IllustrationWHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED. HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. THE DRIVER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK
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
What owners actually said
815 reportsWITH 65,000 MILES ON 2002 DODGE RAM 4X4 QUAD CAB. TRANSMISSION FAILED. ONLY DO ORDINARY DRIVING, NO HAULING OF ANY KIND. OF COURSE NO WARRANTY. $3000 TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER TO SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES ,AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. *AK
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING, THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND THE COMPUTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, THE SECOND TIME THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE DEALER STATED I…
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PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING, THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND THE COMPUTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, THE SECOND TIME THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE DEALER STATED IT WAS SENDING THE SAME CODE AND THEY WOULD REPLACE THE SOLENOID. THE THIRD TIME AFTER HAVING NO TRANSPORTATION FOR THREE DAYS, THE CONSUMER AND HIS WIFE WERE TOLD THAT A BALL BEARING IN THE VALVE BODY OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN THE WRONG PLACE. *JB
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35 TO 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
FIRST THERE WAS AN INTERMITTANT FAILURE OF BRAKE LIGHTS THEN ONE FAILED COMPLETLY AND THE OTHER FAILED THE FOLLOWING DAY. I HAD A CLOSE CALL (REAR ENDED)WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT WAS WRONG , AND REPLACED TAIL LIGHT TREE COMPONET, THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THIS AND HAD TOLD ME T…
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FIRST THERE WAS AN INTERMITTANT FAILURE OF BRAKE LIGHTS THEN ONE FAILED COMPLETLY AND THE OTHER FAILED THE FOLLOWING DAY. I HAD A CLOSE CALL (REAR ENDED)WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT WAS WRONG , AND REPLACED TAIL LIGHT TREE COMPONET, THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THIS AND HAD TOLD ME THEYHAD ALOT OF THEM FAILING, IWAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS CHARGED FULL PRICE FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND REPLACEMENT PARTS ETC. I WAS UNHAPPY WITH THE WAY THEY TREATED THIS SAFETY PROBLEM.*AK
REAR WHEEL SHEARED OFF THE AXLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DRIFT INTO A DITCH. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO DOWN SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION GEARS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK IN ADDITION, CONSUMER IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH TIRES AND ITS SIDEWALL AND REQUESTING MANUFACTURER TO DESIGN TIRES FOR OFF ROAD CONDITIONS. FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED A…
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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO DOWN SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION GEARS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK IN ADDITION, CONSUMER IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH TIRES AND ITS SIDEWALL AND REQUESTING MANUFACTURER TO DESIGN TIRES FOR OFF ROAD CONDITIONS. FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED AND THE PADS HAVE 80 PERCENT LEFT AT 34,000 MILES. *LA
INTERMITTENT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. DEALER REPLACED TURN SIGNAL SWITCH, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *NM
APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES, THE VEHICLE CUT OFF WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC OR A STOP SIGN. *PH DODGE HAD BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THIS AND OR HOW TO FIX IT. *SC *JB
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.