Engine
3.9L 6-cyl
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 96 of 116 complaints with a usable failure date.
Odometer when the failure occurred
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 33 of 116 complaints reporting a plausible odometer (500 to 500,000 miles; unverified).
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Power train
19 complaint records
"THE GEAR SHIFT FAILED TO MOVE ON ITS ON. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse power train parts in the directory →
Suspension
16 complaint records1 crash report
"VEHICLE VIBRATES VIOLENTLY AT SPEEDS OF 60MPH AND HIGHER. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse suspension parts in the directory →
Body & structure
15 complaint records1 fire report
"WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY WHICH CAUSED WATER TO COME INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *NLM..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse body & structure parts in the directory →
Federal defect investigations
Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.
| Investigation | Status | Component | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE02096 opened Dec 2002 | closed May 2003 | Power Train | REAR AXLE FAILURE SEE ATTACHED REPORT. |
Recall campaigns
Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.
| Campaign | Component | Summary | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04V185000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | ON CERTAIN VAN AND WAGON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS (ABS), AFTERMARKET BATTERIES MAY LEAK ELECTROLYTE ONTO THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR, WHICH CAN COMPROMISE SEALING INTEGRITY OF THE... | Normally free |
| 02V159000 | Power Train | ON CERTAIN 4X4 PICKUP TRUCKS, THE REAR AXLE FLANGE WELD TO THE AXLE TUBE COULD FATIGUE AND ALLOW THE BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY TO ROTATE. | Normally free |
Transport Canada recalls
Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009081 2009-03-11 | Electrical | 363 | Certain aftermarket replacement windshield wiper motor assemblies, sold during the '08 and '09 calendar year for use as service equipment on 2002-2009 Dodge Ram pickup trucks, may be susceptible to water intrusion that could result in... |
| 2007389 2007-12-05 | Other | 39,078 | On certain vehicles, the ignition/park shift interlock system may become inoperable. This can allow the shifter to be moved out of the PARK position with the ignition key removed (or in the lock position) or it could allow the ignition key... |
| 2004129 2004-04-08 | Brakes | 4,392 | On certain vehicles, aftermarket batteries may leak electrolyte onto the ABS control module connector and compromise the sealing integrity of the connector. |
| 2003059 2003-03-10 | Electrical | 20,707 | On certain pickup trucks, the electrical connector at the bottom of the steering column may contain an under-sized terminal in the Heater Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) blower motor circuit. |
| 2003058 2003-03-07 | Visual System | 13,309 | On certain pickup trucks, the detent system on the exterior mirror housing may lose functionality, potentially affecting the driver's rearward field of vision. |
Show 1 more Canadian recalls
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002110 2002-07-06 | Brakes | 5,953 | On certain Ram 1500 4x4 pickup trucks the rear axle flange weld to the axle tube could fatigue and allow the brake caliper assembly to rotate. |
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2500108 Jan 2008 | Engine And Engine Cooling | POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) SYSTEM FREEZES IN EXTREME COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES -- INVOLVES INSTALLING REVISED PCV SYSTEM COMPONENTS. *NJ | |
| 2301307 Apr 2007 | Unknown Or Other | TRAILER TOWING MIRROR - NEW MIRROR GLASS LOCKING TAB - NEW REMOVAL PROCEDURE. *KB | |
| 0803006 Aug 2006 | Power Train | POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE INITIALIZATION. *KB | |
| 06003 May 2006 | Suspension | REAR SUSPENSION VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TT | |
