Total Complaints
25 filings
DODGE DODGE TRUCK · model year
25 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002DODGEDODGE TRUCK carries 25 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 DODGE TRUCK is suspension with 2 filings, followed by fuel system, other:delivery:fuel pump (2) and suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 2002 DODGE TRUCK, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
25 filings
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT | 2 |
| STRUCTURE | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| WHEELS:HUB | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| TRAILER HITCHES | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
DASHBOARD IS CRACKING. *TR
DASH BOARD JUST CRACKED ALL OVER THE PLACE FOR NO REASON. SERVICE DEALER STATED IT WAS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM. WE NOW HAVE HUGE LINES OF GLUE TO HOLD DASH FROM FALLING COMPLETELY THROUGH. IF WE EVER HAVE A WRECK THERE WILL BE HUGE JAGGED EDGES OF DASH BOARD COMING AT US.
Mileage: 30,000
MY 2002 DODGE DURANGO R/T 5.9L STARTED OVER HEATING. REPLACED RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT. THE VEHICE STILL RAN HOT AND STARTED OVERHEATING AGAIN. SHOP SAID IT WAS CLUTCH FAN AND COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSEOR. REPLACED ALL THAT AND VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING A WEEK LATER. THE DEALER SAID I HAD TO REPALCE THE COOLING FAN. DID THAT TOO, AND VEHICLE OVERHEATED 5 MINUTES OFF THEIR LOT. BROUGHT IT BACK AND THEY SAID I NEEDED HEAD GASKET AND NEW HEADS. THEN RIGHT BEFORE THEY FINISHED THE WORK THEY SAID THE BLOCK WAS CRACKED NEAR 2 CYLINDERS AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. !@#$%!
Mileage: 74,000
MY 2002 DODGE DURANGO R/T 5.9L STARTED OVER HEATING. REPLACED RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT. THE VEHICE STILL RAN HOT AND STARTED OVERHEATING AGAIN. SHOP SAID IT WAS CLUTCH FAN AND COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSEOR. REPLACED ALL THAT AND VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING A WEEK LATER. THE DEALER SAID I HAD TO REPALCE THE COOLING FAN. DID THAT TOO, AND VEHICLE OVERHEATED 5 MINUTES OFF THEIR LOT. BROUGHT IT BACK AND THEY SAID I NEEDED HEAD GASKET AND NEW HEADS. THEN RIGHT BEFORE THEY FINISHED THE WORK THEY SAID THE BLOCK WAS CRACKED NEAR 2 CYLINDERS AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. !@#$%!
Mileage: 74,000
LOADED VEHICLE WITH 1440LB SAND. UPON DRIVING HIGHWAY (NEVER EXCEED 55MPH) WITHIN 20 MIN VEHICLE SMOKED HEAVILY FROM ENGINE BAY. DISCOVERED THAT VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING PUMP HAS AN OVERFLOW VALVE LINE THAT SEEMS TO HAVE A PRESSURE VALVE AT THE END OF IT. THIS HOSE IS CONNECTED TO THE WIRING HARNESS NEAR THE BATTERY, AND POINTS VERTICALLY AT THE HOOD, JUST OVER THE VALVE COVER ASSEMBLY. POWER STEERING FLUID POURED OVER THE ENGINE, COMBUSTING ON THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY, BUT NOT FLAMING UP. MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT THIS VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING UNIT IS SOMEHOW TIED TO A "LOAD LEVELER?" THAT IS FACTORY INSTALLED. DUE TO THE LOAD WEIGHT IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE, THIS CAUSED THE POWER STEERING FLUID TO OVERHEAT AND EXPAND, CAUSING THE EJECTION OF FLUID. ANOTHER ANSWER IS THAT THIS IS SOMEHOW A TRANSMISSION FLUID OVERFLOW, AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SIMPLY OVERHEATED. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THE POSITION OF THE OVERFLOW RELEASE HOSE AND VALVE, THIS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF SEVERAL HOSES AN
Mileage: 67,000
LOADED VEHICLE WITH 1440LB SAND. UPON DRIVING HIGHWAY (NEVER EXCEED 55MPH) WITHIN 20 MIN VEHICLE SMOKED HEAVILY FROM ENGINE BAY. DISCOVERED THAT VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING PUMP HAS AN OVERFLOW VALVE LINE THAT SEEMS TO HAVE A PRESSURE VALVE AT THE END OF IT. THIS HOSE IS CONNECTED TO THE WIRING HARNESS NEAR THE BATTERY, AND POINTS VERTICALLY AT THE HOOD, JUST OVER THE VALVE COVER ASSEMBLY. POWER STEERING FLUID POURED OVER THE ENGINE, COMBUSTING ON THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY, BUT NOT FLAMING UP. MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT THIS VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING UNIT IS SOMEHOW TIED TO A "LOAD LEVELER?" THAT IS FACTORY INSTALLED. DUE TO THE LOAD WEIGHT IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE, THIS CAUSED THE POWER STEERING FLUID TO OVERHEAT AND EXPAND, CAUSING THE EJECTION OF FLUID. ANOTHER ANSWER IS THAT THIS IS SOMEHOW A TRANSMISSION FLUID OVERFLOW, AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SIMPLY OVERHEATED. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THE POSITION OF THE OVERFLOW RELEASE HOSE AND VALVE, THIS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF SEVERAL HOSES AN
Mileage: 67,000
THE INJECTION PUMP IN MY 2002 DODGE PU HAS MALFUNCTIONED TWICE IN 14 MONTHS AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT DODGE KNOWS THAT IS A PROBLEM BUT NOTHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT. AND IF PUMP TOTALLY FAILS THE TRUCK WILL NOT RUN. I THINK THAT DODGE SHOULD HAVE A RECALL THEY CHANGED THE TRUCK IN 2003 AND THE PUMP THEY KNOW.
