Illustration2002 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 - BRAKE SHIMMY / SHAKE, REDUCED BRAKING POWER. ROTORS REPLACED TWICE IN 20,000, PROBLEM STILL HAPENNING. COULD NOT STOP QUICKLY ALMOST CAUSING A SEVERE ACCIDENT.*AK
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
30 reportsWHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED. HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. THE DRIVER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO DOWN SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION GEARS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK IN ADDITION, CONSUMER IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH TIRES AND ITS SIDEWALL AND REQUESTING MANUFACTURER TO DESIGN TIRES FOR OFF ROAD CONDITIONS. FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED A…
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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO DOWN SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION GEARS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK IN ADDITION, CONSUMER IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH TIRES AND ITS SIDEWALL AND REQUESTING MANUFACTURER TO DESIGN TIRES FOR OFF ROAD CONDITIONS. FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED AND THE PADS HAVE 80 PERCENT LEFT AT 34,000 MILES. *LA
ROTORS ON 2002 DODGE RAM IS WARPED. AGAIN FOR THIRD TIME IN 6 MONTHS. TRUCK SHIMMIES OR SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. GO TO WWW.DODGETRUCKWORLD.COM AND LOOK UP BRAKES IN THE FORUM SECTION. DEALER WON'T FIX UNDER WARRANTY. TRUCK IS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED AT HIGH SPEEDS (20 AND ABOVE). *NLM
VEHICLE PULSATED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS THREE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST 20,000 MILES. *AK
2002 2WD DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB 4.7L - AT 25000 MILES, DEALER FOUND WARPED FRONT ROTORS CAUSING MY DESCRIBED HARD SHIMMY IN FRONT END WHILE BRAKING. SOLUTION WAS TO TURN ROTORS TO ELIMINATE THE WARPING. AT 29500 MILES, TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER AGAIN, AND DEALER INFORMED THAT ROTORS NEEDED TO BE TURNED AGAIN, AND IT NEEDED NEW PAD…
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2002 2WD DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB 4.7L - AT 25000 MILES, DEALER FOUND WARPED FRONT ROTORS CAUSING MY DESCRIBED HARD SHIMMY IN FRONT END WHILE BRAKING. SOLUTION WAS TO TURN ROTORS TO ELIMINATE THE WARPING. AT 29500 MILES, TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER AGAIN, AND DEALER INFORMED THAT ROTORS NEEDED TO BE TURNED AGAIN, AND IT NEEDED NEW PADS TO CORRECT THE SHIMMY. NOW AT 32000 MILES, SHIMMY IS BACK AND DEALERS ARE SAYING TRUCK NEEDS NEW ROTORS. SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE ROTORS ON A TRUCK THAT DOES NOT HAUL, TOW, OR IS DRIVEN HARD. I HAVE OWNED TRUCKS OF OTHER MAKES, AND NONE NEEDED BRAKE ROTORS UNTIL AT LEAST 75000 MILES. I FEEL THERE IS SOME PROBLEM WITH THIS PRODUCT THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. TO THE DATE, I HAVE SPENT OVER $400 FOR THESE REPAIRS, AND THEY EXPECT ROTOR REPLACEMENT TO COST NEARLY ANOTHER $400. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC INDICATED THAT BRAKE ROTORS WERE SEVERELY WARPED.*AK *JB *NLM
BRAKE FAILURE ON 2002 DODGE RAM WITH 13,000 MILES DUE TO LOOSE BRAKE LINE.
TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE BRAKE FAILED, AT 4500 MILES WHILE DRIVING AT 40-MPH. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES AT ALL. AS RESULT, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT COLLISION. BOTH TIMES DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.*AK
WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES. BRAKES WILL LOCK UP, CAUSING TH VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. *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.