2002 Dodge RAM 1500

I AM THE OWNER OF A DODGE 2002 TRUCK. IT HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT THE DEALERS ARE TELLING EVERYONE JUST TO "HOLD ON" BASICALLY, WHEN THE TRUCK SHIFTS INTO 2ND GEAR IT JOLTS AND SURGES FORWARD. I WAS TOLD YESTERDAY BY RICK GLADWELL DODGE IN MOREHEAD CITY, NC. (252-247-2003) THAT IT IS MORE OF AN INCONVIENENCE TO THE DRIVER RATHER THAN A MECHANICAL FAILURE WAITING TO HAPPEN. THEY CLAIM THAT IT IS A MODULE THAT NEEDS REPROGRAMMING AND THAT UNTIL THE EPA APPROVES IT THAT THERE IS NOT MUCH THEY CAN DO. DT

HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. SOME HAVEN'T BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER YET. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE. IT SHIFTS HARD AT ABOUT 2200 RPM'S OR AROUND 25-30MPH. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE. I'VE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS THAT WERE NOT LISTED INCLUDING BRAKES AND ALTERNATOR. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR MIRROR HAS RECENTLY BROKEN AND NOW FLOPS IN THE WIND ON THE FREE WAY AND IS UNUSABLE. I FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, THEN FOUND THAT IT WAS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE. THE VENTILATION FROM THE PANEL IS ASLO SENT TO THE FLOOR VENTS DESPITE THE DIAL BEING SET TO "PANEL" NOT "FLOOR". THE TAILGATE CABLES ARE MISMATCHED. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NORMAL. I WON'T PLACE ANYTHING ON THE TAILGATE IN FEAR THAT THE CABLE MIGHT BREAK. THE EXTERIOR TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT SYNCHED WITH THE DISPLAYED TRUN SIGNALS. THE SIMULTANEOUS FLASH IS NOT THERE. ALSO, THE ALTERNATOR WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AT AROUND 600 MILES. IT WAS CAUSING A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAKING SOUND SIMILAR TO WHAT A DEFECTIVE BELT MAY SOUND LIKE. IT WAS REPLACED, BUT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN AT 6750 MILES. THE HOOD HAS SLIGHT DENTS IN IT LIKE SOMEONE HIT IT WITH A BALL PEN HAMMER. APPARENTLY CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THIS. I'LL BE TAKING IT IN THE FIRST CHANCE I GET TO TRY TO HAVE IT FIXED. I'VE HAD THIS TRUCK A 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS IN HOPE THAT THE NEXT ONE WOULD BE MORE HELP THAN THE PREVIOUS. NO SUCH LUCK. I'VE HAD TO TAKE TIME OFF FROM WORK (ABOUT 6 DAYS TOTAL; HAD TO WAIT AT DEALERSHIP SINCE IT WAS AN OUT OF TOWN PURCHASE ) AND RENT CARS 5 TIMES WHILE HAVING IT WORKED ON AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN ORDER TO GET TO WORK. I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT BAD LUCK WITH THIS VEHICLE. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER HAS DREADFUL QUALITY CONTROL AND I CAN'T SAY MUCH MORE FOR THE DEALERS. I HOPE I CAN GET THE ISSUES WITH THIS TRUCK RESOLVED SOMEDAY. DT

6-11-2002 TRUCK DIED OUT IN MOTION. 6-15-2002 BELLS IN TRUCK CAME ON, NO DUMMY LIGHTS LASTED 10-15 MIN THEN STOPPED ON ITS OWN, ALSO THIS DAY TRUCK DIED OUT ONCE IN REVERSE, 3 TIMES IN DRIVE. ON THIS DAY I HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. 6-22-2002 TRUCK STUCK IN REVERSE. ENGINE REVED IN REVERSE AS IF IN NUETRAL BUT WAS CLEARLY IN REVERSE. CAR WAS DRIVEN TO DEALER THAT DAY. 6-29-2002 STUCK IN REVERSE AGAIN. DEALER CONTACTED - I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT A SERVICE MANAGER ON 7-1-2002 , I OBVIOUSLY HAVE AN INTERMITENT PROBLEM AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE UNTIL THEY CAN PROVE THERE IS A PROBLEM. *AK