IllustrationWhile traveling at normal speeds approximately 40 mph a car ran a stop sign I t-boned them on their passenger side with my front end I hit them at approximately 40 mph my airbags did not deploy my face and chest hit the steering wheel and dash
2002 Dodge RAM 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Dodge RAM 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 520.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 1500 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
860–25K
10525–50K
12050–75K
10775–100K
104100–150K
62150K+
584 reports with mileage · 231 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.
- Structure. Review the 278 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 93 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
55 crash reports14 fire reports43 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
46 reportsTURNED ON THE A/C AND DASH CRACKED AND WHITE POWDER WAS COMING OUT OF MY VENTS AND NOW MY HEATER IS NOT WORKING THAT HAPPENED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, I THINK THE AIRBAG CAME OPEN BUT DID NOT DEPLOY?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE INJURED AND SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOT. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR D…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE INJURED AND SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOT. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. **TR UPDATED 11/8/18*JB
MY TRUCK IS A 2002 DOGE RAM 1500. MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. WHENT TO THE DEALER SHIP IT SEEMS THAT THEY DONT MAKE THE MAUGEL NO MORE. SO HOW CAN I DRIVE MY VEHICLE IF THE AIR BAGS DONT WORK. NEED HELP PARTS, IS DESCANTINUE.
CAR ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN VEHICLES BACK CAB HYDROPLANED AND FISHTAILED OUT OF CONTROL AT LESS THEN 25MPH AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND DRIVER WAS HURT.
TAKATA RECALL. I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT 45MPH WITH A RAV4 THAT TURNED INTO ME TRYING TO GET INTO A GAS STATION. 12/05/2016 I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON BUT NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER RECOMMENDED BRINGING THIS TO DODGES ATTENTION. EVEN THE POLICE OFFICER SAID THAT I SHOULD LET DODGE KNOW. THE NEXT PAGE STOPP…
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TAKATA RECALL. I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT 45MPH WITH A RAV4 THAT TURNED INTO ME TRYING TO GET INTO A GAS STATION. 12/05/2016 I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON BUT NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER RECOMMENDED BRINGING THIS TO DODGES ATTENTION. EVEN THE POLICE OFFICER SAID THAT I SHOULD LET DODGE KNOW. THE NEXT PAGE STOPPED WORKING. I INJURED MY NECK AND SHOULDERS AN ALSO MY RIGHT FOOT AN KNEE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V312000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V312000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. THE FRONT END SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED NECK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. THE FRONT END SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED NECK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000. UPDATED 12/13/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE BLACKED OUT AT THE WHEEL, DROVE INTO A DITCH, HIT DRIVEWAY, WENT AIRBORNE ABOUT 30-50 FEET AND LANDED IN A DITCH. UPDATED 12/20/16.*JB
RECALL: MAY 2015, MADE MANY TRIPS TO DODGE DEALER IN 2015 AND EARLY 2016, THEY COULD NOT OR WOULD NOT REPAIR DEFECT
TAKATA RECALL- I OWN A LATE 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. 2002 WAS A MID YEAR CHANGE SO MY BODY IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE 2003-2007 (OR SO) RAMS. I'D BE WILLING TO BET THE FARM MY AIR BAG IS A TAKATA BRAND THE SAME AS THE 2003 WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED. GIVEN THAT, WHY ISN'T MY VEHICLE ON THE LIST? THANK YOU
Official recalls
303V504000 · Tires
Dec 10, 2003
ON CERTAIN 4X4 PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH THE SNOW PLOW PREPARATION PACKAGE, THE TIRES SUPPLIED ON SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATINGS THAT SLIGHTLY EXCEED THE MAXIMUM TIRE LOAD CAPACITY AS DEFINED IN FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEALERS WILL PROVIDE REPLACEMENT P245/75R16 TIRES TO MEET THE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY SPECIFIED ON THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL AND ACCOMMODATE THE ADDITION OF A COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE SNOW PLOW AND HARDWARE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-992-1997.
03V077000 · Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices:exterior
Mar 10, 2003
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE DETENT SYSTEM ON THE EXTERIOR MIRROR HOUSINGS MAY LOSE THE FUNCTIONALITY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD POTENTIALLY AFFECT REARWARD FIELD OF VISION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MIRROR DETENT RETAINER KIT TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 10, 2003. 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.
03V078000 · Steering:column
Mar 10, 2003
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN CONTAINS AN UNDER-SIZED TERMINAL FOR THE HVAC BLOWER MOTOR CIRCUIT. LOCALIZED HEATING FROM CURRENT FLOW WITH THE BLOWER SPEED SET ON HIGH MAY CAUSE THE TERMINAL CONTACTS TO RELAX AND LOSE ELECTRICAL CONTACT. THIS CAN CAUSE THE HVAC BLOWER MOTOR TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE IMPAIRMENT OF VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS OVERLAY TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 15, 2003. 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.