2002 Dodge Dodge Truck Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 Dodge Dodge Truck, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Suspension625.0%
- Fuel system312.5%
- Transmission28.3%
- Brakes28.3%
- Powertrain (other)28.3%
- Tires & wheels28.3%
- Body & structure28.3%
- Other / unspecified14.2%
- Heating & air conditioning14.2%
- Electrical14.2%
- Engine14.2%
- Driver assistance14.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
VERY ANNOYING RATTLE IN THE LEFT FRONT END OF MY RAM 1500 4X4 TRUCK EACH TIME I COME ACROSS A BUMP IN THE ROAD.*AK
I AM NOT SURE IF THIS WOULD FALL UNDER THIS CATEGORY, BUT I COULD NOT FIND ANOTHER SITE. ON THE DODGE DAKOTA PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT BALL JOINTS I HAD THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A RECALL TO REPLACE THEM. HOWEVER I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHRYSLER THAT THEY WHERE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE UPPER BALL JOINTS TO 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. IF YOU HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE TO BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD CHECK IT AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY. BUT IF YOU HEAR NO SUCH NOISE THERE WAS NO NEED TO TAKE ANY FURTHER ACTION. I THINK IT WILL BE A LITTLE LATE IF THEY FAIL BEFORE YOU HEAR A NOISE AS THEY SAY CAN HAPPEN IN SOME CASES. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE INJECTION PUMP IN MY 2002 DODGE PU HAS MALFUNCTIONED TWICE IN 14 MONTHS AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT DODGE KNOWS THAT IS A PROBLEM BUT NOTHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT. AND IF PUMP TOTALLY FAILS THE TRUCK WILL NOT RUN. I THINK THAT DODGE SHOULD HAVE A RECALL THEY CHANGED THE TRUCK IN 2003 AND THE PUMP THEY KNOW.
MY DIESEL 4X4 TRUCK DIED, WHILE PULLING A LARGE TRAILER, ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TRAVELING 60MPH. WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, I STEERED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE GROUND WIRE BROKE THAT GOES TO THE PRIMARY FUEL PUMP.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY 2002 DODGE DURANGO R/T 5.9L STARTED OVER HEATING. REPLACED RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT. THE VEHICE STILL RAN HOT AND STARTED OVERHEATING AGAIN. SHOP SAID IT WAS CLUTCH FAN AND COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSEOR. REPLACED ALL THAT AND VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING A WEEK LATER. THE DEALER SAID I HAD TO REPALCE THE COOLING FAN. DID THAT TOO, AND VEHICLE OVERHEATED 5 MINUTES OFF THEIR LOT. BROUGHT IT BACK AND THEY SAID I NEEDED HEAD GASKET AND NEW HEADS. THEN RIGHT BEFORE THEY FINISHED THE WORK THEY SAID THE BLOCK WAS CRACKED NEAR 2 CYLINDERS AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. !@#$%!
LOADED VEHICLE WITH 1440LB SAND. UPON DRIVING HIGHWAY (NEVER EXCEED 55MPH) WITHIN 20 MIN VEHICLE SMOKED HEAVILY FROM ENGINE BAY. DISCOVERED THAT VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING PUMP HAS AN OVERFLOW VALVE LINE THAT SEEMS TO HAVE A PRESSURE VALVE AT THE END OF IT. THIS HOSE IS CONNECTED TO THE WIRING HARNESS NEAR THE BATTERY, AND POINTS VERTICALLY AT THE HOOD, JUST OVER THE VALVE COVER ASSEMBLY. POWER STEERING FLUID POURED OVER THE ENGINE, COMBUSTING ON THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY, BUT NOT FLAMING UP. MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT THIS VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING UNIT IS SOMEHOW TIED TO A "LOAD LEVELER?" THAT IS FACTORY INSTALLED. DUE TO THE LOAD WEIGHT IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE, THIS CAUSED THE POWER STEERING FLUID TO OVERHEAT AND EXPAND, CAUSING THE EJECTION OF FLUID. ANOTHER ANSWER IS THAT THIS IS SOMEHOW A TRANSMISSION FLUID OVERFLOW, AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SIMPLY OVERHEATED. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THE POSITION OF THE OVERFLOW RELEASE HOSE AND VALVE, THIS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF SEVERAL HOSES AND A WIRE KIT DUE TO THE DAMAGE. MY QUESTION IS WHY WOULD THIS FLUID BE EJECTED ABOVE THE ENGINE---THIS FLUID IS DEFINITELY PETROLEUM BASED, AND FLAMMABLE. HAD I CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD FURTHER, I CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE HAD FLAME. PLEASE NOTE, THE WEIGHT RATING FOR THIS TRUCK IS 1800LB, I AM 265, AND THE TRUCK WAS EMPTY, EXCEPT FOR THE 1440LB OF SAND. I WAS APPROACHING THE RATING, BUT NOT NEARLY OVERLOADING THE TRUCK.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
I OWN A 2002 DODGE DIESEL TRUCK. THE BRAKES FAILED AT ONLY 41,000 MILES. THE DEALER WILL NOT COVER THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS UP AT 36,000 MILES. ONCE THE BRAKES WERE REMOVED IT WAS FOUND THAT THE INNER PAD ON ALL FOUR WHEELS HAD FAILED. THEY CAME LOOSE FROM THE BACKING PLATE WHERE THEY WERE BONDED TOGETHER. THE RIGHT REAR HAD FALLEN OUT AND THE BACKING PLATE ATE INTO THE ROTOR AND DESTROYED IT COMPLETELY. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT ON THESE TRUCKS THAT COULD CAUSE COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES. *JB
THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM HAS FAILED. I PUT THE BRAKES ON AND THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM STARTED WORKING BUT AFTER THAT THE PEDAL BECAME SOFT. AFTER A FEW DAYS I HAD IT CHECKED AND FOUND THAT THE REAR BRAKES HAD NOT RELEASED AND BURNED UP COMPLETELY. CHRYSLER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING BEAUSE THE TRUCK HAS 42000 MILES ON IT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
VERY ANNOYING RATTLE IN THE LEFT FRONT END OF MY RAM 1500 4X4 TRUCK EACH TIME I COME ACROSS A BUMP IN THE ROAD.*AK
FOIA REQUEST ALL DOCUMENTS RE FAILURE OF THE AXLE ASSEMBLY OF 2002 DODGE TRUCK, ALSO DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE HEAT TREATMENT OF THE CHRYSLER AXLE. NAR 08/01/2003. IN PUBLIC FILE.*MR *CB *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
WAS TOWING A 24' CAMPER TRAILER ON I20 AT 55 MPH AND REAR TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT NEARING CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF TRUCK AND TRAILER.
THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE FAILED TO INSTALL WHEEL WELL COVERS. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT HIS SAFETY. *YH * NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
DASHBOARD IS CRACKING. *TR
DASH BOARD JUST CRACKED ALL OVER THE PLACE FOR NO REASON. SERVICE DEALER STATED IT WAS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM. WE NOW HAVE HUGE LINES OF GLUE TO HOLD DASH FROM FALLING COMPLETELY THROUGH. IF WE EVER HAVE A WRECK THERE WILL BE HUGE JAGGED EDGES OF DASH BOARD COMING AT US.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE TRAILER HITCH WAS BENT SIDEWAYS. THE CONSUMER OWNED ANOTHER DODGE/1999 AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. MR SCC *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR CONDITIONER DRAINS WATER INTO PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD SATURATING THE CARPET. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
AS WE DROVE OVER A RAILROAD TRACK, THE VEHICLE DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. WHEN WE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH IT TURNED OVER WE NOTICED THE INDICATORS FOR THE GAUGES WOULD NOT COME OFF THE PEGS. WE CHECK OTHER VEHICLES AT THE DEALER AND WHEN YOU TURNED THE KEY TO THE ACCESSORY POSITION THE GAUGES DID COME OFF THE PEGS. *NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY 2002 DODGE DURANGO R/T 5.9L STARTED OVER HEATING. REPLACED RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT. THE VEHICE STILL RAN HOT AND STARTED OVERHEATING AGAIN. SHOP SAID IT WAS CLUTCH FAN AND COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSEOR. REPLACED ALL THAT AND VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING A WEEK LATER. THE DEALER SAID I HAD TO REPALCE THE COOLING FAN. DID THAT TOO, AND VEHICLE OVERHEATED 5 MINUTES OFF THEIR LOT. BROUGHT IT BACK AND THEY SAID I NEEDED HEAD GASKET AND NEW HEADS. THEN RIGHT BEFORE THEY FINISHED THE WORK THEY SAID THE BLOCK WAS CRACKED NEAR 2 CYLINDERS AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. !@#$%!
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
LOADED VEHICLE WITH 1440LB SAND. UPON DRIVING HIGHWAY (NEVER EXCEED 55MPH) WITHIN 20 MIN VEHICLE SMOKED HEAVILY FROM ENGINE BAY. DISCOVERED THAT VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING PUMP HAS AN OVERFLOW VALVE LINE THAT SEEMS TO HAVE A PRESSURE VALVE AT THE END OF IT. THIS HOSE IS CONNECTED TO THE WIRING HARNESS NEAR THE BATTERY, AND POINTS VERTICALLY AT THE HOOD, JUST OVER THE VALVE COVER ASSEMBLY. POWER STEERING FLUID POURED OVER THE ENGINE, COMBUSTING ON THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY, BUT NOT FLAMING UP. MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT THIS VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING UNIT IS SOMEHOW TIED TO A "LOAD LEVELER?" THAT IS FACTORY INSTALLED. DUE TO THE LOAD WEIGHT IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE, THIS CAUSED THE POWER STEERING FLUID TO OVERHEAT AND EXPAND, CAUSING THE EJECTION OF FLUID. ANOTHER ANSWER IS THAT THIS IS SOMEHOW A TRANSMISSION FLUID OVERFLOW, AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SIMPLY OVERHEATED. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THE POSITION OF THE OVERFLOW RELEASE HOSE AND VALVE, THIS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF SEVERAL HOSES AND A WIRE KIT DUE TO THE DAMAGE. MY QUESTION IS WHY WOULD THIS FLUID BE EJECTED ABOVE THE ENGINE---THIS FLUID IS DEFINITELY PETROLEUM BASED, AND FLAMMABLE. HAD I CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD FURTHER, I CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE HAD FLAME. PLEASE NOTE, THE WEIGHT RATING FOR THIS TRUCK IS 1800LB, I AM 265, AND THE TRUCK WAS EMPTY, EXCEPT FOR THE 1440LB OF SAND. I WAS APPROACHING THE RATING, BUT NOT NEARLY OVERLOADING THE TRUCK.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .