2002 Dodge Ram 3500 Owner Complaints

Installed transfer fuel tank in back of my pickup truck, two weeks ago after putting 45 gals of fuel in tank, next morning tank was empty. Removed tank and found the bottom of tank has many holes from defective aluminum plate which entire tank is made from. Contacted manufacture ( RDS Manufacturing, 300 Industrial Park Drive, Perry, FL ). Was informed that water in contact with bottom probably caused the problem, my thought is when the sheet of aluminum was made there was contamination in the process therefor causing porosity in the sheeting. There are thousands of these tanks out there on the road and this can't be the only one with this problem, fuel leak of this magnitude is very dangerous on our highways.

NHTSA ID

11507882

Incident

Feb 5, 2023

WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK ON AT LEAST 10 TIMES THE VEHICLE HIT A BRIDGE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE STARTS TO HAVE A DEATH WOBBLE I CANT CONTROL IT I TRY TO STOP ON A HIGHWAY ALMOST WAS HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER AND OTHER VEHICLES EACH TIME I HAVE REPLACED ALOT OF FRONT END EQUIPMENT AND IT HAS 6 NEW TIRES ALSO THE DASH EXPLODED IN ALOT OF PIECES ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE

NHTSA ID

11202958

Incident

Apr 20, 2019

Mileage

160,000 mi

THE DASH IN MY TRUCK HAS BROKEN PIECES ARE COMING OUT REALLY BAD LOOKS LIKE IT EXPLODED WITH THE AIR CONDITION TURNED ON OR THE DEFROST PIECES HIT YOU IN THE FACE DODGE REFUSES TO HELP RECALL THIS EVERYONE I KNOW HAS THIS ISSUE WITH THERE DODGE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY GRAND CHILDREN WHO RIDE IN THIS TRUCK ALSO

NHTSA ID

10995261

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 3500 THAT I BOUGHT NEW AND THE DASH HAS DISINTEGRATED. THE PLASTIC IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS CRUMBLED INTO A MULTITUDE OF PIECES. THESE PIECES FLY OUT OF THE AIR VENTS INTO YOUR EYES AND ARE SHARP AND WILL CUT LIKE A KNIFE. THIS IS A DANGER NOT ONLY TO MY EYES BUT IT I WAS TO HAVE A WRECK THEY WOULD FLY AND CUT YOU. HAVE HAD TO REMOVE THE PIECES FROM VENTS THAT WON'T BLOW OUT THAT HAVE GOTTEN INTO THE AC/HEAT DOOR FLAP. I HAVE NEVER HAD A DASH ON ANY CAR OR TRUCK FALL APART LIKE THIS. IF YOU JUST TOUCH IT IT FALLS APART.

NHTSA ID

10985508

Incident

Mar 27, 2006

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE SERVICE VEHICLE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK WITH THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10984511

Incident

Jun 6, 2016

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND VIBRATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR BUMP AND LIFT BUMP WERE FAULTY AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,500.

NHTSA ID

10915214

Incident

Oct 8, 2016

Mileage

48,500 mi

MY DODGE 3500 2002 DASHBOARD HAS FELL APART CAVED IN I CAN SEE THE INSIDE OF THE RADIO, AIR CONDITION VENTS ITS AWFUL AND I HAVE BOUGHT A COVER AND JUST DEALT WITH IT BUT NOW I WANT TO TRADE IT IN AND I KNOW IT WILL EFFECT THE TRADE IN VALUE

NHTSA ID

10874022

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

Mileage

10,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 3500. THE VEHICLE WAS HITCHED TO A 2015 PJ GOOSENECK TRAILER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE ATTACHED VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER HYDRAULIC LINE FRACTURED FROM THE BRAKE CALIPER. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC LINE HIMSELF. NINE DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FRONT DRIVER HYDRAULIC LINE SEPARATED FROM THE BRAKE CALIPER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT APPLICABLE.

NHTSA ID

10780228

Incident

Sep 15, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO RESPOND AND WOULD NOT TURN. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A ROCK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FLIP ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND BACK INJURIES AND LACERATIONS TO THE ARMS. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES, CUTS, AND ABRASIONS TO THE ARM FROM THE GLASS. BOTH OCCUPANTS REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AUTHORIZED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD, THE STEERING MECHANISM, AND THE DRIVE TRAIN FRACTURED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DEFECTIVE PARTS WERE REPAIRED SIX YEARS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. UPDATED 10/8/15 *LN UPDATED 10/15/15*BF UPDATED 10/18/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10723028

Incident

Dec 13, 2004

Mileage

17,000 mi

I HIT A POTHOLE AND OMG YOU CAN NOT BELIEVE WHAT CAME AND NOW I'M FINDING OUT THAT ITS CALLED A DEATH WOBBLE AND THE NAME IS CORRECT BECAUSE IT MAKES U THINK YOUR ABOUT TO HIT A TREE OR SOMEONE ELSE ON THE ROAD JUST LUCKILY NO ONE WAS COMING THE OTHER WAY BECAUSE I PROMISE U I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM DODGE NEEDS TO FIX THE PROBLEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10670205

Incident

Apr 15, 2014

Mileage

165,000 mi

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V528000 (STEERING) AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN SERVICED BECAUSE THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE DEALER INFORMED THAT ONE REMEDY PART WAS BEING SENT PER WEEK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. JS

