAD CASE OF SLIDING AND OVER STEERING. THE UPPER BALL JOINT HAD JUST SEPARATED CAUSING THE TIRE TO BUCKLE UNDER. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE ESCAPED THIS ACCIDENT WITHOUT INJURY OR HAVING MY TRUCK ROLL OVER. I HAVE SEEN ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE DODGE DURANGOS WITH THE BALL JOINT SEPARATION AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE IT IS THE SAME SUSPENSION PARTS USED IN THE DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 TRUCKS. THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED INTO BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

LOST ALL STEERING CAPABILITY WHILE DRIVING: ALMOST RAN INTO A HOUSE. THERE IS POWER STEERING FLUID ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NO COLLISIONS IN THIS VEHICLE OTHER THAN A MINOR REAR END FENDER BENDER. PREVIOUSLY I HAD THE HIGH PRESSURE PWR STEERING HOSE REPLACED AND THE SYSTEM FLUSHED. *TR

PINION GEAR FAILURE. REPLACED REAR END FROM A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. MANY PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE REAREND WILL LOCK UP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID TO A STOP,CAUSING DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION,AND DRIVE SHAFT. NOT TO MENTION THE 'SAFETY HAZARDS' OF POSSIBLY CAUSING A WRECK,AND WORSE INJURING SOMEONE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. IN WARM WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM BECOMES INOPERATIVE. ALSO, IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE FAILURE CAUSES IMPAIRED VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V078000 (STEERING:COLUMN). THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS OVERLAY AT THE COST OF $800. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED HIM TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

I PURCHASED 2002 DODGE 1500 TRUCK NEW. NOW THE DASH BOARD IS CRACKED 3 DIFFERENT PLACES,AND THE DODGE DEALER WILL MOT REPLACE OR FIX THE PROBLEM WITHOUT CHARGING ME 1000$. THIS SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM FACING DODGE TRUCK OWNERS FROM 1998 TO 2006. PLEASE HELP. THANKS MICHAEL *TR

THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK IS CRACKING. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN AN ACCIDENT? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYS? WILL PLASTIC FRAGMENTS ACT LIKE PROJECTILES AND HURT OCCUPANTS? CONTACTED MY DEALER AND CHRYSLER CORP. WITH NO HELP EXCEPT FOR AN OPTION TO REPLACE FOR $1,100. WHY SHOULD THE CONSUMER PAY FOR A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT? I DON'T HAVE $1,100 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND THEN HAVE NO GUARANTEE IF I'M NOT JUST BUYING THE SAME TYPE OF PRODUCT (JUNK). IF IT HAS BEEN REVISED, THEN CHRYSLER KNOWS IT DEFECTIVE. *TR

THE PLASTIC DASH FOR MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 HAS CRACKS. WHILE IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE CURRENTLY, IT COULD LEAD TO SHARP EDGES IN THE PLASTIC THAT CAN CUT SOMEONE OR CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

COOPER DISCOVERER AT TIRE,COMPLETELY SHREDDED, WHILE GOING UNDER 65 MPH,..."LT, 265/70,R17, DESIGN #9804,DOT.UP.AH.0414803/30480-2, R-15065, LOAD RANGE 112/1090-WAS ON A WELL-MAINTAINED 2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP, TIRE BOUGHT NEW. OWNER KEPT REQUIRED AIR PRESSURE CONSTANTLY- CHECKED AIR EVERY FEW DAYS,36,000 MILES ON TIRE-OCCUPANTS SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN VEHICLE ROLLED 3X. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM, I HAVE HAD IT SINCE 2004 AND EVER SINCE I'VE HAD IT, THE DASH CONTINUES TO CRACK. MORE AND MORE. I SPOKE WITH DODGE AND THE DAMAGE, FOR JUST THE DASH WHERE THE DEFROSTER IS LOCATED, WOULD BE MORE THAN $500. THAT IS RIDICULOUS AND ANY PROBLEM OF THIS CALIBER THAT OCCURS THIS QUICK SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF OR AT A REASONABLE PRICE. *TR

DASH BOARD CRACKING ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 5.9. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE DASH IS FALLING APART AND CHRYSLER OR THE NHTSA WON'T RECALL OR FIX THIS ISSUE. IT INVOLVES THE 98-2005 MODELS. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT GETTING ANY BETTER THROUGH THE YEARS. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED TO RESULT IN A RECALL? I AM GOING TO DO MY BEST TO GO NATIONAL WITH THIS ISSUE TO GET RESULTS FROM CHRYSLER OR THE NHTSA. *TR

