2002 Dodge RAM 1500: tire blowout or tread separation

Filed Oct 24, 2008 · Electrical, Engine · PA

1) interior blower fan: (24,000 miles) fan would shut off at times. First told by dealer the air intake was blocked with leaves and they cleaned it out. Two weeks later, I got the recall that the wiring harness for the blower was overheating. I had the dealer do repair for recall. They clipped the two lighter wires and replaced them with two 10 gauge wires. Fan still shuts off due to tilting steering wheel with heavier wiring not being flexible enough. Wires still get very hot. 2) radiator fan control relay: (90,000 miles) check engine light came on and code was for radiator fan control relay circuit. Relay was replaced. 3) engine: (129,000 miles) oil sludge caused oil not to circulate properly causing oil pressure gauge to drop to zero and back up to normal about 4 times. Engine over heated, warping heads and doing interior damage to rods and bearings. Engine had to be replaced with used engine. 4) passenger window switch: (for the past 20,000 miles) passenger side switch works intermittently. 5) parking lights: (149,000 miles) was informed by another driver that I had no tail lights. Checked fuses and relay and everything was ok. Took truck to garage, they checked and could not find a problem. Garage called dodge dealership, they told them it would probably need the front control module replaced. The garage did not charge me and told me they did not want to just start replacing parts costing over $200 trying to pin point a problem and I needed to take it to the dealership. The dealership checked it and told me I would need to replace the power distribution module and the front control module due to both having an internal short. Why bother having fuses if you can just have circuit boards costing over $200 each blow out? 6) ignition park lock: (149,000 miles) got a recall notice about ignition park lock needing replaced. Dealership repaired. This truck definitely has its share off defects, with the engine and wiring. More should be done as far as recalls.

Filed Aug 25, 2008 · Tires · 85,000 miles · TN

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 dodge ram 1500. The vehicle has falken tires, size 305/40r/22 (na). While driving approximately 40 MPH, the contact heard a loud noise. Suddenly, the rear passenger side tire blew out without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the tire was replaced. Recently, the tread on the sidewall of all four tires was cracked. The tires have not been replaced. The dot number was unknown. The failure mileage was 85,000 and current mileage was 85,243.

Filed Mar 29, 2006 · Airbags · 96,000 miles · FL · crash · 1 injury

I was traveling on a dirt road which is all we have in the area and the left rear tire blew out causing me to lose control of my 2002 dodge ram which then plowed over several trees and finally coming to rest head on in a group of 3 trees totaling my truck. The front end of the truck was more than extensively damaged and the air bag did not deploy causing neck and back injuries as well as my tooth being broke in half. Daimler chrysler was notified and scanned the on board computer and stated that since no codes showed up that the air bags were fully functional.

Filed Aug 22, 2003 · Tires · 22,112 miles · CA

While driving at 65 MPH, the left rear tire exploded without warning. Dealer notified. *ak the vehicle had a left to right movement in the rear and if the speed would have been any higher, the consumer could have loss control. The tires were checked for proper inflation before going out of town. The tire caused damage to the vehicle's pick up bed. The consumer disagreed with what goodyear found and requested that the tire be returned. *scc

Filed Jul 9, 2003 · Tires · 28,400 miles · AR

The vehicle is a 2002 dodge ram sport 4x4 with 28,000 miles with goodyear wrangler hp 275/60/20 tires. I have had 12 tires which had to be replaced when they were ruined after going flat from puntures as well as numerous flat repairs. Complaints to both daimler chrysler and goodyear yielded nothing but comments of surprise on both their parts with a reminder that there is no warranty on the tires. The dodge brochure says off road rated tires, goodyear says excellent off road traction. The tires have no puncture resistance, the present tires have hundreds of cuts, some through to the belts. Last new tire blew with just 100 miles on it. First flat was at 250 miles on vehicle. When the tires are punctured the inner liner splits making repairs improbable. Goodyear is the only manufacturer of that size tire so there are no alternatives. Perhaps the lemon law may help, goodyear and daimler chrysler will not. Good news is that I can probably get a job on a nascar pit crew with my new found tire changing speed which may help supplement my income to buy more tires for my truck.

Filed May 14, 2003 · Tires · FL

While driving 60 MPH, the rear driver's tire experienced a blow out.