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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

What owners actually said

206 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE LEES THAN 45000 MILES ON MY TRUCK AND THE BREAK PADS ON THE FRONT HAVE BEEN CHANGED SIX TIMES. ROTORS ARE FINE, THE LAST THREE TIMES THE PADS WERE CHANGED IN LESS THEN 18 MONTHS. WHEN GETTING THE PADS FROM A NATIONAL AUTO STORE THE COMPUTER BROUGHT UP BIGGER PADS THAT WOULD BE FOR MY QUAD CAB. THEY DIDN'T FIT AND I HAD TO…

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I HAVE LEES THAN 45000 MILES ON MY TRUCK AND THE BREAK PADS ON THE FRONT HAVE BEEN CHANGED SIX TIMES. ROTORS ARE FINE, THE LAST THREE TIMES THE PADS WERE CHANGED IN LESS THEN 18 MONTHS. WHEN GETTING THE PADS FROM A NATIONAL AUTO STORE THE COMPUTER BROUGHT UP BIGGER PADS THAT WOULD BE FOR MY QUAD CAB. THEY DIDN'T FIT AND I HAD TO GO WITH THE REGULAR CAB BRAKE PADS. I CONTACTED THE DEALER THEY CHECKED THEM OUT AND SAID IT WAS THE RIGHT SIZE CALIPER ON THE TRUCK. WHEN I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE AUTO STORE ONLY BRINGING UP THE LONGER PADS THEY OFFERED TO CHANGE MY ROTORS AND BREAK FOR A GREAT DEAL OF $400. NO THANK YOU. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10160783

72,000 miles · Jun 18, 2006
Steering

FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED CAUSING EXCESSIVE LEAKING OF POWER STEERING FLUID AND FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING. DODGE/CHRYSLER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE TO THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB, 4.7 LITER ENGINE. 72,000 HIGHWAY MILES. IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENT…

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FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED CAUSING EXCESSIVE LEAKING OF POWER STEERING FLUID AND FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING. DODGE/CHRYSLER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE TO THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB, 4.7 LITER ENGINE. 72,000 HIGHWAY MILES. IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION FROM THE DEALER THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT CAN HAPPEN 2,000 MILES TO 200,000 MILES INDICATING THE CONTINUED USE OF A DEFECTIVE PART. DESPITE MY WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT THE LABOR COSTS OF THE REPAIR CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ASSIST WITH THE COST OF THE $600.00 PART. THERE IS NO AFTER MARKET PART AVAILABLE DUE TO THE TRUCK BEING "TOO NEW" ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. THIS PART FAILED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE AND NOT ABUSE ON MY PART. THE PART CAN NOT BE REPAIRED AND MUST BE REPLACED SINCE DODGE/CHRYSLER DOES NOT SUPPLY A PARTS PACKAGE TO REPAIR THE PART. DUE TO THIS FACT THE PART MUST BE REPLACED AND NOT REPAIRED. THIS IS ALSO A GREAT SAFETY ISSUE AS THE POWER STEERING LEAKED OUT WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE RESULTED FROM THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10160105

12,800 miles · Jun 3, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES START TO SQUEAK AND SHIMMY. SQUEAKING VERY LOUD WHEN COMING TO STOP. SQUEAK LASTS FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS THEN SOUNDS LIKE METAL TO METAL AND CAN FEEL IN PEDAL. TRUCK STARTS TO SHIMMY AT HIGH SPEED THEN APPLYING BRAKES TO STOP. I HAVE DOWN 3 COMPLETE BRAKE JOBS FRONT AND REAR, BEST PADS, ROTORS, EVERYTHING. NEW REPLACEMENT ROTOR…

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BRAKES START TO SQUEAK AND SHIMMY. SQUEAKING VERY LOUD WHEN COMING TO STOP. SQUEAK LASTS FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS THEN SOUNDS LIKE METAL TO METAL AND CAN FEEL IN PEDAL. TRUCK STARTS TO SHIMMY AT HIGH SPEED THEN APPLYING BRAKES TO STOP. I HAVE DOWN 3 COMPLETE BRAKE JOBS FRONT AND REAR, BEST PADS, ROTORS, EVERYTHING. NEW REPLACEMENT ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO WARPING. THE BRAKES SHOULD LAST LONGER THE 3-4 MONTHS WHICH IN MILES TERMS IS LESS THAN 25,000 MILES. I AM NOW ON MY 4TH BRAKE JOB AND I SHOULDN'T BE. THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM. NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THIS IS BECOMING EXTREMELY COSTLY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10158888

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2006
Power TrainVisibility

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR OR SO I LOST MY OVERDRIVE AND 3 RD GEAR OF MY TRANSMISSION. DODGE DEALER REPORTS THE VALVE BODY WENT OUT ON MY TRUCK IT HAD ONLY BEEN OUT OF WARRANTY BY ABOUT 3000 MILES. DODGE WOULD NOT WORK WIT ME EVEN THOU THEY ADMITTED TO HAVING SOME COME IT. SO I HAD TO HAVE THE VALVE B…

