Two problems related to mechanical jack have been reported for the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
While jacking the vehicle hook attachment to the jack was twisted. Consumer was able to jack up the vehicle, but failed and hit the ground. No injuries reported. Consumer drove the vehicle to dealer for inspection, and mechanic informed consumer that this part was not under warranty, and consumer needed to pay for repairs.
The jack that is shipped with the Dodge Ram 1500 is way too small to handle the parge truck. I had to change a tire today for the first time. The vehicle fell off of the jack twice. The jack is a small cylinder type, with a small footprint. While jacking the rear wheel according to the instructions in the user manual, the jack slips easily because a) it has a small footprint that remains in contact with the ground, and b) the extentions used to turn the cranking mechanism on the jack are wobbly, which can cause the jack to move while raising and lowering. I researched this with several other Dodge ram owners, each who have purchased separate heavy duty jacks to allocate for the insufficient standard jack that ships with the vehicle. I contact daimlerchrysler today about this issue.