Total Complaints
29 filings
DODGE RAM PICKUP · model year
2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP
29 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002DODGERAM PICKUP carries 29 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 1 fire, 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 RAM PICKUP is structure with 8 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift (3) and air bags:frontal (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. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, 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 PICKUP. 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.
29
Complaints
5
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
5 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | 8 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT | 3 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| TRAILER HITCHES | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
Recalls (1)
07V55500004/12/2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
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
Recent Complaints
20101228STRUCTURE
CRACKING OF DASHBOARD, AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS ON HERE AND NUMEROUS OTHER SITES IT APPEARS TO BE A TREND THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. I HAVE CUT MY HAND ONCE ALREADY ON MINE AND THERE IS NO TELLING HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ALSO. *TR
20100920STRUCTURE
MY DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP HAS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION IN THE FROM OF A CRACKING AND BROKEN DASHBOARD. I WOULD HATE TO THINK OF COMING IN CONTACT WITH IT IN A COLLISION. *TR
Mileage: 57,000
20100204SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DODGE RAM 2002 3500 TRUCK THE BRAKE DISC PADS COME UNGLUED FROM THE BACKING PLATE DEFECT WAS FOUND ON 3 OF THE 4 BRAKE DISC PADS. DODGE IS USING POOR OR THE WRONG GLUE THERE WAS LOTS OF LIFE IN THE DISC PADS AND WAS UNDER 30,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. *TR
Mileage: 30,000
20100204EQUIPMENT
DODGE RAM 2002 3500 TRUCK THE BRAKE DISC PADS COME UNGLUED FROM THE BACKING PLATE DEFECT WAS FOUND ON 3 OF THE 4 BRAKE DISC PADS. DODGE IS USING POOR OR THE WRONG GLUE THERE WAS LOTS OF LIFE IN THE DISC PADS AND WAS UNDER 30,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. *TR
Mileage: 30,000
20090501POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V555000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT). THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED TWO OTHER DEALERS AND THEY STATED THE SAME THING. HE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR FOUR MONTHS AND THE VEHICLE STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASH WAS SEVERELY CRACKED IN 3 PLACES AND THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 05/01/14
Mileage: 50,000
20090501STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V555000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT). THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED TWO OTHER DEALERS AND THEY STATED THE SAME THING. HE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR FOUR MONTHS AND THE VEHICLE STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASH WAS SEVERELY CRACKED IN 3 PLACES AND THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 05/01/14
Mileage: 50,000
20090501VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V555000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT). THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED TWO OTHER DEALERS AND THEY STATED THE SAME THING. HE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR FOUR MONTHS AND THE VEHICLE STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASH WAS SEVERELY CRACKED IN 3 PLACES AND THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 05/01/14
Mileage: 50,000
20080728STRUCTURE
2002 DODGE RAM 1500 CRACKED DASHBOARD. *TR
Mileage: 65,000
20080408POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD. INSTINCTLY, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO JUMP IN THE VEHICLE TO STOP IT, BUT SHE FELL AND WAS DRAGGED. THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER HER LEFT LEG, WHICH RESULTED IN HER BEING HOSPITALIZED FOR THREE MONTHS. THE CONTACT RECENTLY DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V555000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,690 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,615. UPDATED 04/28/08. *LJ
Mileage: 54,615
20080215STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V555000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT). THE VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED AT THE DEALER THE ENTIRE DAY WITHOUT BEING REPAIRED. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY EXPERIENCED A FAILURE ONCE BEFORE AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL, BUT COULD NOT GIVE ANY DETAILS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 69,000. UPDATED 03-11-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED PAINT WAS FADING ON VEHICLE AND HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SHIFT ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO. UPDATED 03/11/08 *TR
Mileage: 69,000
20080215ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V555000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT). THE VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED AT THE DEALER THE ENTIRE DAY WITHOUT BEING REPAIRED. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY EXPERIENCED A FAILURE ONCE BEFORE AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL, BUT COULD NOT GIVE ANY DETAILS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 69,000. UPDATED 03-11-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED PAINT WAS FADING ON VEHICLE AND HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SHIFT ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO. UPDATED 03/11/08 *TR
Mileage: 69,000
20080215POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V555000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT). THE VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED AT THE DEALER THE ENTIRE DAY WITHOUT BEING REPAIRED. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY EXPERIENCED A FAILURE ONCE BEFORE AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL, BUT COULD NOT GIVE ANY DETAILS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 69,000. UPDATED 03-11-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED PAINT WAS FADING ON VEHICLE AND HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SHIFT ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO. UPDATED 03/11/08 *TR
Mileage: 69,000
20071214STRUCTURE
I PURCHASED A 2002 DODGE RAM AS NEW IN NOVEMBER OF 2001. WITHIN A COUPLE OF YEARS (APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES) FROM PURCHASE, MY DASHBOARD STARTED TO CRACK. WITHIN A YEAR OF SEEING THE FIRST CRACKS, PARTS OF THE DASH HAD LITERALLY TURNED TO GRAVEL. PIECES HAVE DROPPED DOWN AND INTO THE COMPONENTS THAT ARE BENEATH THE DASH, AND I AM AFRAID OF WHAT OTHER PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY SAFETY RELATED, MIGHT ARISE FROM THE CRACKING DASHBOARD. *TR
Mileage: 30,000
20070730STRUCTURE
2002 DODGE RAM 1500 DASHBOARD CRACKS JUST APPEARED IN A TRUCK THAT IS IN SHOWROOM CONDITION SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE AIR BAG GOES OFF IN AN ACCIDENT IT COULD CAUSE MORE INJURY THEN IT WOULD PREVENT. *TR
Mileage: 39,000
20070513STRUCTURE
DASHB OARD ON 2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP CRACKING AND FALLING APART. *AK
Mileage: 75,000
20050923POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
LSD PORTION OF DIFFERENTIAL FAILED INTO SMALL PIECES OF METAL THAT COULD HAVE BECOME LODGED IN GEARS AND CAUSED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND POTENTIAL ACCIDENT . IT APPEARS THAT THE DESIGN OF THE LSD IS FAULTY AS MANY UNITS HAVE FAILED. LSD REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE WITH ZERO ASSISTANCE FROM DODGE. *NM
Mileage: 109,000
20041203CrashAIR BAGS
INVOLVED IN AN COLLUSION, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, IMPACT AREA DRIVER FRONT TO CENTER OF HOOD, SPEED OVER 40 MPH. PASSENGER SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURY ALONG WITH CHEST BRUSING FROM SEATBELT. SPOKE TO DODGE DEALER AND COMMENT WAS THAT SOMETIMES THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT GO OFF IF THE IMPACT DOES NOT ENERGIZE MILTIPAL SENSORS. AIRBAGS IN THE OTHER VEHICLE DEPLOYED.*AK
Mileage: 49,000
20040209POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH TRANSFER CASE KICKED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL. VEHICLE SLID DOWN A STEEP INCLINE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WOULD BE THREE WEEKS BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE SEEN. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
Mileage: 4,500
20031105ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
DEFECTIVE AC FAN MOTOR AND WIRING HARNESS
20031001CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE STUMP. FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION BEFORE THE CRASH THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAGS. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES TO THE FACIAL AREA. *AK
Mileage: 31,100
Compare 2002DODGERAM PICKUP to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP have?▼
The 2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP has 29 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP?▼
Yes, the 2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP is STRUCTURE with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.