MY TRUCK IS 6 YEARS OLD I BOUGHT IN 2002 WITH 2 MILES ON IT. IT NOW HAS 100,000 MILES ON IT AND I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THE OTHER DAY AND PART OF DASH COLLAPSED IN ABOVE THE DRIVER SIDE STEERING WHEEL. I ALMOST WRECKED WHEN THAT HAPPENED. I CHECKED ONLINE AND NOTICED A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DASH CRACKING AND DODGE WAS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

THE DASH BOARD ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM IS CRACKING AND IN DANGER OF COLLAPSING EXPOSING THE WIRING AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS REQUIRED FOR SAFE OPERATION. *TR

DASHBOARD HAS SO MANY CRACKS ITS A SAFETY ISSUE. 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. *TR

DURING A TIRE ROTATION THE MECHANIC NOTICED A DEFECT WITH THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM WHICH WAS LEAKING AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO NOTICED THE TIRE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE WHICH IS ALLOWING UNNECESSARY MOVEMENT OF THE TIRES. LASTLY THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL IS LEAKING AS WELL. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO USED WITH 41,000 MILES AND CURRENTLY HAS 62,955. THIS VEHICLE IS OPERATED UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. *TR

1) INTERIOR BLOWER FAN: (24,000 MILES) FAN WOULD SHUT OFF AT TIMES. FIRST TOLD BY DEALER THE AIR INTAKE WAS BLOCKED WITH LEAVES AND THEY CLEANED IT OUT. TWO WEEKS LATER, I GOT THE RECALL THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE BLOWER WAS OVERHEATING. I HAD THE DEALER DO REPAIR FOR RECALL. THEY CLIPPED THE TWO LIGHTER WIRES AND REPLACED THEM WITH TWO 10 GAUGE WIRES. FAN STILL SHUTS OFF DUE TO TILTING STEERING WHEEL WITH HEAVIER WIRING NOT BEING FLEXIBLE ENOUGH. WIRES STILL GET VERY HOT. 2) RADIATOR FAN CONTROL RELAY: (90,000 MILES) CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CODE WAS FOR RADIATOR FAN CONTROL RELAY CIRCUIT. RELAY WAS REPLACED. 3) ENGINE: (129,000 MILES) OIL SLUDGE CAUSED OIL NOT TO CIRCULATE PROPERLY CAUSING OIL PRESSURE GAUGE TO DROP TO ZERO AND BACK UP TO NORMAL ABOUT 4 TIMES. ENGINE OVER HEATED, WARPING HEADS AND DOING INTERIOR DAMAGE TO RODS AND BEARINGS. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH USED ENGINE. 4) PASSENGER WINDOW SWITCH: (FOR THE PAST 20,000 MILES) PASSENGER SIDE SWITCH WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. 5) PARKING LIGHTS: (149,000 MILES) WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT I HAD NO TAIL LIGHTS. CHECKED FUSES AND RELAY AND EVERYTHING WAS OK. TOOK TRUCK TO GARAGE, THEY CHECKED AND COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. GARAGE CALLED DODGE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD THEM IT WOULD PROBABLY NEED THE FRONT CONTROL MODULE REPLACED. THE GARAGE DID NOT CHARGE ME AND TOLD ME THEY DID NOT WANT TO JUST START REPLACING PARTS COSTING OVER $200 TRYING TO PIN POINT A PROBLEM AND I NEEDED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP.

I TURNED MY FAN ON TO COOL THE INSIDE OF THE TRUCK AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES, IT SHUT OFF. A WHILE LATER, I TRIED IT AGAIN AND IT WORKED, BUT SOON SHUT OFF AGAIN. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THEY CLEANED THE AIR INTAKE OUT AND IT WAS FULL OF LEAVES. THEY TOLD ME THAT IS WHY IT SHUT OFF. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. A FEW WEEKS LATER, I GOT THE RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THE WIRING BEING TOO LIGHT AND IT WAS OVER HEATING. THE DEALER DID THE REPAIR. IT WORKED FINE FOR A GOOD WHILE. EVENTUALLY IT STARTED SHUTTING OFF AGAIN. SOMETIMES I COULD TILT THE STEERING WHEEL TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION AND IT WOULD COME BACK ON. I FLIPPED THE ACCESS PANEL DOWN TO FIND THE REPAIR, THEY CLIPPED THE TWO LIGHTER WIRES AND PLUGGED IN TO I BELIEVE 10 GAUGE WIRE IN THEIR PLACE. THE HEAVY WIRES ARE TOO STIFF TO FLEX AND WHEN PUSHED CERTAIN WAYS THE FAN SHUTS OFF. I ALSO NOTICED WHERE THE WIRES ARE PLUGGED IN, THE WIRES ARE SO HOT YOU CAN BARELY TOUCH THEM. I DON'T FEEL THIS WAS A VERY GOOD FIX FOR THE PROBLEM, SINCE ALTHOUGH THE FAN DOES NOT SHUT OFF DUE TO OVERHEATING, IT STILL IS HEATING UP UNDER THE DASH AND MAY CAUSE A FIRE UNDER THE DASH. *TR

