CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2002 has the well-known and documented problem with their dashboards falling to pieces, but it also has engine failure from oil sludge. That's a doube shot of awful in your morning coffee.

9.2

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
114,000 miles
Total Complaints:
5 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (4 reports)
  2. possible factory buyback (1 reports)
2002 Dodge Ram 1500 engine problems

engine problem

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2002 Dodge Ram 1500 Owner Comments

problem #5

Aug 242016

Ram 1500 SLT 5.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 165,111 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

So when I start my day and leave for work the truck takes a sec. Or two to start and the first stop at the end of the street the idle drops off and its chugging. now if I just drive it has no power and it pops like its back firing but if I shut it off and restart it its good until I stop and shut it off again like at a store if I go in and get a drink and come out and start it at the first stop it drops and chugged again. its not safe and I am a big dodge fan not happy if I am driving and the radio is on and my kids are in the truck and I pull out in a highway and don't notice it chugging I can get hitt and possibly kill myself or worse my family this is my only vehicle I got it in Feb. Of 2016 is there a fix if not they need a recall not safe and I know dodge can do better for us we buy it and they need to live up to the name please help thank you

- Adam F., Grindstone, PA, US

problem #4

May 012016

Ram 1500 SLT 4.7L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 122,235 miles

I bought this truck and back in August 2014. Since then the TPS has been replaced twice and it has been in and out of the shop at minimum 3 dozen times. I have taken it to the dealership and to every mom and pop mechanic that is in this area. Every time someone hooks the computer up to it something new appears. Crazy things are registering such as this last time stating that there is a turbo diesel problem....REALLY? That's funny considering that my truck ISN'T DIESEL!!!!

I have had countless misfires and replaced the coils, plugs and wires. My lights all went out and that cost me over $400 to fix and my fog lights are not able to be hooked up because it will happen again!! It jerks, stutters and doesn't want to shift normally. When I start it up it idles in the 3000 rpm's an then very, VERY slowly drops down to around 1500 rpm's...WTF??!!! Then When I put it in drive the rpm's drop so low that it dies.

Now I have new problems. The truck doesn't want to start and once I get it started it tries to die. Another new problem is that it won't start moving until is well over 2000 rpm's...are you freaking kidding me??!!! It left me stranded on the side of the highway on the way to work 4 times in the past 2 weeks when I was on my way to work. I live out in the country and there is nothing around to go to so I could get help. I walked 4 miles until I found a house and was lucky that someone was home. I went to pass a big rig on the highway, once I passed it the damn truck wouldn't go!!! Every time I stepped on the gas the rpm's would fluctuate and I was unable to go past 60 mph on the highway. It died on my boyfriend half a dozen times yesterday not even 1/4 of a mile from the house when he was going to work and it took him starting it up 5 times to get it back home.

I have done countless hours of research on the issues that I am experiencing and I have found no one that is experiencing the same things...just pieces here and there of my trucks issues. All I have done is waste money on trying to find out what the hell is going on with this POS, not to mention the payment I have on it every month!!! I am so far pissed about this now that I am on the verge of no return!!! The thing that really pisses me off is that not even the dealership was able to help with any of this. So please tell me if your job is to diagnose and fix these damn trucks and you aren't capable of doing it then WTF is your purpose??!!! This is the first Dodge truck that I have ever owned and you can bet yall's sweet asses that it will be the last!!! WORST TRUCKS EVER!!!!!!!!

- teebear0316, Moberly, MO, US

problem #3

Apr 042011

Ram 1500 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 148,000 miles

I was searching the internet for owner and repair manuals for our 2002 Dodge Ram 1500, 4.7 truck. I stumbled upon this site accidently, and was blown away by what I read. We left Nevada at 4:00 am, on 4/4/11 which was yesterday, headed for Calif. Approximately 4 hours into the drive, all of a sudden we had a problem, the truck started running bad, cutting out, missing, no power going up hill, big clouds of white smoke from the exhaust that was toxic smelling, and then it started dying out in the middle of a turn and every time we had to slow down or come to a stop. We must have restarted the truck 8 times just trying to make it down an average block. We are now stuck, in another state and haven't quite figured out what to do. I came for an appt. my first 6 month check up from having cancer. I agree, something has to be done, how can we all come together? Where do we start? Petitions ? Within the complaints, a gentlemen suggested going to the news channel and having this issue investigated by a televised consumer advocate, as Ralph Nader did. I think this is a great idea, how about we all go to our local tv stations. It couldn't hurt !!

- pkerrnevada, Henderson, NV, US

problem #2

Jul 102010

Ram 1500 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

I bought this 1500 4.7l last April, the stupid thing never ran right and I called who I got the truck from and ripped them a new one.... Nothing but problems. so far I have had the AC pump replaced, the o2 sensors, the gas cap, coil pack, spark plugs, the catalytic converter, the exhaust muffler, a whole new rear end, the driver side wheel bearing hub and to top it all off it's in the shop right now, got all 8 fuel injectors replaced, the #3 is still failing so they said it could be the valve gauge so i'm really pissed off right now, I found this site throught the mechanic that is fixing that peice of sh*t truck, I see i'm not the only one who hates Dodge and will never buy another one///

- rainman1273ma, Norton, MA, US

problem #1

Apr 202003

(reported on)

Ram 1500 Quad

  • 14,500 miles

Truck is 8 months old and has spent 37 out of 38 days in the shop and still counting. Dodge has yet given us an explanation of what is wrong. Have had to fight for everything including a rental when we had over 6 inches of snow on the ground. Now they won't even talk to us because they don't have any answers to give us. Went to pick it up because they said it was fixed and the truck died less than a mile away from the dealership. Customer service will not talk to us they just give us the run around and will not keep us updated on the situation. We have to call to get basically no information. Dealership is 2 hours away and they say they pride themselves in customer service, "NOT"!!

- barbara oliver, Arnold, CA, US

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