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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

What owners actually said

815 reports
77,000 miles · May 2, 2007
Structure

LARGE CRACK HAS DEVELOPED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH BOARD. POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10189542

Mileage unknown · May 2, 2007
Structure

THE DASH ON MY DODGE RAM IS CRACKING IN SEVERAL PLACES, I AM CONCERNED THAT IT IS GOING TO CAVE IN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10189540

70,000 miles · May 2, 2007
Structure

I HAVE PURCHASED A 2002 DODGE RAM P/U AND HAVE BEEN READING THAT THE DASH IN THESE VEHICLES CRACK AND FALL IN. THIS MAKES THE ELECTRICIAL SYSTEM FAIL. I HAVE NOTICE 3 CRACKS IN MY DASH. I WANT SOMEONE TO KNOW. I STILL MAKE PAYMENTS ON THIS VEH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10189525

42,000 miles · May 1, 2007
Structure

I HAVE HAD LARGE CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE STRUCTURAL PORTION OF MY DASH. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10189439

Mileage unknown · May 1, 2007
Structure

I HAVE A 2001 OR 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 (CAN'T RECALL THE YEAR SITTING AT MY DESK) AND THE DASHBOARD HAS STARTED TO CRACK. AT FIRST IT WAS ONE SMALL CRACK AND NOW I HAVE 4 SEPARATE CRACKS AND MY DASH APPEARS AS IF IT MIGHT CAVE IN. I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL SIMILAR ISSUES LIKE THIS WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10189335

85,000 miles · Apr 19, 2007
Power Train

REAR DIFFERENTIAL BEGAN MAKING A HUMMING NOISE UNDER LOAD. IT HAD PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE UNTIL FAILURE. PINION BEARINGS ARE BAD. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE TRUCK PRODUCTS. A REPAIR SHOP IN MY TOWN JUST DID 3 REBUILD ON THIS TYPE TRUCK IN ONE WEEK. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED . THIS REAR END COULD COME APART AND…

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REAR DIFFERENTIAL BEGAN MAKING A HUMMING NOISE UNDER LOAD. IT HAD PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE UNTIL FAILURE. PINION BEARINGS ARE BAD. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE TRUCK PRODUCTS. A REPAIR SHOP IN MY TOWN JUST DID 3 REBUILD ON THIS TYPE TRUCK IN ONE WEEK. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED . THIS REAR END COULD COME APART AND INJURY COULD BE HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10188310

69,042 miles · Apr 14, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE CHECK GAUGES LIGHT AND AUDIBLE ALARM CAME ON. I LOOKED DOWN TO SEE I HAD NO OIL PRESSURE ON MY TRUCK. IT WAS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB 4X4 WITH 69043 MILES. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE OIL. EVERYTHING SEEMED OK. I THOUGHT START THE TRUCK TO SEE IF THERE WAS A FLUKE IN T…

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE CHECK GAUGES LIGHT AND AUDIBLE ALARM CAME ON. I LOOKED DOWN TO SEE I HAD NO OIL PRESSURE ON MY TRUCK. IT WAS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB 4X4 WITH 69043 MILES. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE OIL. EVERYTHING SEEMED OK. I THOUGHT START THE TRUCK TO SEE IF THERE WAS A FLUKE IN THE WARNING. THE OIL PRESSURE CAME UP AND I SET THERE EVERYTHING WAS OK. I PROCEEDED DOWN THE HIGHWAY. SHORTLY THEREAFTER PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE OIL PRESSURE I NOTICED IT DROPPING AGAIN. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEN A TOW TRUCK TO PICK UP AND DELIVER MY TRUCK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THE MOTOR NEEDS REPLACING AND WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. OIL SLUDGE HAS BUILT UP IN THE MOTOR. THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED THREE TIMES BY A DODGE DEALERSHIP ONCE BY A LOCAL GARRAGE AND THE OTHER 5 TIMES BY ME. I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL AS RECCOMMENED BY THE VEHICLE MANUAL. THE FAILURE HAS CAUSED A ENGINE LOSS AND REPLACEMENT IS REQUIRED. I HAVE TRIED TO WORK EXTENSIVLEY WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND CHRYSLER CORPORATION WITH REFUSAL FROM BOTH. THE TRUCK IS CURRENTLY AT FAILURE WAITING FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10187845

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

2002 DODGE RAM 1500 5.9 - VEHICLE OFTEN STALLS OR ALMOST STALLS DUE TO COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN/LIGHT, DRIVING BELOW 5 MPH, OR STARTING THE TRUCK. THE RPMS WILL DROP BELOW 500 AND THE TRUCK WILL START TO SPUDDER & THEN STALL. IT STALLED COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN MORE THAN ONCE CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK AND ALMOST …

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2002 DODGE RAM 1500 5.9 - VEHICLE OFTEN STALLS OR ALMOST STALLS DUE TO COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN/LIGHT, DRIVING BELOW 5 MPH, OR STARTING THE TRUCK. THE RPMS WILL DROP BELOW 500 AND THE TRUCK WILL START TO SPUDDER & THEN STALL. IT STALLED COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN MORE THAN ONCE CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK AND ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM SO I HAD FUEL SYSTEM CLEANED & THROTTLE BODY CLEANED. DID NOT FIX ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10185092

135,000 miles · Feb 21, 2007
Power Train

REAR CLIPS BROKEN IN 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10183151

30,000 miles · Feb 20, 2007
Steering

I HAVE SUFFERED TWO MAJOR SYSTEM FAILURES IN MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500, BOTH OF WHICH RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOCK OF THE STEERING WHILE DRIVING. IN BOTH INSTANCES, FIRST AT 30,000 KM IN FEB 04, AND NOW AT 72,000 KM IN FEB 07, THE POWER STEERING RACK HAS BROKEN, RESULTING IN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, REQUIRING A KING KONG GRIP ON THE…

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I HAVE SUFFERED TWO MAJOR SYSTEM FAILURES IN MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500, BOTH OF WHICH RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOCK OF THE STEERING WHILE DRIVING. IN BOTH INSTANCES, FIRST AT 30,000 KM IN FEB 04, AND NOW AT 72,000 KM IN FEB 07, THE POWER STEERING RACK HAS BROKEN, RESULTING IN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, REQUIRING A KING KONG GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL SIMPLY TO TURN THE WHEEL EVEN ONE INCH. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS COVERED BY CHRYSLER UNDER THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY, BUT THIS ONE IS NOT BEING COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. BOTH FAILURES WERE LUCKILY AT LOW SPEED, BUT IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN IN TWO YEARS, I PRAY THAT IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM FOR THE SAME FAILURE, AND THERE IS ANOTHER DODGE RAM AT THE DEALER RIGHT NOW WITH THE SAME BREAK DOWN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10183088

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.