2002 DODGE RAM Recalls, Complaints & Safety

The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at various speeds, the ABS warning light illuminated and the vehicle seized. The contact managed to coast the vehicle to the shoulder of the road and place the vehicle in park. The contact exit the vehicle to inspect the engine and without warning when the front hood was open 4-foot flames shoot out from the hood. The contact sustained burns to the right hand. No medical attention was sought. The contact ran to the rear of the vehicle open the trunk and poured water that he had in a bucket on the flames. No police report was made. The fire department was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. No dealer was contacted nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. Damages were to the wire harness, ABS module, and connecting rod. The failure mileage was approximate 220,000.

Fire 1 injured

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

1) ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. LIGHTS KEPT GOING IN AND OUT 2) DASH CRACKING AND CRUMBLING. PIECES FALLING INTO AIR VENTS AND PREVENTING WINDSHIELD FROM DEFROSTING! DANGEROUS! COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DASH IS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE THAT IF PASSENGER AIR BAG WERE TO BE DEPLOYED IT COULD KILL SOMEONE DUE TO FLYING PIECES OF HARD PLASTIC ALL OVER THE VEHICLE. MAKE DODGE RECALL THIS PRODUCT! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? YOU ALREADY HAVE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS PROBLEM! *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM MODEL R35. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN SMOKE EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND FLAMES WERE VISIBLE FROM THE HOOD. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE INTO A DITCH BUT THERE WAS NO CRASH. THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN DURING THE FAILURE SO THE CONTACT ESCAPED BY PUNCHING AND SHATTERING THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE POWER DISRUPTION CAUGHT FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

Fire 1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM MODEL R35. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN SMOKE EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND FLAMES WERE VISIBLE FROM THE HOOD. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE INTO A DITCH BUT THERE WAS NO CRASH. THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN DURING THE FAILURE SO THE CONTACT ESCAPED BY PUNCHING AND SHATTERING THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE POWER DISRUPTION CAUGHT FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

Fire 1 injured

THE DASH IN MY 2002 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB PICKUP BEGAN TO CRACK AND HAS NOW COMPLETELY SHATTERED. THERE ARE PIECES THAT HAVE BROKEN OFF AND ARE NOW EFFECTING MY HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF I HIT A BUMP TO HARD THAT A PIECE MIGHT ACTUALLY DISLODGE AND HARM SOMEONE. OR CAUSE EVEN MORE SEVERE INTERNAL DAMAGE THAT MIGHT EFFECT MY ABILITY TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. *TR

THE DASH WAS FINE NO EVENTS UNTIL SEPT.2008. OPENED THE TRUCK UP ONE DAY TO REVEAL A HUGE CRACK IN THE DASH. THE DASH IS CRACKING IN THE RATE OF 2 CRACKS IN 2008 AND ONE IN 2009 ,ONE IN 2010. WE ARE UP TO 4 CRACKS NOW. HASN'T BEEN FIXED. I AM HEARING HORROR STORIES OF THIS CAUSING SERIOUS PROBLEMS. I DO NOT LET MY KIDS RIDE IN IT.THE MORE IT CRACKS THE LESS SAFE WE FEEL DRIVING IT. *TR

DASH CRACKING ON 2002 DODGE RAM QUADCAB; NOT THE FIRST VEHICLE TO BE EXPERIENCING THIS. MANY FORUMS AND COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS MATTER. FORMAL COMPLAINT ON DODGE TO NHTSA. VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 95K WHEN FIRST APPEARED; PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, BECOMING A DRIVING HAZARD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONERY, THE EXTERIOR BODY PAINT EXPOSED A WHITE SPOT THE SIZE OF A SOFTBALL. THE DEFECT WAS LOCATED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND THE HOOD. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS BUBBLING ON THE EXTERIOR PAINT NEAR THE DRIVER'S SIDE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR BODY PAINT DEFECT WOULD EVENTUALLY RUST FROM THE INNER TO THE OUTER SURFACE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE BE BROUGHT IN WHEN IT BEGINS TO RUST AND POSSIBLY REPAIRED AT NO COST. AS OF JULY 24, 2008, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP FOR A SECOND OPINION. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

AFTER OWNING THIS VEHICLE FOR 6 YEARS< THE PAINT IS STARTING TO PEEL, AND IT IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE I AM HOPING YOU CAN POINT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THANK YOU. *TR

1. REPLACED FUSE (ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT) ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP FOR THE LEFT REAR TRAILER LIGHTS WITH STOREHOUSE FUSE BOUGHT AT HARBOR FREIGHT STORE. 2. FUSE DID NOT "BLOW" AS IT SHOULD AND "WELDED" ITSELF INTO FUSE BLOCK. I CANNOT REMOVE THE REMNANTS OF THE FUSE. 3. THIS MAY NECESSITATE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUSE BLOCK AT CONSIDERABLE COST. POSSIBLE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. *TR

EMAIL CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAGS IN HIS 2002 DODGE RAM TRUCK FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A 25 TO 30 MPH ACCIDENT. *KB

Crash

DASH ON OUR 2002 DODGE RAM IS CRACKING. *JB

CONSUMER IS COMPLAINING ABOUT CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD. CUSTOMER STATES THAT VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 10 CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD. THE CUSTOMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY DODGE IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *KB

2002 DODGE RAM FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF THE VEHICLE. *KB (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM. THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. THE VEHICLE IS OCCASIONALLY PARKED IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 60,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

