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2002 Dodge RAM Quad Cab

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

156 reports with mileage · 50 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 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports4 fire reports8 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

7 reports
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124,000 miles · Aug 8, 2014
Exterior Lighting

ALL THE SUDDEN ALL REAR LIGHTS WENT OFF TOOK TO GARAGE THEY COULDN'T TELL WHAT WAS WRONG AFTER PAYING TO FIND OUT NOTHING AND THEY HAVING TRUCK FOR 2 DAYS AND DEAD BATTERY FROM TRYING A BUNCH OF [XXX], I BROUGHT IT HOME AND STARTED TO TRY FOR MYSELF IT WAS THE FUSE BOX OF ALL THINGS I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE HEARD OF HAVING TO REP…

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ALL THE SUDDEN ALL REAR LIGHTS WENT OFF TOOK TO GARAGE THEY COULDN'T TELL WHAT WAS WRONG AFTER PAYING TO FIND OUT NOTHING AND THEY HAVING TRUCK FOR 2 DAYS AND DEAD BATTERY FROM TRYING A BUNCH OF [XXX], I BROUGHT IT HOME AND STARTED TO TRY FOR MYSELF IT WAS THE FUSE BOX OF ALL THINGS I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE HEARD OF HAVING TO REPLACE FUSE BOX ABOUT 500.00 , AND DASH IS CRACKED ALL OVER THE PLACE PRICED TO REPLACE COST ABOUT 700.00 I WILL WAIT TO SEE IF THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE IT ALREADY HAD TO GET DEFROSTER VENT FIXED FROM STUFF FALLING IN THERE ,I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF OWNERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THESE THINGS GOING WRONG BUT I THOUGHT ONE MORE MY MAKE A DIFFERENCE . I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS IS RECALLED BEFORE SOME ONE GETS INJURED AND ALL SO THE BACK DOOR WIRING ON BOTH SIDES WENT BAD HAD TO REPAIR THEY I WOULD THING THAT IS A FIRE ISSUE BUT WHO AM I THE CONSUMER WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING THAT'S WHY I A WOMEN FIX MY OWN TRUCK. HOPE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS.. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10620823

90,000 miles · Sep 13, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

REAR DOOR WIRING FAILURE CAUSING THE WIRES TO SHORT OUT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, SPEEDOMETER, DOOR LOCKS, POWER WINDOWS, DOOM LIGHTING. THE WIRING FAILURE IS DUE TO A POOR DESIGN AND POOR QUALITY OF MATERIALS USED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE READ DOORS WIRING SYSTEM BETWEEN THE B PILLAR CONNECTOR AND THE DOOR. THIS CAN BE IDENTIFIED BY…

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REAR DOOR WIRING FAILURE CAUSING THE WIRES TO SHORT OUT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, SPEEDOMETER, DOOR LOCKS, POWER WINDOWS, DOOM LIGHTING. THE WIRING FAILURE IS DUE TO A POOR DESIGN AND POOR QUALITY OF MATERIALS USED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE READ DOORS WIRING SYSTEM BETWEEN THE B PILLAR CONNECTOR AND THE DOOR. THIS CAN BE IDENTIFIED BY REMOVING THE BLACK RUBBER BOOTH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10425147

48,000 miles · Jun 29, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility

TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS WERE GOING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHETHER THE LIGHT SWITCH WAS ON OF OFF AND THE KEY WAS IN THE RUN POSITION (STARTED OR NOT) AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD TURN OFF WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I ABOUT HAD A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT WHEN I FOUND OUT THE WIPERS QUIT WORKING, IMAGINE THAT! …

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TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS WERE GOING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHETHER THE LIGHT SWITCH WAS ON OF OFF AND THE KEY WAS IN THE RUN POSITION (STARTED OR NOT) AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD TURN OFF WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I ABOUT HAD A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT WHEN I FOUND OUT THE WIPERS QUIT WORKING, IMAGINE THAT! TOOK MY 2002 DODGE RAM 4X4, 3.7L QUAD CAB SPORT TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE PDC (POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER (FUSE BOX)) THAT THEY ARE PRONE TO CORROSION AND THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY OF THEM. WHY NO RECALL WHEN MANY LIVES ARE AT STAKE HERE AND SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THESE FOUND? COULD HAVE BEEN ME, AND I HAVE 3 CHILDREN THAT DEPEND ON ME, SO CHRYSLER OWN UP TO IT AND DO THE RIGHT THING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10340679

61,000 miles · May 18, 2010
Exterior LightingVisibility

HEADLIGHTS, WIPERS, AND TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP. HEADLIGHTS SWITCHED TO HIGH BEAM, WILL NOT SWITCH TO LOW BEAM AND VICE A VERSA. WIPERS WILL NOT GO TO STEADY WIPING, OR FAST WIPING SPORADICALLY. TURN SIGNALS WILL SIGNAL 'RIGHT TURN' WHEN I SWITCH THE LEVER FOR A 'LEFT TURN', AND VICE A VERSA…

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HEADLIGHTS, WIPERS, AND TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP. HEADLIGHTS SWITCHED TO HIGH BEAM, WILL NOT SWITCH TO LOW BEAM AND VICE A VERSA. WIPERS WILL NOT GO TO STEADY WIPING, OR FAST WIPING SPORADICALLY. TURN SIGNALS WILL SIGNAL 'RIGHT TURN' WHEN I SWITCH THE LEVER FOR A 'LEFT TURN', AND VICE A VERSA, AND SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT WORK AT ALL. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS YET, AND I HAVE REFRAINED FROM DRIVING AT NIGHT OR WHEN IT IS RAINING IF POSSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10331106