NHTSA ID

10563665

Incident

Dec 18, 2013

DASH STARTED CRACKING ABOUT 2007 AND IS NOT STARTING TO FALL APART IN BIG SHARP PIECES. IF AIR BAG WOULD EVER GO OFF I DON'T KNOW WHERE THESE PIECES WOULD END UP, HOPEFULLY NOT IN ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10525832

Incident

Jul 19, 2013

Mileage

19,000 mi

DASH BOARD BROKEN AND FALLING APART. PARTS FALLING IN ARE VERY SHARP AND DANGEROUS. IT IS LIKE SOMEONE HOLDING A KNIFE IN FRONT OF YOU WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, HOPING YOU DON'T HIT ANYTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10504471

Incident

Mar 25, 2013

Mileage

15,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN DIVIDER, SLID AND THEN CRASHED INTO ANOTHER MEDIAN DIVIDER BEFORE FINALLY LANDING IN A DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TIE ROD FAILED AND CAUSED THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 43,566.

NHTSA ID

10482002

Incident

Oct 7, 2012

Mileage

43,566 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASH BOARD HAD DEVELOPED A CRACK AND THE ELECTRICAL WIRES UNDERNEATH WAS EXPOSED TO THE VIEW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10473032

Incident

Feb 3, 2006

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR REMAINED STUCK IN PARK AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY OTHER GEAR. THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10442536

Incident

Apr 1, 2011

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE TROUBLE SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE AFTER REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 10/27/11*LJ

NHTSA ID

10426876

Incident

Sep 1, 2010

Mileage

160,000 mi

MY 2002 DODGE TRUCK IS LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, THE DASH IS CRACKING AND CRUMBLING INTO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING BEHIND THE DASH. DURING RESEARCH IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF THESE DODGES AND ALSO A SAFETY PROBLEM, WHICH DODGE HAS CHOOSE TO IGNORE. I REALIZE THAT TO SUM THIS IS NOT LIFE THREATENING BUT WITH SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS AND RESULTS OF THE DASH FOLLOWING INTO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS UNDER THIS FAULTY DASH , IT COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND OR SERIOUS INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10424668

Incident

Jun 4, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE OUTPUT SHAFT FRACTURED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10412281

Incident

Jul 1, 2011

Mileage

130,000 mi

I BOUGHT A 2002 DODGE 3500 BRAND NEW IN 2002. 4 MONTHS LATER THE DASH CRACKED. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER SHIP SEVERAL TIMES WITH MY WARRANTY AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX THIS ISSUE. SINCE THEN TO NOW WE HAVE CONTINUED TO CONTACT CHRYSLER CORP. AND THE DEALERSHIP WITH THIS ISSUE TO JUST BE PUT OFF TIME AND TIME AGAIN. YOU PAY 33,000 FOR A TRUCK WITHIN 4 MONTHS THE DASH CRACKS AND DODGE TELLS YOU ITS COSMETIC YOUR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER IT. I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE PIECES OF THE DASH CAN COME LOOSE AND THE DASH ITSELF IS LOOSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10412185

Incident

Sep 22, 2002

FULL SIZE SPARE TRUCK TIRE FELL OFF OF TRUCK WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. CABLE SNAPPED. TRUCK HAD JUST PASSED STATE INSPECTION 1 WEEK PRIOR AND I HAD JUST CHECKED THE AIR ON THE SPARE THAT MORNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10408971

Incident

Jun 24, 2011

Mileage

81,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. HE THEN FURTHER INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND FOUND THAT THE FUEL PUMP WITHIN THE FUEL TANK HAD FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE FUEL INJECTORS ALSO FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,400.

NHTSA ID

10346125

Incident

Jul 22, 2010

Mileage

63,700 mi

CRACKED DASH ~ SO BAD THE WHOLE DASH HAS CAVED IN AND IT IS CAUSING THE AIR CONDITIONER TO NOT WORK PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10342560

Incident

Jan 11, 2008

Mileage

90,000 mi

2002 DODGE DIESEL TURBO CHARGED: WHILE PULLING UP A HILL IN 95 DEGREE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE, TOWING A 5TH WHEEL TRAILER, AND ACTS LIKE THE TURBO CHARGER CUT OUT WHILE THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN WITHOUT POWER. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IN COOLER TEMPERATURE OR WHILE NOT TOWING. THIS IS A DANGER THAT CAN LEAD TO A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10244132

Incident

Apr 25, 2008

Mileage

70,000 mi

DASHBOARD ON MY AUG 2002 BUILT DODGE RAM 3500 HAS EXTENSIVE CRACKS. INTERNET SITES SHOW A NUMBER OF OTHER DODGE VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME ISSUE - SOME MUCH WORSE THAN MINE. POTENTIAL SAFETY RISKS INCLUDE DISTRACTING DRIVER DUE TO DASH CRACKING. OTHER OWNERS WITH MORE SEVERE CRACKS HAVE REPORTED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES DUE TO DASHBOARD CRACKS AND DASHBOARD FALLING INWARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235843

Incident

Jul 23, 2008

Mileage

102,000 mi