IllustrationAT 25MPH VEHICLE CRASHED, UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK THE SUDDEN IMPACT CAUSED CONSUMER TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING CONTUSIONS TO STERNUM AND BREAST. THE SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK. CONSUMER WAS TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL IN BETWEEN THE DOOR AND STEERING WHEEL. *JG
2002 Dodge RAM
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most RAM years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Dodge RAM are substantially higher than the model-year median of 27.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 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
120–25K
1025–50K
850–75K
475–100K
0100–150K
1150K+
35 reports with mileage · 81 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.
- Power Train. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
14 crash reports3 fire reports12 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
15 reportsVEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER HIT HIS HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL AND SUFFERED KNEE/ NECK, AND BACK INJURIES. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.*AK
VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM LEFT SIDE PUSHING VEHICLE INTO CONCRETE BARRIER HEAD-ON AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED SOME INJURIES.*AK CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHRYSLER STATING THAT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE VEHICLE NEVER REACHED THE LEVEL OF DECELERATION REQUIED TO ACTIVATE DEPLOYMENT. *…
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VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM LEFT SIDE PUSHING VEHICLE INTO CONCRETE BARRIER HEAD-ON AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED SOME INJURIES.*AK CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHRYSLER STATING THAT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE VEHICLE NEVER REACHED THE LEVEL OF DECELERATION REQUIED TO ACTIVATE DEPLOYMENT. *TT
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH CONSUMER WAS HIT ON SIDE, AND THEN RAN HEAD ON INTO A ROAD CYLINDER, BUT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK
ON 1/16/02 AT 10:00 PM THE 2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP THAT MY WIFE WAS DRIVING COLLIDED WITH A JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AT A INTERSECTION. MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 60 MPH ON US 13. THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE MADE A LEFT TURN INFRONT OF MY WIFE AT THE INTERSECTION. THE LEFT FRONT END CORNER OF MY WIFES PICKUP TRU…
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ON 1/16/02 AT 10:00 PM THE 2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP THAT MY WIFE WAS DRIVING COLLIDED WITH A JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AT A INTERSECTION. MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 60 MPH ON US 13. THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE MADE A LEFT TURN INFRONT OF MY WIFE AT THE INTERSECTION. THE LEFT FRONT END CORNER OF MY WIFES PICKUP TRUCK STRUCK THE FRONT END OF THE JEEP. MY WIFES TRUCK THEN DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT AND WENT OVER THE CURVE. THE JEEP SPUNNED AROUND FROM THE FORCEFUL IMPACT. THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF MY WIFES TRUCK WAS DESTROYED,LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS TWISTED,LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE WAS SMASHED IN,LEFT CORNER BUMPER WAS BENT TO THE GROUND, FRONT GRILL WAS DESTROYED,HOOD,ROOF,LEFT DOOR WERE ALL PUSHED IN BUT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK
Official recalls
204V185000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
Apr 12, 2004
ON CERTAIN VAN AND WAGON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS (ABS), AFTERMARKET BATTERIES MAY LEAK ELECTROLYTE ONTO THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR, WHICH CAN COMPROMISE SEALING INTEGRITY OF THE CONNECTOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS MAY ALLOW DEVELOPMENT OF A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE CONNECTOR, WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR FOR ELECTROLYTE DAMAGE AND REPLACE THE CONNECTOR AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
02V159000 · Power Train:axle Assembly
Jun 13, 2002
ON CERTAIN 4X4 PICKUP TRUCKS, THE REAR AXLE FLANGE WELD TO THE AXLE TUBE COULD FATIGUE AND ALLOW THE BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY TO ROTATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DURING ROTATION, THE BRAKE LINE COULD SEPARATE FROM THE CALIPER RESULTING IN A BRAKE FLUID LOSS IN THE REAR BRAKE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL REAR BRAKE CALIPER REINFORCEMENTS ON THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 9, 2002. 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
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.