2002 Dodge Ram: problems, recalls and reliability
7 recalls and 345 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is structure (24% of complaints); the 2000 and 2003 and 2004 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · 1 new complaint in the last 90 days · latest recall Apr 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 345 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Was in a car accident on Wednesday may 27,2026 . Crashed at a speed of about 51 if not more and NONE of the air bags deployed. I have spoken to my insurance and they said I needed to file a complaint or claim someway else for the airbags not deploying.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2026
“Exited I-40 in tucumcari, nm. Right turn off interstate, right turn into shell. Upon leaving the fuel station to enter I-40 westbound, I had no brakes. Pedal to the floor. Coasted uphill to restaurant parking lot; brake fluid under driver-side front wheel. Unusual since I had zero braking power. Shredded brake hose was replaced the next day. Problem is discussed by a mechanic here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ouz-trm5kg&t=620s”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jun 2020
“Bought truck in 2009. Drive a couple times a week. Transmission has went out 5 times now including this morning. Was told by a coworker that theres ab issue with the dodgers not circulating fluid when idling in gear.??? Either way this will be the 5th time in 10 years taking it to get rebuilt!!!! Which has been 2,500.00 to 4,000.00 each time!!! Really bout to give up on dodge”Owner report · Power Train · Jun 2019
Show 7 more owner reports
“The plastics used in the 2002 dodge ram interior are a safety issue. There is widespread evidence across the internet showing the dash breaking apart like mine. It is structurally unsound and dodge should find a safe solution. If I got into an accident sharp shards of dash flying around is more likely to cause injury than the impact of the crash.”Owner report · Structure · Feb 2019
“Craked dash, sharp metal and sharp broken chunks of plastic that used to be a dashboard. Not safe to drive this way! The parts if available are exspensive, why is this not recalled replacing using better safer products.”Owner report · Structure · Jul 2015
“Took van in for inspection and was informed that the entire frame had rust issues. Was told the front frame was so bad I should just park it as that anything from the radiator to the engine could just fall out with one good jolt. Did a little research and found this is a common problem with these vehicles as with the toyota trucks. The body shop I took it to said he had 13 of them this year alone. I crawled under there and there are large areas of frame that has just disappeared. Either poor quality steel or improper rust prevention at manufacture point could cause this much damage. Company should be made to step up and replace the frames. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Feb 2015
“Knock on my door from the fire department, said my truck burned up. It was not driven that day. Any electrical recalls for this vehicle? *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Jun 2014
“I have 2002 dodge ram 1500 with a cracked dash which is bad the cracks started out small and now there are several. In the event of an airbag deployment what is to stop this dash from separating and causing life threatening injuries. Dodge needs to recognize this as a major safety concern and recall for replacement. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Apr 2013
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge ram model r35. The contact was driving 5 mph when smoke emitted inside of the vehicle and flames were visible from the hood. The failure caused the contact to drive into a ditch but there was no crash. The doors failed to open during the failure so the contact escaped by punching and shattering the windshield. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic where the mechanic confirmed that the power disruption caught fire. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure and the current mileages were 50,000.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Oct 2011
“Rear door wiring failure causing the wires to short out the instrument cluster, speedometer, door locks, power windows, doom lighting. The wiring failure is due to a poor design and poor quality of materials used on both sides of the read doors wiring system between the b pillar connector and the door. This can be identified by removing the black rubber booth. *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Sep 2011
When filing, owners marked a crash in 25 of these complaints and injuries in 30 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 7 campaigns
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 1,364 WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULES, P/N 55077098AJ, SOLD DURING THE 2008 AND 2009 CALENDAR YEAR FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON MY 2002-2009 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS. THESE WIPER MODULE ASSEMBLIES MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WATER INTRUSION THAT COULD RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF WINDSHIELD WIPER CAPABILITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MODULE ASSEMBLIES WITH VENTED WIPER MOTOR HOUSINGS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
ON CERTAIN 4X4 PICKUP TRUCKS, THE REAR AXLE FLANGE WELD TO THE AXLE TUBE COULD FATIGUE AND ALLOW THE BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY TO ROTATE.
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.
ON CERTAIN VAN AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE IGNITION/PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS CAN ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED (OR IN THE "LOCK" POSITION). THIS CAN ALSO ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEARSHIFT BLOCKER AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS. DUE TO INCORRECT WIRING OF THE HARNESS, THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.
Remedy: ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE TOW PACKAGES ARE STILL AT THE DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL AND HAVE NOT BEEN SOLD TO ANY CONSUMERS.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
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.
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.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2002 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Ram by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Dodge Ram reliable?
NHTSA has 345 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on record for the 2002 Dodge Ram. The most complained-about area is structure (24% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2002 Dodge Ram problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 57,250 miles or less.
Does the 2002 Dodge Ram have open recalls?
7 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.