SIMULTANEOUS FAILURE OF THE INTER AND OUTER TIE RODS, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN USE AS A WORK TRUCK, DRIVEN ON DIRT ROADS AND CURRENTLY HAS 120,000 HIGHWAY MILES. RACK AND PINION IS LEAKING OIL, AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IS COMING A PART. *TR
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM Quad Cab 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
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.
Suspension complaints
17 reportsI HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB 4X4, VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND WAS NEVER ABUSED. ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO I NOTICED A CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WITHIN SEVERAL MONTHS ONE CRACK HAD GROWN TO 6 CRACKS. THEN ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO THE AIR WOULD NOT FLOW THROUGH THE DASH VENTS ANYMORE. IN ORDER TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM …
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB 4X4, VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND WAS NEVER ABUSED. ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO I NOTICED A CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WITHIN SEVERAL MONTHS ONE CRACK HAD GROWN TO 6 CRACKS. THEN ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO THE AIR WOULD NOT FLOW THROUGH THE DASH VENTS ANYMORE. IN ORDER TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM I HAD TO REMOVE THE DASH BOARD TO GET THE HEAT AND AIR SYSTEM. WHEN I REMOVED THE DASH BOARD IT CRUMBLED INTO ABOUT 20 PCS. UPON INSPECTION OF THE AIR PROBLEM I FOUND OUT THE BLEND DOOR THAT CONTROLS THE AIR TO THE DASH WAS BROKEN. SEEMS THIS IS A PROBLEM. I AM NOW HAVING TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD, FRONT AND REAR PC AND THE 4 BLEND DOORS IN THE AIR SYSTEM. WHILE REPLACING THE SHOCKS I NOTICED THE RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING EXTREMELY BAD WHICH HAS NEVER LEAKED BEFORE. NO NOISE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, NO WARNING LIGHT TO ADVISE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
I HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER AND CONTROL ARMS ( BOTH SIDES) BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE WEARING UNEVEN. I DO NOT DRIVE THIS PICK-UP OFF ROAD! IF YOU LOOK AT THE LACK OF SIZE TO THE BALL JOINTS, IT IS AMAZING THEY LASTED 3 YEARS. *TR
2002 4-DOOR RAM 1500 - 90K MILES. ENTIRE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSEMBLY CAME APART AND TIRE FELL OFF. THIS PART IS NOT MEANT TO EVER BREAK APART ACCORDING TO 2 INDEPENDENT MECHANICS. IM VERY LUCKY THAT I WASN'T ON THE EXPRESSWAY COMMUTE YET, JUST PULLING OUT ON THE ROAD EARLY IN THE MORNING. *TR
THERE IS A COMPLAINT ALREADY ON FILE ABOUT THE UPPER BALL JOINT THAT FELL OUT @17K MILES. THE COMPLAINT THAT I WANT TO FILE NOW IS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM THA IS FLEXING WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED OR WHEN A BUMP IS ENCOUNTERED. THE TRUCK WILL JUMP FROM ONE LANE TO THE OTHER WHEN A ROUGH PLACE IS HIT AT INTERSTATE SPEED. I HAVE HAD …
Read full complaint
THERE IS A COMPLAINT ALREADY ON FILE ABOUT THE UPPER BALL JOINT THAT FELL OUT @17K MILES. THE COMPLAINT THAT I WANT TO FILE NOW IS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM THA IS FLEXING WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED OR WHEN A BUMP IS ENCOUNTERED. THE TRUCK WILL JUMP FROM ONE LANE TO THE OTHER WHEN A ROUGH PLACE IS HIT AT INTERSTATE SPEED. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND NO ONE HAS EVER HAD THE TIME TO EVEN LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK THE LAST DAY OF 2001 AND NOW HAVE 35K MILES ON IT .I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT VERY MUCH. WHEN THE FIRST COMPLAINT WAS FILED(BECAUSE CHRYSLER DENIDED ANY CLAIM) I THOUGHT I WOULD AT LEAST GET A RESPONSE THAT I FILED THE COMPLAINT BUT TO THIS DAY I HAVE NOT. ONE MORE THING CHRYSLER SAYS THAT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN INJURY ATTRIBUTED TO THE UPPER BALL JOINT COMING OUT OF THE 2002 DODGE 1500, WELL I SENT THEM THE COPY OF THE HOSPITAL REPORT WHERE I HAD 14 STITCHES ACROSS MY NOSE AND UNDER MY EYE. WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN ANY THING DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? MUST SOMEONE BE KILLED BEFORE SOMEONE LOOKS INTO THIS? *TR
