2002 Dodge RAM 1500

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

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

INTERMITTENT LAMP FAILURES INTERNALLY, LAMP OUT CIRCUIT MALFUNCTIONING, REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED (APPROACHING THE SECOND FAILURE IN 40,000 MILES), REAR UNIVERSAL JOINT HAS FAILED TWICE, WITH A THIRD REPLACEMENT TO OCCUR SOON, TRANSMISSION FAILURES. ANY ONE OF THESE SYSTEMS FAILING WHILE ON THE ROAD COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, FOR MYSELF, MY PASSENGERS, AND OTHER DRIVERS. SO FAR, IT HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP, OLD PARTS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE, HOWEVER IF REQUIRED I WILL RETAIN THEM NEXT TIME THEY FAIL. I'VE CONTACTED DODGE, THE FIRST REPLY WAS A "SPAM MAIL" OF COUPONS FOR OIL CHANGES, AND TIRE ROTATIONS (THE MESSAGE I SENT THEM WAS PROFESSIONAL AND EXTENSIVE TO THE ISSUES I WAS HAVING), AFTER COPYING THE MESSAGE AGAIN THE NEXT DAY, A REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. I'VE RETAINED THE MESSAGE IF ANY PARTIES ARE INTERESTED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR AN IGNITION SHIFT PARK INTERLOCK RECALL, BUT A NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS NOT FOUND. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETRIEVED FROM THE DEALER, THE GEAR WAS ABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK WITHOUT THE BRAKE BEING APPLIED. THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED BACK INTO PARK AND THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT WAS KNOCKED TO THE GROUND BY THE DOOR WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO JUMP BACK IN THE VEHICLE. HE WAS ALSO RUN OVER BY A TIRE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED THROUGH A YARD AND A DITCH BEFORE CRASHING INTO A FENCE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES AND ABRASIONS ON HIS FOOT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO CHARGE JUST TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 157,000. UPDATED 06/05/08.

I HAVE A 02 DODGE RAM 4X4 QUAD CAB WITH THE 360 ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION IS MESSED UP I CONTACTED A LOCAL SHOP AND THE SOLENOIDS ARE BAD AND THE SHOP OWNER STATED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS HE TRIED TO GET THE PARTS AND NO ONE HAS THEM THEY ARE ON BACK ORDER TILL NEXT WEEK THAT SAYS TO ME THIS IS A FAILURE ON DODGE FOR FAULTY EQUIPMENT. *TR

(1)NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. (2)REAR END LOCKED UP AT 55 MPH, CAUSED US TO SLIDE OFF THE ROAD AND INTO THE DITCH. TRUCK HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. (3)REPLACEMENT NOT AVAILABLE AS IT WAS DISCONTINUED. PARTS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE TO BE REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. DEALER QUOTE ON PARTS $3500. FAILURE AT 92K MILES ON A $30K TRUCK THAT IS NOT A 4X4. *TR

REAR DIFFERENTIAL BEGAN MAKING A HUMMING NOISE UNDER LOAD. IT HAD PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE UNTIL FAILURE. PINION BEARINGS ARE BAD. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE TRUCK PRODUCTS. A REPAIR SHOP IN MY TOWN JUST DID 3 REBUILD ON THIS TYPE TRUCK IN ONE WEEK. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED . THIS REAR END COULD COME APART AND INJURY COULD BE HAPPEN. *TR