42 of the
561 complaints filed about the Dodge RAM Quad CAB
are about the electrical system —
7% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2002.
MY PASSENGER DOORS, FRONT AND REAR, WILL NOT FUNCTION WITH THE POWER LOCK AND THE WINDOWS CAN ONLY BE ROLLED DOWN FROM THE DRIVERS CONTROLS. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN TO ME AS IT WILL MAKE IT DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE FOR SOMEONE TO QUICKLY GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE IF THEY NEED TO BAIL OUT, OR GET OUT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. IF THE DRIVER BECAME ILL HAD A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, PASSENGERS WOULD BE UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE DOOR HARNESSES HAVE BROKEN AND CAUSED THE ISSUE TO OCCUR.
NHTSA complaint #10632512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BOUGHT A 2001 DODGE QUAD CAB SPORT 4X4 IN 2003. THE DASH HAD A SMALL CRACK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. THE CRACK SPREAD RAPIDLY TO ALL AREAS OF THE DASHBOARD. I USED PROTECTANTS, ADHESIVES AND DASHBOARD SHADES AND A DASH PAD TO PREVENT FURTHER SPREAD TO NO AVAIL. DURING ONE EVENING TRIP,I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE ENTIRE DASH CAVED IN CAUSING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TO LOSE LIGHTING. I HAD TO COLLECT ALL THE EXTREMELY SHARP SHARDS OF PLASTIC OUT OF THE DASHBOARD RECESS TO LOOK FOR THE PROBLEM. IT WAS DURING THIS INCIDENT THAT A EXTREMELY SHARP PIECE OF PLASTIC CUT DEEP INTO MY RIGHT HAND. I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN STITCHES, BUT USED GAUZE AND WRAP UNTIL HEALED. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE AIRBAG WAS DEPLOYED WITH LOOSE PLASTIC PARTS FLYING ALL OVER THE PLACE? SURVIVE THE CRASH AND THEN DIE FROM MASSIVE LACERATIONS FROM BROKEN DASH PIECES? I CONTACTED MULTIPLE LOCAL DODGE DEALERS AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY KNEW AND CORPORATE KNEW OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT BECAUSE DODGE CORPORATE WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE OR PAY FOR THE OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I PROBABLY WILL NEVER BUY A DODGE AGAIN. DODGE KNEW THIS WAS A BIG PROBLEM, BUT DID AND STILL DOES NOT CARE. ALMOST EVERY DODGE I'VE SEEN WITHIN THE 2000-2003 YEARS HAS THIS BLARING PROBLEM. SOME HAVE REPLACED THE DASH WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS OR JUST TRY TO COVER IT UP WITH DASH PADS OR MATS. DOES THE NHTSA CARE? HAS THIS MASSIVE ISSUE EVEN LOOKED INTO?
NHTSA complaint #10607989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IN TRAFFIC GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 65 MPH, THE DASHBOARD CAVED IN. LOOSE PIECES EVERYWHERE. I DIDN'T KNOW IF THIS HAD AFFECTED THE ELECTRONICS OR NOT AT THE TIME. I JUST HAD TO PULL OVER AND CUT THROUGH THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC. LUCKILY SO FAR, JUST SOME MINOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HERE AND THERE. I AM SCARED THIS WILL AFFECT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM LATER ON. DODGE SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS. VERY UNFORTUNATE, LAST DODGE I WILL EVER OWN.
NHTSA complaint #10593011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
REAR DOOR WIRING FAILURE CAUSING THE WIRES TO SHORT OUT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, SPEEDOMETER, DOOR LOCKS, POWER WINDOWS, DOOM LIGHTING. THE WIRING FAILURE IS DUE TO A POOR DESIGN AND POOR QUALITY OF MATERIALS USED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE READ DOORS WIRING SYSTEM BETWEEN THE B PILLAR CONNECTOR AND THE DOOR. THIS CAN BE IDENTIFIED BY REMOVING THE BLACK RUBBER BOOTH.