THE BOARD 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB DASHBOARD IS ALL CRACKED AND BREAKING APART. READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN MY LOCAL ACTION LINE SECTION WHERE OTHER DODGE OWNERS OF DIFFERENT MODELS BETWEEN THE YEARS 2000 AND NEWER WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING NEAR THE VENTS AND HAS PROCEEDED TO BREAK IN OTHER PLACES ALONG THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD, ABOUT LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I' HAVE ASKED AROUND TO PEOPLE RELATED IN THE INDUSTRY, AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT WAS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR. SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS WORTH. ALSO, I HAVE A FRIEND WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM ON A 2000 DODGE 1500 . PLEASE HELP, THANK YOU. *AK

CRACKED DASHBOARD. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A CRACK ON THE VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD WHICH CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FAILURES TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 98,700 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED, THERE WAS A PUDDLE UNDER THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE STEERING RACK. THE STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 03/28/06. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 HAUL RIGHT 60 BOAT TRAILER MANUFACTURED BY B AND M. WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH THE TONGUE BROKE WHERE IT HOOKS ON THE TRUCK, CAUSING THE BOAT AND THE TRAILER TO FALL DOWN AND HIT THE PAVEMENT. WHEN THE BOAT TRAILER WAS INSPECTED IT SHOWED ADDITIONAL WEAKNESS IN THE TONGUE. THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION TOLD THE CONTACT TO CONTACT NHTSA BECAUSE THE TRAILER HAD BRAKE LIGHTS. SHE HAS TRIED TO CONTACT THE BOAT MANUFACTURER, AND COULD NOT CONTACT THEM BY PHONE OR LETTER. THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN A RESPONSE, AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS OUT OF BUSINESS. *AK

Crash

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 HAUL RIGHT 60 BOAT TRAILER MANUFACTURED BY B AND M. WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH THE TONGUE BROKE WHERE IT HOOKS ON THE TRUCK, CAUSING THE BOAT AND THE TRAILER TO FALL DOWN AND HIT THE PAVEMENT. WHEN THE BOAT TRAILER WAS INSPECTED IT SHOWED ADDITIONAL WEAKNESS IN THE TONGUE. THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION TOLD THE CONTACT TO CONTACT NHTSA BECAUSE THE TRAILER HAD BRAKE LIGHTS. SHE HAS TRIED TO CONTACT THE BOAT MANUFACTURER, AND COULD NOT CONTACT THEM BY PHONE OR LETTER. THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN A RESPONSE, AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS OUT OF BUSINESS. *AK

Crash

DT: THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. HE WAS MAKING A TRIP TO LOS VEGAS, WAS WALKING AROUND THE TRUCK ON AND LOOKED UNDER THE WHEEL AND HE NOTICED A CLAMP THAT HELD A SPRING IN PLACE BROKE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. HOWEVER, WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE IDLED QUIETLY, AND THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. *AK

WHEN ENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL IT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT AND ADVANCE TO A HIGHER SPEED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED VIA PHONE. THE DEALER OR A REPAIR SHOP MADE NO INSPECTION AT THIS TIME.*AK THE VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED SUDDENLY A NUMBER OF TIMES IN THE PAST 3 YEARS. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS RECENTLY FIXED BUT THAT WAS BECAUSE IT DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. *BF *NM

THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS WOULD FOG UP WHEN THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER WERE ON, WHICH WAS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR TESTING, BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED. *AK *SC *JB

TRUCK BEGAN TO VIBRATE DRAMATICALLY UPON BRAKING. THE ROTORS WERE WARPED, THE BRAKE PADS IN THE FRONT WERE TOO SMALL AND WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM, A CLUNKING NOISE HAD STARTED COMING FROM THE REAR AS TIME PROGRESSED AND RETURNED AFTER REPAIRS. *SC AT 30,000 MILES THE ENTIRE REAR DIFFERENTAIL WENT OUT.

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED DUE TO "ENGINE SLUDGE". THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *NM

THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLS, THE CONSUMER IS AFRAID OF BEING REAR ENDED. THE DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

WHILE DRIVING ON GRAVEL ROAD OAT 40-45 MPH VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE, CAUSING IT TO HYDROPLANE. VEHICLE CAME DOWN, AND HIT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE FIRST AND COMMENCED TO FLIP OVER A FEW TIMES, LANDING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. *AK.......*AK

Crash 1 injured

THE CONSUMER PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE THE DOOR KNOCKED THE CONSUMER TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL INTO A CREEK. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE GEAR WAS IN PARK, HOWEVER SHE WAS NOT SURE IF IT CAME OUT OF PARK. THE MANUFACTURE WILL BE CONTACTED. *JB

REAR BACK DOOR LOCKS HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TWICE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *PH

THE GEAR SHIFT FAILED TO MOVE ON ITS ON. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER IT PROPERLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

COMPLAINT INVOLVING 2002 DODGE RAM TRUCK.*MR (NAR) THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE AND REQUESTED THAT THE DEALERSHIP REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE. *CB

FOIA ADDRESSED TO CPSC REQUEST A COPY OF ALL RECORDS PERTAINING TO COMPLAINTS RE 2002 DODGE TRUCK RAM PICKUP SINGLE VEHICLE COLLISION CAUSED BY A VEHICLE DEFECT (SEARCH ATTACHED). (NAR) *PH *CB *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF ON ITS OWN. THE LIGHT BULB SWITCH RATTLED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL. *AK THE FRONT BRAKES WERE BAD. *SC *JB

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. DRIVER SUSTAINED SHOULDER, LEG, ANGLE AND KNEE INJURIES, AND WAS HAVING HEADACHES. *AK

Crash 1 injured

WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT SHIFTS. DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT ONCE ALREADY BUT, EIGHT MONTHS LATER, ANOTHER SEAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *LA