10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 1
- Average Mileage:
- 103,159 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
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.
- New Fairfield, CT, USA
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..
- Washington, NJ, USA
While I was driving, my truck made a odd sound and then came to a screeching halt. To my surprise, the rear driveshaft had disconnected and fell out of my 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 truck. After having it towed and inspected by a mechanic, it was discovered the nut came off of the pinion gear. The axle and companion gear slipping out of the pinion gear and the yolk came completely off. The mechanic was as concern and surprised as I was, considering this type of thing should not happen to a vehicle. I contacted Chrysler via their customer service website and advised them of my situation. Sadly, I received a response stating there was no information regarding my issue. I conducted my own research about the possible defect, and found the NHTSA details regarding this problem with Dodge Ram trucks. Currently, they are only reviewing 2008-2014 models. Considering my 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 has incurred the same problem, Chrysler should recall all of their 2000 series for this defective part. I consider myself and others very lucky. If the driveshaft would have disconnected 10 minutes earlier while I was driving 70 mph on the interstate. The incident could have been much worse. I'm fortunate, I had reached my exit and was driving 45 mph with no vehicle behind me when my truck came apart and stopped.
- Nashville, TN, USA
Was driving and a loud noise started to come from the back part of the truck. I took it to the mechanic and the differential is gone. Spoke to other Dodge Ram owners and my understanding is that this is a factory defect that Dodge has yet to accept responsibility for. Please help.
- Orlando, FL, USA
Today on my 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 a sound started at speed, a sort of whining sound. I had learned there were some problems via internet forums so I slowed down, as I slowed down the diff locked up. Luckily since I sort of knew what might be coming I was going slow enough to not cause an accident, but had I not known, who knows what might have happened. It's in the shop now waiting on parts.
- West Chester, PA, USA
Was driving to work at 40 mph and suddenly a loud bang occurred. My rear end lock up and the truck came to a screeching halt. I got out and saw my drive shaft hanging down and called a tow truck! no injuries thankfully, but it sure could have had a different outcome on a highway at faster speeds! extremely expensive repair.
- West Milford, NJ, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact was driving at an unknown speed, when the clutch pack clips broke off and made contact with the gears. The contact stated this caused a failure with the rear differiantial. The contact notified the manufacturer, who refused to repair the vehicle.
- Newark, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 50 mph, the rear end the vehicle locked up. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection. The dealer stated that there was a flaw in the metal and the entire rear end needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred twice. The contact also stated that while driving 60 mph, the wheel bearing fractured and the knuckle came off of the truck. The vehicle was taken the the dealer for inspection and they replaced both the wheel bearing and knuckle. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 60,000.
- Howell, NJ, USA
Our gears came apart, there was rear end fluid in there but the gears came apart. Which I was told what I needed to do before this happened, but I wasn't and now I am looking at a $4000 bill to get this fixed. Heard it was a common problem with these trucks to have rear end issues.
- Fairfield, OH, USA
I was told the rear end brake the lubricant (rear end oil) out of it because I had not changed the lubricant to a synthetic oil and an additive to keep oil in liquid form and fight heat. If I had been letting the dealership do my maintenance on my truck, they would have told me about the service bulletin (tsb 03-002-02), which came out in July 2002, four months after I purchased my truck new. Well no one told me and I followed the owners manual for my maintenance and schedules, which is not correct, according to the dealership that did the $3002 repair. I had never driven my truck over 50 miles one direction (used to pull bass boat only) until the day the rear end went out, 500 miles away from home. That dealership will not answer my calls or E-mails anymore because I requested on paper what caused the failure.
- Loudon, TN, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that he took the vehicle to an independent mechanic for routine maintenance and was informed that one of the differential clips was fractured and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileage was 70,000.
- Mt Vernon, WA, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the drive shaft failed three times. The contact stated that each time the failure occurred, the rear pinion knob failed and was replaced. The vehicle was never used off-road or for hauling. There were no recalls for the vehicle. The failure mileage was 32,000.
- Casasnove, VA, USA
Retaining clips from the limited slip clutch packs in the rear differential, fractured and fell into the gears, locking the rear end. The truck slid on a dirt road into a gate causing minor body damage. This is the 9.25 inch ring gear axle with a dana tru-trac limited slip.
- Kittanning, PA, USA
I have had trouble with my power train and wheel twice, the first incident the front wheels broke apart completely, I was driving at a slow speed so no injuries except to the highway I had it replaced and less than three years had to be replaced again. My dash is cracked so bad it looks just awful.I had no idea so many other people had the same problem. I was never notified about the recall on the power train. I am very disappointed about that. I have several grand kids that rides with me. I should have been notified, and send a replacement letter. The unknown or other in the affected parts is my dash.
- Hartford, AL, USA
Whining noise in differential at all speeds straight ahead and turning. Replaced pinion bearings, races, and carrier bearings and races. Pinion gear and ring gear ok but bearings were rough. Cracked dash. Repair cost on differential $800. Parts. Did labor self. Cracked dash not repaired.
- Flatwoods, KY, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph, there was an abnormal scraping heard from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The mechanic advised the contact that the rear differential would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.
- San Antonio, TX, USA
Found metal pieces (broken C clip) and damage to the rear differential of my 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab 4X2. The whole rear end had to be replaced. This is a well documented known problem based on hundreds of forum threads under "C-clip", "retainer clip" and/or "clutch pack retainer" problems. Paid out of pocket to fix as warranty has expired.
- Cabot, AR, USA
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!
- Locust Grove, GA, USA
When the truck was a stop and I would begin to drive I would hear a clanking noise that sounded like it was coming from the rear of the truck. This went on for a month I figured it was something in the bed moving around. While I was driving one night, I heard a crunch noise that then resulted in the rear tires locking up and causing me to start skidding, I was able to maintain control of the truck and stop it safely. I was able to limp the truck home this time, at 15 to 20 mph. If I went any faster it would lock again. This is the second time the rear in this truck has failed me, the first time I was cruising at highway speed when the rear locked and the drive shaft separated from the differential causing damage to my truck as well as the shaft. The first repair cost me $2500 and I'm being quoted $1500 for this repair. This is a common and known problem on these trucks, Chrysler won't step up and take any responsibility they just tell me that my VIN was not covered under the recall despite the fact that I am experiencing the same problems as the trucks that were recalled. I will never buy another Dodge truck!
- Tabernacle, NJ, USA
- Statham, GA, USA