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.

3.6

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,845 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Dodge Ram 1500 exhaust system problems

exhaust system problem

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2002 Dodge Ram 1500 Owner Comments

problem #4

Sep 222007

Ram 1500 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

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

Nov of 2006 I took my truck in for misfire and coolant lose, the dealer checked the cooling system and ok'd it.they replaced my spark plugs for the misfire. About a month ago the truck was not running correctly since my warranty ran out I took it to another shop the rocker arm fell off, it was replaced. A week later 2 rocker arms fell off. With extensive researched it was determined I had a cracked head. When I called the auto manufacturer Chrysler, I was told it was under the power train warranty and I needed to take it to the dealer. I did not feel comftorable taking this truck that was half apart to another mechanic to tell me what I already new, that the head was cracked coolant was leaking into the combustion chamber causing my rocker arms to be blown off. I tried talking to the dealership that I purchased it from and they said that Chrysler already made a decision on this. All I wanted was to get replacement heads and some costs of repairing the truck. If this would have went to the dealer there was going to be a cost for them.

- Sparrows Pt, MD, USA

problem #3

Apr 202006

Ram 1500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,679 miles
First let me state that prior to this experience, I absolutely loved my Dodge truck. On 20 Apr 2006, my 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 pick-up with 50,529 miles started stalling after the engine warmed up. There was a distinct "pinging" sound coming from the catalytic converter before the engine would stall. My 17 year old son was driving the vehicle and was returning from soccer practice when this first started. I brought it to the dealership where I purchased the truck--they couldn't find anything wrong, but based on my description felt that the catalytic converter might be bad, so they replaced it. This seemed to solve the problem until a month and 1,100 miles later the very same symptoms arose (engine stalling when warmed up, and a "pinging" sound coming from the vicinity of the catalytic converter. This time they diagnosed the problem as being scored pistons, requiring me to replace my engine block...at 51,679 miles! a quality engine would not fail at this low mileage. I called Dodge, they agreed that it should not have happened'and were very apologetic that my warranty had expired, but they refused to share the burden of the nearly $7,000 cost with me, despite the fact that there was only 51,679 miles on the vehicle. Would you buy a truck whose engine failed at 50,000 miles? I certainly will never again.

- Biloxi, MS, USA

problem #2

Oct 092002

Ram 1500

  • 2,700 miles
Left front control arm were not replaced, only the brake pads. Dealership claimed this would fix the problem. However, there was still a clanking noise at front left and right wheel area. Consumer's inspection revealed that on both sides the pivot arms were loose and had rotated several times hitting the suspension arm frame mount area and there were gouges in the frame mount. Further inspection also revealed exhaust leak on the bottom side of the muffler at the back weld or seal of the unit. Consumer planned on taking vehicle to another dealership.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #1

Mar 052003

(reported on)

Ram 1500

  • miles
ODI #768732: Brake pads were replaced. However clanking noise at front left and right wheel area still existed. Inspection revealed pivot arms had rotated, making contact with the suspension arm frame mount area which caused gouges in the frame mount area. Further inspection revealed exhaust leak from bottom side of muffler.

- Washington, DC, USA

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