NHTSA complaint #10425147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 EXT CAB THAT I BOUGHT NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP. AT 42,000MI THE DASH HAD A CRACK IN THE CENTER. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND TO USE SOMETHING WITH UV PROTECTION. AT 101,000MI THE FRONT SPEAKERS WENT OUT. NOW MY DASH IS MISSING BIG PIECES. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD LAST MONTH AND HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. A PIECE OF DASH FLEW UP AND HIT MY WIFE IN THE FOREHEAD. SHE WILL NO LONGER LET THE GRANDCHILDREN RIDE IN MY TRUCK. SHE IS AFRAID THE AIR BAG WILL GO OFF OR A PIECE OF DASH WILL HIT THEM IN THE EYE. NOW THE FRONT LIGHTS HAVE BLINKED ON AND OFF 2 OR 3 TIMES ON SEPARATE OCCASION. I'VE CALLED DODGE AND THEY SENT ME TO A SERVICE CENTER. THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE DASH, INSTRUMENT COVER AND GLOVE BOX ALL WHICH HAVE CRACKED. BUT NOW I HAVE TO PAY 580.00$. MY TAX DOLLARS BAILED THEM OUT AND NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR DEFECTED PARTS? THIS IS A DANGER TO DRIVERS.
NHTSA complaint #10396550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2009 THE REAR DOOR WIRING SHORTED DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN, AND SHORTED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LEAVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY INSTRUMENTS READINGS, INSTRUMENTS LIGHTS OR A WAY TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. CURRENTLY THE BACK DOORS ACCESSORIES POWER DOORS LOCKS AND WINDOWS DON'T WORK AS THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE THE WIRING OF THE BACK DOORS WITH THIS FEATURE. THE WIRING BEGAN TO RUB AGAINST EACH OTHER EXPOSING WIRES THUS CREATING A SHORT TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND LIGHTING SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #10395347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WENT TO TURN ON MY LEFT DIRECTIONAL AND HAD A LOSS OF DIRECTIONALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, WINDSHIELD WASHER AND FOUR WAY FLASHER. CHECKED PROBLEM THOROUGHLY AND FOUND IT TO BE A FAULTY MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH INSTALLED BEHIND STEERING WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #10360949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS WERE GOING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHETHER THE LIGHT SWITCH WAS ON OF OFF AND THE KEY WAS IN THE RUN POSITION (STARTED OR NOT) AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD TURN OFF WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I ABOUT HAD A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT WHEN I FOUND OUT THE WIPERS QUIT WORKING, IMAGINE THAT! TOOK MY 2002 DODGE RAM 4X4, 3.7L QUAD CAB SPORT TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE PDC (POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER (FUSE BOX)) THAT THEY ARE PRONE TO CORROSION AND THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY OF THEM. WHY NO RECALL WHEN MANY LIVES ARE AT STAKE HERE AND SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THESE FOUND? COULD HAVE BEEN ME, AND I HAVE 3 CHILDREN THAT DEPEND ON ME, SO CHRYSLER OWN UP TO IT AND DO THE RIGHT THING.
NHTSA complaint #10340679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2001 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP HAS CRACKED DASHBOARD. STARTED ABOUT 2 YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW. STILL HAS NEW CRACKS DEVELOPING. SOME CRACKS EXTEND INTO PASSENGER AIRBAG COMPARTMENT AND INTO DRIVER'S INSTRUMENT PANEL. INSTALLED CARPETED DASHBOARD COVER TO HELP PREVENT THE CRACKS FROM PROGRESSING BUT THEY STILL REMAIN TO INCREASE IN SIZE. APPEARS THAT WHENEVER THE A/C OR HEATER IS USED THE CRACKS EXTEND AND CAN BE HEARD AUDIBLE. THE RAPID CHANGE IN INTERIOR TEMPERATURE WHEN USING THE A/C OR HEATER CAN CAUSE THE CRACKS TO QUICKLY EXTEND. HAVE TO SLOWLY INCREASE TEMPERATURE TO REDUCE THE FAILURE RATE. HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING TO PREVENT THE CRACKS BUT NOTHING HELPS. CONCERNED NOW ABOUT THE AIRBAG COMPARTMENT BEING COMPRISED AND LEADING TO PREMATURE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THE DASHBOARD APPEARS TO VERY BRITTLE AND EVERY PRECAUTION IS USED NOT TO PLACE ANY WEIGHT ON DASHBOARD. OVER THE YEARS, SEVERAL CRACKS HAVE APPEARED AND DASHBOARD IS DEVELOPING NEW ONES. SOME CRACKS NOW EXTEND INTO THE DASHBOARD TRIM THAT ATTACH TO THE MAIN DASHBOARD. DODGE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. COST IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. AT THIS TIME, PASSENGER AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF AS A DODGE MECHANIC ADVISED ME TO DO SINCE THE AIRBAG MIGHT ACCIDENTALLY DEPLOY DUE TO A MAJOR CRACK INTO AIRBAG COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10292719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND DECIDED TO PUT MY HEADLIGHTS ON BRIGHT IN ORDER TO SEE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN I HIT THE DIMMER, THE LIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT AND WOULD NOT COME BACK ON UNTIL THE SWITCH WAS OPERATED SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER THIS, I ALWAYS LEFT MY LIGHTS ON DIM FOR SAFETY REASONS. FINALLY WENT TO A JUNK YARD AND PULLED A REPLACEMENT DIMMER, WHICH SOLVED THE PROBLEM, I HOPE.
