NHTSA Complaint #10400715 — 2002 DODGE RAM 1500

UPPER RADIATOR HOSE BLEW-OUT,@42,000 MILES , AFTER REPLACING INCREASE IN ENGINE TEMP. REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR, TEMP REMAINED ELEVATED. VEHICLE NEVER OVERHEATED. ENGINE VALVES STARTED TAPPING, ANTIFREEZE ACCUMULATION ON THE INSIDE OF ENGINE OIL CAP. BAD HEADGASKETS. ENGINE OIL & FILTER CHANGED EVERY 2500 MILES. NOW WITH THE WARM WEATHER, ONLY OCCASIONAL ENGINE TAPPING AND NO ANTIFREEZE ON THE INSIDE OF ENGINE OIL CAP. HEAD GASKETS MUST BE LEAKING OR SHRINKAGE OF THE GASKETS WITH THE COLD WEATHER. CONTACTED DODGE AND THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS! CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND MULTIPLE DODGE VEHICLE OWNERS WITH THE 4.7 LITRE ENGINE HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS. POOR ENGINE DESIGN, THIN WALLED ENGINE BLOCK, LUBRICATION HOLES IN ROCKER ARMS NOT DRILLED IN CORRECT LOCATION= CHECK REPLACEMENT ROCKER ARMS AS OPPOSED TO ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THIS IS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP 4.7 ENG 43,000 MILES. CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE A ENGINE RECALL AND REPLACED THESE DEFECTIVE ENGINES AS THEY WERE ONLY AVAILABLE FOR A FEW YEARS AND THEN DISCONTINUED, I WONDER WHY!! *TR