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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

Steering complaints

44 reports
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86,312 miles · Jun 14, 2010
SteeringSuspension

REPLACED RACK AND PINION FOUR TIMES ALONG WITH THE UPPER CONTROL ARM, UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS, AND TIE ROD ENDS. THIS LAST TIME THE BOOTS ON THE RACK AND PINION BUSTED POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOST CAUSING STEERING TO LOCK UP. THE SEVERE UNDERLYING ISSUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION IS THE LEFT AND RIGHT STEERING KNUC…

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REPLACED RACK AND PINION FOUR TIMES ALONG WITH THE UPPER CONTROL ARM, UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS, AND TIE ROD ENDS. THIS LAST TIME THE BOOTS ON THE RACK AND PINION BUSTED POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOST CAUSING STEERING TO LOCK UP. THE SEVERE UNDERLYING ISSUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION IS THE LEFT AND RIGHT STEERING KNUCKLES ARE FAULTY CAUSING THE TIRES TO TURN TO FAR WHICH IS CAUSING THE DAMAGE TO THE RACK AND PINION BUSTING WHICH IS CAUSING THE DRAINAGE OF POWER STEERING FLUID AND LOCKING UP THE STEERING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10336302

50,000 miles · May 11, 2010
Steering

COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID RESULTING IN SEVERE DIFFICULTY IN STEERING VEHICLE. THIS IS A 2ND OCCURRENCE AFTER HAVING REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR ON THE SAME VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES EARLIER. I HAD THE STEERING GEAR REPLACED NEW FOR A 2ND TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10329926

60,000 miles · Feb 20, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

2002 DODGE RAM 1500 RACK AND PINION GOING OUT ONLY 60,000 MILES....ALSO, THEY REPLACED A/C FAN MOTOR ONCE...I PAID SEVERAL TIMES...ABOUT TO GO OUT AGAIN (LOW HUMMING NOISE IS INDICATOR - AS NOISE INCREASES, MOTOR FAILS). I AM SO DISAPPOINTED; AS A SPECIAL NEEDS TEACHER I DEPEND ON THIS VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT ME SAFELY TO AND FROM…

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2002 DODGE RAM 1500 RACK AND PINION GOING OUT ONLY 60,000 MILES....ALSO, THEY REPLACED A/C FAN MOTOR ONCE...I PAID SEVERAL TIMES...ABOUT TO GO OUT AGAIN (LOW HUMMING NOISE IS INDICATOR - AS NOISE INCREASES, MOTOR FAILS). I AM SO DISAPPOINTED; AS A SPECIAL NEEDS TEACHER I DEPEND ON THIS VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT ME SAFELY TO AND FROM MY WORK....CANNOT DEPEND ON IT. I HATE IT...IT'S BEEN A PAIN SINCE FIRST PROBLEM WITH 18 MILES ON IT!!! PLEASE, HOLD DODGE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR MISTAKES.... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10312304

62,000 miles · Aug 18, 2009
Steering

MY 2002 DODGE 1500 QUAD CAB 4X4 HAD A LEAK ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE,WHICH WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY IN 2004. IN 2005 I NOTICE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING AGAIN IN THE SAME AREA AND THOUGHT IT WAS THE HOSE AGAIN. THIS TIME IT TURN OUT TO BE A LEEK IN THE GEAR BOX. AT THE TIME THE TRUCK HAD 62000 KMS AND 3 MONTHS PAST IT'S W…

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MY 2002 DODGE 1500 QUAD CAB 4X4 HAD A LEAK ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE,WHICH WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY IN 2004. IN 2005 I NOTICE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING AGAIN IN THE SAME AREA AND THOUGHT IT WAS THE HOSE AGAIN. THIS TIME IT TURN OUT TO BE A LEEK IN THE GEAR BOX. AT THE TIME THE TRUCK HAD 62000 KMS AND 3 MONTHS PAST IT'S WARRANTY AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN OFF ROAD. THE DODGE DEALER WOULD NOT HELP COVER ANY EXPENSES FOR THIS PREMATURE FAILURE. CURRENTLY THE STEERING IS UNSTABLE ON UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES AND I DO NOT DRIVE IT IN THE WINTER. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS BUT ONE NEAR MISS WHEN THE TRUCK VEERED OVER TO THE ON COMING LANE AFTER GOING OVER A BUMP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280781

41,150 miles · Jan 26, 2009
Power TrainSteering

2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE POWER STEERING QUIT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I WAS IN A CURVE AND ALMOST WRECKED. I HAVE HEARD OTHER PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. I THOUGHT SAFETY WAS NUMBER ONE. BUT I GUESS THIS WILL NOT BE A RECALL UNTIL SOME ONE FROM YOUR OFFICE OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE IS KILLED IN THIS TYPE OF SITUATION. I HAV…

