13 of the
152 complaints about the 2002 Dodge RAM are about the
braking system — 9% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
33,000 miles.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at various speeds, the ABS warning light illuminated and the vehicle seized. The contact managed to coast the vehicle to the shoulder of the road and place the vehicle in park. The contact exit the vehicle to inspect the engine and without warning when the front hood was open 4-foot flames shoot out from the hood. The contact sustained burns to the right hand. No medical attention was sought. The contact ran to the rear of the vehicle open the trunk and poured water that he had in a bucket on the flames. No police report was made. The fire department was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. No dealer was contacted nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. Damages were to the wire harness, ABS module, and connecting rod. The failure mileage was approximate 220,000.
NHTSA complaint #11430600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,000 milesWashington, DC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TRUCK BEGAN TO VIBRATE DRAMATICALLY UPON BRAKING. THE ROTORS WERE WARPED, THE BRAKE PADS IN THE FRONT WERE TOO SMALL AND WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM, A CLUNKING NOISE HAD STARTED COMING FROM THE REAR AS TIME PROGRESSED AND RETURNED AFTER REPAIRS. *SC AT 30,000 MILES THE ENTIRE REAR DIFFERENTAIL WENT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10107049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Shingle Springs, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF ON ITS OWN. THE LIGHT BULB SWITCH RATTLED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL. *AK THE FRONT BRAKES WERE BAD. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10083258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,000 milesSpringtown, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FRONT ROTORS KEEP WARPING ON THIS TRUCK IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT EVERY 10,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP KEEPS REPLACING THE ROTORS UNDER WARRENTY THE PADS HAVE NEVER NEEDED REPLACING AND MY TIRES ARE IN GREAT CONDITION. THERE RESPONCE IS TO CHANGE MY DRIVING HABITS. I DRIVE 50 MILES ONE WAY ON THE HIWAY EVERYDAY WITH LITTLE BRAKING IM AT 45,000 AND IN NEED OF ROTORS AGAIN THIS WILL BE THE 5TH SET.
NHTSA complaint #10070220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Southgate, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE OWNER HAD REMOVED THE WHEELS TO CHECK THE BRAKES. OWNER NOTICED ALL FOUR-BRAKE ROTORS HAD GROOVES. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED THE BRAKES TO LOSE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS. BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10047777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 33,000 milesCrawfordville, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE SEVERELY. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WORN DISC ROTORS, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10040399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 20 milesGallant, AL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER STATED ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHICH WAS AN INDICATION THE ABS WAS INOPERATIVE *AK *CB
NHTSA complaint #10029470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Homosassa, FLCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH, HAD AN ACCIDENT BY REAR ENDING VEHICLE IN FRONT. ABS BRAKING SYSTEM HAD LOCKED UP. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SKID INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. FRONT END OF VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. ALSO, SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RESTRAIN AND DRIVER SUFFERED CHEST PAINS FROM HITTING STEERING WHEEL, AND HAD TO BE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL.
NHTSA complaint #10026688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 33,000 milesLocust Grove, GA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE VEHICLES ROTORS WARPED WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10020068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Spring Lake, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
THERE WAS A RECALL IN REFERENCE TO THE REAR AXLE FLANGE WELDS WHICH MAY FATIGUE AND CAUSE THE CALIPER TO ROTATE. MR THE LOCAL DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A BACKLOG ON THE REPAIR PARTS AND WERE UNABLE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS ( RECALL #02V159000). SCC *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10014896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Granbury, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
RECALL REPAIR 02V159000 CONCERNING TRUCK AXLE FLANGES WELD WHICH MAY FATIGUEAND ALLOW BRAKE CALIPER TO ROTATE, CAUSING REAR BRAKE TUBE TO AND LEAK, RESULTING IN A PARTIAL BRAKE LOSS AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WERE NOT DONE BY DEALER DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10011365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ODI #768732: BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER CLANKING NOISE AT FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT WHEEL AREA STILL EXISTED. INSPECTION REVEALED PIVOT ARMS HAD ROTATED, MAKING CONTACT WITH THE SUSPENSION ARM FRAME MOUNT AREA WHICH CAUSED GOUGES IN THE FRAME MOUNT AREA. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED EXHAUST LEAK FROM BOTTOM SIDE OF MUFFLER. *TT
NHTSA complaint #10007248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tuscola, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
AFTER VEHICLE HAS GONE IN REVERSE AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND AGAIN WHEN PULLING FORWORD AND BRAKE IS APPLIED, THERE IS A "CLANKING NOISE" AS IF MAYBE A LOOSE BRAKE CALIPER. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE FIRST TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT I JUST NEEDED TO TIGHTEN MY WHEELS. THE SECOND TIME THE (RT) UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED. THE THIRD TIME THE LEFT CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE BRAKE PADS. ALL THIS WORK IS BEING DONE TO A NEW TRUCK AND THE MECHANICS DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THEY ARE SIMPLY REPLACING THINGS THAT THEY THINK IT MIGHT BE. I-AM VERY CONCERNED AND FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I HAVE A NEW TRUCK THAT IS CONSTANTLY IN THE SHOP AND I NOW HAVE NOTHING TO DRIVE. PLEASE HELP. DT
NHTSA complaint #768732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.