2002 Dodge Ram Van

THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.

TOOK VAN IN FOR INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME HAD RUST ISSUES. WAS TOLD THE FRONT FRAME WAS SO BAD I SHOULD JUST PARK IT AS THAT ANYTHING FROM THE RADIATOR TO THE ENGINE COULD JUST FALL OUT WITH ONE GOOD JOLT. DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES AS WITH THE TOYOTA TRUCKS. THE BODY SHOP I TOOK IT TO SAID HE HAD 13 OF THEM THIS YEAR ALONE. I CRAWLED UNDER THERE AND THERE ARE LARGE AREAS OF FRAME THAT HAS JUST DISAPPEARED. EITHER POOR QUALITY STEEL OR IMPROPER RUST PREVENTION AT MANUFACTURE POINT COULD CAUSE THIS MUCH DAMAGE. COMPANY SHOULD BE MADE TO STEP UP AND REPLACE THE FRAMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10682494

Incident

Feb 3, 2015

Mileage

165,000 mi

ON 8/8/14, A LOUD BANGING SOUND OCCURRED WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND RAILROAD TRACKS WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. AT THAT TIME, STOPPED DRIVING VAN UNTIL WERE ABLE TO TAKE IT TO BETTENHAUSEN CHRYSLER JEEP IN TINLEY PARK, IL. ON 8/14/14. ON THE SAME DATE, WE WERE INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE AREA AROUND THE SWAY BAR IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. THE OTHER AREAS OF THE FRAME SHOW RUST AND CORROSION WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE STEERING MECHANISM TO FAIL MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE PROPER PROCEDURES WERE FOLLOWED TO DETERMINE IF CHRYSLER WOULD WARRANTY THE REPAIR OF THIS VEHICLE SINCE THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THEIR OTHER VEHICLES. VAN WAS TRANSPORTED TO RIVERDALE BODY SHOP, TINLEY PARK, ILLINOIS, TO DETERMINE THE COST OF REPAIRS. CHRYSLER WAS CONTACTED. ON 8/27/14 WERE INFORMED CHRYSLER WOULD NOT WARRANTY THIS VEHICLE. A TELEPHONE CALL WAS MADE TO THEIR CUSTOMER CARE CENTER WHEREIN A CASE WAS PRESENTED TO GET THEM TO WARRANTY THE WORK. A LETTER WAS ALSO SENT OUT TO DIFFERENT CHRYSLER PEOPLE ON THIS SAME DATE.

NHTSA ID

10629261

Incident

Aug 8, 2014

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500 VAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH THE STEERING MOUNT BROKE FROM THE FRAME CAUSING A FAULTY WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE FRAME AND NOTICE EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FRAME AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE CONTACT STATED IF HE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10408489

Incident

Jun 2, 2011

Mileage

140,000 mi

TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING DUE TO SEVERE FRAME ROT, WHICH LED TO THE DETACHMENT OF THE STEERING MOUNTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED AT A SLOW SPEED, AT THAT POINT HAD TO BE TOWED. HAD JUST EXITED HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH. I INFORMED DODGE OF THIS PROBLEM APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AGO, BASICALLY THEY DON'T CARE. VEHICLE IS ONLY 8 YEARS OLD. IF IT IS HAPPENING TO MY VAN IT IS HAPPENING TO ALL VANS. ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN QUICKLY IN ORDER TO SAVE LIVES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10397262

Incident

Apr 15, 2011

Mileage

140,000 mi

ALL POWER STOPS TO VEHICLE, SHUTTING ENTIRE ENGINE, POWER BRAKES, STEERING OFF. IT OCCURS DAILY, WHIL EDRIVING ON ROADS/FREEWAYS, CREATING A SERIOUSLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. DEALER PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE POWER CONTROL MODULE. PROBLEM RECENTLY STARTED AGAIN. DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE THE PCM AGAIN AT HUGE COST, BUT CANNOT REPLICATE PROBLEM AND INST SURE THE PCM IS THE PROBLEM. MIGHT BE FAULTY WIRING, BUT DEALER CANNOT TELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10329756

Incident

May 7, 2010

Mileage

88,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM VAN 3500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE STEERING WIRES BROKE IN HALF AND THE STEERING BOX SNAPPED OFF. HE ATTEMPTED TO FILE A CLAIM WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS DENIED; HOWEVER, A SUPERVISOR ADVISED HIM TO HAVE THE STEERING BOX DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. HE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

NHTSA ID

10289935

Incident

Oct 20, 2009

Mileage

56,000 mi

THIS VEHICLE BELONGS TO VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS. THE VAN HAD AN UNDER HOOD FIRE THAT ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA. THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VAN WHILE IT WAS PARKED AT A JOBSITE WHERE HE WAS WORKING. HE CALLED 911 AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. HE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLES. DAIMLERCHRYSLER ISSUED SAFETY RECALL D20 IN 2004 TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BUT THE RECALL REPAIR HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. VERIZON HAS HAD 29 INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10243799

Incident

Mar 28, 2005

Mileage

56,059 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE 1500 RAM VAN. DURING A ROUTINE TUNE UP ON THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT WAS LYING ON FLOOR WITH HIS BACK FACING THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHEN THE POWER SEAT BUTTON WAS ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGED. THE CONTACT WAS PINED BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE PEDAL WELL. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE SWITCH TO PULL THE SEAT BACK. SOMEONE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AT ATTEMPTING TO ASSIST HIM DUE TO THE SEAT BEING PUSHED FORWARD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S ONLY OPTION WAS TO USE THE JAWS OF LIFE TO CUT THE DRIVER SEAT OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SEAT LOCATION OF THE SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 15,385. *AK THE CONSUMER HAS PROVIDED A COPY OF INCIDENT REPORT FROM WATERFORD TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT. UPDATE 05/10/07*TR

NHTSA ID

10185044

Incident

Mar 10, 2007

Mileage

15,385 mi

KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty.

KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty.

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Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging systems, and also warranty reimbursement when battery replacements are necessary.

Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.

Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.