IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC TETHERS ON BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS WERE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TETHERS WERE BEING USED TO HOLD A CHILD SAFETY SEAT ONLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000. *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
Seat Belts complaints
6 reports2002 DODGE RAM 1500-DASH BOARD CRACKS IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS. SEAT BELT LATCH COVERS DISINTEGRATED. *TR
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
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR CONTINUED TO FAIL. THE PARTS WERE REPAIRED/REPLACED THREE TIMES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK BOTH SEAT BET RETRACTORS WERE REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXIST. RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCK INOPERATIVE. RATTLE SOUND OVER BUMPS. RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR LINK REPLACED. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS …
Read full complaint
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR CONTINUED TO FAIL. THE PARTS WERE REPAIRED/REPLACED THREE TIMES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK BOTH SEAT BET RETRACTORS WERE REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXIST. RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCK INOPERATIVE. RATTLE SOUND OVER BUMPS. RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR LINK REPLACED. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN OSCILLATING ALMOST TAKES THE WHEEL OUT OF THIS HANDS. DEALER FOUND ICE IN WHEELS/CLEANED WHEELS. HOWEVER VIBRATION RE-OCURRED. *TT
I WAS IN A CAR ACCCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY WE WERE AT A STOP IN THE SLOW LANE AND WE GOT HIT FROM BEHIND BY A DRUNK DRIVER AT FULL SPEED I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT BUT THE SELTBELT DID NOT LOCK LETTING MY FACE HIT THE WINDSHEILD I DIDNT BREAK MY NOSE BUT I HAD TO HAVE STRUTCHES MY TRUCK IS TOTALLED. *AK
WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT IS RELEASED FROM THE LOCKING MECHANISM THE LATCH PLATE GETS WEDGED BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE SEAT. UNABLE TO REMOVE WITHOUT OPENING DOOR.*AK
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.