Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Dodge Ram Quad Cab submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
SIMULTANEOUS FAILURE OF THE INTER AND OUTER TIE RODS, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN USE AS A WORK TRUCK, DRIVEN ON DIRT ROADS AND CURRENTLY HAS 120,000 HIGHWAY MILES. RACK AND PINION IS LEAKING OIL, AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IS COMING A PART. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB 4X4, VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND WAS NEVER ABUSED. ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO I NOTICED A CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WITHIN SEVERAL MONTHS ONE CRACK HAD GROWN TO 6 CRACKS. THEN ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO THE AIR WOULD NOT FLOW THROUGH THE DASH VENTS ANYMORE. IN ORDER TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM I HAD TO REMOVE THE DASH BOARD TO GET THE HEAT AND AIR SYSTEM. WHEN I REMOVED THE DASH BOARD IT CRUMBLED INTO ABOUT 20 PCS. UPON INSPECTION OF THE AIR PROBLEM I FOUND OUT THE BLEND DOOR THAT CONTROLS THE AIR TO THE DASH WAS BROKEN. SEEMS THIS IS A PROBLEM. I AM NOW HAVING TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD, FRONT AND REAR PC AND THE 4 BLEND DOORS IN THE AIR SYSTEM. WHILE REPLACING THE SHOCKS I NOTICED THE RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING EXTREMELY BAD WHICH HAS NEVER LEAKED BEFORE. NO NOISE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, NO WARNING LIGHT TO ADVISE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
I HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER AND CONTROL ARMS ( BOTH SIDES) BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE WEARING UNEVEN. I DO NOT DRIVE THIS PICK-UP OFF ROAD! IF YOU LOOK AT THE LACK OF SIZE TO THE BALL JOINTS, IT IS AMAZING THEY LASTED 3 YEARS. *TR
2002 4-DOOR RAM 1500 - 90K MILES. ENTIRE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSEMBLY CAME APART AND TIRE FELL OFF. THIS PART IS NOT MEANT TO EVER BREAK APART ACCORDING TO 2 INDEPENDENT MECHANICS. IM VERY LUCKY THAT I WASN'T ON THE EXPRESSWAY COMMUTE YET, JUST PULLING OUT ON THE ROAD EARLY IN THE MORNING. *TR
THERE IS A COMPLAINT ALREADY ON FILE ABOUT THE UPPER BALL JOINT THAT FELL OUT @17K MILES. THE COMPLAINT THAT I WANT TO FILE NOW IS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM THA IS FLEXING WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED OR WHEN A BUMP IS ENCOUNTERED. THE TRUCK WILL JUMP FROM ONE LANE TO THE OTHER WHEN A ROUGH PLACE IS HIT AT INTERSTATE SPEED. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND NO ONE HAS EVER HAD THE TIME TO EVEN LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK THE LAST DAY OF 2001 AND NOW HAVE 35K MILES ON IT .I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT VERY MUCH. WHEN THE FIRST COMPLAINT WAS FILED(BECAUSE CHRYSLER DENIDED ANY CLAIM) I THOUGHT I WOULD AT LEAST GET A RESPONSE THAT I FILED THE COMPLAINT BUT TO THIS DAY I HAVE NOT. ONE MORE THING CHRYSLER SAYS THAT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN INJURY ATTRIBUTED TO THE UPPER BALL JOINT COMING OUT OF THE 2002 DODGE 1500, WELL I SENT THEM THE COPY OF THE HOSPITAL REPORT WHERE I HAD 14 STITCHES ACROSS MY NOSE AND UNDER MY EYE. WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN ANY THING DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? MUST SOMEONE BE KILLED BEFORE SOMEONE LOOKS INTO THIS? *TR
