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2002 Dodge RAM

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most RAM years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Dodge RAM are substantially higher than the model-year median of 27.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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

35 reports with mileage · 81 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports3 fire reports12 injury reports

Equipment complaints

5 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2008
Electrical SystemEquipment

1. REPLACED FUSE (ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT) ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP FOR THE LEFT REAR TRAILER LIGHTS WITH STOREHOUSE FUSE BOUGHT AT HARBOR FREIGHT STORE. 2. FUSE DID NOT "BLOW" AS IT SHOULD AND "WELDED" ITSELF INTO FUSE BLOCK. I CANNOT REMOVE THE REMNANTS OF THE FUSE. 3. THIS MAY NECESSITATE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUSE B…

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1. REPLACED FUSE (ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT) ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP FOR THE LEFT REAR TRAILER LIGHTS WITH STOREHOUSE FUSE BOUGHT AT HARBOR FREIGHT STORE. 2. FUSE DID NOT "BLOW" AS IT SHOULD AND "WELDED" ITSELF INTO FUSE BLOCK. I CANNOT REMOVE THE REMNANTS OF THE FUSE. 3. THIS MAY NECESSITATE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUSE BLOCK AT CONSIDERABLE COST. POSSIBLE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10215125

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2007
EquipmentStructure

THE BOARD 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB DASHBOARD IS ALL CRACKED AND BREAKING APART. READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN MY LOCAL ACTION LINE SECTION WHERE OTHER DODGE OWNERS OF DIFFERENT MODELS BETWEEN THE YEARS 2000 AND NEWER WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING NEAR THE VENTS AND HAS PROCEEDED TO BREAK IN OTHE…

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THE BOARD 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB DASHBOARD IS ALL CRACKED AND BREAKING APART. READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN MY LOCAL ACTION LINE SECTION WHERE OTHER DODGE OWNERS OF DIFFERENT MODELS BETWEEN THE YEARS 2000 AND NEWER WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING NEAR THE VENTS AND HAS PROCEEDED TO BREAK IN OTHER PLACES ALONG THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD, ABOUT LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I' HAVE ASKED AROUND TO PEOPLE RELATED IN THE INDUSTRY, AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT WAS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR. SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS WORTH. ALSO, I HAVE A FRIEND WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM ON A 2000 DODGE 1500 . PLEASE HELP, THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10193686

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2005
EquipmentTrailer HitchesCrash

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 HAUL RIGHT 60 BOAT TRAILER MANUFACTURED BY B AND M. WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH THE TONGUE BROKE WHERE IT HOOKS ON THE TRUCK, CAUSING THE BOAT AND THE TRAILER TO FALL DOWN AND HIT THE PAVEMENT. WHEN THE BOAT TRAILER WAS INSPECTED IT SHOWED ADDITIONAL WEAKNESS IN THE TONGUE. THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMM…

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DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 HAUL RIGHT 60 BOAT TRAILER MANUFACTURED BY B AND M. WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH THE TONGUE BROKE WHERE IT HOOKS ON THE TRUCK, CAUSING THE BOAT AND THE TRAILER TO FALL DOWN AND HIT THE PAVEMENT. WHEN THE BOAT TRAILER WAS INSPECTED IT SHOWED ADDITIONAL WEAKNESS IN THE TONGUE. THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION TOLD THE CONTACT TO CONTACT NHTSA BECAUSE THE TRAILER HAD BRAKE LIGHTS. SHE HAS TRIED TO CONTACT THE BOAT MANUFACTURER, AND COULD NOT CONTACT THEM BY PHONE OR LETTER. THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN A RESPONSE, AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS OUT OF BUSINESS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10136245

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2003
Equipment

NO PARTS AVAILABLE; RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE #C10/C11FROM THE MANUFACTURER. IT HAS BEEN THREE MONTHS AND NO PARTS AVAILABLE. THE DEALERSHIP IS NAME GERALD NORTH 490 SOUTH STREET LOWVILLE TELEPHONE#315 376 6211. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10022885

Mileage unknown · May 6, 2003
Air BagsEquipmentLatches/locks/linkages

THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LOCKS, SPEAKERS, AND BODY SCRATCHES. ALSO NO KEYLESS ENTRY AS PROMISED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *AK ALSO THE PASSENGER DOOR REGULATOR WAS REPLACED, THE ROOF SEAM LEAKED WATER *JB

NHTSA ODI #10017850

Official recalls

2

04V185000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

Apr 12, 2004

ON CERTAIN VAN AND WAGON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS (ABS), AFTERMARKET BATTERIES MAY LEAK ELECTROLYTE ONTO THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR, WHICH CAN COMPROMISE SEALING INTEGRITY OF THE CONNECTOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS MAY ALLOW DEVELOPMENT OF A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE CONNECTOR, WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR FOR ELECTROLYTE DAMAGE AND REPLACE THE CONNECTOR AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

02V159000 · Power Train:axle Assembly

Jun 13, 2002

ON CERTAIN 4X4 PICKUP TRUCKS, THE REAR AXLE FLANGE WELD TO THE AXLE TUBE COULD FATIGUE AND ALLOW THE BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY TO ROTATE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DURING ROTATION, THE BRAKE LINE COULD SEPARATE FROM THE CALIPER RESULTING IN A BRAKE FLUID LOSS IN THE REAR BRAKE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL REAR BRAKE CALIPER REINFORCEMENTS ON THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 9, 2002. 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.