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2002 Dodge RAM 2500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Dodge RAM 2500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 275.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

114 reports with mileage · 41 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 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

Suspension complaints

14 reports
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122,153 miles · Apr 13, 2021
SteeringSuspension

I PURCHASED A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 5.7 V8 4WD. MY STEERING HAS GOTTEN REALLY LOOSE OVER THE LAST WEEK. I BROUGHT IT IN TO DEALERSHIP FOR A PREVIOUS RECALL. AND THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT MY STEERING GEAR WAS GOING OUT AND THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE BAD.

NHTSA ODI #11407919

128,392 miles · Sep 12, 2017
Suspension

DODGE RAM "DEATH WOBBLE" OR SHIMMY PHENOMENON, WHILE IN MOTION AND ENCOUNTERING HIGHWAY ROAD SURFACE CHANGES.

NHTSA ODI #11022886

160,000 miles · Mar 3, 2017
SteeringSuspension

DEATH WOBBLE. EXPERIENCE WHEN HITTING SMALL/MINOR BUMPS IN THE ROAD OR RAILROAD TRACKS. VIOLENT SHAKING CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO TRY TO COME TO A STOP. SHAKING IS SO VIOLENT THAT THE DRIVER IS BOUNCED AROUND IN THE SEAT, MOMENTARILY AIRBORNE A…

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DEATH WOBBLE. EXPERIENCE WHEN HITTING SMALL/MINOR BUMPS IN THE ROAD OR RAILROAD TRACKS. VIOLENT SHAKING CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO TRY TO COME TO A STOP. SHAKING IS SO VIOLENT THAT THE DRIVER IS BOUNCED AROUND IN THE SEAT, MOMENTARILY AIRBORNE AND ITESM IN THE TRUCK FLY AROUND. LAWSUIT WAS ISSUSED ON 2004 AND NEWER MODELS BUT AFFECTS OLDER MODELS AS WELL. WE NOW HAVE PAID $900 IN PARTS TO FIX THE "DEATH WOBBLE" THAT HAD WE KNOWN WAS AN ISSUE, WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THE TRUCK. COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHEN IT IS OUR DAILY DRIVER AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO PARK IT AND PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE TO REPLACE IT WITH. CANNOT SELL IN CURRENTY CONDITION HAVING A "DEATH WOBBLE". NO GUARANTEE THAT THE PURCHASED PARTS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10958570

64,000 miles · Jul 18, 2011
Fuel System, DieselService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. A CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS DAMAGED. THE FRONT SUSPE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. A CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS DAMAGED. THE FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 08/15/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD NO POWER FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO TO THREE MILES. A DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THE LEFT FRONT BEARING HUB AND ANTI-LOCK SPEED SENSOR WERE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE TURBO CHARGER WAS BROKEN AND THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP WAS BAD. UPDATED 05/03/12

NHTSA ODI #10413425

50,000 miles · Aug 19, 2007
Exterior LightingFuel System, DieselPower Train

HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH MY 02 RAM 2500 TRUCK. REAR BRAKE PADS HAD NOTHING BUT RUST HOLDING THE PADS IN PLACE, HAD THE TURBO AND FUEL PUMP REPLACED, U-JOINTS AND YOKE ON 4WD SHAFT WORN OUT AND HANGER BEARING ON REAR DRIVE SHAFT WORN OUT AT ABOUT 70,000MI, TAIL GATE CABLE BROKE AFTER ONLY TWO YEARS, WHEN CLICKING FROM HI…

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HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH MY 02 RAM 2500 TRUCK. REAR BRAKE PADS HAD NOTHING BUT RUST HOLDING THE PADS IN PLACE, HAD THE TURBO AND FUEL PUMP REPLACED, U-JOINTS AND YOKE ON 4WD SHAFT WORN OUT AND HANGER BEARING ON REAR DRIVE SHAFT WORN OUT AT ABOUT 70,000MI, TAIL GATE CABLE BROKE AFTER ONLY TWO YEARS, WHEN CLICKING FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM OCCASIONALLY ALL LIGHTS GO OUT, CANNOT USE HEATED MIRRORS BECAUSE THEY WILL BLOW A FUSE AND I WON'T HAVE ANY HEAT, AND NOW ALL BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ENDS ARE WORN AND NEED REPLACED. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW WITH ONLY 75 MILES ON IT, WHEN I HAD THE FUEL PUMP AND TURBO REPLACED AT AROUND 78,000 MILES, MY MILEAGE INCREASED FROM ABOUT 350 MILES PER TANK TO ABOUT 550 MILES PER TANK OF FUEL. HIGHWAY DRIVING IS MUCH HIGHER MPG. FUEL GAGE NO LONGER WORKS, EMPTY AT HALF TANK OF FUEL NOW. WAS QUARTER TANK AND EMPTY. I'M SURE THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE NEXT, I'VE BEEN PUTTING SPECIAL FLUID ADDITIVE IN THAT, THIS SEEMS TO HELP WITH SMOOTHNESS OF SHIFTING AND POWER. NEVER EVER WILL I WASTE MY MONEY ON A VEHICLE MADE BY THE "BIG THREE" AGAIN. THERE IS A GOOD REASON WHY TOYOTA IS TAKING OVER THE MARKET.*TR

