IllustrationWAS DRIVING TO WORK AT 40 MPH AND SUDDENLY A LOUD BANG OCCURRED. MY REAR END LOCK UP AND THE TRUCK CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT. I GOT OUT AND SAW MY DRIVE SHAFT HANGING DOWN AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK! NO INJURIES THANKFULLY, BUT IT SURE COULD HAVE HAD A DIFFERENT OUTCOME ON A HIGHWAY AT FASTER SPEEDS! EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR
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
Power Train complaints
99 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, WHEN THE CLUTCH PACK CLIPS BROKE OFF AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE GEARS. THE CONTACT STATED THIS CAUSED A FAILURE WITH THE REAR DIFFERIANTIAL. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE REAR END THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A FLAW IN THE METAL AND THE ENTIRE REAR END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE REC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE REAR END THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A FLAW IN THE METAL AND THE ENTIRE REAR END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE WHEEL BEARING FRACTURED AND THE KNUCKLE CAME OFF OF THE TRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY REPLACED BOTH THE WHEEL BEARING AND KNUCKLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
OUR GEARS CAME APART, THERE WAS REAR END FLUID IN THERE BUT THE GEARS CAME APART. WHICH I WAS TOLD WHAT I NEEDED TO DO BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, BUT I WASN'T AND NOW I AM LOOKING AT A $4000 BILL TO GET THIS FIXED. HEARD IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS TO HAVE REAR END ISSUES. *TR
I WAS TOLD THE REAR END BRAKE THE LUBRICANT (REAR END OIL) OUT OF IT BECAUSE I HAD NOT CHANGED THE LUBRICANT TO A SYNTHETIC OIL AND AN ADDITIVE TO KEEP OIL IN LIQUID FORM AND FIGHT HEAT. IF I HAD BEEN LETTING THE DEALERSHIP DO MY MAINTENANCE ON MY TRUCK, THEY WOULD HAVE TOLD ME ABOUT THE SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB 03-002-02), WHICH …
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I WAS TOLD THE REAR END BRAKE THE LUBRICANT (REAR END OIL) OUT OF IT BECAUSE I HAD NOT CHANGED THE LUBRICANT TO A SYNTHETIC OIL AND AN ADDITIVE TO KEEP OIL IN LIQUID FORM AND FIGHT HEAT. IF I HAD BEEN LETTING THE DEALERSHIP DO MY MAINTENANCE ON MY TRUCK, THEY WOULD HAVE TOLD ME ABOUT THE SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB 03-002-02), WHICH CAME OUT IN JULY 2002, FOUR MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED MY TRUCK NEW. WELL NO ONE TOLD ME AND I FOLLOWED THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR MY MAINTENANCE AND SCHEDULES, WHICH IS NOT CORRECT, ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT DID THE $3002.00 REPAIR. I HAD NEVER DRIVEN MY TRUCK OVER 50 MILES ONE DIRECTION (USED TO PULL BASS BOAT ONLY) UNTIL THE DAY THE REAR END WENT OUT, 500 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. THAT DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ANSWER MY CALLS OR E-MAILS ANYMORE BECAUSE I REQUESTED ON PAPER WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND WAS INFORMED THAT ONE OF THE DIFFERENTIAL CLIPS WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND WAS INFORMED THAT ONE OF THE DIFFERENTIAL CLIPS WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT FAILED THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE REAR PINION KNOB FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER USED OFF-ROAD OR FOR HAULING. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT FAILED THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE REAR PINION KNOB FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER USED OFF-ROAD OR FOR HAULING. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. *TR
RETAINING CLIPS FROM THE LIMITED SLIP CLUTCH PACKS IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL, FRACTURED AND FELL INTO THE GEARS, LOCKING THE REAR END. THE TRUCK SLID ON A DIRT ROAD INTO A GATE CAUSING MINOR BODY DAMAGE. THIS IS THE 9.25 INCH RING GEAR AXLE WITH A DANA TRU-TRAC LIMITED SLIP. *TR
I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH MY POWER TRAIN AND WHEEL TWICE,THE FIRST INCIDENT THE FRONT WHEELS BROKE APART COMPLETELY, I WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED SO NO INJURIES EXCEPT TO THE HIGHWAY I HAD IT REPLACED AND LESS THAN THREE YEARS HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. MY DASH IS CRACKED SO BAD IT LOOKS JUST AWFUL.I HAD NO IDEA SO MANY OTHER PEO…
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I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH MY POWER TRAIN AND WHEEL TWICE,THE FIRST INCIDENT THE FRONT WHEELS BROKE APART COMPLETELY, I WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED SO NO INJURIES EXCEPT TO THE HIGHWAY I HAD IT REPLACED AND LESS THAN THREE YEARS HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. MY DASH IS CRACKED SO BAD IT LOOKS JUST AWFUL.I HAD NO IDEA SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THE RECALL ON THE POWER TRAIN. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THAT. I HAVE SEVERAL GRAND KIDS THAT RIDES WITH ME. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED, AND SEND A REPLACEMENT LETTER. THE UNKNOWN OR OTHER IN THE AFFECTED PARTS IS MY DASH. *TR
WHINING NOISE IN DIFFERENTIAL AT ALL SPEEDS STRAIGHT AHEAD AND TURNING. REPLACED PINION BEARINGS, RACES, AND CARRIER BEARINGS AND RACES. PINION GEAR AND RING GEAR OK BUT BEARINGS WERE ROUGH. CRACKED DASH. REPAIR COST ON DIFFERENTIAL $800. PARTS. DID LABOR SELF. CRACKED DASH NOT REPAIRED. *TR
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.