I DROVE TO A FOOTBALL GAME ONE EVENING, WHEN I PULLED IN THE PARKING LOT, A MAN ASKED IF I KNEW THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. HE TOLD ME THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WORKED, BUT NO TAIL LIGHTS. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME THAT NIGHT ON THE INTERSTATE WITH NO TAIL LIGHTS. THE ONLY WAY I HAD TO NOTIFY PEOPLE COMING UP BEHIND ME THAT I WAS ON THE ROAD WAS TO TURN ON MY CARGO LIGHT. THIS POSED A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM ON THE INTERSTATE WITH NOT ONLY PASSENGER VEHICLES BEHIND ME BUT ALSO SEMI TRUCKS THAT WOULD NOT SEE ME UNTIL THEY WERE RIGHT ON TOP OF ME. I HAD NO CLUE THAT THE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING BECAUSE ALL THE DASH LIGHTS WERE WORKING. I HAD ALL THE FUSES CHECKED AND THE RELAY AND EVERYTHING WAS OK THERE. THE GARAGE TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER SO THEY COULD CHECK THE FRONT CONTROL MODULE. I AM SCHEDULED TO TAKE IT IN TO THE DEALER IN TWO DAYS. I HAVE FOUND ALOT OF PEOPLE SAYING THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE MODULE MALFUNCTIONING. THIS CAUSES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE DRIVING SINCE THE DRIVE HAS NO IDEA THAT THEY ARE OUT AND IF DRIVING ON ROADS THAT ARE NOT LIGHTED AFTER DARK THE VEHICLE BEHIND YOU HAS NO IDEA THAT YOU ARE THERE UNTIL THEY GET RIGHT ON TOP OF YOU. FOG, RAIN OR SNOW COULD COMPOUND THIS SITUATION. *TR

MY 2002 RAM 1500 HAS PROBLEMS HOLDING THE IDLE IT FLUCTUATES UP AND DOWN. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT THE IDLE WAS SO LOW IT CUT OFF ONCE. THEY MADE A COMPUTER ADJUSTMENT THEN THAT WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE. I HAVE HAD TO HOLD THE BRAKE DOWN HARDER THAN NORMAL AT A STOP. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. I HAVE CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED AIR FILTER. SEEMS LIKE ANOTHER COMPUTER PROBLEM TO ME. *TR

DASH IN 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB. *TR

ON THURSDAY AUGUST 28, 2008, I WAS LEAVING AN INTERVIEW GOING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TRUCK BEGAN TO START SMOKING. I GOT OUT MY VEHICLE AND RAISED THE HOOD TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE, AND FLUID WAS POURING OUT FROM THE RESERVOIR HOLES. I LOOKED IN MY VEHICLE AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS AT THE HALF WAY MARK AND THEIR WAS NO INDICATION LIGHTS ON INDICATING THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. AT THIS TIME I LET MY VEHICLE COOL OFF AND I ADDED SOME ANTIFREEZE. I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE AND COULD ONLY GO ABOUT A HALF A MILE DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN WITH NO INDICATIONS OF THE VEHICLE RUNNING HOT. SO AT THIS TIME I CALLED A TOWING SERVICE AND HAD TO WAIT APPROXIMATELY FOUR HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK TO COME AND TOW MY VEHICLE HOME. THE NEXT DAY I HAD MY TRUCK TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THE MOTOR HAD BURNED UP. I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER SHIP AND WHEN THE MECHANICS THEIR INSPECTED MY TRUCK THEY SAID THAT THE COOLING FAN INSIDE THE "ECM" HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND THAT THE MOTOR WAS BURNED UP. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THAT I WAS GOING TO NEED A NEW MOTOR AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST ME APPROXIMATELY $7800.00. WHICH I WANT THE MANUFACTURER TO PAY FOR SINCE THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF THESE PROBLEMS. *TR

