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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

35 reports
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41,379 miles · Mar 7, 2005
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility

1) THERE WERE NO INCIDENTS LEADING UP TO THE VEHICLES FAILURES. 2) THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT SHUT OFF WHEN ENGINE IS ON / THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND PUMP ARE INOPERABLE. THEY BOTH OCCURRED AT THE SAME TIME. FAMILY WAS STUCK ON RAINY HIGHWAY FOR SEVERAL HOURS. 3) DODGE SERVICE "THINKS" THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER MAY HAVE SHORT…

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1) THERE WERE NO INCIDENTS LEADING UP TO THE VEHICLES FAILURES. 2) THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT SHUT OFF WHEN ENGINE IS ON / THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND PUMP ARE INOPERABLE. THEY BOTH OCCURRED AT THE SAME TIME. FAMILY WAS STUCK ON RAINY HIGHWAY FOR SEVERAL HOURS. 3) DODGE SERVICE "THINKS" THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER MAY HAVE SHORTED OUT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND RECOMMEND REPLACE BOTH -$750 THERE IS A BACK ORDER FOR BOTH PARTS - APPARENTLY THERE ARE MANY REQUESTS. PART #'S 56045433AF AND 56051036AD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10112640

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2005
Exterior Lighting

THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT OPERATE, WHICH IS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO INFORM OTHER DRIVERS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MAKING TURNS. OWNER WILL TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS FOR THE SECOND TIME.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10113432

46,874 miles · May 18, 2004
Exterior Lighting

FIRST THERE WAS AN INTERMITTANT FAILURE OF BRAKE LIGHTS THEN ONE FAILED COMPLETLY AND THE OTHER FAILED THE FOLLOWING DAY. I HAD A CLOSE CALL (REAR ENDED)WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT WAS WRONG , AND REPLACED TAIL LIGHT TREE COMPONET, THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THIS AND HAD TOLD ME T…

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FIRST THERE WAS AN INTERMITTANT FAILURE OF BRAKE LIGHTS THEN ONE FAILED COMPLETLY AND THE OTHER FAILED THE FOLLOWING DAY. I HAD A CLOSE CALL (REAR ENDED)WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT WAS WRONG , AND REPLACED TAIL LIGHT TREE COMPONET, THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THIS AND HAD TOLD ME THEYHAD ALOT OF THEM FAILING, IWAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS CHARGED FULL PRICE FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND REPLACEMENT PARTS ETC. I WAS UNHAPPY WITH THE WAY THEY TREATED THIS SAFETY PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10072831

Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2004
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

INTERMITTENT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. DEALER REPLACED TURN SIGNAL SWITCH, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *NM

NHTSA ODI #10059696

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2002
Exterior LightingPower TrainStructure

HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. SOME HAVEN'T BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER YET. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE. IT SHIFTS HARD AT ABOUT 2200 RPM'S OR AROUND 25-30MPH. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE. I'VE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS THAT WERE NOT LISTED INCLUDING BRAKES AND ALTERNATOR. THE …

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HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. SOME HAVEN'T BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER YET. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE. IT SHIFTS HARD AT ABOUT 2200 RPM'S OR AROUND 25-30MPH. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE. I'VE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS THAT WERE NOT LISTED INCLUDING BRAKES AND ALTERNATOR. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR MIRROR HAS RECENTLY BROKEN AND NOW FLOPS IN THE WIND ON THE FREE WAY AND IS UNUSABLE. I FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, THEN FOUND THAT IT WAS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE. THE VENTILATION FROM THE PANEL IS ASLO SENT TO THE FLOOR VENTS DESPITE THE DIAL BEING SET TO "PANEL" NOT "FLOOR". THE TAILGATE CABLES ARE MISMATCHED. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NORMAL. I WON'T PLACE ANYTHING ON THE TAILGATE IN FEAR THAT THE CABLE MIGHT BREAK. THE EXTERIOR TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT SYNCHED WITH THE DISPLAYED TRUN SIGNALS. THE SIMULTANEOUS FLASH IS NOT THERE. ALSO, THE ALTERNATOR WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AT AROUND 600 MILES. IT WAS CAUSING A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAKING SOUND SIMILAR TO WHAT A DEFECTIVE BELT MAY SOUND LIKE. IT WAS REPLACED, BUT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN AT 6750 MILES. THE HOOD HAS SLIGHT DENTS IN IT LIKE SOMEONE HIT IT WITH A BALL PEN HAMMER. APPARENTLY CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THIS. I'LL BE TAKING IT IN THE FIRST CHANCE I GET TO TRY TO HAVE IT FIXED. I'VE HAD THIS TRUCK A 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS IN HOPE THAT THE NEXT ONE WOULD BE MORE HELP THAN THE PREVIOUS. NO SUCH LUCK. I'VE HAD TO TAKE TIME OFF FROM WORK (ABOUT 6 DAYS TOTAL; HAD TO WAIT AT DEALERSHIP SINCE IT WAS AN OUT OF TOWN PURCHASE ) AND RENT CARS 5 TIMES WHILE HAVING IT WORKED ON AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN ORDER TO GET TO WORK. I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT BAD LUCK WITH THIS VEHICLE. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER HAS DREADFUL QUALITY CONTROL AND I CAN'T SAY MUCH MORE FOR THE DEALERS. I HOPE I CAN GET THE ISSUES WITH THIS TRUCK RESOLVED SOMEDAY. DT

NHTSA ODI #768947

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.