22 of the 1,004 complaints about the 2002 Dodge RAM 1500 are about the throttle and cruise control — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 63,877 miles.
22
Complaints
5
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2002 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 5.9L WAS DRIVING DOW HEY 10 WHEN MY BACK TRIES LOCKED UP COULDN'T GET IT IN GEAR OR OUT ALMOST CRASH WHEN GOT IT ON TO SIDE OF ROAD AND STOPPED WHEN IT FINALLY WAS ABLE TO GO IN A GEAR IT WAS REVERSES AND IT WOULD JUST MAKE THIS GOD AWFUL GRINDING NOSE TRUCK WAS TOWED BACK HOME
NHTSA complaint #11403626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DASHBOARD BEGIN CRACKING AND FINALLY IN A COUPLE DAYS OF WEEKS BROKE APART COMPLETELY AS I HAD BEEN IN A CRASH.I CALLED THE COMPANY THEY SAID THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED.I TOLD THEM I HAVE 1992 FORD AEROSTAR WHOSE DASHBOARD WAS COMPLETELY .INTACT AND THAT IT WAS MUCH OLDER IT HAD TO BE A STRUCTURAL DEFECT. THEY OFFER TO PAY HALF WHICH MEANT I HAD TO PAY 500.00 DOLLARS, WHICH I DIDN'T HAVE. I FELT THEY SHOULD PAY ALL OF IT. ALSO THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE RPM ACCELERATE WITHOUT ME PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL.I TOOK MANY TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT BUT THEY NEVER DID.
NHTSA complaint #10649859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
GAS PEDAL STUCK, AND CAUSED UNINTENDED ACCELERATING WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO A BUSY STREET. VEHICLE SPUN OUT WHILE MY HUSBAND TRIED TO GET THE PEDAL UNSTUCK THE TRUCK SPUN OUT MORE AND TURNED A 180 FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC BACK PASSENGER TIRE HIT AGAINST THE CEMENT MEDIAN KNOCKING THE TIRE IN AND BUSTING THE AXEL.
NHTSA complaint #10498413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SHORTLY AFTER ENTERING HIGHWAY 281, MY ENGINE FELL ON IT'S FACE. I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL BUT GOT NOTHING BUT RPM'S FROM THE ENGINE. I BEGAN TO MOVE OVER TO THE RIGHT WITH NO POWER, LITTLE STEERING, A DASH FULL OF ERROR LIGHTS, AND DOING MY BEST NOT TO GET HIT BY PASSING VEHICLES. ONCE I GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE ENGINE WASN'T RUNNING. I STARTED THE ENGINE AND CHECKED MY GAUGES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, THE WATER TEMP WAS NEAR THE RED ZONE, AND THE ENGINE SOUND LIKE BOWLING BALL IN A DRYER. THERE WAS FLUID ON THE GROUND OR SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPES SO I FELT IT WAS SAFER TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY WITH THE TRUCK. NEAR THE EXIT, I PULLED IN A STATION WHERE I CHECKED THE TRUCK AND TOP-OFF THE WATER. THE SOUND WAS LIKE A DROPPED ROCKER ARM. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FROM THE "FACTORY" COATING INSIDE THE OIL PAN HAD DELAMINATED AND WAS SUCKED INTO THE PICKUP TUBE. THE COATING THEN PLUGGED THE SCREEN AND PICKUP TUBE. I CALLED DODGE CARES AND THEY TRIED TO BLAME ME THEN THE OIL. I TOLD THEM I'VE NEVER USED ADDITIVES, ALWAYS USE MOBIL ONE, AND I HAD RECEIPTS DATING BACK TO THE DAY I DROVE THE TRUCK OFF THE LOT NEW. THEY CLAIMED THIS WAS A NON-ISSUE AND IT HAD NOT BE REPORTED BEFORE NOW. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLES AND TO BE TOLD A MANUFACTURING ERROR IS MY FAULT DOES NOT SET WELL WITH ME. NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE BECAUSE SOME ENGINEER WAS DUMB ENOUGH TO COAT THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE OIL PAN. I NORMALLY TRAVEL DURING THE NIGHT INTO EARLY HOURS OF THE DAY. WHAT IF THIS HAD HAPPEN WHILE I WAS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NO-WHERE. I'M HANDICAPPED; I COULDN'T HAVE WALKED A QUART OF A MILE FOR HELP. WHAT IF MY 70-YEAR MOTHER HAD BEEN DRIVING MY TRUCK AT THE TIME! THIS COULD HAVE BEEN REAL BAD!!! AND THEN TO BE TOLD IT'S NON-PROBLEM. I HAVE PICTURES IF YOU WANT TO SEE THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10471443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
HAVE HAD A CRACKED DASHBOARD FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW, I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT BEFORE AND COULD NOT GET A RESOLUTION FROM CHRYSLER/DODGE. MY DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED TO PIECES CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. FINALLY MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS HAVE STARTED TO MALFUNCTION DUE TO THE PIECES OF MY FALLEN DASHBOARD FALLING ON ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, THERE WAS A SMALL SHORT/FIRE THAT CAUSED MY CRUISE CONTROL TO STOP WORKING AND MY DASH LIGHTS ALSO. I FEEL IT HAS BEEN LONG ENOUGH AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE, SOMEONE NOT AS LUCKY AS ME, GETS REALLY HURT FROM THIS SAFETY HAZARD ISSUE THAT HAS HAUNTED US DODGE RAM OWNERS FOR A LONG TIME. WE NEED TO GET OUR DASHBOARD REPLACED ASAP.
