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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

What owners actually said

155 reports
167,000 miles · Aug 4, 2014
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD A HOLE THAT WAS INCREASING IN SIZE AND IT WAS COLLAPSING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILUR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD A HOLE THAT WAS INCREASING IN SIZE AND IT WAS COLLAPSING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.

NHTSA ODI #10618660

20,000 miles · May 29, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemStructure

DASH BOARD IS CRUMBLING EXPOSING NUMEROUS CONTROLS, GAUGES, WIRING, AND AIRBAG COMPONENTS WHICH IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. THE A/C HAS SEIZED TO WORK ANYMORE DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH IS SPREADING TO OTHER CONTROL GAUGES AND COMPONENTS. THE SAFETY OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS NOW A CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10594829

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2014
Tires

IN DECEMBER,2011, I PURCHASED 2 EQUALIZER SPORT A/P TIRES. IN AUGUST 2013 , ONE OF THEM HAD A TREAD SEPARATION, WHICH I CAUGHT AND REPLACED IT BEFORE A BIGGER PROBLEM. IN MARCH, 2014 THE TREAD OF THE SECOND TIRE CAME OFF COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING. IT DAMAGED MY VEHICLE. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT MY WIFE AND I WERE NOT HURT AS …

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IN DECEMBER,2011, I PURCHASED 2 EQUALIZER SPORT A/P TIRES. IN AUGUST 2013 , ONE OF THEM HAD A TREAD SEPARATION, WHICH I CAUGHT AND REPLACED IT BEFORE A BIGGER PROBLEM. IN MARCH, 2014 THE TREAD OF THE SECOND TIRE CAME OFF COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING. IT DAMAGED MY VEHICLE. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT MY WIFE AND I WERE NOT HURT AS WE WERE TOWING A 12,000 POUND 5TH WHEEL RV. FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE ABOUT THE SECOND INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10592713

160,000 miles · May 6, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeatsFire

THIS DIESEL TRUCK WAS STARTED IN ORDER TO LET IT WARM UP. OWNER WENT INTO A BUILDING TO RETRIEVE A PAIR OF GLOVES AND RETURNED 5 MIN LATER TO FIND THE VEHICLE ON FIRE. SMOKE WAS POURING OUT OF THE FRONT COWL AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. ENTRY TO THE VEHICLE WAS ATTEMPTED IN ORDER TO PUT THE FIRE OUT HOWEVER THE LOCKING MECHANI…

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THIS DIESEL TRUCK WAS STARTED IN ORDER TO LET IT WARM UP. OWNER WENT INTO A BUILDING TO RETRIEVE A PAIR OF GLOVES AND RETURNED 5 MIN LATER TO FIND THE VEHICLE ON FIRE. SMOKE WAS POURING OUT OF THE FRONT COWL AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. ENTRY TO THE VEHICLE WAS ATTEMPTED IN ORDER TO PUT THE FIRE OUT HOWEVER THE LOCKING MECHANISM KEPT THE DOORS SHUT SO ENTRY COULD NOT BE ATTAINED. THE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE AND IT HAD LOCKED THE DOORS. THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW HAD TO BE BUSTED OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN ORDER TO GAIN ENTRY. ONCE THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED THE PROBLEM AREA WAS EVIDENT. THE ENTIRE HEATER BLOWER AREA WAS MELTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586722

89,785 miles · Apr 10, 2014
EnginePower Train

DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE GOING ABOUT 75 MPH I NEEDED TO BRAKE BUT NOTICED THE TRUCK WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN AND THE RPM WERE NOT REDUCING, IN FACT THEY WERE INCREASING. DESPITE ME NOT HAVING MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. I HAD TO USE EXTREME PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES AND PULL OFF THE ROAD TO GET THE TRUCK TO S…

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DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE GOING ABOUT 75 MPH I NEEDED TO BRAKE BUT NOTICED THE TRUCK WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN AND THE RPM WERE NOT REDUCING, IN FACT THEY WERE INCREASING. DESPITE ME NOT HAVING MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. I HAD TO USE EXTREME PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES AND PULL OFF THE ROAD TO GET THE TRUCK TO SLOW DOWN. ONCE SLOWED IF I RELEASED PRESSURE OFF THE BRAKES THE TRUCK WOULD START TO ACCELERATE. I PUT THE TRUCK INTO PARK AND THE RPM WENT UP TO 5000 AND STAYED. I TURN OFF THE TRUCK AND TURNED IT BACK ON TO FIND THE RPMS IMMEDIATELY GO UP TO 5000 RPMS. I TURNED OFF THE TRUCK GOT OUT AND NOTICED SMOKE AND HEAT COMING OUT FROM MY WHEELS, DUE TO THE EXTREME BRAKING REQUIRED TO STOP THE TRUCK. KNOWING SOMETHING OF CARS I DECIDED TO LOOK AT THE THROTTLE BODY TO SEE IF IT WAS JAMMED OPEN AND REMOVED AIR FILTER ASSEMBLE. WHEN I REMOVED THE AIR FILTER ASSEMBLY I FOUND THE AIR FILTER ASSEMBLE O-RING (THE SEAL THAT GOES BETWEEN THE THROTTLE BODY AND AIR FILTER ASSEMBLY) JAMMED BETWEEN THE THROTTLE BODY HOUSING AND VALVE, VALVE WAS ABOUT 45 DEGREES FROM THE CLOSED POSITION. PART OF THE SEAL WAS STILL BETWEEN THE AIR FILTER ASSEMBLY AND THROTTLE BODY HOUSING AND THE OTHER PART WAS JAMMED IN THE THROTTLE BODY. I REASSEMBLED THE AIR FILTER ASSEMBLY WITHOUT TO SEAL AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AND FRONT BRAKE PADS DUE TO THE EXTREME BRAKING OF THE INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578904

