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 reports

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60,000 miles · Feb 18, 2005

Suspension

WHEN DRIVING ANY SPEED, THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE UPPER BALL JOINT WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS RARELY USED OFF ROAD. A NOISE IS HEARD ON BUMPY SURFACES. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10107450

Mileage unknown · Jan 1, 2005

Air BagsStructureSuspensionCrash

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WHILE DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEED (70 MPH), AND SWITCHING LANES WHILE ON A BRIDGE, THE EXCESSIVE BOUNCING AND BAD SUSPENSION OF TRUCK MAKE ME LOSE CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE REAR END OF THE TRUCK ENDED UP SPINNING AROUND, MAKING A COMPLETE 180--- ON A BRIDGE!! I ENDED UP SLAMMING INTO THE SAFETY RAIL OF THE BRIDGE. AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. LUCKILY, I WASN'T INJURED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE ACCIDENT WAS MY FAULT, BUT AFTER TALKING TO A FEW OWNERS OF THIS MODEL, I FIGURED OUT THAT MANY OF US HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK. THE QUESTION IS, WHY IS THIS PROBLEM NOT BEING FIXED?? I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY JUST KEEP REFERRING ME TO DEALERS FROM OTHER TOWNS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10104914

40 miles · Dec 16, 2004

Suspension

VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISES IN FRONT END. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER,THEY SAID NOISE WAS JUST BUSHINGS WERE JUST DRY. AT 40,000 MILES TOOK IN BECAUSE THE TRUCK STEERING WAS FUNNY, DEALER SAID BOTH CONTROL ARMS AND BOTH SWAYBAR LINKS WOR OUT. AND TRUCK WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AND THE REPAIR WOULD COST CONSUMER ABOUT $1000.00.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10103985

500 miles · Dec 10, 2004

Suspension

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MY 2002 DODGE RAM HAS SEVERAL POTETIAL ACCIDENT, CAUSING PROBLEMS, ONE WHEN IM DRIVING IN THE RAIN OR AFTER A RAIN WATER IN THE ROAD IT CAUSES M STEERING TO LOCK UP AND I CANNOT STEER. I REPORTED THIS TO A DEALER IN TOWN AND THE SERVICE REP SAID THAT THE STEERING WILL TURN INTO MANUAL DRIVE AND SEEM HARDER TO STEER, WOW I COULD NOT BELIEVE I HEARD THAT AND THE PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN CORRECTED AND I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO DODGE ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS. ALSO WHEN IM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD OR HIGHWAY IN THE 2002 DODGE RAM AND I RUN OVER A SMALL BUMP SUCH AS ON OVERPASSES WHEN THE BRIDGE PORTION MEETS THE GROUND SIDE MY TRUCK WILL LOSE CONTROL SOMETIMES TO THE POINT OF THE REAR END ATTEMPTING TO SPIN THE TRUCK AROUND I GUESS THE ONLY THING THAT HAS PREVENTED THIS IS THE FORWARD MOVEMENT ITSELF, HOWEVER I HAVE COME UPON SITUATIONS WHEN IM TURNING IN A PARTICULAR DIRECTION AND A BUMP IS IN THE ROAD PRIOR TO THE TURN AND THE TRUCK LEAVES ME LIMITED CONTROL AS THE REAR END SUSPENSION REACTING TO THE SMALL BUMP ATTEMPTS TO MAKE THE TRUCKS REAR END JUMP AND ATTEMPT TO SPEND AROUND. THIS IS A VERY SICK FEELING AND NUMEROUS PASSANGERS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN FOR THIS TRUCKS FAULT AS THEY EXPERIENCE THIS WHILE RIDING IN THE TRUCK.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10102609

42,000 miles · Oct 25, 2004

Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspensionCrash

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY BROKE ON DRIVER'S SIDE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FLIP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10097660

42,000 miles · Mar 27, 2004

SuspensionCrashInjury

THE REAR RIGHT TIRE AND ASSEMBLY BROKE OFF MY 2002 DODGE RAM WHILE MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WERE ON THE FREEWAY. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER. APPARENTLY A PROBLEM WITH THE AXLE. I UNDERSTAND THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR A WEAK WELD ON THE REAR AXLE BRACKET. I NEVER GOT SUCH RECALL ON MY VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10064013

40,000 miles · Oct 30, 2003

Suspension

WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS FRONT SUSPENSION SHOOK AND JERKED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ALIGNMENT INSPECTION. MECHANIC STATED THAT LEFT UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10046043

20,000 miles · Aug 6, 2003

Suspension

I HAVE A RATTLE UNDER FRONT FINDERS OF 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 BROUGHT TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS NONE OF THEM CAN FIND PROBLEM ALSO RIDES ROUGH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10030930

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2003

Suspension

THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN DRIVING AT 50 MPH OR OVER, WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP OR POT HOLE, THE VEHICLE JUMPED INTO THE NEXT LANE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10026306

10,000 miles · Jun 26, 2003

Suspension

WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD IT SWERVED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DEALER INDICATED THE FACTORY INSTALLED WHEELS AND TIRES WERE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THE DEALER CHANGE THE STEERING AND REALIGN THE WHEELS. * AK *NLM *JB

NHTSA ODI #10021830

Official recalls

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

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