NHTSA complaint #10423116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FULL THROTTLE AND TRAVELED 100 YARDS, AND CRASHED INTO AN ELECTRICAL POLE KNOCKING IT DOWN. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ACROSS A FIVE LANE HIGHWAY AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER ON ITS SIDE, TRAVELED ANOTHER 75 YARDS AND THEN CRASHED INTO A BRICK BUILDING. THE AIR BAG DID DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURES TO THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS BODY AND FACE. THE CONTACT WAS AIR LIFTED TO A TRAUMA CENTER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,755.
NHTSA complaint #10390479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCK. THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE OVER 200-500 RPMS. SHE ALSO STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND BEING IN THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE WITHOUT INTENT. THE FUEL INJECTION WAS CLEANED AND THE THROTTLE WAS REPLACED TO NO AVAIL. THE SOLENOID WAS ALSO REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS CLEANED; YET, THAT STILL DIDN'T CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WOULD NOT TAKE ANY LIABILITY FOR THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO PRODUCE ANY ERROR CODES OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO DATE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNDER 115,500.
NHTSA complaint #10292883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE, HE EXPERIENCES UNINTENDED VEHICLE ACCELERATION. AFTER REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATION AND SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO THE NEUTRAL GEAR, THE VEHICLE WILL STOP. THE VEHICLE NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50000.
NHTSA complaint #10286876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE MALFUNCTIONED BY INDICATING HIGH SPEEDS AS THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CALLED AND SUGGESTED A SENSOR MAY HAVE FAILED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVER THE WEEKEND, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED, AND DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, BUT HAD NOT COMPLETED THE INVESTIGATION. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR AND PHOTOS WERE TAKEN. ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN.
NHTSA complaint #10171967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY; THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS WHEN THE CONTACT HEARD A POP AND NOTICED THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE FIRE MARSHALL DETERMINED THIS WAS A PRODUCT LIABILITY CASE. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT USED THE CRUISE CONTROL TWICE A YEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10166836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE ENGINE SPUTTERED. THE CHECK ENGINE, AIRBAG, AND CHECK GAUGES LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 03/28/06
NHTSA complaint #10152681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS, CRUISE CONTROL, AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10115109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE REVERSING OUT OF DRIVEWAY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A FENCE/ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND INTO NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE.
NHTSA complaint #10113177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
SUNDAY MORNING, I STARTED MY TRUCK. THE TRUCK WARMED UP FOR NEARLY 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO MY TREK HOME. I THEN DROVE THE TRUCK FOR NEARLY 90 MINUTES PRIOR TO REACHING INTERSTATE 95 IN HOULTON. WHEN I STARTED DRIVING, THE TEMP WAS 16. WHEN I ENTERED THE INTERSTATE, I SET MY CRUISE CONTROL TO 85. AFTER TRAVELING FOR NEARLY 80 MINUTES, MY TRUCK RAPIDLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. I TAPPED MY BRAKES IN AN ATTEMPT TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS DID NOT WORK. I THEN PUSHED THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS ON MY STEERING WHEEL, IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE. THIS DID NOT WORK EITHER. I PUSHED ON THE ACCELERATOR THINKING THAT IT WAS STUCK. THIS MADE NO DIFFERENCE. THE TRUCK WAS ACCELERATING WITHOUT WARNING OR REASON. MY TRUCK ACCELERATED TO 95 MPH, AND WAS CONTINUING TO CLIMB. I HAD TO DO THE FOLLOWING IN ORDER TO GET MY TRUCK STOPPED. I HAD TO FORCE THE BRAKES ON, WHICH WAS THE NOT VERY PRODUCTIVE. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE TRUCK TO 65 MPH BEFORE PLACING THE TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL. AFTER PLACING THE TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE RACED OUT OF CONTROL. THE TACHOMETER WAS MAXED OUT. THE ENGINE STALLED, AS I ROLLED TO A STOP. AFTER COLLECTING MY SELF AND ATTEMPTING TO CALM MY WIFE DOWN, I STARTED THE TRUCK UP. THE ACCELERATOR WAS STILL STUCK AND THE TACHOMETER WAS PAST 7000 BEFORE I COULD GET THE TRUCK SHUT OFF. I STARTED THE TRUCK THREE MORE TIMES AND THE ABOVE STILL OCCURRED. I THEN SLOWLY PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR A COUPLE OF TIMES WITH THE TRUCK, OFF. I THEN STARTED THE TRUCK AND PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK THEN CAME OUT OF WHAT EVER WAS GOING ON. OUTSIDE TEMP 0. THIS REALLY CONCERNS ME. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY EVENT, AND THANKFULLY WE WERE ON THE INTERSTATE IN REMOTE NORTHERN MAINE. IF THIS OCCURRED IN OR AROUND RURAL MAINE IT WOULD HAVE AND COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. *JB WILLIAM SMITH 18 FERN WAY ROCKPORT, MAINE HRSWKS412@ADELPHIA.NET
NHTSA complaint #10055016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SPEEDOMETER STOPPED FUNCTIONING. FOUND THAT SENSOR ON TOP OF DIFFERENTIAL WAS DISLODGED AND OIL WAS COMING FROM DIFFERENTIAL. TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED DIFFERENTIAL, PINION BEARING, AND SENSOR.
