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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

Other model years Selected year
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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

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

What owners actually said

116 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2002
Seat Belts

INERTIA REEL OF LEFT REAR SEAT BELT IN VEHICLE DEFECTIVE UPON FIRST USE; REMAINING SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MOVEMENT APPEARS "SLUGGISH"; DEALER ORDERED PART ; OWNER STILL AWAITING REPAIR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #758379

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2002
Seats

REAR SEATS DO NOT HAVE HEAD RESTS. PASSENGERS THAT SIT IN REAR HIT THEIR HEADS ON REAR WINDOW. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8003842

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury

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

NHTSA ODI #757086

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2002
Tires

THERE ARE NO SNOW TIRES FOR WEIGHT OF VEHICLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8002100

Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 2001
SuspensionWheelsCrashInjury

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME OFF, AND LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE COLLAPSED. REAR OF VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING ALONG THE GROUND WHEN IT HIT A MEDIAN AND WAS STOPPED. DRIVER SUFFERED NECK INJURY. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THE CAUSE AS "CUSTOMER NEGLECT." *NOTE: ON NOVEMBER 25, LEFT R…

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WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME OFF, AND LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE COLLAPSED. REAR OF VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING ALONG THE GROUND WHEN IT HIT A MEDIAN AND WAS STOPPED. DRIVER SUFFERED NECK INJURY. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THE CAUSE AS "CUSTOMER NEGLECT." *NOTE: ON NOVEMBER 25, LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT BECAUSE OF A ROAD HAZARD. BUT, LUGS: NUTS WERE STRIPPED, AND TIRE HAD TO BE REMOVED PROFESSIONALLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8001045

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFireInjury

THE FACTORY UNDERCOATING WAS PUT SO HEAVY AND SLOPPY THAT WHEN THE ENGINE EXHAUST SYSTEM HEATS UP THE UNDERCOATING DRIPS ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND EXHAUST PIPE "FLASHING" CAUSING HAZARDOUS FUMES TO ENTER THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE THRU THE AIR CONDITION DUCTS. I REQUESTED A "MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET" FOR THE APPLIED UNDERCOATI…

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THE FACTORY UNDERCOATING WAS PUT SO HEAVY AND SLOPPY THAT WHEN THE ENGINE EXHAUST SYSTEM HEATS UP THE UNDERCOATING DRIPS ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND EXHAUST PIPE "FLASHING" CAUSING HAZARDOUS FUMES TO ENTER THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE THRU THE AIR CONDITION DUCTS. I REQUESTED A "MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET" FOR THE APPLIED UNDERCOATING FROM THE DEALERSHIP BUT HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANYTHING TO DATE. THE FUMES ENTERING THE TRUCK ARE SUSPECTED CARCINOGENS AND COULD HAVE LONG TERM AFFECTS.

NHTSA ODI #752332

Official recalls

2

04V185000 · 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

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.