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
129,000 miles · Sep 7, 2016
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. THE FRONT END SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED NECK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. THE FRONT END SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED NECK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000. UPDATED 12/13/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE BLACKED OUT AT THE WHEEL, DROVE INTO A DITCH, HIT DRIVEWAY, WENT AIRBORNE ABOUT 30-50 FEET AND LANDED IN A DITCH. UPDATED 12/20/16.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10904277
150,000 miles · Aug 30, 2016
Unknown Or Other
DASHBOARD CRACKING AND FALLING APART IS HAZARDOUS WHEN YOU CUT AIR OR DEFROST ON DEBRIS AND SHARP OBJECTS FLY IN YOUR EYES.
NHTSA ODI #10899490
149,000 miles · Aug 19, 2016
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED AND FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.
NHTSA ODI #10897236
222,750 miles · Aug 18, 2016
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS LAST WEEK, THE KEY SLID OUT OF THE IGNITION. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, MY STEERING COLOMN LOCKED AND THE MOTOR FINALLY DIED AND COASTED TO A STOP.
NHTSA ODI #10896800
Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2016
Unknown Or Other
DASH BOARD CRACKING ALL OVER...SHED KEPT...HELP!
NHTSA ODI #10884421
85,000 miles · Jun 30, 2016
Unknown Or Other
DASH IS CRACKED BIG PIECES BROKEN AND FALLING IN MESSED UP AIR BOX SO THAT AIR AND HEAT DON'T COME OUT HOT OR COLD SHARP PIECES COULD FLY IN TO YOUR FACE.
NHTSA ODI #10881723
190,000 miles · Jun 13, 2016
Electrical SystemVisibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE HVAC BLOWER MOTOR FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V078000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
NHTSA ODI #10873993
160,000 miles · Jun 7, 2016
Power Train
THE BOLT ATTACHING THE DRIVE SHAFT TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL PINION CAME OFF AND THE DRIVE SHAFT FELL OFF. THE PINION WAS THEN ABLE TO SLIDE BACK AND LOCK THE DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER CAUSING THE REAR AXLE AND TIRES TO LOCK IN PLACE, THE DEALER EXPLAINED THIS IS A PROBLEM AND THEY ACTUALLY RECALLED THE 2005 MODEL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM…
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THE BOLT ATTACHING THE DRIVE SHAFT TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL PINION CAME OFF AND THE DRIVE SHAFT FELL OFF. THE PINION WAS THEN ABLE TO SLIDE BACK AND LOCK THE DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER CAUSING THE REAR AXLE AND TIRES TO LOCK IN PLACE, THE DEALER EXPLAINED THIS IS A PROBLEM AND THEY ACTUALLY RECALLED THE 2005 MODEL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. BECAUSE I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE THAT THIS NEEDED TO BE CHECKED, SEVERE DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED WHICH WILL COST SEVERAL THOUSAND TO FIX. I WAS FORTUNATE THIS HAPPENED ON A SIDE ROAD GOING 30 MPH, IF THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY OR WORSE YET WHILE HAULING A TRAILER, CHANCES ARE A MAJOR ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED (SERIOUS SAFETY RISK). THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME KIND OF NOTIFICATION TO OTHER RAM TRUCK OWNERS THAT THIS MAY OCCUR AND THE SIMPLE FIX OR MAINTENANCE THAT IS NEEDED.
NHTSA ODI #10872918
77,000 miles · May 28, 2016
Air Bags
RECALL: MAY 2015, MADE MANY TRIPS TO DODGE DEALER IN 2015 AND EARLY 2016, THEY COULD NOT OR WOULD NOT REPAIR DEFECT
NHTSA ODI #10871352
126,000 miles · Jan 30, 2016
Air Bags
TAKATA RECALL- I OWN A LATE 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. 2002 WAS A MID YEAR CHANGE SO MY BODY IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE 2003-2007 (OR SO) RAMS. I'D BE WILLING TO BET THE FARM MY AIR BAG IS A TAKATA BRAND THE SAME AS THE 2003 WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED. GIVEN THAT, WHY ISN'T MY VEHICLE ON THE LIST? THANK YOU
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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