IllustrationTHE GEAR SHIFT FAILED TO MOVE ON ITS ON. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *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
What owners actually said
116 reportsWHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER IT PROPERLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF ON ITS OWN. THE LIGHT BULB SWITCH RATTLED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL. *AK THE FRONT BRAKES WERE BAD. *SC *JB
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. DRIVER SUSTAINED SHOULDER, LEG, ANGLE AND KNEE INJURIES, AND WAS HAVING HEADACHES. *AK
WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT SHIFTS. DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT ONCE ALREADY BUT, EIGHT MONTHS LATER, ANOTHER SEAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK
THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *LA
FOIA ADDRESSED TO CPSC REQUEST A COPY OF ALL RECORDS PERTAINING TO COMPLAINTS RE 2002 DODGE TRUCK RAM PICKUP SINGLE VEHICLE COLLISION CAUSED BY A VEHICLE DEFECT (SEARCH ATTACHED). (NAR) *PH *CB *JB
BACK SEATS HAVE NO HEAD RESTRAINTS. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT IF THE VEHICLE IS REAR ENDED PASSENGERS WILL SUSTAIN MAJOR HEAD INJURIES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH UPPER BALL JOINTS BROKE, CAUSING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE IDLES ROUGHLY. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. *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.