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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

22 reports
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78,598 miles · Mar 14, 2006
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE ENGINE SPUTTERED. THE CHECK ENGINE, AIRBAG, AND CHECK GAUGES LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 03/28/06

NHTSA ODI #10152681

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2005
Exterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS, CRUISE CONTROL, AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10115109

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2005
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

WHILE REVERSING OUT OF DRIVEWAY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A FENCE/ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND INTO NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10113177

21,800 miles · Jan 27, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

SUNDAY MORNING, I STARTED MY TRUCK. THE TRUCK WARMED UP FOR NEARLY 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO MY TREK HOME. I THEN DROVE THE TRUCK FOR NEARLY 90 MINUTES PRIOR TO REACHING INTERSTATE 95 IN HOULTON. WHEN I STARTED DRIVING, THE TEMP WAS 16. WHEN I ENTERED THE INTERSTATE, I SET MY CRUISE CONTROL TO 85. AFTER TRAVELING FOR NEARLY 80 MIN…

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SUNDAY MORNING, I STARTED MY TRUCK. THE TRUCK WARMED UP FOR NEARLY 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO MY TREK HOME. I THEN DROVE THE TRUCK FOR NEARLY 90 MINUTES PRIOR TO REACHING INTERSTATE 95 IN HOULTON. WHEN I STARTED DRIVING, THE TEMP WAS 16. WHEN I ENTERED THE INTERSTATE, I SET MY CRUISE CONTROL TO 85. AFTER TRAVELING FOR NEARLY 80 MINUTES, MY TRUCK RAPIDLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. I TAPPED MY BRAKES IN AN ATTEMPT TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS DID NOT WORK. I THEN PUSHED THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS ON MY STEERING WHEEL, IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE. THIS DID NOT WORK EITHER. I PUSHED ON THE ACCELERATOR THINKING THAT IT WAS STUCK. THIS MADE NO DIFFERENCE. THE TRUCK WAS ACCELERATING WITHOUT WARNING OR REASON. MY TRUCK ACCELERATED TO 95 MPH, AND WAS CONTINUING TO CLIMB. I HAD TO DO THE FOLLOWING IN ORDER TO GET MY TRUCK STOPPED. I HAD TO FORCE THE BRAKES ON, WHICH WAS THE NOT VERY PRODUCTIVE. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE TRUCK TO 65 MPH BEFORE PLACING THE TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL. AFTER PLACING THE TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE RACED OUT OF CONTROL. THE TACHOMETER WAS MAXED OUT. THE ENGINE STALLED, AS I ROLLED TO A STOP. AFTER COLLECTING MY SELF AND ATTEMPTING TO CALM MY WIFE DOWN, I STARTED THE TRUCK UP. THE ACCELERATOR WAS STILL STUCK AND THE TACHOMETER WAS PAST 7000 BEFORE I COULD GET THE TRUCK SHUT OFF. I STARTED THE TRUCK THREE MORE TIMES AND THE ABOVE STILL OCCURRED. I THEN SLOWLY PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR A COUPLE OF TIMES WITH THE TRUCK, OFF. I THEN STARTED THE TRUCK AND PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK THEN CAME OUT OF WHAT EVER WAS GOING ON. OUTSIDE TEMP 0. THIS REALLY CONCERNS ME. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY EVENT, AND THANKFULLY WE WERE ON THE INTERSTATE IN REMOTE NORTHERN MAINE. IF THIS OCCURRED IN OR AROUND RURAL MAINE IT WOULD HAVE AND COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. *JB WILLIAM SMITH 18 FERN WAY ROCKPORT, MAINE HRSWKS412@ADELPHIA.NET

NHTSA ODI #10055016

14,275 miles · Jan 25, 2004
Power TrainSteeringVehicle Speed Control

SPEEDOMETER STOPPED FUNCTIONING. FOUND THAT SENSOR ON TOP OF DIFFERENTIAL WAS DISLODGED AND OIL WAS COMING FROM DIFFERENTIAL. TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED DIFFERENTIAL, PINION BEARING, AND SENSOR. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10054830

9,000 miles · Jan 5, 2004
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, IT ACCELERATED BACKWARDS RESULTING IN CONSUMER HITTING A PARKED TOYOTA TRUCK. DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO SOLUTION BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *MR

