Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
120–25K
1025–50K
850–75K
475–100K
0100–150K
1150K+
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
What owners actually said
116 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2002
Visibility
BOTH OUTSIDE MIRRORS FAILED. THE SPRING LOADED MECHANISM THAT HOLDS THE MIRRORS IN PLACE FAILED. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP TO ORDER THE PARTS AND LEARNED THEY ARE ON BACKORDER AND WILL BE ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO GET REPLACEMENTS. I ALSO CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD NO IDEA IF ANY CHANGES WERE …
Read full complaint
BOTH OUTSIDE MIRRORS FAILED. THE SPRING LOADED MECHANISM THAT HOLDS THE MIRRORS IN PLACE FAILED. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP TO ORDER THE PARTS AND LEARNED THEY ARE ON BACKORDER AND WILL BE ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO GET REPLACEMENTS. I ALSO CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD NO IDEA IF ANY CHANGES WERE BEING MADE TO THE PART OR NOT. IF THEY REPLACE THESE MIRRORS WITH THE SAME THING THEY WILL MALFUNCTION AGAIN. THIS IS A LARGE TRUCK, YOU NEED OUTSIDE MIRRORS TO DRIVE IT. YOU NEED THE MIRRORS TO SEE THE VEHICLES BESIDE YOU. A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE TO ENSURE THAT THE PROPER CHANGES ARE MADE TO THESE COMPONENTS. I WAS TOLD THERE WERE 1500 OF THESE MIRRORS ON ORDER, SO EVIDENTLY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #766252
Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2002
Visibility
THE DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR CAME LOSE ON THE FREEWAY. I HAD TO GO TO THE DEALER TO FIX IT. I THINK DODGE SHOULD RECALL THE MIRRORS, BECAUSE THIS COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THIS COULD ALSO CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK, POSABLE EVEN BREAKING THE GLASS OUT OF THE DOOR OR WINDSHIELD! THIS WOULD MOST LIKELY RESULT IN A DEADLY CAR ACCIDEN…
Read full complaint
THE DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR CAME LOSE ON THE FREEWAY. I HAD TO GO TO THE DEALER TO FIX IT. I THINK DODGE SHOULD RECALL THE MIRRORS, BECAUSE THIS COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THIS COULD ALSO CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK, POSABLE EVEN BREAKING THE GLASS OUT OF THE DOOR OR WINDSHIELD! THIS WOULD MOST LIKELY RESULT IN A DEADLY CAR ACCIDENT. IF IT WASN'T A POWER MIRROR THE CORDS WOULDN'T HAVE STOPPED IT, AND INSTEAD OF THE IT JUST DANGLING THERE IT WOULD BECOME A PROJECTILE WHICH COULD KILL A PEDESTRIAN! OR DAMAGE ANOTHER CAR. THE PROBLEM IS SO SMALL THAT DODGE COULD FIX THE PROBLEM EASILY AND COST AFFECTIVELY, AND AVOID ALL THE BAD PRESS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #766176
Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2002
Power TrainStructure
TRANSFER CASE IS LEAKING, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES ALREADY FOR TRANSFER CASE LEAK, BUT SOLUTIONS DO NOT WORK. *AKCONSUMER RECEIVED NO HELP FROM THE DEALERSHIP. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REPLACEMENT OF VEHICLE. ALSO THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER QUAD DOOR WILL NOT OPEN …
Read full complaint
TRANSFER CASE IS LEAKING, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES ALREADY FOR TRANSFER CASE LEAK, BUT SOLUTIONS DO NOT WORK. *AKCONSUMER RECEIVED NO HELP FROM THE DEALERSHIP. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REPLACEMENT OF VEHICLE. ALSO THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER QUAD DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WITH THE INNER HANDLE, THE LOCK RODS WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. *JG
NHTSA ODI #8015919
Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY TRUCK STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY UP TO 3 TIMES A DAY ALMOST ALWAY IN THE EVENING. THIS HAPPENS WITHIN THE FIRST 3 MILES THAT I DRIVE. THE TRUCK IS THEN VERY HARD TO GET STARTED AND KEEP RUNNING. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES, AND HAVE ALSO CONTACTED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AND REPEATEDLY GET UN RETURNED PHONE CALLS…
Read full complaint
MY TRUCK STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY UP TO 3 TIMES A DAY ALMOST ALWAY IN THE EVENING. THIS HAPPENS WITHIN THE FIRST 3 MILES THAT I DRIVE. THE TRUCK IS THEN VERY HARD TO GET STARTED AND KEEP RUNNING. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES, AND HAVE ALSO CONTACTED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AND REPEATEDLY GET UN RETURNED PHONE CALLS. THIS TRUCK IS LIFE THREATENING TO ME MY FAMILY AND ANYONE ELSE THAT IS AROUND WHEN THIS HAPPENS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #765350
Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2002
Visibility
DRIVERS SIDE EXTERNAL REARVIEW MIRROR BASE "SNAPPED". IT NOW SWIVEL'S LOOSELY WHEN DRIVING PREVENTING NORMAL/SAFE USAGE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #764304
Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
REPLACED ENGINE TIMING GEAR AND CHAIN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8013569
Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2002
Visibility
BOTH OUTER MIRRORS SNAPPED AND SWING UN RESTRAINED. UNABLE TO SAFELY CHANGE LANES. THE MORE RECENT FAILURE WAS WHILE TOWING A TRAILER WITH CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #763918
Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2002
Power Train
AS A STATE TROOPER, I HAVE HAD A RANCHER EXPLAIN TO ME THAT THREE OF HIS 2002 DODGE 4X4 TRUCKS HAVE HAD THE TRANSFER CASE AND DRIVE AXLE "EXPLODE". ONE INCIDENT SENT A PART THROUGH THE FLOORBOARD OF THE TRUCK INTO THE CAB. COULD THESE INCIDENTS BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE JUNE 13, 2002 RECALL ON BRAKES? THE CONVERSATION CAME UP WH…
Read full complaint
AS A STATE TROOPER, I HAVE HAD A RANCHER EXPLAIN TO ME THAT THREE OF HIS 2002 DODGE 4X4 TRUCKS HAVE HAD THE TRANSFER CASE AND DRIVE AXLE "EXPLODE". ONE INCIDENT SENT A PART THROUGH THE FLOORBOARD OF THE TRUCK INTO THE CAB. COULD THESE INCIDENTS BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE JUNE 13, 2002 RECALL ON BRAKES? THE CONVERSATION CAME UP WHEN I TOLD THE RANCHER OF MY NEWLY PURCHASED DODGE PICK-UP TRUCK. THANK YOU.*AK
NHTSA ODI #763745
Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2002
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
AT 25MPH VEHICLE CRASHED, UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK THE SUDDEN IMPACT CAUSED CONSUMER TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING CONTUSIONS TO STERNUM AND BREAST. THE SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK. CONSUMER WAS TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL IN BETWEEN THE DOOR AND STEERING WHEEL. *JG
NHTSA ODI #8011683
Mileage unknown · May 31, 2002
Steering
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, STEERING MAKES LOUD NOISE, SOUNDS LIKE STEERING IS GOING TO FALL APART. DEALERSHIP REPLACED STEERING COLUMN; HOWEVER, PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK *YH
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.
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.
2002 Dodge RAM Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration