Please let me vent here a little. I understand some of you have spent ALOT more on your truck than I have. I need to get this out.
Someone please tell me there's light at the end of the tunnel.

I've got an 02 HO with only 75k on it. Stock motor.
I am about fed up with "fixing" Dodge's f-ups.

So far
1. "fixed" the lift pump with a FASS Platinum. Knowing this doesn't guarantee the VP will make it to 100k.
2. Attempted to "Fix" the front end with a new track bar and box brace. It still needs a steering shaft and bushing. Truck wanders around like a drunk girl at a frat party.
3. The A/C doesn't work at all. However, I'm waiting until next summer to dump money into that.
4. Replaced the cracked dash. Actually it wasn't just cracked, it had holes in it the size of my fist.

These are things that should not be happening at 70,000 miles on any make of vehicle.

I'm hoping to get everything else corrected before adding any performance to it. But all my horsepower money turns into just getting the truck fixed.

Thank you guys for listening

 

Yeah I feel ya. My 48,000 mile gem cost over $10,000 in warranty repairs before the warranty ran dry.

Total front end rebuild, sans money for upgraded parts. $1800
ECM $1400

Lift pump $475

Trans $2700

wiper motor $450

Door switches $319

There's a few other things I am not remembering at the moment.

I got the extended warranty for $1500, money well spent in my opinion!!

I still really like my truck though.

 

Josh, after 6 of these trucks, I can tell ya that it will never end unless you drive a 12 valve. When they started controlling everything with computers they all went to crap. And they went to newer front ends because of better technology! Yeah, that worked!

 

It's funny you say that. I had a 97 12 valve a few years ago that I put 130k on. That thing was built like a tank. I only sold it because it was single cab. That is what brought me back to Cummins. But is it me or do the 98 & newer trucks not "feel" as heavy duty as the old 12 valves did? They seem kinda cheap. I dunno.

 

I have an '01.5 with 73000 miles on it and my wife tells me everytime I tell her my truck is broke to get rid of that money pit. I don't want to tell you all the repairs because I need to go to bed tonight but in $$$ its about $12,000 to $13,000 in the last 5 years. Nothing major just $1000 here and $2000 there all the time. I still need to fix a leaking vacuum pump seal, track bar, heated outside mirror, speakers, fuel tank sending unit,exhaust, parking brake sticking, and the list goes on. I'm sorry to burst a bubble but it WILL NEVER END. I can't wait to dump this crap that is putting me in the poor house. Really this has been the worst vehicle of the 9 that I have owned. $$ speak loudly in my books, they don't lie.

 

Wouldn't want to know what I've spent.....I don't even want to look because its one thick file...and thats just parts..The 12v is great...its everything else around it falls apart

One thing about these truck...You have to try and do as much work yourself..If I had to take my truck to mechanic... the cost, to own it in the last 6 years would be close to $20k..

 

This might not be the best place to ask this question but are the new 2011-2012 dodge 1500's any good? I don't think you can beat the price here but I am scared to death to purchase another dodge product.

 

Probably be best to start your own thread, and in the 1500 forum area.

 

Wow, Yall make me feel lucky. Warranty replaced the vp44 at 76,000 and since then I've had to replace all 4 ball joints, both hub assemblies, and the heater blend door. I figure thats about $1000 over the last 9 years and 223,000 miles. And I must say, there are not may times my truck leaves the house that it isn't hooked to or hauling something. Almost forgot, 1 set of front brake pads.

Hope I didn't just screw myself. Lol!

 

****...I got a 2000 2500 quad cab....tires, oil changes, brake jobs, a hydroboost hose, and one fuel pump under warranty....180K miles. I do need to replace the POS dash board.

 

Got my 01.5 and so far I've put 2 new tires on it, new starter contacts, bought Luke's link for track bar + bushing. Also got new aftermarket headlights that I'll put on soon.

 

i just replaced the clutch with a six states stage 2 by myself......it went pretty good until i put the cross member in ................what a pain....laying on my back in the drive way was the only way i could get it done

 

Hahaha!!!

But wait, don't forget ball joints, wheel bearings, clutch or Auto tranny, oh, oh, let's not forget the cracked dash syndrome.

Ahh, welcome to the club!

 

My 01 has seen ball joints track bar fass and a ps pump in 150,000 and my dash is now crap, and its always been under a mat, but if it makes you feel better I have seen the same things in ford and Chevy 3 or 4 months ago I had a Chevy in the shop with a dash as bad as mine owner loves chevys but said he would never buy another one till I showed him my dodge and my daughter ford both newer truck with under 100k .This new stuff there selling us is crap and we just keep biting over and over.

 

Gee.... we didn't have problems like this in the '50s when the dashes were made of metal.....