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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

Power Train complaints

99 reports
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14,275 miles · Jan 25, 2004
Power TrainSteeringVehicle Speed Control

SPEEDOMETER STOPPED FUNCTIONING. FOUND THAT SENSOR ON TOP OF DIFFERENTIAL WAS DISLODGED AND OIL WAS COMING FROM DIFFERENTIAL. TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED DIFFERENTIAL, PINION BEARING, AND SENSOR. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10054830

10,908 miles · Dec 29, 2003
Power Train

VEHICLE HAS HAD REPEATED FAILURES OF REAR AXLE COMPONENTS. ALL APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO OVERSTATED TOWING CAPACITY. AFTER PURCHASING A TRAILER WELL WITHIN THE VEHICLES TOW RATING THE VEHICLE ON THE FIRST TRIP OUT WITH THE TRAILER EXHIBITED A PUTRID SMELL THAT COULD NOT BE LOCATED. THIS OCCURRED ON 07-25-03 AT JUST UNDER 8500 M…

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VEHICLE HAS HAD REPEATED FAILURES OF REAR AXLE COMPONENTS. ALL APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO OVERSTATED TOWING CAPACITY. AFTER PURCHASING A TRAILER WELL WITHIN THE VEHICLES TOW RATING THE VEHICLE ON THE FIRST TRIP OUT WITH THE TRAILER EXHIBITED A PUTRID SMELL THAT COULD NOT BE LOCATED. THIS OCCURRED ON 07-25-03 AT JUST UNDER 8500 MILES. THE DEALER COULD NOT LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL, AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE FOUND COAGULATED DIFFERENTIAL FLUID AND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE REAR AXLE. SEE YOUR ODI NUMBER 786051 FOR A SIMILAR CASE. THE REAR GEARS WERE REPLACED. ON 12-01-03 AT 10638 MILES I WAS ABLE TO LIMP THE TRUCK WITH THE TRAILER ATTACHED INTO SOUTHSIDE DODGE/KIA IN KISSIMMEE, FL. THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE WAS SO BADLY DAMAGED INCLUDING THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SENSORS THAT THE ENTIRE UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. ON 12-06-03 MY WIFE AND I RETRIEVED THE TRAILER. THE TRUCK WAS HAVING TROUBLE MAINTAINING EXPRESSWAY SPEEDS INTO A HEADWIND ON THIS TRIP. UPON ARRIVAL AT OUR HOME 265 MILES LATER WE AGAIN SMELLED THE OVERHEATED REAR AXLE FLUID. LATER INSPECTION AT THE DEALER SHOWED IT TO BE BURNT SMELLING, AND DISCOLORED. FURTHER REPAIRS ARE NOW AWAITED. I WILL BE FORWARDING COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION TODAY VIA USPS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10051226

927 miles · Nov 19, 2003
Power Train

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10048233

17,000 miles · Oct 29, 2003
Power TrainCrashInjury

WHEEL AND HUB COMING OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10043857

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2003
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS IN BECAUSE SHIFT LIGHTS ARE ON ALL THE GEARS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO JUDGE WHICH GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS IN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10037808

8,174 miles · Aug 4, 2003
Power Train

WOBBLE IN THE REAR WHEELS WHICH HAS CAUSED ME ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NOTIFIED DAIMLERCHRYSLER OF THIS PROBLEM ALSO.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10030747

6 miles · Jun 26, 2003
Power Train

THE VEHICLE HAD AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCK OUT FAILURE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS WITHOUT FIRST PUSHING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK POSITION. LOCK OUT FEATURE WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER REPLACED INTERLOCK CABLE AND IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER WORKED ON 4 TIMES. HOWEVER THE INTERLOCK STILL DID NOT…

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THE VEHICLE HAD AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCK OUT FAILURE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS WITHOUT FIRST PUSHING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK POSITION. LOCK OUT FEATURE WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER REPLACED INTERLOCK CABLE AND IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER WORKED ON 4 TIMES. HOWEVER THE INTERLOCK STILL DID NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. *TT *JB

NHTSA ODI #10019436

10,000 miles · May 21, 2003
Power Train

VEHICLE HAS A HARD SHIFT OR BUMP WHEN REACHING ABOUT 20 MPH. HAPPENS MOSTLY ON THE UP SHIFT AND DURING COOLER WEATHER. 8JB

NHTSA ODI #10019086

1,000 miles · Mar 13, 2003
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION GEAR WENT INTO NEUTRAL, WITHOUT WARNING. *JB THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS BEGAN AT 1K MILES,AND AT 6K MILES A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED. THE MANUFACTURER FELT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS REMEDIED. SCC

NHTSA ODI #10011681

100 miles · Feb 18, 2003
Power Train

TRANSMISSION GOES INTO HIGH GEAR TOO SOON CAUSING TOO MUCH DOWNSHIFTING WHEN I NEED TO SPEED UP. GOES INTO OVERDRIVE AT 45 MPH. VERY SLUGGISH WHEN I NEED TO SPEED UP UNLESS I GIVE IT A LOT OF GAS PEDAL AND THEN IT DROPS OUT OF OVERDRIVE AND SKIPS 4TH GEAR AND GOES DOWN TO 3RD GEAR.

NHTSA ODI #10007714

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.