IllustrationON THE SAME DAY AS PURCHASE, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END AND WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. DESPITE THE SEVERITY OF THE CRASH, THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JG
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 reportsFOLDING SIDE MIRROR SPRING MECHANISM FAILED CAUSING THE MIRROR TO "FLOP" AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THESE MIRRORS ARE DESIGNED TO BE FOLDED IN AND OUT FOR CLEARANCE AT DRIVE-UP WINDOWS, CAR WASHES, ETC. THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN EARLY SEPTEMBER AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BY THE DEALER IN MID-SE…
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FOLDING SIDE MIRROR SPRING MECHANISM FAILED CAUSING THE MIRROR TO "FLOP" AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THESE MIRRORS ARE DESIGNED TO BE FOLDED IN AND OUT FOR CLEARANCE AT DRIVE-UP WINDOWS, CAR WASHES, ETC. THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN EARLY SEPTEMBER AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BY THE DEALER IN MID-SEPTEMBER ON 10/19/2002. THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR FAILED, THIS TIME WHILE FOLDING IT BACK OUT FROM THE "IN" POSITION TO THE "NORMAL" POSITION. SINCE THERE IS NO WAY TO "RIG" THE FAILED MIRROR IN PLACE SO THAT THE DRIVER CAN USE IT, AND BECAUSE OF THE LONG WAIT FOR A REPLACEMENT PART, THIS DEFECT PRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. DT
VEHICLE EXCESSIVELY VIBRATES AT AROUND 40-50 MPH. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND FINALLY ON THE 3RD VISIT THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKED UP AT 45MPH CAUSED BY LUGGING DOWN THE ENGINE. THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR THIS STYLE OF TRUCK, BUT THEN SAID THEY CAN ONLY WAIT FOR TSB AND POSSIBLE TRANS CO…
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VEHICLE EXCESSIVELY VIBRATES AT AROUND 40-50 MPH. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND FINALLY ON THE 3RD VISIT THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKED UP AT 45MPH CAUSED BY LUGGING DOWN THE ENGINE. THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR THIS STYLE OF TRUCK, BUT THEN SAID THEY CAN ONLY WAIT FOR TSB AND POSSIBLE TRANS CONTROLLER FLASH. THIS PROBLEM IS AN ANNOYANCE AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. DT
CONSUMER STATES THAT IN A FRONTAL COLLISON NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT. TS
REAR END STARTED HOWLING VERY LOUDLY. SHE STARTED SLOWING DOWN WHEN THE REAR END LOCKED UP AND THE DRIVESHAFT FELL OUT ONTO THE ROAD. MR
TRUCK VIBRATES A LOT ON THE HIGHWAY. NLM
TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ERRATIC, CLIMBING GRADE WILL NOT SHIFT DOWN TO LOWER GEARS AND THEN HARD GAS WILL CAUSE IT TO DOWNSHIFT, BUT THEN IMMEDIATELY RETURN TO LOWER GEAR. WHEN OVERDRIVE TURNED OFF, CANNOT GET TO DOWNSHIFT AT ALL.*AK
WHEN VEHICLE GOES OVER A BUMP REAR END SKATES AROUND, AND IT FEELS AS IF VEHICLE IS GOING TO LOSE CONTROL.*AK *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR AND WILL MAKE A LOUD NOISE. IT WILL BE HARD FOR CONSUMER TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A COMPLETE STOP AT IDLE, VEHICLE WILL QUIT RUNNING OR REV UP TO 1000 RMPS, AND LURCH FORWARD. CONTACTED DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND THEIR QUICK SOLUTION WAS TO LEAVE AIR CONDITIONER ON.*AK *JB
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.