THE DASHBOARD BEGAN CRACKING TWO YEARS AGO AND HAS CONTINUED TO DO SO. THERE ARE NOW SEVERAL LARGE CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD. *TR

AROUND THE MIDDLE OF APRIL I NOTICED A SMALL PATCH OF PAINT DISAPPEARING FROM THE ROOF OF MY TRUCK. OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS MOST OF THE PAINT ON MY ROOF AND OTHER PARTS OF THE TRUCK IS COMING OFF. *TR

MY DASH ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 IS CRACKED ALL TO PIECES. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLE AND THE DASH IS STILL CRACKING MORE EVERYDAY. THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO CHEAP PLASTIC BEING USED BY DODGE. I THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, BUT I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. DODGE DOESN'T SEEM TO THINK THAT IT IS THEIR FAULT, BUT WITH THE LARGE OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM IT HAS TO BE. *TR

WINDSHIELD FOGGING UP ON INSIDE DUE TO LEAKING HAND HOLDS. RESULTING IN VISUAL PROBLEMS ALONG WITH EXCESSIVE MOISTURE UNDER THE DASH PAD CAUSING CRACKING. ALONG WITH SAFETY CONCERNS WITH PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WORKING PROPERLY WHEN NEEDED AND ANY OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE MOISTURE. DODGE IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT IT SUCH AS A RECALL. I FEEL THEY MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DEFECTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE VEHICLE HAS FALKEN TIRES, SIZE 305/40R/22 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE. SUDDENLY, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. RECENTLY, THE TREAD ON THE SIDEWALL OF ALL FOUR TIRES WAS CRACKED. THE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,243.

2002 DODGE RAM DASHBOARD HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS IN IT. 77,000 MILES. *TR

STARTING AT THE BEING OF 2007, MY DASH HAS BEEN FALLING APART. WHEN I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD IT WASN'T COVERED AND IT WOULD COST ABOUT $1400 BUCKS TO REPLACE AND INSTALL THE NEW PARTS. I'VE TRIED TO TALK TO DODGE BUT THEY REFUSE TO HELP. NOW NOT ONLY IS THE DASH FALLING APART BUT SWITCH PANELS AND THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE PANEL. IT'S LIKE I'M DRIVING A LARGE POTATO CHIP; EVERY WEEK, I FIND SOMETHING NEW THAT'S FALLING APART. (PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE IF I NEED TO POST THEM HERE). *TR

ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO TWO CRACKS IN THE DASH STARTED, ONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASH BY THE WINDSHIELD, THE OTHER ONE WAS ON THE RIGHT SIDE BY THE AIR BAG ALL THE WAY DOWN. THIS SHOULD NOT BE . DODGE NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A REPLACEMENT FOR THESE TWO DASH PIECES, THE VALUE OF THE TRUCK IS NOW JUNK IF NOT REPLACED. WILL THE AIR BAG STILL WORK RIGHT DON'T KNOW. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A STATE INSPECTION STATION, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED DUE TO REAR BRAKE FAILURE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANTED TO ADJUST THE REAR BRAKES; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT REFUSED BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE SELF-ADJUSTING. HE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS MECHANIC FRIEND AND THEY CHECKED THE LINES FOR RAPID FLOW. THE CONTACT'S FRIEND STATED THAT THE DISTRIBUTION VALVE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HE ALSO STATED THAT FLUID WAS NOT GETTING INTO THE BRAKES ADEQUATELY. THE TWO NEEDLE VALVES WERE RUSTY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,218 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,205.

