RoadVitals

2002 Dodge Dodge Truck Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
22
Latest Nov 2, 2010
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
12
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3

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.

6
reports

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

NHTSA ID 10110273 · filed Feb 10, 2005

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

NHTSA ID 10106459 · filed Jan 17, 2005

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.

3
reports

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.

NHTSA ID 10134087 · filed Aug 24, 2005

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.

NHTSA ID 10127614 · filed Jul 6, 2005

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.

2
reports

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. !@#$%!

NHTSA ID 10204200 · filed Sep 26, 2007

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.

NHTSA ID 10135211 · filed Sep 2, 2005

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.

2
reports

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

NHTSA ID 10109983 · filed Feb 7, 2005

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

NHTSA ID 10108338 · filed Feb 1, 2005

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.

2
reports

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

NHTSA ID 10110273 · filed Feb 10, 2005

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

NHTSA ID 10031858 · filed Aug 1, 2003

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.

2
reports

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.

NHTSA ID 10123692 · filed May 31, 2005

THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE FAILED TO INSTALL WHEEL WELL COVERS. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT HIS SAFETY. *YH * NLM

NHTSA ID 567963 · filed Oct 23, 2002

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DASHBOARD IS CRACKING. *TR

NHTSA ID 10363797 · filed Nov 2, 2010

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.

NHTSA ID 10206892 · filed Oct 25, 2007

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE TRAILER HITCH WAS BENT SIDEWAYS. THE CONSUMER OWNED ANOTHER DODGE/1999 AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. MR SCC *JB

NHTSA ID 10014849 · filed Apr 11, 2003

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

AIR CONDITIONER DRAINS WATER INTO PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD SATURATING THE CARPET. *AK

NHTSA ID 10090759 · filed Sep 10, 2004

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.

1
report

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

NHTSA ID 10013710 · filed Mar 31, 2003

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.

1
report

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. !@#$%!

NHTSA ID 10204200 · filed Sep 26, 2007

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.

1
report

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.

NHTSA ID 10135211 · filed Sep 2, 2005

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

Data on this page last refreshed .