2002 Dodge RAM 1500

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO CRACK IN JANUARY OF 2008. BY JUNE OF 2008, THE PANEL HAD CRACKED INTO SMALL PIECES AND A PIECE FELL INTO THE AIR CONDITIONING MOTOR, WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM USING THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE AND IS CHARGING $800. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH REFERENCE NUMBER 17583492 AND ADVISED HIM TO CHECK WITH THE DEALER. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR FREE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000. UPDATED 09/13/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/17/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE BLOWER WOULD TURN ON AND OFF AUTOMATICALLY AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BLOWER EVENTUALLY FAILED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V078000 (STEERING:COLUMN), IN WHICH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PROPERLY FOR THIRTY DAYS BEFORE FAILING AGAIN. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY NEEDS A NEW COMPUTER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TRAILER AND BOTH WERE DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE IGNITION INTERLOCK AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE IGNITION INTERLOCK WAS REPLACED. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,125.

EXCESSIVE CRACKS HAVE FORMED IN BOTH DASHBOARD PIECES. THE PLASTIC HAS BECOME VERY BRITTLE AND SHARP PIECES ARE BEGINNING TO FALL INTO THE WIRING UNDERNEATH. NOTHING PARTICULAR HAPPENED THAT CAUSED IT, THEY JUST APPEARED OVERNIGHT. CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE YEILDED NO ASSISTANCE. I AM CONCERNED OF THE SHARP EDGES OF THE PLASTIC FALLING INTO THE DASHBOARD WIRING AND CAUSING ELECTRICAL FAILURES WHILE DRIVING OR, IN THE EVENT OF AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, SHARDS OF THE SHATTERING PLASTIC IMPALING THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER. *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS BEGINNING TO SHATTER IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES, LEADING TO THE AIR BAG. HE STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WILL EVENTUALLY DEPLOY. THE DEALER ACCUSED HIM OF TIGHTENING THE SCREWS TOO TIGHTLY UNDERNEATH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS NEVER TOUCHED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IN THAT REGARD. OTHER DEALERS HAVE STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,199.

THE DASHBOARD ON MY TRUCK CRACKED, THEN BEGAN LOSING PIECES. SOME PIECES HAVE BEEN PROPELLED AT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS BY THE AIR CONDITIONING AND WHEN WINDOWS ARE OPEN. WIRING PROBLEMS APPEAR TO BE DEVELOPING (I AM NOW RECEIVING "LAMP OUT" WARNINGS). I HAVE PLACED A DASH COVER TO LIMIT EXPOSURE TO THESE HAZARDS, BUT I HAVE SEEN NEWS REPORTS THAT MANY OTHER CONSUMERS ARE EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS, AND THAT THEY CONTINUE TO WORSEN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. APPROXIMATELY ONE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, THE VEHICLE'S INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO CRACK ASW WELL AS THE DASHBOARD. THE CRACK GRADUALLY SPREAD FROM THE DRIVER SIDE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE AIR VENT DETACHED. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 56,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. UPDATED 10/18/07 *TR

PARKING LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT FUNCTION. LAMP OUT INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASH IS NOT ON. PROBLEM DIAGNOSED TO BE IN THE FUSE BOX CIRCUIT BOARDS ALSO KNOWN AS THE PDC (POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER). APPARENTLY CORROSION OCCURS INSIDE THE BOX AND THE GROUND IS LOST. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT PART NUMBER IS 56045433AE. THAT PART NUMBER IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND HAS BEEN REPLACED BY PART NUMBER 56045433AF. NEITHER PART IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE FROM DODGE DEALERS. THERE DEPOTS ALSO SHOW NO STOCK AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. AS THE CORROSION CONTINUES OTHER ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE LOST RESULTING IN A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, AND A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC IDENTIFIED A FAILURE TO THE CONDENSER FAN RELAY, DUE TO AN UNDERSIZED FUSE. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, # O8-002-03, WAS ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER, WHICH STATED THE FUSE WAS NOT LARGE ENOUGH AND THE CONDENSER FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.*AK

I WAS STOPPED BY POLICE DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY PARKING/RUNNING LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THE SIGNALS AND STOP LIGHTS WORKED FINE. MY 2002 DODGE RAM IS AT THE GARAGE. THEY FOUND THE CIRCUIT BOARD (POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER) UNDER THE FUSE BOX IS BURNED OUT. COST FROM DODGE, $400.00. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE LIGHT WENT OUT FROM THE CAB. THE DASH LIGHTS WORKED AND THE HEAD LIGHTS WORKED. THE GARAGE INFORMED ME THAT IS HAPPENING A LOT TO OTHER DODGE RAMS. *NM