NHTSA ODI #10200035

48,000 miles · May 3, 2005
Suspension

A 20002 DODGE TRUCK WITH 48000 NEEDED UPPER BALL JOINTS, THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL NEARLY CAME OFF. THE CONSUMER FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS A WAS LOOSE LUG NUT BUT UPON INSPECTION THE NUTS WERE TIGHT, BUT THE BALL JOINT WAS WORN AND LOOSE. THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT…

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A 20002 DODGE TRUCK WITH 48000 NEEDED UPPER BALL JOINTS, THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL NEARLY CAME OFF. THE CONSUMER FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS A WAS LOOSE LUG NUT BUT UPON INSPECTION THE NUTS WERE TIGHT, BUT THE BALL JOINT WAS WORN AND LOOSE. THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10119626

35,100 miles · Dec 23, 2004
Suspension

AN EXCESS OF 50 THOUSANDS OF PLAY IN THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS OF MY 2002 DODGE 2500 4X4 QUAD CAB DIESEL HAS BEEN DETECTED BY TWO INDEPENDENT SERVICE SHOPS. THE DEALER, SOUTHTOWN DODGE, REFUSES TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS UNDER WARRANTY, CITING ONLY 20 AND 24 THOUSANDTHS PLAY WITH 30 THOUSANDTHS ALLOWABLE. OVER THE LAST 5…

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AN EXCESS OF 50 THOUSANDS OF PLAY IN THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS OF MY 2002 DODGE 2500 4X4 QUAD CAB DIESEL HAS BEEN DETECTED BY TWO INDEPENDENT SERVICE SHOPS. THE DEALER, SOUTHTOWN DODGE, REFUSES TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS UNDER WARRANTY, CITING ONLY 20 AND 24 THOUSANDTHS PLAY WITH 30 THOUSANDTHS ALLOWABLE. OVER THE LAST 5000 TO 6000 MILES, THE BALL JOINT WEAR HAS CAUSED THE STEER TIRES TO WEAR RAPIDLY AND ERRATICLY STEERS ITSELF WHEN IN MOTION. THE DEALER OFFERED TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS FOR "AROUND $800" IF I AM "SO CONCERNED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10104371

17,000 miles · Feb 24, 2004
SteeringSuspension

THE VEHICLE'S TIE RODS AND BALL JOINTS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM *MR

NHTSA ODI #10055849

23,000 miles · Feb 5, 2004
Suspension

SINCE NEW MY DODGE 2500 4X4 DIESEL P/U HAS WORN THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRONT TIRES. WITH ONLY 23000 MILES I HAVE JUST PURCHASED NEW TIRES. THE MECHANIC AT THE TIRE STORE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO INFORM ME THIS IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT WITH DODGE TRUCKS, AND THERE IS A FIX. THIS WOULD COST ME BETWEEN $250.- $350. DEPENDING ON LABOR. I DO NOT…

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SINCE NEW MY DODGE 2500 4X4 DIESEL P/U HAS WORN THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRONT TIRES. WITH ONLY 23000 MILES I HAVE JUST PURCHASED NEW TIRES. THE MECHANIC AT THE TIRE STORE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO INFORM ME THIS IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT WITH DODGE TRUCKS, AND THERE IS A FIX. THIS WOULD COST ME BETWEEN $250.- $350. DEPENDING ON LABOR. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE CONSUMER SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS INHERENT PROBLEM BECAUSE OF MANUFACTURER OVERSIGHT AND POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10056606

26,000 miles · Oct 20, 2003
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, CHECKED OUT PROBLEM, BUT FOUND NOTHING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10044307

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.