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
22,112 miles · Aug 22, 2003
Tires
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD A LEFT TO RIGHT MOVEMENT IN THE REAR AND IF THE SPEED WOULD HAVE BEEN ANY HIGHER, THE CONSUMER COULD HAVE LOSS CONTROL. THE TIRES WERE CHECKED FOR PROPER INFLATION BEFORE GOING OUT OF TOWN. THE TIRE CAUSED DAMAGE TO T…
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WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD A LEFT TO RIGHT MOVEMENT IN THE REAR AND IF THE SPEED WOULD HAVE BEEN ANY HIGHER, THE CONSUMER COULD HAVE LOSS CONTROL. THE TIRES WERE CHECKED FOR PROPER INFLATION BEFORE GOING OUT OF TOWN. THE TIRE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE'S PICK UP BED. THE CONSUMER DISAGREED WITH WHAT GOODYEAR FOUND AND REQUESTED THAT THE TIRE BE RETURNED. *SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10031268
27,709 miles · Aug 12, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicWheels
WHEELS ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM WITH 17 INCH ALLOY (GREY LOOKING) OPTION WHEELS HAS AIR VENTALATION OPENINGS FOR THE ROTORS WHICH IS TOO SMALL AND DOESN'T ALLOW ENOUGH AIR TO COOL OFF ROTORS. .THIS DEFECT IN THE WHEELS OPENING CAUSES ROTORS TO OVERHEAT QUICKLY AND NOT BE ABLE TO COOL OFF. THIS WARPS THE ROTORS CAUSING INCREASED ST…
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WHEELS ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM WITH 17 INCH ALLOY (GREY LOOKING) OPTION WHEELS HAS AIR VENTALATION OPENINGS FOR THE ROTORS WHICH IS TOO SMALL AND DOESN'T ALLOW ENOUGH AIR TO COOL OFF ROTORS. .THIS DEFECT IN THE WHEELS OPENING CAUSES ROTORS TO OVERHEAT QUICKLY AND NOT BE ABLE TO COOL OFF. THIS WARPS THE ROTORS CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES, AND SHIMMY OR SHAKE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. TRUCK VIBRATES HARSHLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN GOING TO SLOW DOWN AT OFF RAMPS. IF WHEELS WERE DESIGNED TO ALLOW MORE AIR. I HAVE BROUGHT TO DEALER TO CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM AND IT'S FOUND THAT BRAKES ARE FINE BUT ROTORS ARE WARPED. 3000 MILES LATER AND ROTORS ARE WARPED AGAIN. THIS WILL KEEP HAPPENING UNLESS I CHANGE RIMS AND MY DODGE RAM . AT DODGE TRUCK WORLD.COM THERE IS A LIST OF OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM . THIS ALSO COULD CAUSE FIRE OR INABILITY TO STOP.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10032652
Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER STATES WHILE AIR CONDITIONER A/C IS TURNED OFF VEHICLE WOULD IDLE LOW, RESULTING IN STALLING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10032306
20,000 miles · Aug 6, 2003
Suspension
I HAVE A RATTLE UNDER FRONT FINDERS OF 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 BROUGHT TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS NONE OF THEM CAN FIND PROBLEM ALSO RIDES ROUGH. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10030930
Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2003
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, FLAMES CAME OUT THE DASHBOARD. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10032024
8,174 miles · Aug 4, 2003
Power Train
WOBBLE IN THE REAR WHEELS WHICH HAS CAUSED ME ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NOTIFIED DAIMLERCHRYSLER OF THIS PROBLEM ALSO.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10030747
12,000 miles · Jul 25, 2003
Tires
THE CONSUMER NOTICED ALL FOUR GOODYEAR, INVICTA TIRES AT 12000 MILES WERE WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK *SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10026355
Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2003
Suspension
THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN DRIVING AT 50 MPH OR OVER, WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP OR POT HOLE, THE VEHICLE JUMPED INTO THE NEXT LANE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *TS *JB
NHTSA ODI #10026306
Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2003
Electrical SystemFire
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10029544
Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2003
Air BagsCrash
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER NOT NOTIFIED YET.*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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