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR OR SO I LOST MY OVERDRIVE AND 3 RD GEAR OF MY TRANSMISSION. DODGE DEALER REPORTS THE VALVE BODY WENT OUT ON MY TRUCK IT HAD ONLY BEEN OUT OF WARRANTY BY ABOUT 3000 MILES. DODGE WOULD NOT WORK WIT ME EVEN THOU THEY ADMITTED TO HAVING SOME COME IT. SO I HAD TO HAVE THE VALVE BODY REPLACED. WHILE SITTING IN THE SERVICE AREA WAITING FOR MY TRUCK TO BE FIXED A CUSTOMER CAME IN TO GET A HEATER CORE FOR HIS 2002. GUESS WHAT LESS THEN A MONTH AFTER SPENDING 1300.00 TO GET MY TRANSMISSION FIXED THE HEATER CORE WENT OUT ON MINE . IS THIS COMMON OR AM I JUST THE LUCKY ONE? AS THE HEATER CORE FAILED IT DID DUMP ANTI FREEZE IN THE CAB OF THE TRUCK AND ON THE CARPET. I HAVE YET TO HAVE THE HEATER CORE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10153777

51,000 miles · Mar 24, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10153672

45,000 miles · Jan 19, 2006
Seats

1. DRIVER'S POWER SEAT FRAME ASSEMBLY FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND WITHOUT WARNING. 2. THIS FAILURE RESULTS IN THE SEAT SUDDENLY ROCKING FORWARD OR BACKWARD, ESPECIALLY UNDER BRAKING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I UNDERSTAND THAT TH…

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1. DRIVER'S POWER SEAT FRAME ASSEMBLY FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND WITHOUT WARNING. 2. THIS FAILURE RESULTS IN THE SEAT SUDDENLY ROCKING FORWARD OR BACKWARD, ESPECIALLY UNDER BRAKING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PART FAILURE IS NOT UNCOMMON AND UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A FACTORY TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM, TSB 23.033.01 3. PART #5080615AB, LEFT SIDE POWER SEAT ADJUSTER WAS REPLACED UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY ON 12/17/04. THIS SAME PART AND PART #5080614AB, RIGHT SIDE POWER SEAT ADJUSTER WERE REPLACED ON 8/5/05 UNDER A FACTORY EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT. THESE PARTS FAILED AGAIN ON 1/17/06 AND ARE SCHEDULED TO REPLACED AS SOON AS THE NEW PARTS ARRIVE AT THE DEALER. OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM PRIOR REPAIRS. FAILED PARTS FROM 1/17/06 FAILURE WILL LIKELY NEED TO BE RETURNED AS A WARRANTY ITEM TO THE MANUFACTURER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10148121

73,740 miles · Jan 19, 2006
Fuel System, Other

(1( RETURN LINES TO FUEL PUMP CRACKED AND LEAKING FUEL DOWN AND UNDER TRUCK WHICH IS A 2002 3500 DODGE RAM WITH A 5.9 LITER HIGH OUTPUT TURBO DIESEL. (2)THE METAL FUEL LINES CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING FUEL OUT ON THE BLOCK , FRAME ,AND UNDER CARRIAGE THIS IS AND WAS A FIRE HAZARD UNDER THE HOOD OF THIS TRUCK IF FUEL HEATED SUFFICI…

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(1( RETURN LINES TO FUEL PUMP CRACKED AND LEAKING FUEL DOWN AND UNDER TRUCK WHICH IS A 2002 3500 DODGE RAM WITH A 5.9 LITER HIGH OUTPUT TURBO DIESEL. (2)THE METAL FUEL LINES CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING FUEL OUT ON THE BLOCK , FRAME ,AND UNDER CARRIAGE THIS IS AND WAS A FIRE HAZARD UNDER THE HOOD OF THIS TRUCK IF FUEL HEATED SUFFICIENTLY TO COMBUST INTO FLAMES . (#) THE METAL TUBES WERE REPLACED AND SHOW NOT SIGNS OF BEING STRUCK OR HIT AND SIGNS OF CORROSION. THE OLD PARTS WERE KEPT FROM THE LOCAL DODGE REPAIR . THIS SHOWS NOT SIGN EXCEPT FATIGUE AS THE PART CAME FROM THE FACTORY AND SOMEONE ELSE COULD NOT BE IN A POSITION TO SHUT THE MOTOR OFF AND NOT DRIVE IT EXCEPT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR WITHOUT A FIRE . *NM

NHTSA ODI #10148107

40,900 miles · Dec 12, 2005
Electrical SystemFire

ELECTRICAL FIRE INSIDE DASH OR UNDER HOOD. BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT KEPT FLASHING AND A/C FAN ONLY WORKED ON HIGH GAUGES BEGAN TO ACT DEFECTIVE AND FIRE ABRUPTED FROM THE DASH. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10145001

Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V185000 CONCERNING THE ANTI LOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE . THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. *AK UPDATED 12/27/2005 - WHEN THE CONSUME…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V185000 CONCERNING THE ANTI LOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE . THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. *AK UPDATED 12/27/2005 - WHEN THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS TAKEN OFF THE GAS PEDAL THE VEHICLE ALMOST COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE BRAKES WERE LOCKED AND THAT THE PART TO REPAIR THEM WAS RECALLED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10143637

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

DT: CONTACT STATES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON DUE TO THE TRANSFER PUMP AND DIESEL INJECTOR PUMP MALFUNCTIONING. HE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD HIM TO WAIT UNTIL THE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN, AND THEN BRING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE CHECKED. THE CONTACT NEVER KNOWS WHEN THE LIGHT WILL COME ON, AND …

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DT: CONTACT STATES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON DUE TO THE TRANSFER PUMP AND DIESEL INJECTOR PUMP MALFUNCTIONING. HE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD HIM TO WAIT UNTIL THE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN, AND THEN BRING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE CHECKED. THE CONTACT NEVER KNOWS WHEN THE LIGHT WILL COME ON, AND DOES NOT WANT TO BE STRANDED IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. HE HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10141339

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.