IllustrationTHE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS WOULD FOG UP WHEN THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER WERE ON, WHICH WAS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR TESTING, BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED. *AK *SC *JB
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
Visibility complaints
11 reportsWHILE HAVING VEHICLE SERVICED AT DEALER TECHNICIAN STATED THAT CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO WAIT TWO WEEKS TO GET RECALL REPAIRS DONE FOR SIDE VIEW MIRROR REPLACEMENT WHILE VEHICLE WAS MISSING MIRROR. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR BROKE IN HALF. *TT
THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LOCKS, SPEAKERS, AND BODY SCRATCHES. ALSO NO KEYLESS ENTRY AS PROMISED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *AK ALSO THE PASSENGER DOOR REGULATOR WAS REPLACED, THE ROOF SEAM LEAKED WATER *JB
DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR CAME OUT OF SOCKET WHILE MANUALLY FOLDING IN FOR CAR WASH 7/02. REPLACED BY DEALER AT THAT TIME. PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR CAME OUT OF SOCKET DURING MANUAL FOLD IN FOR CAR WASH 10/02. REPLACED BY DEALER. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO KNOWN DESIGN DEFECT AND REPLACEMENT MIRRORS HAVE THE SAME DESIGN. THIS COULD BEC…
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DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR CAME OUT OF SOCKET WHILE MANUALLY FOLDING IN FOR CAR WASH 7/02. REPLACED BY DEALER AT THAT TIME. PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR CAME OUT OF SOCKET DURING MANUAL FOLD IN FOR CAR WASH 10/02. REPLACED BY DEALER. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO KNOWN DESIGN DEFECT AND REPLACEMENT MIRRORS HAVE THE SAME DESIGN. THIS COULD BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE IF IT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING. DT
FOLDING SIDE MIRROR SPRING MECHANISM FAILED CAUSING THE MIRROR TO "FLOP" AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THESE MIRRORS ARE DESIGNED TO BE FOLDED IN AND OUT FOR CLEARANCE AT DRIVE-UP WINDOWS, CAR WASHES, ETC. THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN EARLY SEPTEMBER AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BY THE DEALER IN MID-SE…
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FOLDING SIDE MIRROR SPRING MECHANISM FAILED CAUSING THE MIRROR TO "FLOP" AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THESE MIRRORS ARE DESIGNED TO BE FOLDED IN AND OUT FOR CLEARANCE AT DRIVE-UP WINDOWS, CAR WASHES, ETC. THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN EARLY SEPTEMBER AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BY THE DEALER IN MID-SEPTEMBER ON 10/19/2002. THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR FAILED, THIS TIME WHILE FOLDING IT BACK OUT FROM THE "IN" POSITION TO THE "NORMAL" POSITION. SINCE THERE IS NO WAY TO "RIG" THE FAILED MIRROR IN PLACE SO THAT THE DRIVER CAN USE IT, AND BECAUSE OF THE LONG WAIT FOR A REPLACEMENT PART, THIS DEFECT PRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. DT
BOTH OUTSIDE MIRRORS FAILED. THE SPRING LOADED MECHANISM THAT HOLDS THE MIRRORS IN PLACE FAILED. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP TO ORDER THE PARTS AND LEARNED THEY ARE ON BACKORDER AND WILL BE ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO GET REPLACEMENTS. I ALSO CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD NO IDEA IF ANY CHANGES WERE …
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BOTH OUTSIDE MIRRORS FAILED. THE SPRING LOADED MECHANISM THAT HOLDS THE MIRRORS IN PLACE FAILED. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP TO ORDER THE PARTS AND LEARNED THEY ARE ON BACKORDER AND WILL BE ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO GET REPLACEMENTS. I ALSO CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD NO IDEA IF ANY CHANGES WERE BEING MADE TO THE PART OR NOT. IF THEY REPLACE THESE MIRRORS WITH THE SAME THING THEY WILL MALFUNCTION AGAIN. THIS IS A LARGE TRUCK, YOU NEED OUTSIDE MIRRORS TO DRIVE IT. YOU NEED THE MIRRORS TO SEE THE VEHICLES BESIDE YOU. A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE TO ENSURE THAT THE PROPER CHANGES ARE MADE TO THESE COMPONENTS. I WAS TOLD THERE WERE 1500 OF THESE MIRRORS ON ORDER, SO EVIDENTLY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.*AK
THE DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR CAME LOSE ON THE FREEWAY. I HAD TO GO TO THE DEALER TO FIX IT. I THINK DODGE SHOULD RECALL THE MIRRORS, BECAUSE THIS COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THIS COULD ALSO CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK, POSABLE EVEN BREAKING THE GLASS OUT OF THE DOOR OR WINDSHIELD! THIS WOULD MOST LIKELY RESULT IN A DEADLY CAR ACCIDEN…
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THE DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR CAME LOSE ON THE FREEWAY. I HAD TO GO TO THE DEALER TO FIX IT. I THINK DODGE SHOULD RECALL THE MIRRORS, BECAUSE THIS COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THIS COULD ALSO CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK, POSABLE EVEN BREAKING THE GLASS OUT OF THE DOOR OR WINDSHIELD! THIS WOULD MOST LIKELY RESULT IN A DEADLY CAR ACCIDENT. IF IT WASN'T A POWER MIRROR THE CORDS WOULDN'T HAVE STOPPED IT, AND INSTEAD OF THE IT JUST DANGLING THERE IT WOULD BECOME A PROJECTILE WHICH COULD KILL A PEDESTRIAN! OR DAMAGE ANOTHER CAR. THE PROBLEM IS SO SMALL THAT DODGE COULD FIX THE PROBLEM EASILY AND COST AFFECTIVELY, AND AVOID ALL THE BAD PRESS. *AK
DRIVERS SIDE EXTERNAL REARVIEW MIRROR BASE "SNAPPED". IT NOW SWIVEL'S LOOSELY WHEN DRIVING PREVENTING NORMAL/SAFE USAGE.*AK
BOTH OUTER MIRRORS SNAPPED AND SWING UN RESTRAINED. UNABLE TO SAFELY CHANGE LANES. THE MORE RECENT FAILURE WAS WHILE TOWING A TRAILER WITH CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE.*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.