Mileage: 47,000
MY DIESEL 4X4 TRUCK DIED, WHILE PULLING A LARGE TRAILER, ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TRAVELING 60MPH. WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, I STEERED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE GROUND WIRE BROKE THAT GOES TO THE PRIMARY FUEL PUMP.
Mileage: 69,040
WAS TOWING A 24' CAMPER TRAILER ON I20 AT 55 MPH AND REAR TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT NEARING CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF TRUCK AND TRAILER.
VERY ANNOYING RATTLE IN THE LEFT FRONT END OF MY RAM 1500 4X4 TRUCK EACH TIME I COME ACROSS A BUMP IN THE ROAD.*AK
Mileage: 30,000
VERY ANNOYING RATTLE IN THE LEFT FRONT END OF MY RAM 1500 4X4 TRUCK EACH TIME I COME ACROSS A BUMP IN THE ROAD.*AK
Mileage: 30,000
I OWN A 2002 DODGE DIESEL TRUCK. THE BRAKES FAILED AT ONLY 41,000 MILES. THE DEALER WILL NOT COVER THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS UP AT 36,000 MILES. ONCE THE BRAKES WERE REMOVED IT WAS FOUND THAT THE INNER PAD ON ALL FOUR WHEELS HAD FAILED. THEY CAME LOOSE FROM THE BACKING PLATE WHERE THEY WERE BONDED TOGETHER. THE RIGHT REAR HAD FALLEN OUT AND THE BACKING PLATE ATE INTO THE ROTOR AND DESTROYED IT COMPLETELY. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT ON THESE TRUCKS THAT COULD CAUSE COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES. *JB
Mileage: 41,000
THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM HAS FAILED. I PUT THE BRAKES ON AND THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM STARTED WORKING BUT AFTER THAT THE PEDAL BECAME SOFT. AFTER A FEW DAYS I HAD IT CHECKED AND FOUND THAT THE REAR BRAKES HAD NOT RELEASED AND BURNED UP COMPLETELY. CHRYSLER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING BEAUSE THE TRUCK HAS 42000 MILES ON IT. *AK
Mileage: 41,500
I AM NOT SURE IF THIS WOULD FALL UNDER THIS CATEGORY, BUT I COULD NOT FIND ANOTHER SITE. ON THE DODGE DAKOTA PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT BALL JOINTS I HAD THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A RECALL TO REPLACE THEM. HOWEVER I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHRYSLER THAT THEY WHERE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE UPPER BALL JOINTS TO 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. IF YOU HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE TO BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD CHECK IT AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY. BUT IF YOU HEAR NO SUCH NOISE THERE WAS NO NEED TO TAKE ANY FURTHER ACTION. I THINK IT WILL BE A LITTLE LATE IF THEY FAIL BEFORE YOU HEAR A NOISE AS THEY SAY CAN HAPPEN IN SOME CASES. *JB
AIR CONDITIONER DRAINS WATER INTO PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD SATURATING THE CARPET. *AK
Mileage: 19,500
FOIA REQUEST ALL DOCUMENTS RE FAILURE OF THE AXLE ASSEMBLY OF 2002 DODGE TRUCK, ALSO DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE HEAT TREATMENT OF THE CHRYSLER AXLE. NAR 08/01/2003. IN PUBLIC FILE.*MR *CB *JB
PLEASE READ MY WEBSITE. IT HAS ALL THE INFORMATION. I WOULD LIKE TO OBTAIN THE CALIFORNIA STATE LAWS FOR PARKING RV'S ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. PLEASE READ MY WEB SITE AT: HTTP://BOYCOTT-UPLAND-CA.COM THANK YOU. *LA
2002 DODGE DURANGO WITH 30,000 MILE AND THE UPPER BALLS ARE FAILING, WORE OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Mileage: 31,000
LIFT PUMP FAILURE IN 2002 DODGE DIESEL PICKUP. LOSS OF POWER FOLLOWED WITH BUCKING/SURGING. THIS LED TO SUDDEN DROP IN SPEED WHILE TOWING AN RV ON THE FREEWAY. MANAGED TO GET OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE AS TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND GOT OFF AT NEXT EXIT. COULD HAVE RESULTED IN ACCIDENT IF TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY. FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD AND READ, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS AND MAYBE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *NLM
Mileage: 21,000
THE TRAILER HITCH WAS BENT SIDEWAYS. THE CONSUMER OWNED ANOTHER DODGE/1999 AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. MR SCC *JB
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.