Four problems related to automatic transmission control module have been reported for the 2002 Dodge Dakota. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Bought 2002 slt quad cab Dakota new from dealership. First experienced truck stalling while driving on roadways (very dangerous!), without warning and without check engine light coming on. Sometimes, it would also stall if put into drive/reverse from a parked position. Had truck towed at least twice, because I was afraid to drive it home because it was stalling too many times. Took in to dealership three times. Since engine light wasn't on, diagnostic test couldn't determine problem readily; problem was intermittent. Over the course of the first two visits to dealership, I had tune-up, throttle body cleaned, new distributor plate, new oil pan gasket. By the third time, I had the entire powertrain control module replaced: the "brain" of the truck, as the mechanic put it to me. This should not happen when a brand-new truck is only four years old; the "brain" should not die that soon. That is unacceptable, especially if the pcm/stalling problem is considered "characteristic. " all of this cost me about $2,500. The quality of this truck has not, and still does not, meet my expectations. The truck is too young to be having these sorts of problems. I expect to put thousands of dollars into a 10 year-old truck, not a four year-old truck. I am also experiencing transmission issues with the truck not shifting properly. I will outline that in separate complaint.
While driving down the road at about 60 miles per hour or so I lost my overdrive and 3 rd gear of my transmission. Dodge dealer reports the valve body went out on my truck it had only been out of warranty by about 3000 miles. Dodge would not work wit me even thou they admitted to having some come it. So I had to have the valve body replaced. While sitting in the service area waiting for my truck to be fixed a customer came in to get a heater core for his 2002. Guess what less then a month after spending 1300. 00 to get my transmission fixed the heater core went out on mine . Is this common or am I just the lucky one? as the heater core failed it did dump anti freeze in the cab of the truck and on the carpet. I have yet to have the heater core replaced.
Currently own a 2002 Dodge ram quad cab. I have had numerous problems with my truck. I myself have also experienced the same problems with the transmission jerking as well as the vehicle completely shutting off when idling (and not even at long periods of time). At times when putting into reverse, the vehicle will not move at all and I have to completely shut off the truck and restart it to get it to move. I haven't had it reported at the dealer yet because they will be unable to duplicate. Just noticed a problem with my rear taillights. At different times, different bulbs would seem to go out causing the "lamp out" indicator lamp to illuminate. When I went to change the bulb myself (cause bulbs are not warranty), I found that the sockets were causing the bulb housing to melt inside the sockets as well as on the bulbs. I took it to the dealer and they only replaced one side because the other they did not have in stock, yet they did not even bother ordering the other side. I have already had my rack & pinion replaced because it was leaking and also have had to have my tcm and pcm reprogramed because they were causing my check engine light to come on as well as making my air conditioning inoperative.
Check engine light comes on -- ran on drb iii found diagnostic trouble codes"s set for no communication from tcm to pcm called tec line was told to replace pcm reset values road tested vehicle-- mod po 8035029 * (1) was told wire connect tcm * (2) replaced pcm -- rental01/22/03 - 02/06/03.