NHTSA complaint #10277449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NO RESPONSE FROM LARRY GREEN CHRYSLER DEALER 760-921-8900 FOR RECALL G28-IGNITION/PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK. 3 CALLS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND ALL 3 TIMES ... "I'M OUT OF THE PARTS. I WILL ORDER SOME AND CALL YOU".
NHTSA complaint #10248925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FOR 2 YEARS MY TRUCK HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD TURNING ON AND OFF FOR NO REASON. NOW THE LAMP OUT, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ARE ON ALL THE TIME. LEAVING MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL UNABLE TO WORK. WHEN THE DASHBOARD DIES, NOTHING WILL WORK. THIS INCLUDES THE LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, SPEEDOMETER, AND ALL OTHER GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN ON A FEW OCCASIONS TO BE FIXED AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT'S CAUSING IT. IF DRIVING THE TRUCK AT NIGHT OR ON A RAINY DAY, THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE FOR THE SAME THING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED!
NHTSA complaint #10246359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DASH ON 2002 1500 DODGE QUADCAB BOUGHT NEW IN 2003 HAS BEEN CRACKING FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS. THE DEALER KNOWS IT IS A PROBLEM BUT THE FACTORY IS IN DENIAL. NOW IT IS CAUSING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. MY LIGHT HAVE GONE OUT SUDDENLY. MY ALARM WIRING WAS CUT BY THE DASH AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE SPEAKER HAVE BEEN RUINED. IT IS NOW BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10225497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2001 DODGE QUAD CAB DASHBOARD IS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE FROM CRACKING. HAD A PIECE COME OFF AS I WAS DRIVING, AND HIT ME IN THE EYE WHILE WINDOWS WERE OPEN..CALLED D/C ONCE, NO RESPONSE..CALLED TODAY, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT FOR ME..REPORT FROM LOCAL TV SHOWED THIS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM. THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ARE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10191534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10164931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON JULY 30, 2006 MY CABIN CONTROLS (A/C, DEFROST, VENT AND WINDOW WIPERS) WOULD NOT WORK. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM IN THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. MY LOCAL MECHANIC MADE AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT WHEN HE CONTACTED DODGE FOR A REPLACEMENT PART THEY REFUSED TO SELL IT TO THEM DUE TO A RECALL ON THE MODEL YEAR BEFORE MINE (2002). I HAD TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO DAVE CROFT MOTORS IN COLLINSVILLE, IL FOR REPAIR COSTING ME APPROX 2X'S MORE THAN MY LOCAL SHOP. DAVE CROFT SAID THE WIRING HARNESS AND IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD DUE TO THE FAULTY PART. WHEN I QUESTION DODGE ABOUT THIS HARNESS AND THE RECALL THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ME ANY INFORMATION. DAVE CROFT FIXED THE PROBLEM AS OF THIS DATE HOWEVER, I AM STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM DODGE IF THEY WILL COVER THIS REPAIR. (RECALLED PART IN 2002 DODGE IS THE SAME PART IN MY 2003).
NHTSA complaint #10164427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.