DODGE RAM 1500 · model year

2002 DODGE RAM 1500

1003 NHTSA complaints, 74 crash reports, and 6 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002DODGERAM 1500 carries 1003 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 74 crashes, 22 fires, 79 injuries, and 2 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 RAM 1500 is structure with 232 filings, followed by electrical system (65) and unknown or other (62). 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. This model year has 6 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2002 RAM 1500. 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.

1003
Complaints
74
Crashes
22
Fires
79
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

1003 filings

Crashes Reported

74 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STRUCTURE232
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM65
UNKNOWN OR OTHER62
POWER TRAIN44
STRUCTURE:BODY38
SUSPENSION35
AIR BAGS34
STEERING25
EXTERIOR LIGHTING25
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE22
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING22
ENGINE21
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION19
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL18
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL14

Recalls (6)

10E04000023/08/2010

WHEELS:HUB

FEDERAL-MOGUL IS RECALLING CERTAIN CARQUEST, NATIONAL, AND PERCISION BRAND WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS 515073 AND 515073, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2008 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCKS. THE INBOARD ROLL FORM USED TO MAINTAIN THE HUB ASSEMBLY CAN FATIGUE RESULTING

06E02400015/03/2006

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS, P/NOS. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, AND 57-1530. ALSO, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THESE KITS WERE SOLD UNDER THE MOPAR PERFORMANCE PARTS BRAND NAME (P/NOS. P5007069 AND P5007070). ALL KITS WERE MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 20, 1999,

07E10400011/12/2007

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDER

03V50400010/12/2003

TIRES

ON CERTAIN 4X4 PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH THE SNOW PLOW PREPARATION PACKAGE, THE TIRES SUPPLIED ON SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATINGS THAT SLIGHTLY EXCEED THE MAXIMUM TIRE LOAD CAPACITY AS DEFINED IN FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEH

03V07800010/03/2003

STEERING:COLUMN

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN CONTAINS AN UNDER-SIZED TERMINAL FOR THE HVAC BLOWER MOTOR CIRCUIT. LOCALIZED HEATING FROM CURRENT FLOW WITH THE BLOWER SPEED SET ON HIGH MAY CAUSE THE TERMINAL CONTACTS TO RELAX AND LOSE ELECTRICAL CONTACT. T

03V07700010/03/2003

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE DETENT SYSTEM ON THE EXTERIOR MIRROR HOUSINGS MAY LOSE THE FUNCTIONALITY.

Recent Complaints

20241113SERVICE BRAKES

Dodge Ram 2002 ABS brake module failure. No recourse for repairs. Dodge has rendered this part obsolete and although they have the technology to repair or replace it they neglect to help thousands of vehicle owners.

20240612EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, he became aware that the external lights and turn signal lights were not functioning properly. The lamp out warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

20231105ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The heat stopped working so i replaced the blower motor and blower relay the heater switch and still have no heat. The wire gets hot to the touch. The heater only use to work on high then all of a sudden it just stopped all the way around

20230713SUSPENSION

To put it as simple as I can describe it is a death wobble. that occurs every time you hit a bump in the road, hole, or pot hole. This truck has always had this death wobble from factory. The reason why this is a safety issue is because it causes the steering wheel to go out of balance and go into other lanes in the road and potentially cause an accident.

20230713UNKNOWN OR OTHER

To put it as simple as I can describe it is a death wobble. that occurs every time you hit a bump in the road, hole, or pot hole. This truck has always had this death wobble from factory. The reason why this is a safety issue is because it causes the steering wheel to go out of balance and go into other lanes in the road and potentially cause an accident.

20230215ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated while attempting to turn on the heat in the vehicle, the HVAC system failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the instrument panel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated there was no recall for the failure. There was no additional assistance provided. The failure mileage was 50,000.

Mileage: 50,000

20220529TIRES

I was driving on the highway at about 65mph and at first I noticed that it felt like my tie rod ends were going bad. And then all of a sudden I felt an explosion and my truck made a sharp right dive into the right hand lane and caused the car in that lane to swerve right. I was then able to gain back control and gradually came to a stop on the right hand berm of the highway. The right rear tire appeared just as it does in the attached photos. The tire size is p264/70R17 no authorities were notified and the tire has not been inspected by anyone.

20211012CrashAIR BAGS

While traveling at normal speeds approximately 40 mph a car ran a stop sign I t-boned them on their passenger side with my front end I hit them at approximately 40 mph my airbags did not deploy my face and chest hit the steering wheel and dash

20211012CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER

While traveling at normal speeds approximately 40 mph a car ran a stop sign I t-boned them on their passenger side with my front end I hit them at approximately 40 mph my airbags did not deploy my face and chest hit the steering wheel and dash

20211011POWER TRAIN

Pinion nut became loose. It was caught before it totally fell off, however if it did fall off the rear axle could possible seize up and cause loss of control of the vehicle. This is a 2002 Dodge Ram with the 9.25" rear axle and they appear to still have issues to this day with that axle model. The recall Dodge had in 2009/10 does not even begin to cover the number of Dodge Ram/Dakota vehicles with this issue. The axle in this vehicle was replaced in 2009 for another issue with an axle retainer clip falling off and causing the internal assembly to grind on the boss for the axle. So as the original owner, and with only 137,140 miles on the vehicle in 19 years, it has had multiple problems fixed under warranty, including total axle replacement and now it will have rebuilt again. There should be a real safety concern for all Dodge pickups with the 9.25" rear axle and a recall for every one of them, not just 2009/10. This has been happening for 20 years. When will NHTSA step up an