WE HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WE ARE THE ONLY OWNER AND HAVE TAKEN GOOD MECHANICAL CARE OF THIS TRUCK. MY HUSBAND DRIVES A GOOD DISTANCE TO WORK AND WE HAVE AROUND 170XXX MILES ON THIS TRUCK. HAVEN'T HAD ALOT OF TROUBLE OUT OF IT UNTIL IT STARTED MISFIRING AND NOT STARTING. NOT TO BAD RIGHT....WRONG ONLY A FEW DAYS LATER THE CYLINDERS STARTED MISSING. NOW WE ARE TOLD THAT WE MUST BUY A NEW ENGINE FOR IT. THE JUNK YARD MODELS COST AROUND 1700 DOLLARS. WE STILL OWE AROUND $3100 SO CONSIDERING WHAT WE OWE AND THE INSURANCE OF 450 EVERY SIX MONTHS IT ISN'T EVEN WORTH FIXING TIME YOU ADD IN LABOR. THIS IS SO RIDICULOUS WE THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE DROVE THIS TRUCK FOR A LONG TIME. I HAVE AN OLDER FORD AND IT HAS 350XXX MILES ON IT AND I BOUGHT THIS ONE USED I GUESS IT WAS TO MUCH TO HOPE FOR, FOR THIS DODGE RAM TO LAST LONG. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL FAILURES RANGING FROM THE FUSE BOX AND POWER LOCK:WINDOWS TO THE INTERIOR LIGHTING. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND A TECHNICIAN REPEATEDLY REWIRED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, REPLACED THE FUSES, AND THE MOTOR FOR THE POWER WINDOW DEVICES. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE ELECTRICAL FAILURES RECURRED. SHE RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED, WHICH CAUSED THE ALARM SYSTEM TO FAIL AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER AND NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER CAN PROVIDE AN ESTIMATE OF WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. SHE HAS COPIES OF DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO THE REPAIR HISTORY OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,369.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LINKAGE BAR THAT CONNECTS THE SHIFTER TO THE TRANSFER CASE IS APPROXIMATELY 14 INCHES LONG. IT IS HELD TOGETHER BY RUBBER GROMMETS. OVER TIME, A COMBINATION OF EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURES AND WEAR AND TEAR CAUSED THE GROMMETS TO FAIL. AS A RESULT, THE LINKAGE BAR FALLS OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY TO OTHER DRIVERS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 44,200. UPDATE 09/10/08 *CW UPDATED 09/16/08 *JB

SMALL CRACKS STARTED IN MULTIPLE PLACES ON DASHBOARD ABOUT A YEAR AGO. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO THEY BECAME LARGER AND NOW WHOLE PIECES OF THE DASH ARE LOOSE. A LARGE CRACK STARTED ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND IS NOW EXTENDS FROM THE FRONT OF THE DASH ALL THE WAY TO THE WINDSHIELD. *TR

I OWN A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. OF MY MANY PROBLEMS, MY DASH BOARD HAS CRACKED. I AM AWARE THAT I AM NOT ALONE. WHEN WILL SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS. IF WE WANT TO HAVE THE US CONSUMERS CONTINUE TO PURCHASE US MADE CARS, SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT THE POOR QUALITY THAT OUR MANUFACTURER PUT OUT. *TR

JOINING THE GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH CRACKED DASH PROBLEMS ON OUR 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. OVER. 2 YEARS AGO, WE NOTICED A CRACK ON THE FRONT PORTION OF THE DASH AT THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS SEPARATE TO THE MAIN DASH COVER. NOW, WE HAVE A NEW CRACK NEAR THE RIGHT SIDE AIR BAG ON THE MAIN PORTION. AT BEST, IT IS UNSIGHTLY FOR A VEHICLE AS EXPENSIVE AS THIS. AS A SAFETY CONCERN, WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE IS GARAGED MOST OF THE TIME BECAUSE IT IS A SECOND VEHICLE. IT APPEARS A WASTE OF TIME TO TALK TO A DEALERSHIP UNLESS YOU HAVE AN EXTRA $800 KICKING AROUND THE WALLET. IF DODGE/CHRYSLER DOES NOT WANT TO FACE UP TO THE PROBLEM AND THE NHSTA IS NOT TAKING ACTION,MAYBE SOME PICKETING OF THE DEALERSHIPS AND MEDIA INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING SHOULD BE DONE. IS THERE ANY CLASS ACTIONS PENDING? IF NOT, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM TO START ONE. *TR

CRACKED DASHBOARD IN 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. STARTED CRACKING 18-24 MONTHS AGO AND NOW HAS TOTALLY FALLEN APART. *TR

