Four problems related to power steering fluid have been reported for the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized and could not be turned left. The failure occurred as soon as the vehicle was started. The contact also stated that the power steering fluid leaked continuously. The vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 156,000.
My truck began leaking power steering fluid while parked outside my house. The vehicle was not running, nor moving. Enough fluid leaked out to form a puddle under my truck. I use this truck to tow a 3200 pound travel trailer. I am thankful I was not pulling this trailer or driving the truck when the power steering began leaking. I am not the only Dodge truck owner to whom this has happened. This is a design flaw, a safety hazard and these trucks need to be recalled before someone is seriously injured or possibly killed. I live in southwestern pennsylvania and the roads on which I travel are very steep and winding. It terrifies me to think what may happen if this unit was to fail while I was navigating these roads. Please take action to force Dodge to correct this design flaw before someone dies. Thank you!.
Power steering failed twice. Once in town and again on a major hwy at high speed. Rack and pinion failure both times. No accident occurred in either instance, but very difficult to drive a truck home when you are still 400 miles from there with no power steering on a Sunday. Very dangerous situation in traffic.
My 2002 Dodge 1500 quad cab 4x4 had a leak on the power steering hose,which was repaired under warranty in 2004. In 2005 I notice power steering fluid leaking again in the same area and thought it was the hose again. This time it turn out to be a leek in the gear box. At the time the truck had 62000 kms and 3 months past it's warranty and has not been driven off road. The Dodge dealer would not help cover any expenses for this premature failure. Currently the steering is unstable on uneven road surfaces and I do not drive it in the winter. There has been no accidents but one near miss when the truck veered over to the on coming lane after going over a bump.