OK.....I HAD MY TRUCK SERVICED LIKE I ALWAYS DO WHEN IT IS TIME. I MAKE SURE MY TRUCK IS WELL TAKING CARE OF BECAUSE I LOVE MY BABY!!!! I JUST HAD A NEW RADIATOR PUT IN AND THE NEXT DAY I TOOK MY TRUCK BACK TO GET MY OIL CHANGE(not the cheap one), REAR DIFFERENTIAL DONE, AND MY TIRES ROTATED. DROVE TO NASHVILLE THE FOLLOWING DAY ON A FRIDAY WHICH IS ONLY 40MINUTES AWAY AND BACK HOME. THE TRUCK WAS PARKED UNTIL THAT SUNDAY WHEN I NEEDED TO MOVE IT. OMG OMG OMG IT LOOKED LIKE I THREW 2 BAGS OF FLOUR IN THE AIR BEHIND MY TRUCK WHITE SMOKE EVERYWHERE! I HAD NO SIGN THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING WRONG OR WAS WRONG WITH MY TRUCK. NOW LET A BULB BLOW OUT AND YOU HEAR WARNING DINGS LOUD AND CLEAR EVERYTIME YOU START IT UP. IT RAN FINE LIKE IT USUALLY DID. I HAD NO NOISES BESIDES MY FLOW MASTER AND PIPES GETTING DOWN SOUNDING LOUD AND STRONG (VROOM VROOM) IT WAS DRINK'N GAS AND HAUL'N ASS. I HAD IT LOOKED AT AND BEING THAT I AM A WOMEN I GUESS IM NOT SUPPOSE TO KNOW ABOUT (MY) TRUCK AND WAS TOLD IT MAY DO THAT WHEN YOU START IT UP.....WTF (ARE YOU CRAZY)? I HAD TO INFORM THE GENTLEMEN THAT THERE SHOULD NOT BE A DAMN THING SMOKING FROM MY TRUCK AND IT WAS NOT WINTER TIME. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT I WAS TOLD BY MANY MECHANICS AND NON MECHANICS THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE AND THE 4.7L ENGINE WAS THE WORST DODGE ENGINE EVER. DODGE DO NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR MESS UP AND THEY SHOULD. I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ARE NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR JACKED UP PRODUCT. OF COURSE THEY KNOW, THAT'S WHY THEY HURRIED UP AND CHANGED THE ENGINE STYLE. I LOVE MY TRUCK I JUST WANT IT FIXED.

The truck was towed to my mechanic because it failed to start. This was the original problem. I was notified that the truck required an Integrated Power Module which was hard to locate and needed wiring harness corrected before installation. After successfully installing module, my mechanic notified me that the truck also needed a new head gasket left side. This head also has the timing gear idler arm attached to the head and was broken. Tried welding the broken piece, no luck. Trying to replace the head became a real pain because the only way was to replace was to buy a remanufactured head from Chrysler. I was charged $2,350.00 by my mechanic for repair.

Also the truck has been in the shop for a new radiator because of an UN-repairable leak.

Also the truck has a wiring problem resulting in dash lights not working properly, also affecting my heating and cooling fan, my seat controls and my radio controls. Thank you for giving the time to let the public know about this vehicle.

jgbrannan1949

2002 Dodge 1500 4.7 Engine. What a piece of crap! Bought the truck for my son after graduation and within 3 months at 120k miles it cracks a head. $4K to buy a re-manufactured engine from Powertrain. I have a 95 Ford F-350 7.3 Turbo Diesel with 600K miles on the original motor. Funny thing is my company just gave me a 2004 Dodge 1500 with a 4.7 in it and it shows all of the same symptoms. Motor vibrates excessively, just put a salvaged 4.7 engine back in it. A/C and heater are not doing the job......Need I keep on going? Dodge, you suck! Never again! Never!!!!!! Ford rules.

This is what I found online and it matches my problem exactly:

There is a definite trend of major problems with this engine. This is NOT the hemi. Apparently it is an engineering design flaw of motor oil circulation. After 70-100K, a head gasket blows, resulting in loss of coolant, water in oil, and warping of one or both heads, with loss of compression in one or more cylinders. There are reports of owners who have changed their oil every 3K miles with Mobil 1 synthetic, and the problem still happens. Ancillary repairs are reported, such as water pump replacement, etc. but the core of the problem is oil sludging, lack of circulation of oil, overheating, and damage. Chrysler is obviously aware of the problem, since many owners initially service at their dealer. My dealer quoted $5,000. Private mechanic repaired mine for $3,250. I would hope there will be a class action lawsuit against Chrysler for this problem. Apparently they have corrected the design flaw in subsequent year models. Their motto and claim to fame in the early 2000's was engine and drive train reliability with the best in class warranty with 7yr/100K. The rest of the story is what happens immediately after the warranty for so many owners. Chrysler needs to admit the design flaw and offer retribution for owners who have suffered the loss (with receipts).