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2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE POWER STEERING QUIT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I WAS IN A CURVE AND ALMOST WRECKED. I HAVE HEARD OTHER PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. I THOUGHT SAFETY WAS NUMBER ONE. BUT I GUESS THIS WILL NOT BE A RECALL UNTIL SOME ONE FROM YOUR OFFICE OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE IS KILLED IN THIS TYPE OF SITUATION. I HAVE READ THAT PEOPLE HAVE RAN OF THE ROAD WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED OR HAVE STRUCK A ROADSIDE OBJECT TRYING TO STOP. COME ON PEOPLE LETS FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10256336

48,000 miles · Jan 5, 2009
Steering

LOST ALL STEERING CAPABILITY WHILE DRIVING: ALMOST RAN INTO A HOUSE. THERE IS POWER STEERING FLUID ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NO COLLISIONS IN THIS VEHICLE OTHER THAN A MINOR REAR END FENDER BENDER. PREVIOUSLY I HAD THE HIGH PRESSURE PWR STEERING HOSE REPLACED AND THE SYSTEM FLUSHED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253817

159,000 miles · Jan 5, 2009
SteeringSuspensionCrash

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING, ROADS WERE WET, TEMPERATURE WAS 23 DEGREES. WAS DRIVING ON A TWO LANE ROADWAY ABOUT 40 MPH. WAS ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH WHEN TRUCK STARTED TO FISH TAIL SLIGHTLY. REAR OF THE TRUCK SLID SLIGHTLY TOWARD DRIVERS SIDE. I TURNED THE WHEELS SLIGHTLY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SLIDE AND THEN START…

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WHILE DRIVING TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING, ROADS WERE WET, TEMPERATURE WAS 23 DEGREES. WAS DRIVING ON A TWO LANE ROADWAY ABOUT 40 MPH. WAS ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH WHEN TRUCK STARTED TO FISH TAIL SLIGHTLY. REAR OF THE TRUCK SLID SLIGHTLY TOWARD DRIVERS SIDE. I TURNED THE WHEELS SLIGHTLY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SLIDE AND THEN STARTED TO TURN THE WHEELS BACK THE OTHER DIRECTION AS TRUCK STARTED TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. AT THAT POINT I FELT SOMETHING GIVE IN THE FRONT END ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE TRUCK STARTED PULLING ACROSS THE CENTER LINE AND OFF THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR A TELEPHONE POLE. I TRIED PUSHING THE BRAKES FULLY, BUT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I CUT THE WHEELS ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT , JUST MISSING THE TELEPHONE POLE. MY FRONT FENDER STRUCK A STEEL POLE FILLED WITH CEMENT NEXT TO A SPLIT RAIL FENCE. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WAS LAYING UNDER THE TRUCK, ONLY HELD ON BY THE TIE ROD END. THIS WAS BY NO MEANS A VERY BAD CASE OF SLIDING AND OVER STEERING. THE UPPER BALL JOINT HAD JUST SEPARATED CAUSING THE TIRE TO BUCKLE UNDER. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE ESCAPED THIS ACCIDENT WITHOUT INJURY OR HAVING MY TRUCK ROLL OVER. I HAVE SEEN ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE DODGE DURANGOS WITH THE BALL JOINT SEPARATION AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE IT IS THE SAME SUSPENSION PARTS USED IN THE DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 TRUCKS. THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED INTO BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253777

62,955 miles · Oct 27, 2008
Power TrainSteering

DURING A TIRE ROTATION THE MECHANIC NOTICED A DEFECT WITH THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM WHICH WAS LEAKING AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO NOTICED THE TIRE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE WHICH IS ALLOWING UNNECESSARY MOVEMENT OF THE TIRES. LASTLY THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL IS LEAKING AS WELL. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS…

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DURING A TIRE ROTATION THE MECHANIC NOTICED A DEFECT WITH THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM WHICH WAS LEAKING AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO NOTICED THE TIRE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE WHICH IS ALLOWING UNNECESSARY MOVEMENT OF THE TIRES. LASTLY THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL IS LEAKING AS WELL. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO USED WITH 41,000 MILES AND CURRENTLY HAS 62,955. THIS VEHICLE IS OPERATED UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246815

70,000 miles · Apr 15, 2008
Steering

TOO MUCH MOVING AROUND WITH THE STEERING , FROM SIDE TO SIDE YOU HAVE TO GRAB WHEEL IF POSSIBLE WITH YOUR FEET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10224547

54,000 miles · Feb 1, 2008
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE RED-COLORED FLUID UNDERNEATH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE NEAR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEALS IN THE POWER STEERING RACK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONE MONTH LATER, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN P…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE RED-COLORED FLUID UNDERNEATH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE NEAR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEALS IN THE POWER STEERING RACK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONE MONTH LATER, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGER PUDDLE OF POWER STEERING FLUID. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,603 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

NHTSA ODI #10216722

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.