Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Dodge 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 92 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 92, in the owner's own words
The heat stopped working so i replaced the blower motor and blower relay the heater switch and still have no heat. The wire gets hot to the touch. The heater only use to work on high then all of a sudden it just stopped all the way around
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated while attempting to turn on the heat in the vehicle, the HVAC system failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the instrument panel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated there was no recall for the failure. There was no additional assistance provided. The failure mileage was 50,000.
WHILE DRIVING ALL OF THE GAUGES HAVE QUIT WORKING HEADLIGHTS STAY ON WILL NOT TURN OFF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. AN INDEPENDENT TOWING COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WIRE HARNESS CONVERTIBLE BOX HAD A LOT OF CORROSION AROUND IT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A COLLISION SHOP WAS CONTACTED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
TRIED TO GET THE TRUCK STARTED AND COULD NOT GET IT TO WORK. TOOK THE KEYS OUT AND THROW THEM UP ON THE DASH AND THE TRUCK STARTED AND ALL ELECTRONICAL STUFF IN TRUCK CAME ON. THEN WHEN DRIVING HOME IT WOULD REV UP AND DOWN AND WOULD TRY TO SHUT OFF WHEN I HAD TO STOP
A FEW YEARS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE DASH BEGAN TO DEVELOP CRACKS AND HOLES. THIS HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE A DASH COVER HAD TO BE PURCHASED TO AVOID THINGS FALLING DOWN BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. CURRENTLY, THERE IS MORE MISSING THAN STILL IN PLACE IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS GENERATION, AND DODGE HAS NOT ADDRESSED IT, OTHER THAN TO CLAIM IT IS STRICTLY COSMETIC. THE PLASTIC PIECES ARE EXTREMELY SHARP, AND HAVE RESULTED IN A NUMBER OF SUPERFICIAL CUTS WHEN WORKING ON THE DEFROST VENTS, OR WHEN ADJUSTING THE CARPETED DASH COVER. OTHER PIECES HAVE FALLEN INTO THE VENTS AND THEN BEEN EJECTED INTO BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S FACES WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER ARE TURNED ON. PIECES OF PLASTIC RATTLE BEHIND THE DASH, AND HAVE FALLEN INTO THE AIR CONDITIONER CONTROLS AND RADIO HARNESS, POSSIBLY BEING THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF THE FRONT SPEAKERS (BUT NOT VERIFIED) IF THEY HAVE CUT THE WIRES. IF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS, THE PERDON IN THE SEAT IS LIKELY TO BE BLINDED OR DISFIGURED FROM THE AMOUNT OF DANGEROUSLY SHARP SHRAPNEL, ASSUMING IT HAS NOT ALREADY BEEN CUT AND RENDERED USELESS. REPLACEMENT DASHES FROM DODGE ARE PRICED AT NEARLY $1,000, WHICH IS A RIDICULOUSLY EXORBITANT AMOUNT TO EXPECT CUSTOMERS TO PAY IN ORDER TO FIX A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT INSTALLED BY THE COMPANY. OVERLAYS OF DECENT QUALITY COST NEARLY A THIRD OF THAT.
INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. TURN LEFT SIGNAL ON, AND FLASH THEN RIGHT SIGNAL WILL OCCASIONALLY FLASH. SOMETIMES LEFT AND RIGHT WILL ALTERNATE. THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS EMERGENCY FLASHERS WHERE BOTH LIGHTS ARE ON AT THE SAME TIME. THIS IS DANGEROUS, I'M IN A LEFT TURN LANE WITH MY LEFT BLINKER ON BUT MY TRUCK IS TELLING OTHER DRIVERS THAT I WANT TO TURN RIGHT. THE FAILURE, ERRATIC BEHAVIOR IS RANDOM AND INTERMITTENT.
