2002 Dodge 1500 Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRAME AROUND THE STEERING BOX DISCONNECTED FROM THE STEERING DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.

NHTSA ID

11150278

Incident

Oct 26, 2018

Mileage

65,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11084850

Incident

Apr 12, 2018

Mileage

161,000 mi

MY SON WAS ON THE I-5 COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL WHEN THE SEALS BLEW ON THE RACK AND PINION. UPON TAKING IT TO A REPAIR SHOP WE WERE INFORMED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT OF THE DODGE RAM TRUCKS AND THEY ARE KNOWN TO BLOW ANY WHERE FROM 50,000-100,000 MILES. IF WE HAD KNOWN ABOUT THIS DEFECT WE WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THE TRUCK. WHEN THE SEALS BLEW THE TRUCK STEERING COMPONENTS BEGAN TO GRIND AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND LUCKILY MY SON HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY WITH OUT INJURING ANYONE. MY FATHER WHO HAS CONTRACTED WITH A LOCAL RESERVATION CONTACTED THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE DODGE RAM TRUCKS WERE KNOWN TO HAVE SERIOUS POWER STEERING AND FRONT END ISSUES. THE ONLY REASON THEY PURCHASED THE TRUCKS WERE THAT DODGE PROVIDED THE LOW BID AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN A GOVERNMENT RECALL ON THE STEERING AND THEIR PRACTICE IS TO ACCEPT THE LOW BID. THE POWER STEERING. TIE RODS AND SUSPENSION ARE MAJOR COMPONENTS TO GOING DOWN THE ROAD SAFELY. IT SHOULDN'T TAKE SOMEONE DYING TO SOLVE THE ISSUE. WHILE WE ALL ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACTS CAUSED BY LARGER VEHICLES AGAINST THE NEW SMALLER LIGHTER WEIGHT CARS IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW THE LARGER TRUCKS ARE SAFE TO DRIVE ON OUR ROADS. THE DODGE RAM HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET, AS WELL AS DEALERS AND REPAIR SHOPS NOTING THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE. CHEVY TRUCKS, FORD TRUCKS AND TOYOTA TRUCKS DO NOT HAVE THE REPUTATION FOR HAVE ISSUES WITH THE FRONT END AND STEERING COMPONENTS. THUS THIS WOULD APPEAR TO BE A DEFECT ISOLATED TO THE DODGE RAM TRUCKS. SINCE YOU CANNOT REQUIRE AND INDIVIDUAL TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION THEMSELVES EVERY 50,000 MILES THE ONLY OPTION WOULD BE TO REQUIRE DODGE TO SOLVE THE ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10692132

Incident

Feb 18, 2015

Mileage

102,500 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10608482

Incident

Jun 11, 2014

Mileage

169,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10535352

Incident

Aug 14, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND COULD NOT BE TURNED LEFT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

NHTSA ID

10514778

Incident

Apr 15, 2013

Mileage

156,000 mi

MY STEERING IS VIBRATING AT LOW SPEEDS EASING INTO CURVES LEFT OR RIGHT AND CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE AS IF I'M GOING TO SHAKE OFF THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10489280

Incident

Dec 12, 2012

MY TRUCK BEGAN LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE MY HOUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING, NOR MOVING. ENOUGH FLUID LEAKED OUT TO FORM A PUDDLE UNDER MY TRUCK. I USE THIS TRUCK TO TOW A 3200 POUND TRAVEL TRAILER. I AM THANKFUL I WAS NOT PULLING THIS TRAILER OR DRIVING THE TRUCK WHEN THE POWER STEERING BEGAN LEAKING. I AM NOT THE ONLY DODGE TRUCK OWNER TO WHOM THIS HAS HAPPENED. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW, A SAFETY HAZARD AND THESE TRUCKS NEED TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR POSSIBLY KILLED. I LIVE IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND THE ROADS ON WHICH I TRAVEL ARE VERY STEEP AND WINDING. IT TERRIFIES ME TO THINK WHAT MAY HAPPEN IF THIS UNIT WAS TO FAIL WHILE I WAS NAVIGATING THESE ROADS. PLEASE TAKE ACTION TO FORCE DODGE TO CORRECT THIS DESIGN FLAW BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. THANK YOU!

NHTSA ID

10374209

Incident

Dec 26, 2010

Mileage

66,513 mi

I PURCHASED MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO IN AUGUST, THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A VERY BUSY 35 MPH ROAD JUST PASSED A DANGEROUS SCHOOL ZONE AND I HAVE A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. TURNS OUT MY POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION HAS FAILED. NOW IN 12 MONTH I HAVE REPLACED THE PART 4 MORE TIMES AND IT IS STILL BROKEN LEAVING ME EVERYTIME WITH A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. THE TRUCK NOW SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY AS I PAY FOR IT EVERY MONTH BECAUSE DODGE WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT CANT BE FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10362729