20210630SERVICE BRAKES

The brakes failed due to corrosion of the brake line from the master cyl. to the LH front brake flex hose. The brake fluid simply came out of the line. There was insifficient fluid pressure to do any wheel braking. Luckily, I had just moved off from a stop and was applying the brakes to slow down on a bend. The corrosion occured under a plastic clip that is there to keep adjacent brake lines from vibrating against each other. The corrosion occured in an area that is not inspectable unless the front wheel and wheel arch cover is first removed.

20210318ENGINE

2002 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 5.9L WAS DRIVING DOW HEY 10 WHEN MY BACK TRIES LOCKED UP COULDN'T GET IT IN GEAR OR OUT ALMOST CRASH WHEN GOT IT ON TO SIDE OF ROAD AND STOPPED WHEN IT FINALLY WAS ABLE TO GO IN A GEAR IT WAS REVERSES AND IT WOULD JUST MAKE THIS GOD AWFUL GRINDING NOSE TRUCK WAS TOWED BACK HOME

Mileage: 163,000

20210318POWER TRAIN

2002 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 5.9L WAS DRIVING DOW HEY 10 WHEN MY BACK TRIES LOCKED UP COULDN'T GET IT IN GEAR OR OUT ALMOST CRASH WHEN GOT IT ON TO SIDE OF ROAD AND STOPPED WHEN IT FINALLY WAS ABLE TO GO IN A GEAR IT WAS REVERSES AND IT WOULD JUST MAKE THIS GOD AWFUL GRINDING NOSE TRUCK WAS TOWED BACK HOME

Mileage: 163,000

20210318VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2002 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 5.9L WAS DRIVING DOW HEY 10 WHEN MY BACK TRIES LOCKED UP COULDN'T GET IT IN GEAR OR OUT ALMOST CRASH WHEN GOT IT ON TO SIDE OF ROAD AND STOPPED WHEN IT FINALLY WAS ABLE TO GO IN A GEAR IT WAS REVERSES AND IT WOULD JUST MAKE THIS GOD AWFUL GRINDING NOSE TRUCK WAS TOWED BACK HOME

Mileage: 163,000

20200708STRUCTURE:BODY

THE BEAM UNDER THE BED OF THE TRUCK IS BREAKING APART. NO OTHER PART UNDER THE TRUCK HAD THIS PROB. NO CORROSION ANY OTHER PLACE BUT THE BEAM OF THE TRUCK

Mileage: 150,000

20190701ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING ALL OF THE GAUGES HAVE QUIT WORKING HEADLIGHTS STAY ON WILL NOT TURN OFF.

Mileage: 194,000

20190701ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING ALL OF THE GAUGES HAVE QUIT WORKING HEADLIGHTS STAY ON WILL NOT TURN OFF.

Mileage: 194,000

20190701EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHILE DRIVING ALL OF THE GAUGES HAVE QUIT WORKING HEADLIGHTS STAY ON WILL NOT TURN OFF.

Mileage: 194,000

20190618FireENGINE

HELLO, I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY DODGE RAM THE FUEL LINE SYSTEM JUST CRACKED AND CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE AND BLOW UP WHILE MYSELF IN MY 7 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER WAS IN THE VEHICLE MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED SINCE DAY ONE WHEN I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW NEVER HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT OTHER THAN YOUR WILL WELLS WERE NEVER DRILLED OUT TO DRAIN THE WATER IN THE BACK I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE HAD OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE ON THE SAME INCIDENT. MYSELF IN MY GRANDDAUGHTER INHALE VERY TOXIC FUMES BEFORE WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT THE TRUCK AS IT WAS ON FIRE AND INCHES AWAY WHEN IT EXPLODED.PICS AND REPORT WONT DOWNLOAD THANK YOU

Mileage: 140

20190618FireFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

HELLO, I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY DODGE RAM THE FUEL LINE SYSTEM JUST CRACKED AND CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE AND BLOW UP WHILE MYSELF IN MY 7 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER WAS IN THE VEHICLE MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED SINCE DAY ONE WHEN I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW NEVER HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT OTHER THAN YOUR WILL WELLS WERE NEVER DRILLED OUT TO DRAIN THE WATER IN THE BACK I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE HAD OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE ON THE SAME INCIDENT. MYSELF IN MY GRANDDAUGHTER INHALE VERY TOXIC FUMES BEFORE WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT THE TRUCK AS IT WAS ON FIRE AND INCHES AWAY WHEN IT EXPLODED.PICS AND REPORT WONT DOWNLOAD THANK YOU

Mileage: 140

Compare 2002DODGERAM 1500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 have?
The 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 has 1003 NHTSA complaints, 74 crashes, 22 fires, 79 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 DODGE RAM 1500?
Yes, the 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 has 6 recall(s). The most common affected component is WHEELS:HUB. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 DODGE RAM 1500?
The most-complained component for the 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 is STRUCTURE with 232 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.