78,148 miles · Apr 10, 2014
Structure

I NOTICED A CRACK IN MY DASH (ABOUT 2") AND THE FELT WEAK AND SPONGY. AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTH I NOTICE THE CRACK GROWN ACROSS THE DASH (ABOUT 24") AND FELT REALLY WEEK. AFTER 5 MONTHS FROM THE INITIAL CRACK THE WHOLE DASH HAS FELL APART INTO LARGE CHUNKS AND NOW THERE IS NO DASH LEFT EXPOSING ALL THE COMPONENTS UNDER IT. I REGUL…

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I NOTICED A CRACK IN MY DASH (ABOUT 2") AND THE FELT WEAK AND SPONGY. AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTH I NOTICE THE CRACK GROWN ACROSS THE DASH (ABOUT 24") AND FELT REALLY WEEK. AFTER 5 MONTHS FROM THE INITIAL CRACK THE WHOLE DASH HAS FELL APART INTO LARGE CHUNKS AND NOW THERE IS NO DASH LEFT EXPOSING ALL THE COMPONENTS UNDER IT. I REGULARLY CLEANED AND TREATED THE DASH WITH DASH PROTECTIVE PRODUCTS BUT DID NOT PREVENT CONDITION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578898

81,254 miles · Apr 10, 2014
Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

WHILE ACCELERATING THE TRUCK START THE DECELERATE AND REACCELERATE MULTIPLE TIMES WITHIN A 2-3 SECOND TIME PERIOD AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR LARGE EVAP LEAK. THIS ISSUE HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES THROUGHOUT A COUPLE WEEK TIME PERIOD. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THERE WAS DEBRIS IN THE TANK THAT COULD HA…

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WHILE ACCELERATING THE TRUCK START THE DECELERATE AND REACCELERATE MULTIPLE TIMES WITHIN A 2-3 SECOND TIME PERIOD AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR LARGE EVAP LEAK. THIS ISSUE HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES THROUGHOUT A COUPLE WEEK TIME PERIOD. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THERE WAS DEBRIS IN THE TANK THAT COULD HAVE CLOGGED THE LINES, FLUSHED OUT THE LINES AND CONTINUED ON. THE ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER AND CONTINUED FOR WEEKS. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THE PUMP WAS BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACE, REPLACED PUMP CONTINUE ON. AFTER ABOUT 8 MONTHS THE ISSUE CAME BACK AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON FOR LARGE EVAP LEAK. HAD SYSTEM CHECK FOR LEAKS AND FOUND NONE. THE ISSUE STILL CONTINUE MONTHS LATER A RANDOM INTERVALS. LUCKILY THE ACCELERATION ISSUE HAS BEEN MOSTLY WHEN I WAS ACCELERATING FROM LOW SPEEDS AND FROM STOP LIGHTS. IF I HAD THIS ISSUE WHEN TRYING GET A CROSS A BUSY INTERSECTING I COULD BE KILLER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578890

70,000 miles · Mar 24, 2014
Fuel/propulsion SystemStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASH BOARD WAS CRACKED AND WAS STARTING TO COLLAPSE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE LEFT FUEL PUMP WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASH BOARD WAS CRACKED AND WAS STARTING TO COLLAPSE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE LEFT FUEL PUMP WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASH BOARD, FUEL TANK AND INJECTOR PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ODI #10574416

171,000 miles · Jun 13, 2013
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH HE HEARD A SNAPPING SOUND IN THE STEERING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE STEERING SHAFT CONNECTING TO THE STEERING BOX HAD FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH HE HEARD A SNAPPING SOUND IN THE STEERING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE STEERING SHAFT CONNECTING TO THE STEERING BOX HAD FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519680

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2013
Structure

AT FIRST WE NOTICE CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD.THEY THEN GOT BIGGER AND WIDER. .WE ARE NOW AT A POINT WHERE THE WHOLE DASHBOARD HAS CAVED IN LEAVING HUGE HOLES AND BROKEN PLASTIC.A DEFINITE DEFECT. DODGE REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. I HAVE GONE ONLINE AND THERE ARE AT LEAST 100 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SITUATION. AND PROBA…

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AT FIRST WE NOTICE CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD.THEY THEN GOT BIGGER AND WIDER. .WE ARE NOW AT A POINT WHERE THE WHOLE DASHBOARD HAS CAVED IN LEAVING HUGE HOLES AND BROKEN PLASTIC.A DEFINITE DEFECT. DODGE REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. I HAVE GONE ONLINE AND THERE ARE AT LEAST 100 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SITUATION. AND PROBABLY MORE. THAT HAVE NOT BEEN REPORTED. THIS IS NOT COSMETIC. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS IT AFFECTS ELECTRICAL AND AIR BAG OPERATION. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BY DODGE AND THE DEFECTIVE DASHBOARDS SHOULD BE REPLACED. WE ARE SENIOR CITIZENS AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE FACED WITH THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513316

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.