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2002 Dodge RAM 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Dodge RAM 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 520.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

584 reports with mileage · 231 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 278 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 93 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

55 crash reports14 fire reports43 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

58 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP, IT STALLED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10017670

3,000 miles · Apr 3, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, WHEN AT A STOP. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10015086

12,000 miles · Mar 28, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A PUMP IN THE ROAD, IT STALLED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10014670

500 miles · Mar 26, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE STALLS WHEN AIR IS OFF, AND STALLS WHEN AIR IS ON. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10011079

250 miles · Nov 26, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE HAS ROUGH IDLE WHEN TRANSMISSION IS IN REVERSE OR DRIVE, WITH ENGINE AT IDLE SPEED. I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER IDENTICAL VEHICLES THAT DID NOT EXHIBIT THIS CONDITION. CONDITION GROWING MORE SEVERE. *TS *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770148

NHTSA ODI #10009409

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed ControlVisibility

WE PURCHASED THIS TRUCK 2/28/02. BY THE END OF MARCH EARLY APRIL, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO STALL SPORADICALLY AND HAS EVEN JUMPED GEARS WHILE IN MOTION ONCE. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP 8-9 TIMES AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD EVERYTIME THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PROMISES UPON PROMISES HAVE BEEN MADE TO RE-FLASH T…

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WE PURCHASED THIS TRUCK 2/28/02. BY THE END OF MARCH EARLY APRIL, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO STALL SPORADICALLY AND HAS EVEN JUMPED GEARS WHILE IN MOTION ONCE. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP 8-9 TIMES AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD EVERYTIME THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PROMISES UPON PROMISES HAVE BEEN MADE TO RE-FLASH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD THEY (DODGE) THINK THE TRUCKS COMPUTER SYSTEM IS TELLING THE TRUCK TO SHUT DOWN. ONE TIME WHILE RIDING DOWN THE ROAD THE TRUCK LOST COMPLETE POWER TO ALL INTERIOR SYSTEMS (I.E. AIR CONDITION, STEREO, WINDOWS) AND WE HAD TO PULL OVER. THE TRUCK HAS STALLED BOTH IN REVERSE AND IN DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION HAS LOCKED UP ON THE DEALERSHIP (IN REVERSE). FROM FEB. 28, 02 TO JUNE 28, 02 THE TRUCK WAS IN THE SHOP OVER 25 DAYS. ON JULY 8, 2002, THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR COMPLETELY BROKE AND WOULD SPIN AROUND IN CIRCLES. WHEN WE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WE WERE TOLD IT WAS ON A NATIONAL BACKORDER. WHILE WAITING FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR, THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR BROKE IN THE SAME FASHION. ALL IN ALL WE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL 9/9/02 TO HAVE THE MIRRORS FIXED. WHILE WAITING WE HAD TO TAPE THE MIRRORS IN PLACE SO WE COULD SEE WHILE DRIVING. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AT TIMES AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO TRAVEL. WE HAVE STOPPED TAKING THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR NOW BECAUSE WE GET NOW WHERE WITH THEM OR DAIMLERCHRYSLER/DODGE. I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO HELP PURSUE THIS MATTER. WHEN PAYING $30,000 FOR A TRUCK AND THEN BEING REFUSED REPAIR FOR A PROBLEM THAT CAN AND HAS DEFINETLY ALTERED THE MARKET VALUE AND OUR CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE A SAFE TRUCK TO DRIVE/RIDE IN IS IN-EXCUSABLE. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE WE ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THESE PROBLEMS. LET'S ALL GET TOGETHER AND MAKE DODGE STAND UP TO THEIR PROBLEMS. MR

NHTSA ODI #768550

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspensionVisibility

TS

NHTSA ODI #767796

780 miles · Jul 1, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE DIES IN TRAFFIC, CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8013059

Official recalls

3

03V504000 · Tires

Dec 10, 2003

ON CERTAIN 4X4 PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH THE SNOW PLOW PREPARATION PACKAGE, THE TIRES SUPPLIED ON SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATINGS THAT SLIGHTLY EXCEED THE MAXIMUM TIRE LOAD CAPACITY AS DEFINED IN FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PROVIDE REPLACEMENT P245/75R16 TIRES TO MEET THE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY SPECIFIED ON THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL AND ACCOMMODATE THE ADDITION OF A COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE SNOW PLOW AND HARDWARE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-992-1997.

03V077000 · Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices:exterior

Mar 10, 2003

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE DETENT SYSTEM ON THE EXTERIOR MIRROR HOUSINGS MAY LOSE THE FUNCTIONALITY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD POTENTIALLY AFFECT REARWARD FIELD OF VISION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MIRROR DETENT RETAINER KIT TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 10, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

03V078000 · Steering:column

Mar 10, 2003

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN CONTAINS AN UNDER-SIZED TERMINAL FOR THE HVAC BLOWER MOTOR CIRCUIT. LOCALIZED HEATING FROM CURRENT FLOW WITH THE BLOWER SPEED SET ON HIGH MAY CAUSE THE TERMINAL CONTACTS TO RELAX AND LOSE ELECTRICAL CONTACT. THIS CAN CAUSE THE HVAC BLOWER MOTOR TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE IMPAIRMENT OF VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS OVERLAY TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 15, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE02096 · Rear Axle Failure

Opened Dec 26, 2002 · Closed May 15, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:axle Assembly; Power Train:driveline:differential Unit

SEE ATTACHED REPORT.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Power Train:axle Assembly

SEE ATTACHED REPORT.

Power Train:driveline:differential Unit

SEE ATTACHED REPORT.