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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2006
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED WHEN THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. *PH CONSUMER HAD TWO SURGERIES SINCE THE ACCIDENT AND HAD BEEN UNABLE TO RECEIVE ANY HELP REGARDING THE ACCIDENT. *PH *SC (PASSENGER SUBMITTED REPORT) THE SEAT BELT FAILED AS WELL. UPDATED 07/17/06. *JB *NM UPDATED

NHTSA ODI #10071879

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2006
Air BagsCrash

THE DRIVER WAS GOING 30 MPH AND HIT A TREE. ALL THE FRONTAL PART OF THE VECICLE WAS BENT INWARD AND THE RADIATOR WAS DAMAGED. NEITHER THE FRONTAL NOR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. IT HAS NOT BEEN YET REPORTED TO THE DEALER. THE TRUCK HAD TO BE TOWED AND IT IS CURRENTLY NOT DRIVABLE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10172018

80,103 miles · Apr 27, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury

I HIT A TREE DOING 45 MPH NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON EITHER THE DRIVERS OR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE TRUCK. I HAD SEVERE DAMAGE TO MY FACE AND I AM FACING TWO MORE OPERATIONS IN THE NEXT YEAR. CAUSE FOR AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING IS UNKNOWN BUT CHRYSLER CORP HAS CHECKED THE COMPUTER AND FOUND NO CODES IN THE COMPUTER TO CAUSE THE AIR BAGS …

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I HIT A TREE DOING 45 MPH NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON EITHER THE DRIVERS OR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE TRUCK. I HAD SEVERE DAMAGE TO MY FACE AND I AM FACING TWO MORE OPERATIONS IN THE NEXT YEAR. CAUSE FOR AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING IS UNKNOWN BUT CHRYSLER CORP HAS CHECKED THE COMPUTER AND FOUND NO CODES IN THE COMPUTER TO CAUSE THE AIR BAGS NOT TO COME OUT. THE TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THEY HAVE NOT FOUND OUT WHY THEY DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10156348

96,000 miles · Mar 29, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS TRAVELING ON A DIRT ROAD WHICH IS ALL WE HAVE IN THE AREA AND THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY 2002 DODGE RAM WHICH THEN PLOWED OVER SEVERAL TREES AND FINALLY COMING TO REST HEAD ON IN A GROUP OF 3 TREES TOTALING MY TRUCK. THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK WAS MORE THAN EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED AND THE AIR …

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I WAS TRAVELING ON A DIRT ROAD WHICH IS ALL WE HAVE IN THE AREA AND THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY 2002 DODGE RAM WHICH THEN PLOWED OVER SEVERAL TREES AND FINALLY COMING TO REST HEAD ON IN A GROUP OF 3 TREES TOTALING MY TRUCK. THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK WAS MORE THAN EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING NECK AND BACK INJURIES AS WELL AS MY TOOTH BEING BROKE IN HALF. DAIMLER CHRYSLER WAS NOTIFIED AND SCANNED THE ON BOARD COMPUTER AND STATED THAT SINCE NO CODES SHOWED UP THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE FULLY FUNCTIONAL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10154008

3,800 miles · Jul 7, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury

ON JUNE 4TH,2005 MY WIFE HAD AN ACCIDENT IN A 2002 DODGE PICKUP. ON HER WAY TO WORK SHE WAS DRIVEING AROUND 45 MILES AN HOUR. UNTIL A CAT RAN IN FRONT OF HER BY REFLAX SHE TRIED TO AVIOD THE CAT SO SHE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND STRUCK A MAILBOX THEN SHE SWERVED TO THE LEFT TRYING TO GIAN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. THEN WHILE TRYING…

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ON JUNE 4TH,2005 MY WIFE HAD AN ACCIDENT IN A 2002 DODGE PICKUP. ON HER WAY TO WORK SHE WAS DRIVEING AROUND 45 MILES AN HOUR. UNTIL A CAT RAN IN FRONT OF HER BY REFLAX SHE TRIED TO AVIOD THE CAT SO SHE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND STRUCK A MAILBOX THEN SHE SWERVED TO THE LEFT TRYING TO GIAN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. THEN WHILE TRYING TO GIAN CONTROL SWERVED BACK TO THE RIGHT GOING OVER A DITCH AND ENTERING PRIVATE PROPERTY. THEN SHE STRUCK A PINE TREE WHICH ALSO STRUCK SOME POWER LINES. WHEN SHE CRASHED INTO THE PINE TREE THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY ALSO THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T LOCK ETHIER. MY WIFE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH THE CHEST AND HER ELBOWS. AGTER SHE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL SHE BOUNCED BACK TOTHE SET WHICH CAUSED HER NECK PIAN AND LEFT SOULDER AND HER LEFT SIDE OF HER LOWER BACK. WHICH LEAD TO HER DAMAGEING HER LOWER BACK SHE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE EMERGNCY ROOM BY AN AMBULANCE. THEN I CALLED CHRYSLER ON JUNE 6TH 2005 THEY ASKED ME FOR MY VIN NUMBER OF MY TRUCK. THEN THEY LIED TO ME ABOUT CALLING, SENDING A LETTER,SEND A FAX TO THE BODYSHOP WHERE MY TRUCK AT, AND EACH TIME I CALLED THEY ALWAYS CHANGE INFOMATION AND THEY HAVEN'T TOLD ANYTHING REGARDING TO MY TRUCK. OLD PARTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE. THIS THE REFERENCE NUMBER 137455235 THE REPORT NUMBER FROM THE STATE TROOPER IS FHPA05FF024427.

NHTSA ODI #10127775

35,000 miles · Jan 8, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH TWO LIGHT POLES AT 45 MPH AND AIRBAGS DID NOT ACTIVATE. THE DRIVER WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS BY THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE PASSENGER BROKE THE WINDSHIELD WITH HIS HEAD. ONLY SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. COLLISION HAPPENED IN MEXICO.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10105968

Mileage unknown · Jan 1, 2005
Air BagsStructureSuspensionCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEED (70 MPH), AND SWITCHING LANES WHILE ON A BRIDGE, THE EXCESSIVE BOUNCING AND BAD SUSPENSION OF TRUCK MAKE ME LOSE CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE REAR END OF THE TRUCK ENDED UP SPINNING AROUND, MAKING A COMPLETE 180--- ON A BRIDGE!! I ENDED UP SLAMMING INTO THE SAFETY …

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WHILE DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEED (70 MPH), AND SWITCHING LANES WHILE ON A BRIDGE, THE EXCESSIVE BOUNCING AND BAD SUSPENSION OF TRUCK MAKE ME LOSE CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE REAR END OF THE TRUCK ENDED UP SPINNING AROUND, MAKING A COMPLETE 180--- ON A BRIDGE!! I ENDED UP SLAMMING INTO THE SAFETY RAIL OF THE BRIDGE. AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. LUCKILY, I WASN'T INJURED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE ACCIDENT WAS MY FAULT, BUT AFTER TALKING TO A FEW OWNERS OF THIS MODEL, I FIGURED OUT THAT MANY OF US HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK. THE QUESTION IS, WHY IS THIS PROBLEM NOT BEING FIXED?? I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY JUST KEEP REFERRING ME TO DEALERS FROM OTHER TOWNS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10104914

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2004
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING, THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAIN ON. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10087985

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER TO SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES ,AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10080141

28,000 miles · Dec 19, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. POLICE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AND THE OTHER CONSUMER WAS CITED. THE OTHER CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK *MR

NHTSA ODI #10051858

Official recalls

3

03V504000 · 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

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.