47,000 miles · Jul 16, 2008
Exterior Lighting

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN WITH THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL ACTIVATED, SEVERAL VEHICLES ATTEMPTED TO PASS ON MY LEFT. TO MY DISMAY I DISCOVERED THAT THE DIRECTIONAL INDICATOR WAS SIGNALING A RIGHT TURN WHILE IN THE LEFT ACTIVATED POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER CANNOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM, SO NO ACTION I…

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WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN WITH THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL ACTIVATED, SEVERAL VEHICLES ATTEMPTED TO PASS ON MY LEFT. TO MY DISMAY I DISCOVERED THAT THE DIRECTIONAL INDICATOR WAS SIGNALING A RIGHT TURN WHILE IN THE LEFT ACTIVATED POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER CANNOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM, SO NO ACTION IS TAKEN. THE PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSED TO NOW I CAN CHANGE THE DIRECTIONAL FROM LEFT TO RIGHT BY RAISING OR LOWERING THE TILT STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE SIGNAL INDICATOR IS ACTIVATED. SOME TIMES IT JUST DOES NOT GO ON AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234575

15,000 miles · Mar 30, 2004
Electrical SystemExterior LightingPower Train

EXCESSIVE STOPLAMP FAILURES, REPLACED LAMPS DUE TO MELTING OF BASE REPEATEDLY,4TH TIME IN 8 MOS. NO SERVICE KIT OR UPGRADES AVAILABLE, CHECK CHEVY, SAME TAIL LIGHT BOARD SET-UP, SAME PROBLEMS, PERHAPS THEY HAVE A BULLETIN ON PROBLEM?*AK SEVERE SHAKING UNDER BRAKING, STARTED AT 15K MILES, SERVICER REFUSES TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY…

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EXCESSIVE STOPLAMP FAILURES, REPLACED LAMPS DUE TO MELTING OF BASE REPEATEDLY,4TH TIME IN 8 MOS. NO SERVICE KIT OR UPGRADES AVAILABLE, CHECK CHEVY, SAME TAIL LIGHT BOARD SET-UP, SAME PROBLEMS, PERHAPS THEY HAVE A BULLETIN ON PROBLEM?*AK SEVERE SHAKING UNDER BRAKING, STARTED AT 15K MILES, SERVICER REFUSES TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY (12K WARRANTY), HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THESE ROTORS. SEVERE SHAKING ON SWEEPING RIGHT HAND FREEWAY TURNS, PRESENTLY SCHEDULED FOR SERVICE AT ANTIOCH/DELTA DODGE. ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY STALLING, UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM WHEN IN FOR SERVICE, NOT NOTED ON SERVICE TICKETS. INDEPENDENT FRONT END LEAKAGE, PRESENTLY SCHEDULED FOR SERVICE AT ANTIOCH/DELTA DODGE. THIS MY 3RD DODGE TRUCK SINCE 1996, 1ST ONE WAS GREAT, 2ND HAD REPEATED REAREND ISSUES, 3RD SEEMS TO BE HAVING EXCESSIVE ISSUES ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF COMPONENTS, I WOULD LIKE HELP IN RESOLVING THESE ISSUES, AS PRESENTLY I STILL VIEW DODGE AS THE LEADER IN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.

NHTSA ODI #10064170

10,000 miles · Feb 24, 2004
Electrical SystemExterior LightingPower Train

CURRENTLY OWN A 2002 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY TRUCK. I MYSELF HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION JERKING AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTTING OFF WHEN IDLING (AND NOT EVEN AT LONG PERIODS OF TIME). AT TIMES WHEN PUTTING INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE AT…

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CURRENTLY OWN A 2002 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY TRUCK. I MYSELF HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION JERKING AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTTING OFF WHEN IDLING (AND NOT EVEN AT LONG PERIODS OF TIME). AT TIMES WHEN PUTTING INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL AND I HAVE TO COMPLETELY SHUT OFF THE TRUCK AND RESTART IT TO GET IT TO MOVE. I HAVEN'T HAD IT REPORTED AT THE DEALER YET BECAUSE THEY WILL BE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. JUST NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH MY REAR TAILLIGHTS. AT DIFFERENT TIMES, DIFFERENT BULBS WOULD SEEM TO GO OUT CAUSING THE "LAMP OUT" INDICATOR LAMP TO ILLUMINATE. WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE THE BULB MYSELF (CAUSE BULBS ARE NOT WARRANTY), I FOUND THAT THE SOCKETS WERE CAUSING THE BULB HOUSING TO MELT INSIDE THE SOCKETS AS WELL AS ON THE BULBS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY ONLY REPLACED ONE SIDE BECAUSE THE OTHER THEY DID NOT HAVE IN STOCK, YET THEY DID NOT EVEN BOTHER ORDERING THE OTHER SIDE. I HAVE ALREADY HAD MY RACK & PINION REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING AND ALSO HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY TCM AND PCM REPROGRAMED BECAUSE THEY WERE CAUSING MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AS WELL AS MAKING MY AIR CONDITIONING INOPERATIVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10058858

Official recalls

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 ↗

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.