IllustrationFRONT AXLE, I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT AXLES OF MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 ON BOTH SIDES AT 100,000 MILES AND THE AXLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS NOW GONE OUT AGAIN, 1.5 YEARS LATER. THE OIL PUMP HAS GONE OUT ALONG WITH ALL THE TENSIONERS, REAR AXLE IS GOING OUT, TRUCK OVERHEATS AND NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. *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
What owners actually said
815 reports2002 DODGE RAM 1500 - DASH CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. *JB
2002 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP. DASH CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH IN 2 PLACES - ONE IS ABOUT 8" LONG THE OTHER IS ABOUT 18" LONG. *TR
THE DASHBOARD ON MY TRUCK CRACKED, THEN BEGAN LOSING PIECES. SOME PIECES HAVE BEEN PROPELLED AT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS BY THE AIR CONDITIONING AND WHEN WINDOWS ARE OPEN. WIRING PROBLEMS APPEAR TO BE DEVELOPING (I AM NOW RECEIVING "LAMP OUT" WARNINGS). I HAVE PLACED A DASH COVER TO LIMIT EXPOSURE TO THESE HAZARDS, BUT I HAVE S…
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THE DASHBOARD ON MY TRUCK CRACKED, THEN BEGAN LOSING PIECES. SOME PIECES HAVE BEEN PROPELLED AT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS BY THE AIR CONDITIONING AND WHEN WINDOWS ARE OPEN. WIRING PROBLEMS APPEAR TO BE DEVELOPING (I AM NOW RECEIVING "LAMP OUT" WARNINGS). I HAVE PLACED A DASH COVER TO LIMIT EXPOSURE TO THESE HAZARDS, BUT I HAVE SEEN NEWS REPORTS THAT MANY OTHER CONSUMERS ARE EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS, AND THAT THEY CONTINUE TO WORSEN. *TR
ANOTHER DODGE DASHBOARD CRACKING. WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF FLYING DASHBOARD PIECES IF THE AIRBAG(S) DEPLOY? ALSO, IF THE DASHBOARD ITSELF BREAKS DOWN SO EASILY UNDER UV EXPOSURE, HOW QUICKLY WILL THE COMPONENTS UNDER THE DASH DECOMPOSE? AND WHAT DANGERS DO THEY PRESENT? *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR SHUT OFF. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THEY STATED THEY WOULD DECIDE IF THEY WOULD PAY DEPENDING ON THE DIAGNOSIS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,000. THE VIN W…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR SHUT OFF. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THEY STATED THEY WOULD DECIDE IF THEY WOULD PAY DEPENDING ON THE DIAGNOSIS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN HE CRANKED THE VEHICLE. HE NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD ROUGH IDLE WHEN HE CAME TO A STOP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CODES INDICATED THERE WERE VACUUM LEAKS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,000. THE FAILURE MILEA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN HE CRANKED THE VEHICLE. HE NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD ROUGH IDLE WHEN HE CAME TO A STOP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CODES INDICATED THERE WERE VACUUM LEAKS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I HAVE A 02 DODGE RAM 4X4 QUAD CAB WITH THE 360 ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION IS MESSED UP I CONTACTED A LOCAL SHOP AND THE SOLENOIDS ARE BAD AND THE SHOP OWNER STATED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS HE TRIED TO GET THE PARTS AND NO ONE HAS THEM THEY ARE ON BACK ORDER TILL NEXT WEEK THAT SAYS TO ME THIS IS A F…
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I HAVE A 02 DODGE RAM 4X4 QUAD CAB WITH THE 360 ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION IS MESSED UP I CONTACTED A LOCAL SHOP AND THE SOLENOIDS ARE BAD AND THE SHOP OWNER STATED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS HE TRIED TO GET THE PARTS AND NO ONE HAS THEM THEY ARE ON BACK ORDER TILL NEXT WEEK THAT SAYS TO ME THIS IS A FAILURE ON DODGE FOR FAULTY EQUIPMENT. *TR
POWER STEERING FAILED TWICE. ONCE IN TOWN AND AGAIN ON A MAJOR HWY AT HIGH SPEED. RACK AND PINION FAILURE BOTH TIMES. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN EITHER INSTANCE, BUT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE A TRUCK HOME WHEN YOU ARE STILL 400 MILES FROM THERE WITH NO POWER STEERING ON A SUNDAY. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN TRAFFIC. *TR
(1)NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. (2)REAR END LOCKED UP AT 55 MPH, CAUSED US TO SLIDE OFF THE ROAD AND INTO THE DITCH. TRUCK HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. (3)REPLACEMENT NOT AVAILABLE AS IT WAS DISCONTINUED. PARTS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE TO BE REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. DEALER QUOTE ON PARTS $3500. FAILURE AT 92K MILES ON A $30K TRUCK…
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(1)NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. (2)REAR END LOCKED UP AT 55 MPH, CAUSED US TO SLIDE OFF THE ROAD AND INTO THE DITCH. TRUCK HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. (3)REPLACEMENT NOT AVAILABLE AS IT WAS DISCONTINUED. PARTS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE TO BE REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. DEALER QUOTE ON PARTS $3500. FAILURE AT 92K MILES ON A $30K TRUCK THAT IS NOT A 4X4. *TR
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.