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2002 Dodge RAM 2500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Dodge RAM 2500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 275.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
155Owner complaints

Model-year median: 275

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2002 Dodge RAM 2500

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 155 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Structure: 40 reports
  • Steering: 20 reports
  • Power Train: 19 reports
  • Suspension: 14 reports
  • Fuel System, Diesel: 13 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    313
    1999    211
    2000    469
    2001    155
    2002    661
    2003    582
    2004    422
    2005
    Compare all RAM 2500 years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Structure
    40    Steering
    20    Power Train
    19    Suspension
    14    Fuel System, Diesel
    13
    All reported categories
    Unknown Or Other
    13    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    10    Tires
    9    Engine And Engine Cooling
    8    Air Bags
    6    Fuel System, Other
    6    Vehicle Speed Control
    5    Wheels
    5    Electrical System
    4    Fuel System, Gasoline
    4    Visibility
    4    Exterior Lighting
    3    Seat Belts
    3    Seats
    3    Engine
    2    Fuel/propulsion System
    2    Service Brakes
    2    Trailer Hitches
    2    Latches/locks/linkages
    1    Parking Brake
    1

    Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

    When problems were reported

    Mileage at the reported incident

    114 reports with mileage · 41 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 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Steering. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Power Train. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    10 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

    Engine complaints

    2 reports
    Clear category filter
    70,000 miles · Jul 18, 2020
    EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

    DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WONT ACCELATE THEN LOOSE POWER , THEN AFEW A FEW MINUTES DRIVES GREAT THEN NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL NOT ACCELATE DRANGE LOSING POWER LIKE THAT

    NHTSA ODI #11340058

    89,785 miles · Apr 10, 2014
    EnginePower Train

    DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE GOING ABOUT 75 MPH I NEEDED TO BRAKE BUT NOTICED THE TRUCK WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN AND THE RPM WERE NOT REDUCING, IN FACT THEY WERE INCREASING. DESPITE ME NOT HAVING MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. I HAD TO USE EXTREME PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES AND PULL OFF THE ROAD TO GET THE TRUCK TO S…

    Read full complaint

    DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE GOING ABOUT 75 MPH I NEEDED TO BRAKE BUT NOTICED THE TRUCK WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN AND THE RPM WERE NOT REDUCING, IN FACT THEY WERE INCREASING. DESPITE ME NOT HAVING MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. I HAD TO USE EXTREME PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES AND PULL OFF THE ROAD TO GET THE TRUCK TO SLOW DOWN. ONCE SLOWED IF I RELEASED PRESSURE OFF THE BRAKES THE TRUCK WOULD START TO ACCELERATE. I PUT THE TRUCK INTO PARK AND THE RPM WENT UP TO 5000 AND STAYED. I TURN OFF THE TRUCK AND TURNED IT BACK ON TO FIND THE RPMS IMMEDIATELY GO UP TO 5000 RPMS. I TURNED OFF THE TRUCK GOT OUT AND NOTICED SMOKE AND HEAT COMING OUT FROM MY WHEELS, DUE TO THE EXTREME BRAKING REQUIRED TO STOP THE TRUCK. KNOWING SOMETHING OF CARS I DECIDED TO LOOK AT THE THROTTLE BODY TO SEE IF IT WAS JAMMED OPEN AND REMOVED AIR FILTER ASSEMBLE. WHEN I REMOVED THE AIR FILTER ASSEMBLY I FOUND THE AIR FILTER ASSEMBLE O-RING (THE SEAL THAT GOES BETWEEN THE THROTTLE BODY AND AIR FILTER ASSEMBLY) JAMMED BETWEEN THE THROTTLE BODY HOUSING AND VALVE, VALVE WAS ABOUT 45 DEGREES FROM THE CLOSED POSITION. PART OF THE SEAL WAS STILL BETWEEN THE AIR FILTER ASSEMBLY AND THROTTLE BODY HOUSING AND THE OTHER PART WAS JAMMED IN THE THROTTLE BODY. I REASSEMBLED THE AIR FILTER ASSEMBLY WITHOUT TO SEAL AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AND FRONT BRAKE PADS DUE TO THE EXTREME BRAKING OF THE INCIDENT. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10578904

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No recalls in this snapshot.

    Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.