IllustrationRIGHT FRONT WHEEL BROKE OFF. *NM
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
Suspension complaints
71 reportsWHEN DRIVING ON ROUGH PAVEMENT, THIS TRUCK JUMPS ALL OVER THE ROAD. I ALMOST WAS THROWN INTO A RETAINING WALL YESTERDAY. YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING ON ROUGH SURFACES!! DANGEROUS. *JB
WHEN ON THE SLIGHTEST ROUGH SURFACE, THIS TRUCK JUMPS AND BOUNCES ALL OVER THE ROAD. I LOSE ALL CONTROL OF THE TRUCK WHEN IT IS JUMPING. WORSE, THE BRAKES BOUNCE AND GRAB WHEN YOU APPLY THEM. DANGEROUS. WIDE SPREAD KNOWLEDGE OF THESE SAFETY ISSUES. NEED A RESOLUTION AND RECALL. *JB
FIRST THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING IN 3RD GEAR AT TIMES,THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUE THAT THE DEALER CAN'T REPRODUCE. THE LAMP OUT LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF WITH THE BELL THIS WILL DO IT INTERMITTENTLY FOR AS LONG AS 30 MIN STRAIGHT AND THIS TRUCK IS ALL OVER THE ROAD WHEN YOU HIT BUMPS AT HIGH SPEED. *JB
WHEN DRIVING DOWN ANY BUMPY ROAD, THE REAR OF THE TRUCK IS ALL OVER THE PLACE HAVE TO DRIVE AT 5 MPH OR LESS TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. WHEN IT'S RAINY IT'S EVEN WORSE. ON THE HIGHWAY ON WET WEATHER YOU CAN SEE THE REAR OF THE TRUCK SWAYING AFTER A BUMP - VERY SCARY THIS STARTED WHEN THE TRUCK REACHED 40,000 MILES - WIL…
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WHEN DRIVING DOWN ANY BUMPY ROAD, THE REAR OF THE TRUCK IS ALL OVER THE PLACE HAVE TO DRIVE AT 5 MPH OR LESS TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. WHEN IT'S RAINY IT'S EVEN WORSE. ON THE HIGHWAY ON WET WEATHER YOU CAN SEE THE REAR OF THE TRUCK SWAYING AFTER A BUMP - VERY SCARY THIS STARTED WHEN THE TRUCK REACHED 40,000 MILES - WILL THERE BE A REMEDY FOR THIS - HAVE TAKEN IT TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS THEY ALSO AGREE WITH THE WAY THE TRUCK OPERATES AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. *NM
LEAF SPRING BREAKS IN THE MIDDLE OF BOLT EYELIT AND REAR AXLE SLIDES BACK AND DRIVESHAFT ALMOST FALLS OUT. *NM
CLUNCKING NOISE UNDER HOOD. LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT. THIS TRUCK HAS ONLY 55,000 NO OFF ROADING
DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM. THE CONSUMER SAYS THAT AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES HE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HIS UPPER BALL JOINT. THE UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE COMPLETELY WENT OUT. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY HAD SEVERAL HUNDRED IN BACK ORDER RIGHT NOW. THE CONSUMER HAS TROUBLE DR…
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DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM. THE CONSUMER SAYS THAT AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES HE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HIS UPPER BALL JOINT. THE UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE COMPLETELY WENT OUT. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY HAD SEVERAL HUNDRED IN BACK ORDER RIGHT NOW. THE CONSUMER HAS TROUBLE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SO HE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS HIS BALL JOINT AND IT WAS ONE OF THE WORST BALL JOINTS THAT HE HAS EVER SEEN. THE CONSUMER IS NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *TT
A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT FRONT END PULLING TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP HAS SERVICED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS TO NO AVAIL. CURRENTLY, THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE LEFT FRONT BEARING…
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A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT FRONT END PULLING TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP HAS SERVICED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS TO NO AVAIL. CURRENTLY, THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE LEFT FRONT BEARING WAS BAD, WHICH WILL RESULT IN THE TIRE AND RIM SEPARATING AND FALLING OFF WHILE DRIVING.*AK
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 …
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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
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.