IllustrationMY 02 RAM QC 1500 4X4 GETS UNSETTLED WHEN HITTING UNEVEN PAVEMENT/BUMPS, ESPECIALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN. YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE BOTH HANDS ON ON THE WHEEL OR YOU MIGHT FIND YOURSELF IN THE NEXT LANE.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
860–25K
10525–50K
12050–75K
10775–100K
104100–150K
62150K+
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
Suspension complaints
71 reportsTHE REAR SUSPENSION IS BOUNCING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 65MPH, WHEN THE REAR TIRE HIT A BUMP. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS *DT
THE VEHICLE HAD A SEVER VIBRATION AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. OVER TIME THE VIBRATION WAS SO SEVER IT CAUSED SEVER BACK PAIN. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR SIX MONTHS AND HAVING M=NO OPTION WITH THE MANUFACTURER I HAVE DISPOSED OF THE TRUCK. THE MANUFACTURER KNBOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND THEY HAVE NOT DISCLOSED THE ISSUES TO THE PUBLIC. …
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THE VEHICLE HAD A SEVER VIBRATION AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. OVER TIME THE VIBRATION WAS SO SEVER IT CAUSED SEVER BACK PAIN. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR SIX MONTHS AND HAVING M=NO OPTION WITH THE MANUFACTURER I HAVE DISPOSED OF THE TRUCK. THE MANUFACTURER KNBOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND THEY HAVE NOT DISCLOSED THE ISSUES TO THE PUBLIC. THE PROBLEM ALSO MANIFESTED AS OVER STEERING AND EXTREME REACTION TO ROAD CONDITIONS. CHRYSLER HAS NOW ADDED TO THEIR OWNERS MANUAL THE SUGGESTION TO ADD SAND BAGS TO THE BED OF THE TRUCK TO MAKE IT " RIDE BETTER". THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO OFFER ANY OTHER ASSISTANCE. I HAVE MANY LETTERS TO DOCUMENT THEIR POSITION AND ATTITUDE. DT
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ALIGNMENT. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO STRAIGHT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE ALIGMENT HAD PROBLEMS. ALSO STATED THAT HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE CLOCKSPRING AND IT HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES. MR
VEHICLE DEVELOPES A VIBRATION/FRONT END BOUNCE AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 35-45 MPH AND THEN AGAIN AT 55-65 MPH, BUT WORSE. DOES NOT OCCUR PRIOR TO 35 MPH AND THEN DISAPPEARS BETWEEN 45-55 MPH ONLY TO SHOW UP AGAIN AT PREVIOUS STATED SPEED 55-65 MPH. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE BUT CAN NOT FIX PROBLEM. DT
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL JUMPED LANES WHEN IT HITS A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE WHOLE VECHILE WILL VIBRATE WHEN IS EXCEEDS SPEEDS OF 65 MPH AND OVER. CONTACTED DEALER, CANNOT FIX PROBLEM. MR
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE VIBRATES/BOUNCES EXCESSIVELY WHEN DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS OR GOING OVER A POTHOLE. VIBRATION IS EXCESSIVE AND CONSUMER FEELS AS IF GOING TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DLR 3X AND HAD TIRES REPLACED. PROBLEM IS STILL EXISTS. MR
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THERE IS BUMPING AND KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NLM
AT SPEEDS ABOVE 30 MPH, VEHICLE DEMONSTRATES LACK OF CONTROL WHEN ENCOUNTERING ROUGH/UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXCESSIVE JUMP/BOUNCE IN FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION. TIRE PRESSURE DECREASED FROM TIRE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED 44 PSI TO DODGE RECOMMENDED 35 PSI. THIS ACTION HELPED TO RESTORE LOW SPEED CONTROL. VEHICLE …
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AT SPEEDS ABOVE 30 MPH, VEHICLE DEMONSTRATES LACK OF CONTROL WHEN ENCOUNTERING ROUGH/UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXCESSIVE JUMP/BOUNCE IN FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION. TIRE PRESSURE DECREASED FROM TIRE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED 44 PSI TO DODGE RECOMMENDED 35 PSI. THIS ACTION HELPED TO RESTORE LOW SPEED CONTROL. VEHICLE STILL HAS CONTROL LOSS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 65 MPH AND GREATER. DEALER CONTACTED AND STATED HAD NOT HEARD OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WOULD LOOK INTO PROBLEM. NOTE: VEHICLE IS A SWB STANDARD CAB VERSION OF THE RAM 1500. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768036
TS
Official recalls
303V504000 · 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
1PE02096 · 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.