WHILE COMING OUT OF A CURVE THE TRUCK JOLTED, DIPPED AND COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED (1ST FAILURE). SUBSEQUENTLY I HIT A TELEPHONE POLE DETRYING THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT PANEL AND THE TRUCK SLID TO STOP AFTER "SHUTTING OFF" ( 2ND FAILURE). WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK , BEHIND ME ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE PASSENGER SIDE SIDE WHEEL WAS LAYING ON THE GROUND STILL ATTACHED TO THE AXLE. THERE WERE NO POT HOLES OR ROCKS ON THE ROAD TO CAUSE THE "JOLT". THIS IS A SIMILAR CONDITION THAT I BELIEVE HAS BEEN DESCRIBED FOR THE DURANGO AND DAKOTA OF THE SAME YEAR. *TR
POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE.I HAVE TO DUMP A WHOLE BOTTLE IN ONCE A WEEK. BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACED. LIFTERS IN MOTOR KNOCK AND HAVE TO BE FIXED. *NM
AT 65 MPH USING CRUISE CONTROL, DAYTIME, DRY PAVEMENT, GOOD WEATHER, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH WARNING CHIME. AT NEXT EXIT, OPERATOR TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP. TECHNICIAN FOUND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY WORN, ALLOWING TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO BE MOVED 1-2'' FROM VERTICAL. VEHICLE HAD BEEN CHECKED DURING STATE INSPECTION LESS THAN 400 MILES PREVIOUSLY AND PASSED. A TOTAL FAILURE IN TRAFFIC AT SPEED MIGHT HAVE RESULTED IN A LOSS OF HANDLING/BRAKING THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED OR WORSENED AN ACCIDENT. FAILED PART IS AVAILABLE. VEHICLE HAS ALSO SUFFERED NUMEROUS PREMATURE FAILURES INCLUDING: FAILURE OF DRIVER HEATED SEAT, FAILURE OF ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP, NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENT DUE TO ENGINE STOPPAGE AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING, FAILURE OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, FAILURE OF FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, AND DAMAGE TO SPARE TIRE DUE TO MIS-ROUTED TAIL PIPE. SOME OF THESE ARE MANUFACTURER DESIGN DEFECTS, OTHERS ARE TROUBLESHOOTING OR REPAIR ERRORS AT DEALER. TWO EVENTS (FUEL PUMP, WHEEL BEARING) MIGHT HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT WITH INJURY/DEATH POSSIBLE OUTCOME. *JB
WHEN THE DRIVER ENCOUNTER ROUGH ROADS AND ENTERED A TURN HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END BOUNCED. *NM THERE WAS A PULSATION IN THE STEERING. THE SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *SC UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB
UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE WAS FOUND DURING STATE INSPECTION, WAS REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE.SEEN RECALL ON DURANGOS AND DAKOTOAS, WAS HOPING TO GET RAMS INCLUDED.THE VEHICLE HAS 52,000 MILES NEVER DRIVEN OFF ROAD OR ABUSED AND ROUTINE MAINTENCE AT THE DEALERSHIP.*AK
SINCE MY PURCHASE IN AUGUST OF 2002, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS WITH MY DODGE QUAD CAB. SO FAR I HAVE ALMOST HIT THE DIVIDER ON THE FREEWAY AND A CAR HEAD ON AT THE TOP OF A HILL. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER CLOSE CALLS, BUT I HAD TO STOP COUNTING. I AM HAVING SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH MY REAR SUSPENSION ON MY DODGE. I HAVE HAD AN ALIGNMENT DONE, SHOCKS REPLACED, AND SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT GETTING IT REPAIRED BY A DEALERSHIP. EACH TIME I HAVE TAKEN IT IN, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TELLS ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT BUT THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING COMPLAINTS MENTIONED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID IT MUST BE NORMAL AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. BEFORE MY SHOCKS FINALLY GOT REPLACED, I WAS AT THE POINT OF FINDING A LAWYER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE I ENDED UP DEAD ON THE ROAD. BUT THE SERVICE GUY SUDDENLY GOT MY PARTS IN STOCK. I AM AGAIN TO THE POINT OF DESPERATELY NEEDING THIS ISSUE RESOLVED BEFORE SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENS TO ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN BOTH PUT THIS HAZARD TO REST. *JB
