IllustrationWHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY WHICH CAUSED WATER TO COME INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *NLM
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 reportsTHERE WAS A RECALL IN REFERENCE TO THE REAR AXLE FLANGE WELDS WHICH MAY FATIGUE AND CAUSE THE CALIPER TO ROTATE. MR THE LOCAL DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A BACKLOG ON THE REPAIR PARTS AND WERE UNABLE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS ( RECALL #02V159000). SCC *NLM
WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED OUT BETWEEN 15 - 17 RPMS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. *JB
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB
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
LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM WERE NOT REPLACED, ONLY THE BRAKE PADS. DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THERE WAS STILL A CLANKING NOISE AT FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT WHEEL AREA. CONSUMER'S INSPECTION REVEALED THAT ON BOTH SIDES THE PIVOT ARMS WERE LOOSE AND HAD ROTATED SEVERAL TIMES HITTING THE SUSPENSION ARM FRAME M…
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LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM WERE NOT REPLACED, ONLY THE BRAKE PADS. DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THERE WAS STILL A CLANKING NOISE AT FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT WHEEL AREA. CONSUMER'S INSPECTION REVEALED THAT ON BOTH SIDES THE PIVOT ARMS WERE LOOSE AND HAD ROTATED SEVERAL TIMES HITTING THE SUSPENSION ARM FRAME MOUNT AREA AND THERE WERE GOUGES IN THE FRAME MOUNT. FURTHER INSPECTION ALSO REVEALED EXHAUST LEAK ON THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE MUFFLER AT THE BACK WELD OR SEAL OF THE UNIT. CONSUMER PLANNED ON TAKING VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. *TT *JB *TS
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.…
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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
THE VEHICLES STEERING, TRANSMISSION AND SUSPENSION FAILED. *AK *NLM
THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE.*JB...........*AK
TRUCK HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOUR TIMES FOR THE TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING IT FEELS AS THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. PH
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.