2002 Dodge Ram 3500 Fuel system Problems

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

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

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

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

(1) I BEGAN HAVING THE INFAMOUS "DEAD PEDAL" SYNDROME ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO. TRYING TO PULL OUT ONTO A FREEWAY WAS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN THE DEAD PEDAL WOULD HAPPEN. IT WOULD HAPPEN OFF AND ON, WHEN YOU WOULD LEAST EXPECT IT. (2) THE VP44 FINALLY WENT DEAD ON OR ABOUT AUGUST 9TH, 2007. THE CONSEQUENCES WERE NOT HAVING A RIDE TO WORK, AND HAVING TO BORROW MY NEIGHBORS TRUCK FOR THREE DAYS. (3) TO CORRECT THE FAILURE REQUIRED GETTING A NEW VP44 PUMP TO REPLACE THE OLD ONE, WHICH COST ME OUT OF MY POCKET $1,600 OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. BEING THAT I AM A ACTIVE DUTY INFANTRY OFFICER IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, (CURRENTLY STATIONED AT NEW RIVER AIR STATION, CAMP GEIGER, NORTH CAROLINA) AND HAVE BEEN ON THREE COMBAT DEPLOYMENTS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, I HAVEN'T THAT MUCH MONEY TO SPEND. I HAVE USED MY COMBAT PAY FOR PAYING FOR A WEDDING, HOUSE, AND GETTING OUT OF DEBT.*JB

NHTSA ID

10199791

Incident

Aug 9, 2007

I OWN A 2002 DODGE RAM 3500 24V CUMMINGS DIESEL. I EXPERIENCED A VERY SERIOUS ENGINE FAILURE MY ENGINE JUST TURNED OFF ALL ITS OWN. APPARENTLY THIS IS AN WELL DOCUMENTED INCIDENT WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THE FAILURE IS THE LIFT PUMP, YOU WILL NOTICE WHAT A PROBLEM THIS IS BY GOING TO ANY SEARCH ENGINE WITH THE SEARCH CRITERIA OF "DODGE + LIFT PUMP" THERE ARE A LOT OF STORIES JUST LIKE MINE POSTED ALL OVER INTERNET BULLETINS HOSTED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. VERY SERIOUS ISSUE CONSIDERING THESE TRUCKS ARE MEANT TO CARRY HEAVY LOADS. I AM CONVINCED SOMEONE HAS ALREADY GOTTEN HURT. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE LIFT PUMP FOR THE FOR 2000 IT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT ONLY A SELECT FEW THAT WERE BUILT IN SELECT PLANTS WITHIN VERY SPECIFIC DATES. NOT AT ALL ENCOMPASSING. PLEASE SEE TO IT THAT THIS IS FOLLOWED UP. *NM

NHTSA ID

10161248

Incident

Jul 2, 2006

Mileage

61,570 mi

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE IT SMOKES AND LOSES POWER. WHILE PULLING OUT ON THE INTERSTATE IT LOSES ALL POWER. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN ON 11-15-05 TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTICS TEST PERFORMED THAT'S WHEN THE MECHANIC LET HIM KNOW THAT THE INJECTOR PUMP ALSO THE TRANSFER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED . NO REPAIRS MADE AT THIS TIME. THE REPAIRS WILL BE MADE AT CONTACTS EXPENSE. VEHICLE IS PARKED AS OF NOW. *NM

NHTSA ID

10142791

Incident

Nov 15, 2005

Mileage

112,000 mi

THE CONSUMER WAS ON A LONG ROAD TRIP WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL WAS RUNNING LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN INSPECTION AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE TRANSFER PUMP WAS CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING 60% OF THE FUEL INTO THE ENGINE FOR THE THIRD TIME. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER ONCE AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10112927

Incident

Jan 17, 2005

LOSS OF POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND ALL VEHICLE WILL DO IS IDLE(DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE DOING 70MPH ON INTERSTATE OR 35MPH THROUGH TOWN). DANGEROUS AS YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN, YOU COULD BE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC,ETC.*AK TRUCK HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, THEY SAY IT'S FIXED BUT THIS STILL CONTINUES.

NHTSA ID

10050919

Incident

Dec 13, 2003

Mileage

2,500 mi