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.
2002 Dodge Ram 1500 4X4 5.9L was driving dow hey 10 when my back tries locked up couldn't get it in gear or out almost crash when got it on to side of road and stopped when it finally was able to go in a gear it was reverses and it would just make this god awful grinding nose truck was towed back home
- San Bernardino, CA, USA
Driveshaft separated from rear axle and wheels locked.vehicle was in motion.
- Tucson, AZ, USA
Driving on highway when drive shaft fell off and rearend locked
- Bradenton, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. While driving 2 mph, the pinion bolt loosened and fell off, which caused the drive shaft to fracture and also detach. The failure caused the vehicle to seize. Robert green Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep in monticello, New York was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 13V038000 (power train). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was 197,000.
- Napanoch, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle independently surged forward out of gear more than once while in park. The vehicle had to be stopped and force was applied to prevent the failure. The dealer (gillman Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, 10585 w sam houston pkwy S, houston, tx 77099, (713) 776-4900) was notified and scheduled an appointment. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
- Sugarland, TX, USA
My wife and I were driving at about 55 mph and next thing we know we heard a very loud bang and then my rear end locked up and about caused us to hit the car beside us once I was able to pull over safely I got out and found my driveshaft separated from the rear end so I had it towed to the local mechanic and he had informed me that my pinion nut had came loose and backed out that it was not properly torqued I have contacted the dealership and the corporation of Ram and neither will own up to it even though they informed me there was a pending recall for my year model for that pinion nut and they also informed me that I do have the same rear end as the 05 model that did have a recall on the pinion nut which is the 9.25' ring gear Chrysler rear end but they said since mine is a 2002 they can do nothing about it and that I am stuck with paying for repairs for something that should've never happened on a truck with 124,000 miles and something that could've injured my wife and I and I've seen a lot of reports of this same thing happening to people atleast once I don't see why this is not a recall because I see it as a huge saftey issue
- Asheville, NC, USA
While driving home a noise started to occur when letting off gas pedal, got louder the more I drove, I drive 25 miles to and from work, well as I was coasting to slow to enter my driveway (I live in the country) and the then boom and no power rear end locked right at end of my drive and would not move, found drive shaft gone and pinion was pulled into differential, stopped in the middle of as state route had to drag truck off of road removed cover and found rear end chewed up, my question is why is Dodge only coving this rea end back to 2005 and not to when they started using it in 2002, glad it didn't happen in heavy traffic, I would have been hurt or worse someone else would have
- Atwater, OH, USA
Today around 1am coming home from work, I was going 65 mph and I was coming up on my turn.I slowed down and my 2002 Dodge Ram quad cap did a noses dive felt like I was slamming on the brakes. Took the turn bring it back up to 40mph to see if I can see what it was ( thinking I hit my E brake) and all of a sudden hurd a big boom and my truck lock up going around a dirt road almost going in to the trees, now my truck is in the middle of the road side ways.
- Palm Coast, FL, USA
While in motion pinion nut came loose drive shaft fell off vehicle rear axle locked up I was able to regain control of the vehicle and avoid crash and injury to others, this is the second incident where I could have been seriously injured due to pinion bearing and nut coming loose, Dodge took care of this issue on 11/09/10 at 150,768 and this occurred again on 2/17/17 at 187,568 vehicle has only been driven about 36,000 and has failed again I believe this is the same issue the 05,09,10 Ram models were recalled for but Dodge continues to deny.
- Dallas, GA, USA
2002 Dodge Ram quad cab sport 4X2 (1.)gas peddle has to be press down at all time in order for truck to stay on and once I let go of gas peddle truck stalls. (2.)first day I bought truck from dealership I ask, is that faint sound coming from transmission, I was told by Dodge dealer thats the sound transmission makes, I said really. (3.)interior top dash so thin sun is able to crack dash by its self with the hot heat and dash plastic is sharp and dangerous its become a hazard to all occupants or pedestrians, passegers. (4.)the whole back tail light found hanging tried to hook it back up its made of plastic components crack with no way of hooking it with nuts, so for now I tape it in place, it truly falls under a recall. (5.)ac works but no heater slite warm. (6.)mirror cover on passenger side has fallen off on freeway. (7.)all engine components seem to brake to fast due to being made of plastic clips wires not stable to hold on to devices once they brake off, some also crack off into devices, crack into devices which cause vehicle problems and issues that affect mulitiple hazards to truck speed, suspension, steering, fuel/propulsion, lighting, powertrain, brakes, engine, electrical, ele/ stability, rir bag, body, wheels, seat belt, visibility/wipers, in general all aspects has some kind of hazardous components that needs mandatory recalls.
