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2002 Dodge RAM Van

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 12 of 14 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Steering complaints

3 reports
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110,000 miles · Aug 28, 2014
SteeringStructure

ON 8/8/14, A LOUD BANGING SOUND OCCURRED WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND RAILROAD TRACKS WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. AT THAT TIME, STOPPED DRIVING VAN UNTIL WERE ABLE TO TAKE IT TO BETTENHAUSEN CHRYSLER JEEP IN TINLEY PARK, IL. ON 8/14/14. ON THE SAME DATE, WE WERE INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE AREA AROUND THE SWAY BAR I…

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ON 8/8/14, A LOUD BANGING SOUND OCCURRED WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND RAILROAD TRACKS WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. AT THAT TIME, STOPPED DRIVING VAN UNTIL WERE ABLE TO TAKE IT TO BETTENHAUSEN CHRYSLER JEEP IN TINLEY PARK, IL. ON 8/14/14. ON THE SAME DATE, WE WERE INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE AREA AROUND THE SWAY BAR IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. THE OTHER AREAS OF THE FRAME SHOW RUST AND CORROSION WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE STEERING MECHANISM TO FAIL MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE PROPER PROCEDURES WERE FOLLOWED TO DETERMINE IF CHRYSLER WOULD WARRANTY THE REPAIR OF THIS VEHICLE SINCE THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THEIR OTHER VEHICLES. VAN WAS TRANSPORTED TO RIVERDALE BODY SHOP, TINLEY PARK, ILLINOIS, TO DETERMINE THE COST OF REPAIRS. CHRYSLER WAS CONTACTED. ON 8/27/14 WERE INFORMED CHRYSLER WOULD NOT WARRANTY THIS VEHICLE. A TELEPHONE CALL WAS MADE TO THEIR CUSTOMER CARE CENTER WHEREIN A CASE WAS PRESENTED TO GET THEM TO WARRANTY THE WORK. A LETTER WAS ALSO SENT OUT TO DIFFERENT CHRYSLER PEOPLE ON THIS SAME DATE.

NHTSA ODI #10629261

140,000 miles · Jun 22, 2011
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500 VAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH THE STEERING MOUNT BROKE FROM THE FRAME CAUSING A FAULTY WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE FRAME AND NOTICE EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE F…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500 VAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH THE STEERING MOUNT BROKE FROM THE FRAME CAUSING A FAULTY WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE FRAME AND NOTICE EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FRAME AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE CONTACT STATED IF HE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #10408489

56,000 miles · Oct 27, 2009
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM VAN 3500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE STEERING WIRES BROKE IN HALF AND THE STEERING BOX SNAPPED OFF. HE ATTEMPTED TO FILE A CLAIM WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS DENIED; HOWEVER, A SUPERVISOR ADVISED HIM TO HAVE THE STEERING BOX DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. HE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM VAN 3500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE STEERING WIRES BROKE IN HALF AND THE STEERING BOX SNAPPED OFF. HE ATTEMPTED TO FILE A CLAIM WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS DENIED; HOWEVER, A SUPERVISOR ADVISED HIM TO HAVE THE STEERING BOX DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. HE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

NHTSA ODI #10289935

Official recalls

1

07V555000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift

Dec 4, 2007

ON CERTAIN VAN AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE IGNITION/PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS CAN ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED (OR IN THE "LOCK" POSITION). THIS CAN ALSO ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: EITHER OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY CAUSING A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEARSHIFT BLOCKER AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER 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

PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate

Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.