WHILE COMING OUT OF A CURVE THE TRUCK JOLTED, DIPPED AND COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED (1ST FAILURE). SUBSEQUENTLY I HIT A TELEPHONE POLE DETRYING THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT PANEL AND THE TRUCK SLID TO STOP AFTER "SHUTTING OFF" ( 2ND FAILURE). WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK , BEHIND ME ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE PASSENGER SIDE SIDE WHEEL…
Read full complaint
WHILE COMING OUT OF A CURVE THE TRUCK JOLTED, DIPPED AND COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED (1ST FAILURE). SUBSEQUENTLY I HIT A TELEPHONE POLE DETRYING THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT PANEL AND THE TRUCK SLID TO STOP AFTER "SHUTTING OFF" ( 2ND FAILURE). WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK , BEHIND ME ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE PASSENGER SIDE SIDE WHEEL WAS LAYING ON THE GROUND STILL ATTACHED TO THE AXLE. THERE WERE NO POT HOLES OR ROCKS ON THE ROAD TO CAUSE THE "JOLT". THIS IS A SIMILAR CONDITION THAT I BELIEVE HAS BEEN DESCRIBED FOR THE DURANGO AND DAKOTA OF THE SAME YEAR. *TR
POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE.I HAVE TO DUMP A WHOLE BOTTLE IN ONCE A WEEK. BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACED. LIFTERS IN MOTOR KNOCK AND HAVE TO BE FIXED. *NM
AT 65 MPH USING CRUISE CONTROL, DAYTIME, DRY PAVEMENT, GOOD WEATHER, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH WARNING CHIME. AT NEXT EXIT, OPERATOR TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP. TECHNICIAN FOUND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY WORN, ALLOWING TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO BE MOVED 1-2'' FROM VERTICAL. VEHICLE HAD BEE…
Read full complaint
AT 65 MPH USING CRUISE CONTROL, DAYTIME, DRY PAVEMENT, GOOD WEATHER, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH WARNING CHIME. AT NEXT EXIT, OPERATOR TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP. TECHNICIAN FOUND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY WORN, ALLOWING TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO BE MOVED 1-2'' FROM VERTICAL. VEHICLE HAD BEEN CHECKED DURING STATE INSPECTION LESS THAN 400 MILES PREVIOUSLY AND PASSED. A TOTAL FAILURE IN TRAFFIC AT SPEED MIGHT HAVE RESULTED IN A LOSS OF HANDLING/BRAKING THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED OR WORSENED AN ACCIDENT. FAILED PART IS AVAILABLE. VEHICLE HAS ALSO SUFFERED NUMEROUS PREMATURE FAILURES INCLUDING: FAILURE OF DRIVER HEATED SEAT, FAILURE OF ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP, NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENT DUE TO ENGINE STOPPAGE AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING, FAILURE OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, FAILURE OF FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, AND DAMAGE TO SPARE TIRE DUE TO MIS-ROUTED TAIL PIPE. SOME OF THESE ARE MANUFACTURER DESIGN DEFECTS, OTHERS ARE TROUBLESHOOTING OR REPAIR ERRORS AT DEALER. TWO EVENTS (FUEL PUMP, WHEEL BEARING) MIGHT HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT WITH INJURY/DEATH POSSIBLE OUTCOME. *JB
WHEN THE DRIVER ENCOUNTER ROUGH ROADS AND ENTERED A TURN HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END BOUNCED. *NM THERE WAS A PULSATION IN THE STEERING. THE SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *SC UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB
UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE WAS FOUND DURING STATE INSPECTION, WAS REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE.SEEN RECALL ON DURANGOS AND DAKOTOAS, WAS HOPING TO GET RAMS INCLUDED.THE VEHICLE HAS 52,000 MILES NEVER DRIVEN OFF ROAD OR ABUSED AND ROUTINE MAINTENCE AT THE DEALERSHIP.*AK
Official recalls
0No 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
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.
Illustration