NHTSA ODI #10053327

200 miles · Dec 2, 2003
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

THE VEHICLE HAD GONE INTO REVERSE AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND COULD NOT LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER SHIFTED THE GEAR TO DRIVE THEN STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL, EXPECTING TO GO FORWARD, BUT IT HAD GONE BA…

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THE VEHICLE HAD GONE INTO REVERSE AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND COULD NOT LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER SHIFTED THE GEAR TO DRIVE THEN STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL, EXPECTING TO GO FORWARD, BUT IT HAD GONE BACKWARDS. THE CONSUMER JIGGLED THE GEAR SHIFT SLIGHTLY AND STEPPED ON THE GAS AGAIN THEN IT WENT FORWARD. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED FROM PARK. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10044893

15,000 miles · Mar 21, 2003
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE HAS LUNGED FORWARD WHILE IN DRIVE. ENGINE IDLE ELECTRONICALLY ADVANCES WHILE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE, DRIVER MUST KEEP FOOT FIRMLY DEPRESSED ON BRAKE TO AVOID ACCIDENT. ALSO HAVING SIGNIFICANT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS - SPECIFICALLY GAUGES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND HORN/LIGHTS ENGAGE. PROBLEMS ARE INTERMITTENT. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10010824

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

NO SUMMARY. DT

NHTSA ODI #769156

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed ControlVisibility

WE PURCHASED THIS TRUCK 2/28/02. BY THE END OF MARCH EARLY APRIL, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO STALL SPORADICALLY AND HAS EVEN JUMPED GEARS WHILE IN MOTION ONCE. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP 8-9 TIMES AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD EVERYTIME THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PROMISES UPON PROMISES HAVE BEEN MADE TO RE-FLASH T…

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WE PURCHASED THIS TRUCK 2/28/02. BY THE END OF MARCH EARLY APRIL, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO STALL SPORADICALLY AND HAS EVEN JUMPED GEARS WHILE IN MOTION ONCE. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP 8-9 TIMES AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD EVERYTIME THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PROMISES UPON PROMISES HAVE BEEN MADE TO RE-FLASH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD THEY (DODGE) THINK THE TRUCKS COMPUTER SYSTEM IS TELLING THE TRUCK TO SHUT DOWN. ONE TIME WHILE RIDING DOWN THE ROAD THE TRUCK LOST COMPLETE POWER TO ALL INTERIOR SYSTEMS (I.E. AIR CONDITION, STEREO, WINDOWS) AND WE HAD TO PULL OVER. THE TRUCK HAS STALLED BOTH IN REVERSE AND IN DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION HAS LOCKED UP ON THE DEALERSHIP (IN REVERSE). FROM FEB. 28, 02 TO JUNE 28, 02 THE TRUCK WAS IN THE SHOP OVER 25 DAYS. ON JULY 8, 2002, THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR COMPLETELY BROKE AND WOULD SPIN AROUND IN CIRCLES. WHEN WE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WE WERE TOLD IT WAS ON A NATIONAL BACKORDER. WHILE WAITING FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR, THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR BROKE IN THE SAME FASHION. ALL IN ALL WE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL 9/9/02 TO HAVE THE MIRRORS FIXED. WHILE WAITING WE HAD TO TAPE THE MIRRORS IN PLACE SO WE COULD SEE WHILE DRIVING. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AT TIMES AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO TRAVEL. WE HAVE STOPPED TAKING THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR NOW BECAUSE WE GET NOW WHERE WITH THEM OR DAIMLERCHRYSLER/DODGE. I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO HELP PURSUE THIS MATTER. WHEN PAYING $30,000 FOR A TRUCK AND THEN BEING REFUSED REPAIR FOR A PROBLEM THAT CAN AND HAS DEFINETLY ALTERED THE MARKET VALUE AND OUR CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE A SAFE TRUCK TO DRIVE/RIDE IN IS IN-EXCUSABLE. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE WE ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THESE PROBLEMS. LET'S ALL GET TOGETHER AND MAKE DODGE STAND UP TO THEIR PROBLEMS. MR

NHTSA ODI #768550

Official recalls

3

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

1

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

SEE ATTACHED REPORT.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Power Train:axle Assembly

SEE ATTACHED REPORT.

Power Train:driveline:differential Unit

SEE ATTACHED REPORT.