THE FCM AND PDC ARE EXTREMELY BAD ON THE 2002 DODGE. THEY CORRODE CAUSING YOUR BRAKE LIGHTS, BLINKERS, HEADLIGHTS AND EMERGENCY FLASHER NOT TO WORK. DODGE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MANDATED TO RECALL AND REPLACE BOTH PARTS ON EVERY TRUCK. THE CORROSION IS DO TO THE POOR DESIGN OF THE PDC "FUSE BOX" WITH HOLES IN THE BOTTOM ALLOWING WATER AND MOISTURE TO ENTER THE PDC AND START TO CORRODE. THIS IN TURN CAUSING THE FCM " FRONT CONTROL MODULE" TO SHORT OUT. THIS IS A SEVERE DANGER TO THE TRUCK OWNER AS WELL AS OTHER MOTORISTS AND PEDESTRIANS ON THE ROAD. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED IN TO AND FIXED. I HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCE THIS AND HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT SEVERAL TIMES BY MOTORISTS BEHIND ME DO TO THE FACT MY TAILLIGHTS QUIT WORKING AND MY BLINKERS DID AS WELL. I HAVE REPLACED MY FCM AND PDC 4 TIMES ALREADY AND EACH ONE SHORTS OUT AFTER A YEAR. THAT'S $600-$1200 EACH TIME. DODGE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM.
WHILE DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS LAST WEEK, THE KEY SLID OUT OF THE IGNITION. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, MY STEERING COLOMN LOCKED AND THE MOTOR FINALLY DIED AND COASTED TO A STOP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE HVAC BLOWER MOTOR FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V078000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
WHEN I TURN ON THE HEATER THE BLEND DOOR AND ACTUATOR MAKE A POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNED HEAT ON , BLEND DOORS BROKEN AND ACTUATOR NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT OCCURS WHILE VEHICLE STATIONARY AND IN MOTION WHEN HEAT IS TURNED ON.
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.
DASHBOARD CRACKED, LAMP LIGHT IS ON AND ALARM KEEPS DINGING. CHECKED ALL LIGHTS AND THEY ARE ALL WORKING.
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. *TR
DASH BOARD HAS SHATTERED AND THE AIR CONDITION/HEATER DOES NOT BLOW. *TR
DASHBOARD BEGIN CRACKING AND FINALLY IN A COUPLE DAYS OF WEEKS BROKE APART COMPLETELY AS I HAD BEEN IN A CRASH.I CALLED THE COMPANY THEY SAID THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED.I TOLD THEM I HAVE 1992 FORD AEROSTAR WHOSE DASHBOARD WAS COMPLETELY .INTACT AND THAT IT WAS MUCH OLDER IT HAD TO BE A STRUCTURAL DEFECT. THEY OFFER TO PAY HALF WHICH MEANT I HAD TO PAY 500.00 DOLLARS, WHICH I DIDN'T HAVE. I FELT THEY SHOULD PAY ALL OF IT. ALSO THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE RPM ACCELERATE WITHOUT ME PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL.I TOOK MANY TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT BUT THEY NEVER DID. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TERMINAL BATTERY, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE HEATING AND COOLING COMPONENTS IN THIS TRUCK IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. LAST YEAR I STARTED HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE HEAT/AC NOT WORKING UNLESS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS IN THE UP POSITION. I HAD ALL THE PARTS TO THE CONTROL BOARD BEHIND THE DASH REPLACED, ALL NEW KNOBS, ETC. STILL DIDN'T WORK. THEN WE STARTED DIVING INTO THESE SITES THAT TALK ABOUT ALL/ANY ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THIS MODEL TRUCK. SO WE SEE THAT WE NEED TO REPLACE THE REGISTER IN THE STEERING COLUMN. WELL THAT WORKED FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND NOW, AGAIN, IF I WANT AC/HEAT I HAVE TO RAISE THE STEERING UP AND DRIVE. NOT VERY SAFE!! ARE DEALERSHIPS HONORING RECALLS FOR THIS PART STILL? WHAT ABOUT ALL THE WIRING? DOES THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED TO STOP THE CONSTANT BLOWING UP OF THE REGISTER? THIS IS A GREAT LOOKING TRUCK BUT THE MONEY DUMPED INTO IT TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD IS OUTRAGEOUS. I COULD HAVE PURCHASED TWO TRUCKS BY NOW. *TR