2002 DODGE RAM 1500. LONG PERPENDICULAR CRACKS IN DASH. BOUGHT PERMA PLATE WARRANTY AT TIME PURCHASE. REPLACEMENT OF THE DASH COSTS UPWARDS OF $1500 BY TWO DEALERSHIPS. PERMA PLATE MERELY REFUNDED ME MY $299 WARRANTY. I TAKE METICULOUS CARE OF MY VEHICLE. THIS IS A DEFECT AS MY CAR IS TYPICALLY PARKED IN THE SHADE. I AM AN AIRLINE PILOT AND MY VEHICLE SITS IN COVERED PARKING. PERMA PLATE TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS COMMON IN THE DODGE RAM 1500 MODEL AND DIRECTED ME TO DO A WEB SEARCH. I WAS AMAZED AT THE HIGH NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REFLECTING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. DODGE SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE. WHAT AN EMBARRASSMENT TO HAVE SUCH A NICE TRUCK CRACKING LIKE THIS. LASTLY, FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THE CRACK RUNS NEAR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT LOCATION. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS CRACK WOULD CAUSE PROBLEMS IN AN ACCIDENT. I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT UPON REVIEW OF THE HIGH NUMBER OF INCIDENTS HERE THAT DODGE SHOULD ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH MORE THAN STATISTICS...THEY SHOULD SIMPLY BACK THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCK HAS CRACKED DASH. ONCE CRACK THAT SEPERATES FRONT DASH INTO 2 PIECES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR FLEW OFF THE VEHICLE. THE MIRROR WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V077000 (VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR). ONE YEAR LATER, THE SAME MIRROR DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE CONTACT HAS ATTEMPTED TO GET IT REPAIRED BY THE DEALER, BUT HAS BEEN GETTING THE RUN AROUND. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 9400 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/15/08 *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO CRACK IN JANUARY OF 2008. BY JUNE OF 2008, THE PANEL HAD CRACKED INTO SMALL PIECES AND A PIECE FELL INTO THE AIR CONDITIONING MOTOR, WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM USING THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE AND IS CHARGING $800. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH REFERENCE NUMBER 17583492 AND ADVISED HIM TO CHECK WITH THE DEALER. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR FREE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000. UPDATED 09/13/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/17/08. *JB

DASH BOARD CRACKING. *TR

I HAVE SEVERAL LARGE CRACKS IN MY DASHBOARD. SMALL CHUNKS FALL OFF OF IT WHENEVER I DRIVE IT. IT IS A 2002 DODGE 1500 PICK UP. *TR

ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO I STARTED NOTICING THIS SMALL CRACK IN MY DASH, A DAY OR TWO LATER THE CRACK HAD GOTTEN MUCH BIGGER AND THERE WAS ANOTHER CRACK. NOW I HAVE THREE LARGE CRACKS ON MY DASHBOARD AND THEY ARE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE RUNNING FROM THE WINDSHIELD TOWARD THE GLOVE BOX, IT WILL COST ALMOST $1100.00 TO REPLACE THIS. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT DODGES CRACKED DASHBOARDS. I FEEL THIS MAY BE A SERIOUS AIR BAG ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/DODGE/RAM_1500/2002/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/CRACKS_IN_DASHBOARD.SHTML. *TR

DASH STARTED TO CRACK ON 02 DODGE RAM. APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH NUMEROUS 02 AND 03 DODGE RAMS. SPECULATION THAT THE PLASTIC USED IS NOT UV RESISTANT. *TR

2002 DODGE RAM TRUCK HAS SEVERAL CRACKS IN DASHBOARD. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN FROM FLYING DEBRIS IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS APPARENTLY IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH DODGE TRUCKS AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE DESCRIBED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, BUT DODGE HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 AND OVER THE PAST YEAR IT HAS DEVELOPED MULTIPLE CRACKS ON THE DASH. THE MAJOR CONCERN IS THE INTEGRITY OF THE DASH AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. DUE TO THE CRACKING, IF THE AIRBAG WERE TO DEPLOY, I FEAR THAT THE CRACKED DASH WOULD CAUSE MULTIPLE PIECES OF PLASTIC TO FLY AROUND THE CABIN. I WOULD NOT WRITE THIS COMPLAINT IF I THOUGHT THIS WERE AN ISOLATED PROBLEMS. I HAVE READ ENDLESS COMPLAINS ON BLOG SITES OF PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IN SIMILAR YEARS OF THIS VEHICLE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM AND IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

CRACKS IN DASHBOARD FROM WINDSHIELD TO INSTRUMENT PANELS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE BLOWER WOULD TURN ON AND OFF AUTOMATICALLY AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BLOWER EVENTUALLY FAILED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V078000 (STEERING:COLUMN), IN WHICH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PROPERLY FOR THIRTY DAYS BEFORE FAILING AGAIN. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY NEEDS A NEW COMPUTER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE DASH BOARD IS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO THOUSANDS OF RAM OWNERS ACROSS THE NATION. I CONTACTED MY DEALER ABOUT THE ISSUE. BUT THERE'S NO RECALL ON IT, SO THEY WONT FIX IT UNLESS I PAY $1000+! THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE, AND DODGE NEEDS TO RESOLVE IT. *TR