← New search

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.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all RAM years →

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

13 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2003
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

RECALL REPAIR 02V159000 CONCERNING TRUCK AXLE FLANGES WELD WHICH MAY FATIGUEAND ALLOW BRAKE CALIPER TO ROTATE, CAUSING REAR BRAKE TUBE TO AND LEAK, RESULTING IN A PARTIAL BRAKE LOSS AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WERE NOT DONE BY DEALER DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10011365

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

ODI #768732: BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER CLANKING NOISE AT FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT WHEEL AREA STILL EXISTED. INSPECTION REVEALED PIVOT ARMS HAD ROTATED, MAKING CONTACT WITH THE SUSPENSION ARM FRAME MOUNT AREA WHICH CAUSED GOUGES IN THE FRAME MOUNT AREA. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED EXHAUST LEAK FROM BOTTOM SIDE OF MUFFLER.…

Read full complaint

ODI #768732: BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER CLANKING NOISE AT FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT WHEEL AREA STILL EXISTED. INSPECTION REVEALED PIVOT ARMS HAD ROTATED, MAKING CONTACT WITH THE SUSPENSION ARM FRAME MOUNT AREA WHICH CAUSED GOUGES IN THE FRAME MOUNT AREA. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED EXHAUST LEAK FROM BOTTOM SIDE OF MUFFLER. *TT *JB

NHTSA ODI #10007248

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

AFTER VEHICLE HAS GONE IN REVERSE AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND AGAIN WHEN PULLING FORWORD AND BRAKE IS APPLIED, THERE IS A "CLANKING NOISE" AS IF MAYBE A LOOSE BRAKE CALIPER. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE FIRST TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT I JUST NEEDED TO TIGHTEN MY WHEELS. THE SECOND TIME THE (…

Read full complaint

AFTER VEHICLE HAS GONE IN REVERSE AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND AGAIN WHEN PULLING FORWORD AND BRAKE IS APPLIED, THERE IS A "CLANKING NOISE" AS IF MAYBE A LOOSE BRAKE CALIPER. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE FIRST TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT I JUST NEEDED TO TIGHTEN MY WHEELS. THE SECOND TIME THE (RT) UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED. THE THIRD TIME THE LEFT CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE BRAKE PADS. ALL THIS WORK IS BEING DONE TO A NEW TRUCK AND THE MECHANICS DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THEY ARE SIMPLY REPLACING THINGS THAT THEY THINK IT MIGHT BE. I-AM VERY CONCERNED AND FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I HAVE A NEW TRUCK THAT IS CONSTANTLY IN THE SHOP AND I NOW HAVE NOTHING TO DRIVE. PLEASE HELP. DT

NHTSA ODI #768732

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.