NHTSA complaint #10054830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, IT ACCELERATED BACKWARDS RESULTING IN CONSUMER HITTING A PARKED TOYOTA TRUCK. DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO SOLUTION BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10053327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE HAD GONE INTO REVERSE AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND COULD NOT LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER SHIFTED THE GEAR TO DRIVE THEN STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL, EXPECTING TO GO FORWARD, BUT IT HAD GONE BACKWARDS. THE CONSUMER JIGGLED THE GEAR SHIFT SLIGHTLY AND STEPPED ON THE GAS AGAIN THEN IT WENT FORWARD. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED FROM PARK. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10044893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE HAS LUNGED FORWARD WHILE IN DRIVE. ENGINE IDLE ELECTRONICALLY ADVANCES WHILE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE, DRIVER MUST KEEP FOOT FIRMLY DEPRESSED ON BRAKE TO AVOID ACCIDENT. ALSO HAVING SIGNIFICANT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS - SPECIFICALLY GAUGES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND HORN/LIGHTS ENGAGE. PROBLEMS ARE INTERMITTENT. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10010824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
NO SUMMARY. DT
NHTSA complaint #769156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WE PURCHASED THIS TRUCK 2/28/02. BY THE END OF MARCH EARLY APRIL, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO STALL SPORADICALLY AND HAS EVEN JUMPED GEARS WHILE IN MOTION ONCE. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP 8-9 TIMES AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD EVERYTIME THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PROMISES UPON PROMISES HAVE BEEN MADE TO RE-FLASH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD THEY (DODGE) THINK THE TRUCKS COMPUTER SYSTEM IS TELLING THE TRUCK TO SHUT DOWN. ONE TIME WHILE RIDING DOWN THE ROAD THE TRUCK LOST COMPLETE POWER TO ALL INTERIOR SYSTEMS (I.E. AIR CONDITION, STEREO, WINDOWS) AND WE HAD TO PULL OVER. THE TRUCK HAS STALLED BOTH IN REVERSE AND IN DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION HAS LOCKED UP ON THE DEALERSHIP (IN REVERSE). FROM FEB. 28, 02 TO JUNE 28, 02 THE TRUCK WAS IN THE SHOP OVER 25 DAYS. ON JULY 8, 2002, THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR COMPLETELY BROKE AND WOULD SPIN AROUND IN CIRCLES. WHEN WE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WE WERE TOLD IT WAS ON A NATIONAL BACKORDER. WHILE WAITING FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR, THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR BROKE IN THE SAME FASHION. ALL IN ALL WE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL 9/9/02 TO HAVE THE MIRRORS FIXED. WHILE WAITING WE HAD TO TAPE THE MIRRORS IN PLACE SO WE COULD SEE WHILE DRIVING. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AT TIMES AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO TRAVEL. WE HAVE STOPPED TAKING THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR NOW BECAUSE WE GET NOW WHERE WITH THEM OR DAIMLERCHRYSLER/DODGE. I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO HELP PURSUE THIS MATTER. WHEN PAYING $30,000 FOR A TRUCK AND THEN BEING REFUSED REPAIR FOR A PROBLEM THAT CAN AND HAS DEFINETLY ALTERED THE MARKET VALUE AND OUR CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE A SAFE TRUCK TO DRIVE/RIDE IN IS IN-EXCUSABLE. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE WE ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THESE PROBLEMS. LET'S ALL GET TOGETHER AND MAKE DODGE STAND UP TO THEIR PROBLEMS. MR
NHTSA complaint #768550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS SET AND VEHICLE GOES ON AN UPGRADE OR HITS IT WILL ACCELERATE INTENSIVELY. CONSUMER FEELS IF ON ICE IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS.*AK. CONSUMER STATES THERE ARE ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #8017257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING AND UPON PRESSING BRAKES, VEHICLE WILL LURCH ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE FEET.THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST FIVE TIMES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED AS OF YET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8007482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.