BOTH FRONT SHOCKS HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 29,000 MILES ON IT. THE LEFT BALL JOINT IS SHREDDED AND ALL HAS TO BE REPLACED.*AK
PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT BROKE APART AT 50,000 MILES, WITH LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY ON GRAVEL ROAD AND WHILE BRAKING....REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE, NOW LESS THAN ONE MONTH LATER, THE DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT SEEMS TO BE GOING...THIS TIME WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE WARNING THAN THE LAST TIME....HOPEFULLY, OTHER PEOPLE ARE NOT HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND LOSING CONTROL OF THEIR TRUCK..PLEASE LET ME KNOW 2002 DODGE RAM 4X4 QUAD CAB 1500. *AK
AT SPEEDS ABOVE 35 MPH THE REAREND OF MY TRUCK HOPS EXCESSIVELY AND CAUSES THE REAR TO SWAY TO THE RIGHT WHEN DRIVING OVER AVERAGE ROAD SURFACES WITH MINOR BUMPS OR IRREGULARITIES IN THE SURFACE. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS I HAVE ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK AND AM VERY CONCERNED TO LEARN THAT OTHER 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *JB
LOWER BALL JOINTS WEARING OUT PREMATURALLY ON 2002 DODGE RAM AND OTHER DODGE TRUCKS. SOMEONE BETTER START GETTING ON DODGE TO FIX THIS ISSUE BEFORE PEOPLE GET KILLED. COSTING THE CONSUMER ALOT OF MONEY IN REPAIRS. PROBABLY PLANNED BY DODGE.*AK
I WAS DRIVING UNDER 30 MILES AN HOUR IN MY 2002 DODGE RAM QUAD TRUCK WHEN SOMETHING SNAPPED UNDER THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE RESULTING INTO CRASHING INTO A TRUCK WAITING TO PULL OUT INTO THE STREET. THE TRUCK ONLY HAD 17,000 MILES AND WE ONLY HAVE HAD IT 22 MONTHS, BOUGHT NEW. THE STEERING ARM WAS OFF AT BOTH ENDS, THE WHEEL CAME OFF AND ALL DAMAGE WAS ON THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL, THE OTHER WHEEL WAS TURNED STRAIGHT. WHEN ACCIDENT HAPPENED THE TRUCK VEERED TO THE LEFT OUT OF CONTROL. THE AIRBAG NEVER CAME OUT. ARE THERE ANY REPORTS OF 2002 DODGE TRUCKS HAVING STEERING PROBLEMS? CHRYSLER FINALLY SENT A PERSON TO LOOK AT THE TRUCK. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY IS WANTING TO PUT AFTER MARKET PARTS ON OUR NEW TRUCK, WHICH WILL LIMIT OUR WARRANTY WITH CHRYSLER SINCE THEY'RE NOT DODGE PARTS. THE POINT IS: IF WE WERE ON INTERSTATE OR ANY ROAD GOING FASTER SOMEONE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN HURT MUCH WORSE OR KILLED, SINCE THE AIRBAG DIDN'T WORK EITHER. CAST ALUMINUM IS WHAT THE PARTS THAT CAME APART WERE MADE OF. WITH THE DAMAGE THAT OCCURRED TO THE WHEEL AND BOTH ENDS OF THE STEERING ARM WAS OFF AFTER THE WRECK, IT IS HARD TO TELL HOW IT HAPPENED. WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE OFFICIAL WORD FROM CHRYSLER YET. CAUTION OWNERS OF 2002 DODGE TRUCKS OF THE POTENTIAL DANGERS, PLEASE. *LA
REAR END OF TRUCK MOVES OVER AND MAKES TRUCK UNCONTROLABLE. THIS HAPPENS AT SPEEDS FROM 35 MPH AND UP. ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH, THE REAR END JUMPS UP AND DOWN RAPIDLY ON THE HIGHWAYS. MANY TIMES I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO 55 OR 60 TO GET IT BACK IN COMTROL. I FEAR AN ACCIDENT IS VERY POSSIBLE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE PURCHASE OF THE TRUCK. THE DEALER TELLS ME IT IS JUST A TRUCK AND I HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. THIS IS MY 5TH TRUCK TO OWN, AND IT IS THE FIRST ONE TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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