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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

Structure complaints

278 reports
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50 miles · May 20, 2003
Structure

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD WHISTLING NOISE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10020210

123 miles · Feb 5, 2003
Structure

WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY, THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE BOUNCES, VERY SEVERELY. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH *TS

NHTSA ODI #10006581

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2002
Exterior LightingPower TrainStructure

HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. SOME HAVEN'T BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER YET. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE. IT SHIFTS HARD AT ABOUT 2200 RPM'S OR AROUND 25-30MPH. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE. I'VE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS THAT WERE NOT LISTED INCLUDING BRAKES AND ALTERNATOR. THE …

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HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. SOME HAVEN'T BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER YET. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE. IT SHIFTS HARD AT ABOUT 2200 RPM'S OR AROUND 25-30MPH. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE. I'VE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS THAT WERE NOT LISTED INCLUDING BRAKES AND ALTERNATOR. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR MIRROR HAS RECENTLY BROKEN AND NOW FLOPS IN THE WIND ON THE FREE WAY AND IS UNUSABLE. I FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, THEN FOUND THAT IT WAS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE. THE VENTILATION FROM THE PANEL IS ASLO SENT TO THE FLOOR VENTS DESPITE THE DIAL BEING SET TO "PANEL" NOT "FLOOR". THE TAILGATE CABLES ARE MISMATCHED. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NORMAL. I WON'T PLACE ANYTHING ON THE TAILGATE IN FEAR THAT THE CABLE MIGHT BREAK. THE EXTERIOR TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT SYNCHED WITH THE DISPLAYED TRUN SIGNALS. THE SIMULTANEOUS FLASH IS NOT THERE. ALSO, THE ALTERNATOR WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AT AROUND 600 MILES. IT WAS CAUSING A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAKING SOUND SIMILAR TO WHAT A DEFECTIVE BELT MAY SOUND LIKE. IT WAS REPLACED, BUT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN AT 6750 MILES. THE HOOD HAS SLIGHT DENTS IN IT LIKE SOMEONE HIT IT WITH A BALL PEN HAMMER. APPARENTLY CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THIS. I'LL BE TAKING IT IN THE FIRST CHANCE I GET TO TRY TO HAVE IT FIXED. I'VE HAD THIS TRUCK A 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS IN HOPE THAT THE NEXT ONE WOULD BE MORE HELP THAN THE PREVIOUS. NO SUCH LUCK. I'VE HAD TO TAKE TIME OFF FROM WORK (ABOUT 6 DAYS TOTAL; HAD TO WAIT AT DEALERSHIP SINCE IT WAS AN OUT OF TOWN PURCHASE ) AND RENT CARS 5 TIMES WHILE HAVING IT WORKED ON AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN ORDER TO GET TO WORK. I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT BAD LUCK WITH THIS VEHICLE. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER HAS DREADFUL QUALITY CONTROL AND I CAN'T SAY MUCH MORE FOR THE DEALERS. I HOPE I CAN GET THE ISSUES WITH THIS TRUCK RESOLVED SOMEDAY. DT

NHTSA ODI #768947

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2002
Structure

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING OPEN THE REAR DOORS IT WILL HEAVILY VIBRATE AND WILL MAKE A LOUD POPPING NOISE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

NHTSA ODI #8021557

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2002
Structure

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH I DROVE OVER A ROUGH, UNEVEN PATCH OF ROAD I LOSS CONTROL OF THE REAR OF MY TRUCK. IT WAS A SCARY SITUATION SINCE THE LOSS OF CONTROL CAUSED ME TO SKID INTO THE NEXT LANE. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO OTHER CAR PRESENT. IF YOU COULD KEEP ME INFORMED ON THIS MATTER IT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED. PH **DI…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH I DROVE OVER A ROUGH, UNEVEN PATCH OF ROAD I LOSS CONTROL OF THE REAR OF MY TRUCK. IT WAS A SCARY SITUATION SINCE THE LOSS OF CONTROL CAUSED ME TO SKID INTO THE NEXT LANE. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO OTHER CAR PRESENT. IF YOU COULD KEEP ME INFORMED ON THIS MATTER IT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED. PH **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768321

NHTSA ODI #10007475

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2002
Power TrainStructureTires

NONE

NHTSA ODI #767759

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2002
Structure

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THE BED OF THE TRUCK HAD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE CAB AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO IT, CONSUMER BELIEVES IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED DURING REGULAR DRIVING, POSSIBLY WHILE IN THE MOUNTAINS, THE GENERAL MANAGER OFFERED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGES, HOWEVER CONSUMER DECLINED TO HAVE A 30,…

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WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THE BED OF THE TRUCK HAD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE CAB AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO IT, CONSUMER BELIEVES IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED DURING REGULAR DRIVING, POSSIBLY WHILE IN THE MOUNTAINS, THE GENERAL MANAGER OFFERED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGES, HOWEVER CONSUMER DECLINED TO HAVE A 30,000 DOLLAR TRUCK REPAIRED, CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY HIM DRIVING EXCESSIVELY, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES.*JB

NHTSA ODI #566162

Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2002
Structure

THE BED OF THE TRUCK HIT AND DAMAGED THE CAB. THIS CAUSES CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PASSENGERS IN THE CAB.*AK. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES AND THEY FELT THAT CONSUMER WAS DRIVING EXCESSIVELY TO CAUSE THE DAMAGE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #760608

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.