IllustrationCONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING ALL THE DIGITAL READINGS ON THE DASH CAME ON. THE TURN SIGNAL, HEADLIGHTS, BRAKES ETC. A RED LIGHT SENSOR ON THE DASH CAME ON AND THE HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB
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
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
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 reportsWHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, STEERING WHEEL WILL WANDER OFF TO THE LEFT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND TOWING A HORSE TRAILER, REAR OF VEHICLE LOCKED UP. DEALER DETERMINED REAR AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *YH
VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER HIT HIS HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL AND SUFFERED KNEE/ NECK, AND BACK INJURIES. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.*AK
CLOTHING HOOKS LOCATED ABOVE BACK WINDOWS INSTEAD OF BACK DOORS CAUSING UNSAFE CONDITION WHEN IN USE. YOU CANNOT SEE THROUGH YOUR BACK WINDOWS. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP & MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING THE BACK OF VEHICLE SWERVED WHERE CONSUMER ALMOST LOST CONTROL. THE TAIL END SITS UP HIGH. CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER INDICATED TO PUT CEMENT IN BACK END. NLMTHE WIND HAD COUGHT THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE MAKING VEHICLE'S BACK END BREAK CONTACT WITH THE ROAD SURFACE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE FOUR(4) TO SIX(6…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING THE BACK OF VEHICLE SWERVED WHERE CONSUMER ALMOST LOST CONTROL. THE TAIL END SITS UP HIGH. CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER INDICATED TO PUT CEMENT IN BACK END. NLMTHE WIND HAD COUGHT THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE MAKING VEHICLE'S BACK END BREAK CONTACT WITH THE ROAD SURFACE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE FOUR(4) TO SIX(6) FEET TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER NO LONGER HAS THIS VEHICLE. *JG
VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM LEFT SIDE PUSHING VEHICLE INTO CONCRETE BARRIER HEAD-ON AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED SOME INJURIES.*AK CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHRYSLER STATING THAT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE VEHICLE NEVER REACHED THE LEVEL OF DECELERATION REQUIED TO ACTIVATE DEPLOYMENT. *…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM LEFT SIDE PUSHING VEHICLE INTO CONCRETE BARRIER HEAD-ON AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED SOME INJURIES.*AK CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHRYSLER STATING THAT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE VEHICLE NEVER REACHED THE LEVEL OF DECELERATION REQUIED TO ACTIVATE DEPLOYMENT. *TT
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH CONSUMER WAS HIT ON SIDE, AND THEN RAN HEAD ON INTO A ROAD CYLINDER, BUT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN COMING TO A STOP THERE IS A STRONG SMELL THAT COMES INTO THE VEHICLE WHICH THE CONSUMER CAN'T STAND. NLM
VEHICLE VIBRATES VIOLENTLY AT SPEEDS OF 60MPH AND HIGHER. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
Official recalls
204V185000 · 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
1PE02096 · 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.