2002 Dodge RAM 1500

THE HEATER/AC FAN WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED FROM THE LOCK. SOMETIMES THE CIRCUIT IS ENERGIZED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE KEY IS REMOVED AND AT OTHER TIMES IT ENERGIZE'S ON ITS OWN. IF NOT IDENTIFIED IN TIME THE FAN WILL DRAIN THE VEHICLE BATTERY. THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER CLAIMS THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I SUSPECT THE IGNITION LOCK/SWITCH IS PROBABLY DEFECTIVE AND IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70MPH ANOTHER MOTORIST ALERTED THE CONTACT THE RUNNING LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE OUT. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER AND THE FCM (PART # 56045434AEA) FAILED. THERE WAS A POWER SURGE THROUGH THE PARTS THAT CAUSED THE FUSES TO BE BLOWN. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER AND THE FCM.

ENTIRE GAUGE CLUSTER FAILED. HEADLIGHTS AND RUNNING LIGHTS CAME ON WITH THE SWITCH IN THE OFF POSITION. TURN SIGNALS, EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT OPERATE. ELECTRIC LOCKS DID NOT OPERATE. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IT CORRECTED ITSELF AFTER CHECKING ALL OF THE FUSES. THE SECOND TIME IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP HAS DIAGNOSED A INTERNAL SHORT IN THE GAUGE CLUSTER WITH AN EXPECTED REPAIR COST OF $900.00. *NM

I HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER,WHICH CAUSED ALL OF MY GAUGES TO STOP WORKING. NO SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, BATTERY, OIL OR TEMPERATURE GAUGE. MY TURN SIGNALS, HORN, INTERIOR LIGHTS, WIPERS, AND POWER DOOR LOCKS ALSO FAILED. I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT I HAD NO STOP/BRAKE LIGHTS OR FOG LIGHTS, BUT HAD HEADLIGHTS AND PARKING LIGHTS EVEN THOUGH THE INTERIOR SWITCH WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. EVEN THOUGH THIS TRUCK WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JANUARY OF 2002 AT JERRYS DODGE (NOW SAFFORD DODGE, AND THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY WAS JUST UP, I ONLY HAD 7,078 MILES ON THE TRUCK AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLUSTER BUT I HAD TO PAY. I THINK THIS CLUSTER SUDDENLY GOING OUT IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. THANK GOD MINE WENT OUT IN THE DAY TIME AND NOT AT NIGHT. I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED AS IT IS. THIS IS THE FOURTH INCIDENT OF A FAILED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT I KNOW OF. I AM SURE THERE ARE MORE, AND I HAVE READ THAT CHRYSLERDAIMLER/DODGE HAS HAD CLUSTER PROBLEMS IN SOME OF THEIR OTHER VEHICLES.*JB

TRUCK WAS TAKEN INTO THE AUTOWEST DODGE DEALERSHIP TO FIX TAILLIGHTS THAT DIDN'T WORK. AT THE TIME THE TRUCK WAS IN THEIR POSSESSION THERE WERE 2 OPEN RECALLS AND THEY DID NOT NOTIFY ME OF EITHER. NINE MONTHS LATER THE BRAKES, CLUTCH, AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. ONCE I GOT IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. TRUCK IS A TOTAL LOSS. TRUCK HAD 31,000 MILES ON IT. DAIMLERCHRYSLER HAS DENIED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. *NM

1) THERE WERE NO INCIDENTS LEADING UP TO THE VEHICLES FAILURES. 2) THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT SHUT OFF WHEN ENGINE IS ON / THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND PUMP ARE INOPERABLE. THEY BOTH OCCURRED AT THE SAME TIME. FAMILY WAS STUCK ON RAINY HIGHWAY FOR SEVERAL HOURS. 3) DODGE SERVICE "THINKS" THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER MAY HAVE SHORTED OUT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND RECOMMEND REPLACE BOTH -$750 THERE IS A BACK ORDER FOR BOTH PARTS - APPARENTLY THERE ARE MANY REQUESTS. PART #'S 56045433AF AND 56051036AD. *AK

THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER,WHICH IS CAUSING THE HEAD LIGHTS, BLINKERS, AND INTERIOR LIGHTS NOT TO FUNCTION. OWNER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER. *NM OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDED FOG LAMPS; WINDSHIELD WIPERS; TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND ALL CLUSTER FUNCTIONS. DEALER REPLACED A SHORTED CLUSTER. *TT