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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

155 reports
62,000 miles · May 1, 2007
Exterior LightingStructure

I OWN A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500 CUMMINS DIESEL PICKUP. THIS IS THE PREVIOUS BODY STYLE THAT RAN FROM 1994 TO 2002 IN THE 2500 AND 3500 TRUCKS. WHEN I SWITCH FROM HIGH BEAMS TO LOW BEAMS, THE LIGHTS SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO HAVE YOUR LIGHTS GO OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE HEARD OF MANY …

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I OWN A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500 CUMMINS DIESEL PICKUP. THIS IS THE PREVIOUS BODY STYLE THAT RAN FROM 1994 TO 2002 IN THE 2500 AND 3500 TRUCKS. WHEN I SWITCH FROM HIGH BEAMS TO LOW BEAMS, THE LIGHTS SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO HAVE YOUR LIGHTS GO OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE HEARD OF MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF THESE TRUCKS. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10189420

20,000 miles · Apr 26, 2007
Air BagsSeat BeltsTrailer HitchesCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500 TURBO DIESEL. IN MAY 2003 THE TRAILER THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE DETACHED AND FORCED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A BRICK WALL AT 60 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ALSO, THE SEAT BELT FAILED NEAR THE FASTENER, BUT HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STAT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500 TURBO DIESEL. IN MAY 2003 THE TRAILER THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE DETACHED AND FORCED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A BRICK WALL AT 60 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ALSO, THE SEAT BELT FAILED NEAR THE FASTENER, BUT HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME YEAR WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH AND APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION A VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND HE STRUCK THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD CONTAINED LARGE CRACKS THAT HE COULD FIT HIS HAND. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THEY MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY AGAIN IF ANOTHER CRASH OCCURRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 42,000 ,AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.*AK UPDATED 05/23/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10188909

108,000 miles · Apr 13, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AT 55 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO A LOWER GEAR AND DEPRESSED THE PARKING BRAKE. THE CONTACT WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 108,000. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKE WAS M…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AT 55 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO A LOWER GEAR AND DEPRESSED THE PARKING BRAKE. THE CONTACT WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 108,000. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKE WAS MANUFACTURED OR INSTALLED IN THE WRONG WAY. IT WORE THROUGH CRIMPED METAL AND RUBBED HOSES. THE VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN REPAIRED AND THE CONSUMER HAS THE OLD PART. UPDATE 05/04/07*TR

NHTSA ODI #10187774

7,000 miles · Mar 29, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline

FOUND FUEL LINE LOCK CLIP ROTTED AND HALF WAS GONE. THIS CLIP LOCKS THE FONT AND REAR FUEL LINES TOGETHER AT THE O RING SEALED DISCONNECT. (FROM THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL HALF TO THE TANK HALF OF THE FUEL LINE).NOTE: 2003 DODGE'S USE A STAINLESS CLIP. THE ONE ON THIS 2002 COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MADE OUT OF STAINLESS. THIS 2002 PICK UP H…

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FOUND FUEL LINE LOCK CLIP ROTTED AND HALF WAS GONE. THIS CLIP LOCKS THE FONT AND REAR FUEL LINES TOGETHER AT THE O RING SEALED DISCONNECT. (FROM THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL HALF TO THE TANK HALF OF THE FUEL LINE).NOTE: 2003 DODGE'S USE A STAINLESS CLIP. THE ONE ON THIS 2002 COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MADE OUT OF STAINLESS. THIS 2002 PICK UP HAS ONLY 7,000 MILES ON IT. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE STARTED A GASOLINE FIRE. ORDERED A NEW CLIP FROM DODGE DEALER. DON'T HAVE MUCH OF THE OLD PART BUT CAN TRY TO GET SOME PICTURES AND SALVAGE WHAT'S LEFT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10186505

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 2006
Power Train

2002 DODGE RAM 2500 3/4 TON DIESEL,4 SPD AUTO TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ALWAYS DOWN SHIFT IN TO 1ST GEAR AFTER A STOP. TRANS STARTS IN 2ND GEAR MAKING ACCELERATION VERY SLUGGISH. JUNE 1, 2005 HAD DEALER REPLACE GOVERNOR SOLENOID AND PRESSURE SENSOR TRANSDUCER AT A COST OF OVER $700. TRUCK ONLY HAD 88240 MILES. SEP…

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2002 DODGE RAM 2500 3/4 TON DIESEL,4 SPD AUTO TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ALWAYS DOWN SHIFT IN TO 1ST GEAR AFTER A STOP. TRANS STARTS IN 2ND GEAR MAKING ACCELERATION VERY SLUGGISH. JUNE 1, 2005 HAD DEALER REPLACE GOVERNOR SOLENOID AND PRESSURE SENSOR TRANSDUCER AT A COST OF OVER $700. TRUCK ONLY HAD 88240 MILES. SEPTEMBER 28, 2006, THE VERY SAME SYMPTOMS PLAQUE THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN, WITH 133840 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10169567

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2006
Structure

TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE CORRODED AND BROKE. 8JB

NHTSA ODI #10155576

52,000 miles · Feb 28, 2006
Fuel System, Other

CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT THE 2002 2500 DODGE RAM ENGINE. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP AND THE FUEL LIFT PUMP. THEY ARE COVERED BY WARRANTY UP TO 100,000 MILES, BUT AFTER THAT, THE PUMP COULD COST AROUND $2500 TO $3000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE. THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP AND THE FUEL LIFT PUMP…

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CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT THE 2002 2500 DODGE RAM ENGINE. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP AND THE FUEL LIFT PUMP. THEY ARE COVERED BY WARRANTY UP TO 100,000 MILES, BUT AFTER THAT, THE PUMP COULD COST AROUND $2500 TO $3000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE. THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP AND THE FUEL LIFT PUMP HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ON THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10151970

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Diesel

2002 DODGE 2500 HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE DIESEL FLOW FUEL PROBLEM. *TS SINCE 48,500 MILES THE ENGINE PERIODICALLY LOSES POWER AND DROPS TO 1500 RPM'S. THIS FAILURE MOSTLY OCCURS WITH A LOAD ON BOARD AND WHEN IN TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE REGAINS FULL POWER WITHIN 2-5 MILES. A COMPUTER SCAN AT A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY INDICATED A POSSI…

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2002 DODGE 2500 HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE DIESEL FLOW FUEL PROBLEM. *TS SINCE 48,500 MILES THE ENGINE PERIODICALLY LOSES POWER AND DROPS TO 1500 RPM'S. THIS FAILURE MOSTLY OCCURS WITH A LOAD ON BOARD AND WHEN IN TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE REGAINS FULL POWER WITHIN 2-5 MILES. A COMPUTER SCAN AT A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY INDICATED A POSSIBLE PROBLEM IN THE INJECTOR TIMING CIRCUIT OR IN THE PUMP SYSTEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10149765

45,276 miles · Jan 9, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

CANISTER PURGE HOSES AND VAPOR HARNESS HOSES HAVE CRACKED AND DRY ROTTED. THERE IS AN EMISSIONS RECALL LISTED ON YOUR WEB SITE FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THE DEALER IS SAYING THERE IS NO RECALL LISTED THRU DAIMLER CHRYSLER FOR MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10147305

72,500 miles · Nov 25, 2005
Wheels

DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON A DIRT ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TIRE SHOP TO HAVE THE OTHER TIRES CHECKED. THE MECHANIC AT THE SHOP TOLD HIM THE REASON THE TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT WAS BECAUSE THE RIMS CRACKED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10143666

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.