2002 Dodge RAM 1500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other RAM 1500 years
- More complaints than other years 5th of 19 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 815 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Dodge RAM 1500. That ranks 5th out of 19 RAM 1500 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (278 complaints, 34%), typically at around 75,000 miles. Complaints mention 55 crashes, 14 fires, 62 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 815owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 55complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 Dodge RAM 1500 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure problems | 278 | 34% | 75,000 | “falling apart” (11%) | $1,550 |
| Power Train problems | 99 | 12% | 82,500 | “rear differential” (13%) | $4,300 |
| Electrical System problems | 93 | 11% | 80,799 | “fuse box” (12%) | $1,500 |
| Suspension problems | 71 | 9% | 56,000 | “front end” (15%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 62 | 8% | 76,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 58 | 7% | 60,000 | “oil pressure” (14%) | — |
| Visibility problems | 51 | 6% | 57,000 | “side mirror” (10%) | — |
| Air Bags | 46 | 6% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 44 | 5% | 55,713 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 35 | 4% | 94,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 30 | 4% | 24,500 | — | — |
| Engine | 22 | 3% | 116,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 22 | 3% | 63,878 | — | — |
| Tires | 18 | 2% | 22,556 | — | — |
| Equipment | 11 | 1% | 78,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 11 | 1% | 78,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 1% | 46,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 1% | 31,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 1% | 31,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 4 | 0% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 0% | 117,320 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 0% | 7,118 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 0% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 0% | 6,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 0% | 176,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 0% | 140 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | 91,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 Dodge RAM 1500 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Tires
Problem: 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 vehicles other than passenger cars."
Fix: Dealers will provide replacement p245/75r16 tires to meet the load carrying capacity specified on the vehicle certification label and accommodate the addition of a commercially available snow plow and hardware. Owner notification began on december 22, 2003. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-992-1997.
Visibility:rearview mirrors/devices:exterior
Problem: On certain pickup trucks, the detent system on the exterior mirror housings may lose the functionality.
Risk: This could potentially affect rearward field of vision, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a mirror detent retainer kit to correct this condition. Owner notification began on april 10, 2003. 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.
Steering:column
Problem: 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. This can cause the hvac blower motor to become inoperative.
Risk: This condition could cause impairment of visibility in inclement weather, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a wiring harness overlay to correct this condition. Owner notification began april 15, 2003. 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Rear axle failure (PE02096) — opened Dec 26, 2002, closed May 15, 2003.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I bought this truck new I still own problem is the cooling system does not function properly I have put new radiator and all heat and cooling in it the heat and air does not operate properly I have talked with crysler several times and they will help with issue itâs been like this about as long…
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.
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…
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
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 Dodge RAM 1500 years
← 2001 RAM 1500 · 2003 RAM 1500 →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 RAM 1500 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 RAM 1500 | 698 | 6 |
| 2011 RAM 1500 | 689 | 4 |
| 2010 RAM 1500 | 486 | 4 |
| 2009 RAM 1500 | 670 | 2 |
| 2008 RAM 1500 | 554 | 5 |
| 2007 RAM 1500 | 517 | 4 |
| 2006 RAM 1500 | 792 | 9 |
| 2005 RAM 1500 | 1,170 | 4 |
| 2004 RAM 1500 | 1,099 | 5 |
| 2003 RAM 1500 | 1,171 | 1 |
| 2002 | 815 | 3 |
| 2001 RAM 1500 | 1,112 | 2 |
| 2000 RAM 1500 | 513 | 2 |
| 1999 RAM 1500 | 610 | 0 |
| 1998 RAM 1500 | 520 | 0 |
| 1997 RAM 1500 | 361 | 0 |
| 1996 RAM 1500 | 298 | 0 |
| 1995 RAM 1500 | 213 | 0 |
See all Dodge RAM 1500 problems by year, every Dodge model, or the Dodge VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Dodge RAM 1500?
Owners most often report structure, power train, electrical system problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 278 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Dodge RAM 1500?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2002 Dodge RAM 1500 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other RAM 1500 model years, the 2002 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.