Incident

Aug 15, 2010

Mileage

8,300 mi

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A 35MPH PAVED BUSY ROAD, THE RACK AND PINION UNDER MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 FAILS, LEAVING ME WITH A LOSS OF STEERING AND ALMOST CATCHING THE TRUCK ON FIRE FROM SO MUCH FLUID GETTING ALL OVER A HOT ENGINE BAY. NOW AFTER A MONTH AND A HALF I HAVE PAID FOR 4 MORE RACK AND PINION FAILURES AND NOW MY TRUCK IS STILL SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY BROKEN WAITING FOR THE 6TH ONE. EVERYTIME IT IS A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING AND THERE ARE NO WARNINGS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10357940

Incident

Aug 17, 2002

REPLACED RACK AND PINION FOUR TIMES ALONG WITH THE UPPER CONTROL ARM, UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS, AND TIE ROD ENDS. THIS LAST TIME THE BOOTS ON THE RACK AND PINION BUSTED POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOST CAUSING STEERING TO LOCK UP. THE SEVERE UNDERLYING ISSUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION IS THE LEFT AND RIGHT STEERING KNUCKLES ARE FAULTY CAUSING THE TIRES TO TURN TO FAR WHICH IS CAUSING THE DAMAGE TO THE RACK AND PINION BUSTING WHICH IS CAUSING THE DRAINAGE OF POWER STEERING FLUID AND LOCKING UP THE STEERING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10336302

Incident

Jun 14, 2010

Mileage

86,312 mi

COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID RESULTING IN SEVERE DIFFICULTY IN STEERING VEHICLE. THIS IS A 2ND OCCURRENCE AFTER HAVING REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR ON THE SAME VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES EARLIER. I HAD THE STEERING GEAR REPLACED NEW FOR A 2ND TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10329926

Incident

May 5, 2010

Mileage

50,000 mi

2002 DODGE RAM 1500 RACK AND PINION GOING OUT ONLY 60,000 MILES....ALSO, THEY REPLACED A/C FAN MOTOR ONCE...I PAID SEVERAL TIMES...ABOUT TO GO OUT AGAIN (LOW HUMMING NOISE IS INDICATOR - AS NOISE INCREASES, MOTOR FAILS). I AM SO DISAPPOINTED; AS A SPECIAL NEEDS TEACHER I DEPEND ON THIS VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT ME SAFELY TO AND FROM MY WORK....CANNOT DEPEND ON IT. I HATE IT...IT'S BEEN A PAIN SINCE FIRST PROBLEM WITH 18 MILES ON IT!!! PLEASE, HOLD DODGE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR MISTAKES.... *TR

NHTSA ID

10312304

Incident

Feb 19, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

MY 2002 DODGE 1500 QUAD CAB 4X4 HAD A LEAK ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE,WHICH WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY IN 2004. IN 2005 I NOTICE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING AGAIN IN THE SAME AREA AND THOUGHT IT WAS THE HOSE AGAIN. THIS TIME IT TURN OUT TO BE A LEEK IN THE GEAR BOX. AT THE TIME THE TRUCK HAD 62000 KMS AND 3 MONTHS PAST IT'S WARRANTY AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN OFF ROAD. THE DODGE DEALER WOULD NOT HELP COVER ANY EXPENSES FOR THIS PREMATURE FAILURE. CURRENTLY THE STEERING IS UNSTABLE ON UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES AND I DO NOT DRIVE IT IN THE WINTER. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS BUT ONE NEAR MISS WHEN THE TRUCK VEERED OVER TO THE ON COMING LANE AFTER GOING OVER A BUMP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10280781

Incident

Jun 5, 2005

Mileage

62,000 mi

2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE POWER STEERING QUIT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I WAS IN A CURVE AND ALMOST WRECKED. I HAVE HEARD OTHER PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. I THOUGHT SAFETY WAS NUMBER ONE. BUT I GUESS THIS WILL NOT BE A RECALL UNTIL SOME ONE FROM YOUR OFFICE OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE IS KILLED IN THIS TYPE OF SITUATION. I HAVE READ THAT PEOPLE HAVE RAN OF THE ROAD WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED OR HAVE STRUCK A ROADSIDE OBJECT TRYING TO STOP. COME ON PEOPLE LETS FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10256336

Incident

Jan 19, 2009

Mileage

41,150 mi

LOST ALL STEERING CAPABILITY WHILE DRIVING: ALMOST RAN INTO A HOUSE. THERE IS POWER STEERING FLUID ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NO COLLISIONS IN THIS VEHICLE OTHER THAN A MINOR REAR END FENDER BENDER. PREVIOUSLY I HAD THE HIGH PRESSURE PWR STEERING HOSE REPLACED AND THE SYSTEM FLUSHED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10253817