- San Jose, CA, USA
2002 Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab sport 4X2 1. gas peddle has to be press down at all time in order for truck to stay on once I let go of gas peddle truck stalls. 2.first day I bought truck from deal I ask is this faint sound coming fom transmission, I was told Dodge dealer thats a sound that trasmission makes, I said really. 3.interior top dsah so thin sun is able to crack dash by it self with the hot heat and sharp plastic and its now dangerous its become a hazad toall occupants or pedestrians passegers. 4. the whole back tail light found hanging tried to hook it back up its made of plastic components crack with noway of hooking it with nuts so for now I type it in place, its truly falls under a recall. 5.ac works but no heater. 6.mirror cover on passenger side has fallen off on freeway. 7.all engine components seem to brake to fast due to being made of plastic clips wires not stable to hold on to devices, hoses fall off, crack into devices which cause veichal problems and isusses that affect mulitiple hazards to truck speed control, suspension, steering, fuel/propulsion, lighting, powertrain, brakes, engine, electrical, elec, /stability, air bags, body, wheels, seats, seat belts, visibility/wipers, in general all aspects has some kind of hazardous componets that need mandatory recalls.
- San Jose, CA, USA
The bolt attaching the drive shaft to the rear differential pinion came off and the drive shaft fell off. The pinion was then able to slide back and lock the differential carrier causing the rear axle and tires to lock in place, the dealer explained this is a problem and they actually recalled the 2005 model for the same problem. Because I was never made aware that this needed to be checked, severe damage has occurred which will cost several thousand to fix. I was fortunate this happened on a side road going 30 mph, if this happened on a highway or worse yet while hauling a trailer, chances are a major accident would have happened (serious safety risk). There needs to be some kind of notification to other Ram truck owners that this may occur and the simple fix or maintenance that is needed.
- Odessa, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving down an hill at 35 mph, a loud clanking noise emitted from the vehicle. After inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the drive shaft fractured off the rear differential. The contact mentioned that he performed the repairs by replacing the drive shaft and pinion nut. A year later, the failure recurred. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 142,000.
- Phillipsburg, NJ, USA
I was on my way home from picking up my paycheck driving on the highway in the fast lane doing around 70 mph when all of a sudden my truck shut down with no warning and then restarted. I immediately got off of the highway and took back roads. About 1.5 miles from my home at a red light the truck once again shut down completely, no engine, no electric, nothing, it was completely dead on a fairly busy road. I had to have the truck towed home and have not been able to get it started at all. I went online to see what might be the cause and have found many related cases to what I am dealing with.
- Catonsville, MD, USA
My friend was outside the 2002 Dodge Ram. It was running and in park. He leaned in the door to check the mileage on the oil change sticker on the windshield. Suddenly, in park, the truck began rolling down a very slight grade. It drug my friend who was attempting to stop the truck. It rolled about 25 yards until it hit a parked car. This all happened while in park! he was bruised and banged up, and was sore for a few days.
- Lancaster, SC, USA
My truck has a faulty rear end that I am concerned about.. Dodge will do nothing to fix what is a large scale problem affecting all trucks like mine.. please help us get this truck recalled.. it's a wide spread problem.. thanks mike
- Rowland Heights , CA, USA
While driving down a two lane road, a loud sound came from the rear end of the vehicle and the rear axle seized up. Rear springs detached and drive shaft also came loose.
- Oberlin, OH, USA
On July 8, 2012, the mother carried her 2 year-old daughter to her husband's parked 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup equipped with a manual transmission. The mother opened the passenger door, inserted the ignition key into the ignition switch, turned the key as the mother was trying to activate the air conditioner and cool the vehicle down before her husband came out to drive them home from church.the vehicle was in 1st gear and lurched forward when the key was turned.the speed of 2 mph at time of incident is an approximation only. The mother was struck by the moving vehicle which knocked her child from her arms to the pavement. The child suffered severe head trauma and was removed to the hospital by ambulance. The child later died in the emergency room. The accidental death was caused by failure of the clutch ignition interlock safety switch, compression spring, and attendant parts. This is the same defect involved in recall no.14V795000 and is at least the second death caused by this same defect. The only difference is that recall no. 14V795000 covers vehicles back to only 2004, and this vehicle is a 2002 model year.
- Lynnfield, MA, USA
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 updated 05/12/15
- Memphis, MI, USA
- Minden, NV, USA