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 reports
23,000 miles · Oct 29, 2003
Tires
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THIS BRAND NEW VEHICLE WAS SOLD WITH USED TIRES. CONSUMER WENT TO THE VEHICLE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND DISCOVERED THAT FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SHOP FOR REPAIR. THE TIRE SHOP TECHNICIAN INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE TIRE HAD BEEN PLUGGED BEFORE. THE DEALER DENIED TH…
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CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THIS BRAND NEW VEHICLE WAS SOLD WITH USED TIRES. CONSUMER WENT TO THE VEHICLE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND DISCOVERED THAT FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SHOP FOR REPAIR. THE TIRE SHOP TECHNICIAN INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE TIRE HAD BEEN PLUGGED BEFORE. THE DEALER DENIED THAT THE TIRE WAS PLUGGED IN HIS POSSESSION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10044995
17,000 miles · Oct 29, 2003
Power TrainCrashInjury
WHEEL AND HUB COMING OFF. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10043857
2,000 miles · Oct 27, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE STALLED WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS AND/OR BRAKING. THIS RESULTED IN LOSES OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10044745
6,000 miles · Oct 26, 2003
Visibility
REAR WINDOW WATER LEAK. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10043602
41,000 miles · Oct 21, 2003
Electrical System
I OWN A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB 4X4. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2003, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CONDENSER FAN INOPERABLE DUE TO OPEN FUSE. THE SERVICE MGR TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON DEFECT BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE SHROUD THAT ALLOWS WATER TO COLLECT IN THE TROUGH. IT ALSO FREEZES IN THE WI…
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I OWN A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB 4X4. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2003, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CONDENSER FAN INOPERABLE DUE TO OPEN FUSE. THE SERVICE MGR TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON DEFECT BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE SHROUD THAT ALLOWS WATER TO COLLECT IN THE TROUGH. IT ALSO FREEZES IN THE WINTER PREVENTING THE FAN FROM TURNING. THIS IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE IT IS DESIGN DEFECT. THIS IS QUITE COSTLY TO HAVE THIS FIXED. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CASES OF THIS. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10043302
26,000 miles · Oct 15, 2003
Electrical SystemFire
5 MINUTES AFTER PARKING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10044002
Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2003
Steering
2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB, STEERING WHEEL IS PEALING APART, THE LEATHER IS PEALING OFF CAUSING MY HANDS TO STICK TO THE STEERING WHEEL , VERY DISTRACTING & UNCOMFORTABLE. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10041547
Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT. THE DEALER PERFORMED NUMEROUS UPDATES, REPAIRED A VACUUM LEAK, REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND GASKET AND THE VEHICLE STILL CONTINUED TO STALL. *AK *JB
NHTSA ODI #10037711
13,019 miles · Sep 29, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
BRAKE FAILURE ON 2002 DODGE RAM WITH 13,000 MILES DUE TO LOOSE BRAKE LINE.
NHTSA ODI #10040902
4,500 miles · Sep 26, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE BRAKE FAILED, AT 4500 MILES WHILE DRIVING AT 40-MPH. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES AT ALL. AS RESULT, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT COLLISION. BOTH TIMES DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.*AK
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.
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.
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.
2002 Dodge RAM 1500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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