Incident

Jan 2, 2009

Mileage

48,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING, ROADS WERE WET, TEMPERATURE WAS 23 DEGREES. WAS DRIVING ON A TWO LANE ROADWAY ABOUT 40 MPH. WAS ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH WHEN TRUCK STARTED TO FISH TAIL SLIGHTLY. REAR OF THE TRUCK SLID SLIGHTLY TOWARD DRIVERS SIDE. I TURNED THE WHEELS SLIGHTLY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SLIDE AND THEN STARTED TO TURN THE WHEELS BACK THE OTHER DIRECTION AS TRUCK STARTED TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. AT THAT POINT I FELT SOMETHING GIVE IN THE FRONT END ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE TRUCK STARTED PULLING ACROSS THE CENTER LINE AND OFF THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR A TELEPHONE POLE. I TRIED PUSHING THE BRAKES FULLY, BUT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I CUT THE WHEELS ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT , JUST MISSING THE TELEPHONE POLE. MY FRONT FENDER STRUCK A STEEL POLE FILLED WITH CEMENT NEXT TO A SPLIT RAIL FENCE. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WAS LAYING UNDER THE TRUCK, ONLY HELD ON BY THE TIE ROD END. THIS WAS BY NO MEANS A VERY BAD CASE OF SLIDING AND OVER STEERING. THE UPPER BALL JOINT HAD JUST SEPARATED CAUSING THE TIRE TO BUCKLE UNDER. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE ESCAPED THIS ACCIDENT WITHOUT INJURY OR HAVING MY TRUCK ROLL OVER. I HAVE SEEN ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE DODGE DURANGOS WITH THE BALL JOINT SEPARATION AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE IT IS THE SAME SUSPENSION PARTS USED IN THE DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 TRUCKS. THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED INTO BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10253777

Incident

Jan 4, 2009

Mileage

159,000 mi

DURING A TIRE ROTATION THE MECHANIC NOTICED A DEFECT WITH THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM WHICH WAS LEAKING AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO NOTICED THE TIRE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE WHICH IS ALLOWING UNNECESSARY MOVEMENT OF THE TIRES. LASTLY THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL IS LEAKING AS WELL. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO USED WITH 41,000 MILES AND CURRENTLY HAS 62,955. THIS VEHICLE IS OPERATED UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246815

Incident

Oct 27, 2008

Mileage

62,955 mi

TOO MUCH MOVING AROUND WITH THE STEERING , FROM SIDE TO SIDE YOU HAVE TO GRAB WHEEL IF POSSIBLE WITH YOUR FEET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10224547

Incident

Jan 8, 2008

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE RED-COLORED FLUID UNDERNEATH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE NEAR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEALS IN THE POWER STEERING RACK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONE MONTH LATER, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGER PUDDLE OF POWER STEERING FLUID. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,603 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

NHTSA ID

10216722

Incident

Dec 10, 2007

Mileage

54,000 mi

POWER STEERING FAILED TWICE. ONCE IN TOWN AND AGAIN ON A MAJOR HWY AT HIGH SPEED. RACK AND PINION FAILURE BOTH TIMES. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN EITHER INSTANCE, BUT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE A TRUCK HOME WHEN YOU ARE STILL 400 MILES FROM THERE WITH NO POWER STEERING ON A SUNDAY. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10197415

Incident

Jul 22, 2007

Mileage

41,367 mi

I HAVE SUFFERED TWO MAJOR SYSTEM FAILURES IN MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500, BOTH OF WHICH RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOCK OF THE STEERING WHILE DRIVING. IN BOTH INSTANCES, FIRST AT 30,000 KM IN FEB 04, AND NOW AT 72,000 KM IN FEB 07, THE POWER STEERING RACK HAS BROKEN, RESULTING IN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, REQUIRING A KING KONG GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL SIMPLY TO TURN THE WHEEL EVEN ONE INCH. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS COVERED BY CHRYSLER UNDER THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY, BUT THIS ONE IS NOT BEING COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. BOTH FAILURES WERE LUCKILY AT LOW SPEED, BUT IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN IN TWO YEARS, I PRAY THAT IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM FOR THE SAME FAILURE, AND THERE IS ANOTHER DODGE RAM AT THE DEALER RIGHT NOW WITH THE SAME BREAK DOWN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10183088

Incident

Feb 12, 2007

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FLUID FROM THE RACK AND PINION. THE FIRST LEAK OCCURRED AT 68,000 MILES WHICH WAS A MINOR LEAK ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE RACK AND PINION SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT A MILEAGE OF 70,000. THEN THERE WAS A MAJOR LEAK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AFTER THE REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IS AWARE THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE FOR HIS VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10178964

Incident

Jan 17, 2007

Mileage

68,000 mi

FAILURE OF RACK AND PINION UNIT ON 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 SLT. UNIT DEVELOPED A SEVERE LEAK THAT CAUSED THE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR TO DRAIN COMPLETELY WITHIN AN HOUR OF DRIVING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10160151

Incident

Jun 17, 2006

Mileage

107,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY TRUCK HIT A POTHOLE NOT BIG AT ALL AND JUMPED IN THE OTHER LANE AND I ENDED UP IN SOMEONE'S FRONT YARD. *NM

NHTSA ID

10159884

Incident

Jun 10, 2006

Mileage

72,000 mi