VEHICLE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT ENTIRELY. CURRENTLY VEHICLE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OF THROUGH ALL RANGES OF STEERING. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD LOCK INTO ANY GEAR. ALSO, THE KEY WAS ABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION KEY ALTHOUGHT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PAM
THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING, ABS LIGHT ON, EBRAKE LIGHT ON, AIRBAG LIGHT ON, NO CONTROLS FOR DEFROSTER, FOUND NO POWER TO FUSES ON 32-38 SEVERAL PEOPLE ONLINE IN FORUMS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *JS
HELLO, I HAVE JUST BOUGHT A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK FROM MY FATHER IN-LAW. BEFORE HE SOLD IT TO ME HE MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BLOWER FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATER DOESN'T WORK. HE SAID IT WAS A RECALL THAT HE NEVER TOOK IN TO GET SERVICED. SO I LOOKED THE TRUCK UP ON THE WEBSITE WWW.RECALLS.GOV. AND SURE ENOUGH THERE IT WAS. A RECALL ON THE STEERING COLUMN ELECTRICAL CONNECT. NOW I REMEMBER RIDING WITH MY FATHER IN LAW AND HE WOULD BE CONSTANTLY MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL UP AND DOWN USING THE TILT WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING WOULD CUT OFF AND THAT MADE IT TURN BACK ON. THE PROBLEM IS IS WHEN I GET ON THE DODGE SITE AND SEARCH FOR RECALLS USING THE VIN NUMBER THIS RECALL DOESN'T SHOW UP. I CALLED A DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT DIDN'T SHOW UP EITHER. I FIND IT A LITTLE ODD THAT MY TRUCK DOESN'T SHOW THIS RECALL IS NEEDED WHEN IT IS VERY OBVIOUS THAT THIS STEERING COLUMN ELECTRICAL CONNECT IS THE VERY ISSUE I'M HAVING. AND I RECALL THAT MY FATHER IN LAW HAS HAD THIS ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME MAYBE NOT LONG AFTER HE BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW. I THINK MY TRUCK SHOULD BE HONORED THIS RECALL SERVICE BEINGS IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *JS
DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING IN 2010 AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. IT NOW HAS OPEN HOLES AND COMPLETELY CRACKED. AND SINCE THE LAST FEW MONTHS IT IS CAUSING ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THIS SITUATION I HAVE NOW FOUND OUT TO BE VERY COMMON FOR MY TRUCK AND NOW REALIZE THAT THIS IS NOT COMMON WEAR FOR THIS OR ANY OTHER VEHICLE. CHRYSLER HAS TOLD ME THEY ARE NOT EXCEPTING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PRODUCT FAILURE AND THAT IT'S UP TO ME TO PAY FOR THE COSTLY REPAIRS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AS THIS PROBLEM IS CLEARLY A PRODUCT DEFECT THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF AND SHOULD AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER BE FIXED. *TR
DRIVING ON FLAT SURFACE STREET, HEARD LOUD POPPING NOISE. LATER REALIZED IT WAS THE DASH POPPING AND NOTICED MULTIPLE STRAIGHT CRACKS BEGINNING IN THE CORNERS OF DASH VENTS, GRADUALLY EXPANDING. CREATES MULTIPLE SMALL, SHARP SHARDS OF PLASTIC. POTENTIAL FOR NUMEROUS PROJECTILES OF PLASTIC IF EVER THE AIRBAGS WERE TO DEPLOY NOT TO MENTION NOW THAT THE ENTIRE DASH IS WEAKENED SMALL PARTS INTERMITTENTLY FALL INTO THE DASH AREA CAUSING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH ALL THE GAUGES, CAUSING WARNING LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE AND POTENTIAL FOR FIRE IS OBVIOUS CONSIDERING OTHER DODGE RECALLS FOR WIRING PROBLEMS IN THIS MODEL TRUCK. *JS
VEHICLE HAS SEVERE DASH CRACKING. POWER WINDOWS ARE NOT WORKING AND LAMP INDICATOR WILL NOT SHUT OFF CAUSING ONGOING BEEPING. CONCERNED THAT DASH PARTS ARE STUCK INSIDE CAUSING DRIVING CONDITIONS TO BE UNSAFE. WOULD LIKE TO BE NOTIFIED IF AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN DONE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEMS AT DEALER COST. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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