| 2500106 Feb 2006 | Engine And Engine Cooling | POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) SYSTEM FREEZES IN EXTREME COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. *TT |
Show 53 more bulletins
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05002 Apr 2005 | Engine And Engine Cooling | NEW WATER PUMP FOR 3.7L ENGINE - NO LONGER COMMON WITH 4.7L. ADVANCED SERVICE INFORMATION #05-002. *TT | |
| 0801505 Mar 2005 | Power Train | POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE INITIALIZATION. *SC | |
| 10182004 Oct 2004 | Equipment | MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE INFORMATION. *EH | |
| 1803003A Aug 2004 | Engine And Engine Cooling | GENERIC CUMMINS ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROCEDURE. *TT THIS BULLETIN REPLACED 18-030-03. *TT THIS BULLETIN REPLACED 18-030-03A DATED 10/17/03. TO ALSO INCLUDE 2005 RAM TRUCK. *TT | |
| 0900904 Mar 2004 | Engine And Engine Cooling | VACUUM PUMP SERVICE. *TT | |
| 1803603 Oct 2003 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE IDLE FLUCTUATION. *TT | |
| 1803003 Aug 2003 | Engine And Engine Cooling | GENERIC CUMMINS ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROCEDURE. *TT | |
| 0802303 Jul 2003 | Electrical System | INTERMITTENT LOCKING/UNLOCKING OF DOORS WITHOUT ACTIVATING THE POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH. *TT | |
| 0703 Jul 2003 | Seat Belts | PROCEDURES FOR SERVICING THE SEAT BELT LATCH PLATE CINCH BAR. *TT | |
| 2200303 Jun 2003 | Tires | VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TT | |
| 0800403 Mar 2003 | Electrical System | ELECTRO MECHANICAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER - ERRONEOUS INDICATOR LAMPS. *TT | |
| 30800203 Jan 2003 | Electrical System | CONDENSER FAN INOPERATIVE DUE TO OPEN FUSE. *TT | |
| 0900802 Oct 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE KNOCK OR RATTLE SOUND WHEN CLIMBING A LONG GRADE AND TOWING A HEAVY TRAILER. *TT | |
| 0802302 Oct 2002 | Equipment | WEAK AM RADIO RECEPTION. *TT | |
| 1803002 Oct 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE UNDERSHOOTS IDLE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, IN GEAR.*MR | |
| 1400102A Oct 2002 | Fuel System | FUEL CAP DIFFICULT TO REMOVE. *TT | |
| 10023 Oct 2002 | Equipment | CORRECT FUSE NUMBER AND CAPACITY FOR THE 2002 INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. SERVICE INFORMATION TUNEUPS. *TT | |
| 1801902A Sep 2002 | Unknown Or Other | REVISION OF FLASH PROCESS FOR NEW ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) FROM CUMMINS. *SLC THIS BULLETIN SUPERSEDES BULLETIN 18-019-02 DATED JUNE 17, 2002. *TT | |
| 2300602A Aug 2002 | Structure | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE WATER LEAKS AT THE GRAB HANDLE. *TT | |
| 2303502 Aug 2002 | Structure | INFORMATION ON ADDITIONAL PLASTIC RETAINERS TO SECURE THE GRILLE GUARD PLASTIC COVER TO THE VERTICAL BAR. *TT | |
| 2303602 Aug 2002 | Visibility | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE WATER LEAKS FROM THE REAR WINDOW (BACK LIGHT). *TT | |
| 1400202A Jul 2002 | Fuel System | INFORMATION ON TAMPERING WITH VP44 FUEL PUMP ON CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINE. *TT | |
| 2100202 Jul 2002 | Power Train | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISION IN DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES AND LABOR OPERATION TIMES FOR RE TRANSMISSIONS. *TT | |
| 0300202 Jul 2002 | Power Train | INFORMATION ON THE USE OF SYNTHETIC REAR AXLE LUBRICANT. *TT | |
| 1400202 Jul 2002 | Fuel System | INFORMATION ON TAMPERING WITH VP44 FUEL PUMP ON CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINES. *TT | |
| 1802002 Jun 2002 | Unknown Or Other | FLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *SLC | |
| 0200302 Jun 2002 | Unknown Or Other | SUBJECT REGARDING A TOE IN SPECIFICATION CHANGE. *SLC | |
| 02008 May 2002 | Power Train | SUBJECT REGARDING TRUCKS THAT WERE BUILT WITH INCORRECT STEERING GEARS. *SLC | |
| 1400102 May 2002 | Fuel System | SUBJECT REGARDING FUEL CAP DIFFICULT TO REMOVE. *SLC | |
| 02007 Apr 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SUBJECT REGARDING 4.7L CRANKSHAFT TO BEDPLATE INTERFERENCE. *SLC | |
| 02006 Apr 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SUBJECT REGARDING LEFT AND RIGHT CAM SPROCKET BOLTS NOT TORQUED TO CORRECT SPECIFICATION. *SLC | |
| 2301502 Apr 2002 | Visibility | SUBJECT REGARDING THE OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *SLC | |
| 0800702 Mar 2002 | Electrical System | SUBJECT REGARDING REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *SLC | |
| 0900202 Mar 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SUBJECT REGARDING CRANKCASE BREATHER OVERFLOW. *SLC | |
| 2200102 Mar 2002 | Unknown Or Other | CHROME WHEEL CARE. *SLC | |
| 02003A Mar 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SUBJECT REGARDING CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR SIGNAL, VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 3.7 L ENGINE, ALSO REFER TO 02003. *SLC | |
| 0300102 Feb 2002 | Power Train | THE FRONT AXLE DISCONNET SYSTEM. *TT | |
| 2300602 Jan 2002 | Unknown Or Other | CONCERNS WITH WATER LEAK AT GRAB HANDLE. *TT | |
| 1802901 Dec 2001 | Unknown Or Other | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION WHERE IN THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE INTERMITTENTLY DROPS TO ZERO. *TT | |
| 2303301 Nov 2001 | Seats | CUSTOMERS MAY NOTICE A SLIGHT ROCKING OR CHUCKING MOVEMENT IN THE SEAT TRACK WHEN THE CUSTOMER ACCELERATES THE VEHICLE OR APPLIES THE BRAKES. *TT | |
| 01025 Nov 2001 | Unknown Or Other | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.7L OR 5.9L ENGINES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE MAY INTERMITTENTLY DROP TO ZERO. *TT | |
| 01024 Oct 2001 | Power Train | SUBJECT REGARDING REPORTS OF INOPERATIVE TACHOMETER. *TT | |
| 4850306 Oct 2001 | Unknown Or Other | INFORMATION ON RKE TRANSMITTER PROGRAMMING. *SLC | |
| 2302701 Sep 2001 | Visibility | SUBJECT REGARDING OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *TT | |
| 1801901 Sep 2001 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE COLD IDLE ENGINE WARMING *SLC | |
| 0900601 Aug 2001 | Engine And Engine Cooling | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE OIL PAN GASKET LEAKS.*SLC | |
| 2302101 Aug 2001 | Structure | INFORMATION REGARDING BODY FITS. *SLC | |
| 1900701 Aug 2001 | Steering | INFORMATION ON NEW POWER STEERING FLUID.*SLC | |
| 0801601 Aug 2001 | Equipment | INFORMATION REGARDING VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH RADIOS WILL HAVE A NEW LOCKING RADIO ANTENNA CONNECTOR. *SLC | |
| 1801401 Jul 2001 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SUBJECT REGARDING PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENTS, HARD STARTING AND / OR IDLE SPEED FLUCTUATIONS FOR SEVERE COLD WEATHER ENVIRONMENTS. *TT | |
| 1801201 May 2001 | Equipment | SUBJECT REGARDING GENERIC SCAN TOOL (GST), PUBLICATION NO. 81-170-00008 PROVIDED WITH THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO PROVIDE REFERENCE INFORMATION WHEN USING GENERIC SCAN TOOL ON OBDII VEHICLES. *TT | |
| 2100601 Mar 2001 | Power Train | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ | |
| 2300202 Jan 2001 | Structure | SUBJECT REGARDING HOOD DISTORTION/ LOW SPOTS. *TT |
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Drive it from a dead stop, twice, on a hill if you can.Shudder, hesitation, or a lurch under light throttle is how this vehicle's largest complaint cluster shows itself. Then ask for the transmission service history in writing; repeat repairs are a pattern, not a fluke.
- Find the roughest road nearby.Clunks over bumps, a droning hum that changes when the car leans, or a corner that sits low are this vehicle's suspension complaints. Wheel bearings and control arm bushings lead the parts list.
- Walk the body slowly in daylight.Panel gaps, rust at the rockers and wheel arches, and cracked trim are this vehicle's structure complaints. Open and close the liftgate or trunk and look at the latch area.
- Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 2 recall campaigns on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this Dodge Ram →