Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Dodge 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 38, in the owner's own words
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 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.
THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN THE WIRING SYSTEM FROM THE FUSE BLOCK THIS IS KNOWN TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE RAMS THE ABS LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT AS WELL AS THE ENGINE LIGHT ALL COME ON ALSO THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER ALSO STOP WORKING. THIS STOPS THE ABS SYSTEM FROM WORKING AS WELL AS THE AIRBAGS I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE FUSE BLOCK AS WELL AS THE REAR SPEED SENSOR, AND THE DASH CLUSTER BECAUSE OF THIS OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD NOW, THE FIRST TIME ALL OF MY LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AS WELL AS THE DASH GAUGES AND DOOR LOCKS. WHY IS THIS AND ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS AND NOTHING SEEMS TO GET DONE ABOUT IT THE FIRST TIME I GOT A COPY OF A SERVICE BULLETIN AND DODGE TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS ONLY GOOD FOR DIESEL MODELS AND I HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. THERE SEEMS TO BE A REAL HISTORY OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE DEALERS ARE ALL AWARE OF THIS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE CALIBER BRACKET WAS FRACTURED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE CALIBER BRACKETS. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 94,000.
PERFORMING SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ON A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 A WET SPOT WAS LOCATED ON A CRIMPED FITTING PORTION OF THE FRONT BRAKE HOSS. FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY LIGHTLY PRESSING AND PUSHING ON THE AFFECTED AREA RESULTED IN A TOTAL BREAKAGE AND FAILURE OF THE ASSEMBLY. THE FAILURE IS WHEN THE CRIMPED STEEL PORTION OF THE CONNECTION BREAKS DUE TO SEVERE RUST/CORROSION ON THE AFFECTED AREA. CONSEQUENCES OF THE FAILURE COULD INCLUDE A LOSS OF BRAKING EFFORT RESULTING IN A CRASH OR LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO ITS SEVERELY COMPROMISED ABILITY TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN NEEDED. THE REPAIR TO CORRECT THE FAILURE INCLUDED REPLACING BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSES, ALL ASSOCIATED HARDWARE AND BLEEDING THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE FAILED PARTS WERE SAVED FOR DOCUMENTATION PURPOSES. *TR
MY 2002 RAM 1500 HAS PROBLEMS HOLDING THE IDLE IT FLUCTUATES UP AND DOWN. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT THE IDLE WAS SO LOW IT CUT OFF ONCE. THEY MADE A COMPUTER ADJUSTMENT THEN THAT WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE. I HAVE HAD TO HOLD THE BRAKE DOWN HARDER THAN NORMAL AT A STOP. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. I HAVE CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED AIR FILTER. SEEMS LIKE ANOTHER COMPUTER PROBLEM TO ME. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A STATE INSPECTION STATION, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED DUE TO REAR BRAKE FAILURE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANTED TO ADJUST THE REAR BRAKES; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT REFUSED BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE SELF-ADJUSTING. HE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS MECHANIC FRIEND AND THEY CHECKED THE LINES FOR RAPID FLOW. THE CONTACT'S FRIEND STATED THAT THE DISTRIBUTION VALVE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HE ALSO STATED THAT FLUID WAS NOT GETTING INTO THE BRAKES ADEQUATELY. THE TWO NEEDLE VALVES WERE RUSTY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,218 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,205.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE 1500. THE TAIL LIGHTS AND PARKING LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE RELAY FOR THE FUSES WERE BURNED AND COULD NOT FIND THE PART TO MAKE THE REPAIR. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 91,000.
OIL PAN WAS REPLACED DUE TO RUST. COVERED BY WARRANTY, WITH $100 DEDUCTIBLE. APPARENTLY CHRYSLER CAN'T BUILD A PAN THAT WILL LAST A FULL FIVE YEARS. ALSO, ON THIRD SET OF BRAKES AT 81K MILES. APPARENTLY, AS SOON AS I TRADED MY TOYOTA, I STARTED DRIVING LIKE AN OLD LADY. EITHER THAT, OR THE BRAKES ON THE TRUCK ARE SUBSTANDARD. EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE BROKE IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR. ETC..........
2002 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK - THE DASH HAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. I ACTUALLY SAW IT CRACK AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, ON A SMOOTH HIGHWAY. ALSO, THE ROTORS WARPED WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR, THE DEALER TURNED THEM, EVEN THOUGH WE ASKED THAT THEY BE REPLACED. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS AND THE DEALER TURNED THEM AGAIN. ONCE MORE, WE HAD ASKED THAT THEY BE REPLACED AND WE WERE TOLD DODGE WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE ROTORS TO BE REPLACED. *NM
WHEN ON THE SLIGHTEST ROUGH SURFACE, THIS TRUCK JUMPS AND BOUNCES ALL OVER THE ROAD. I LOSE ALL CONTROL OF THE TRUCK WHEN IT IS JUMPING. WORSE, THE BRAKES BOUNCE AND GRAB WHEN YOU APPLY THEM. DANGEROUS. WIDE SPREAD KNOWLEDGE OF THESE SAFETY ISSUES. NEED A RESOLUTION AND RECALL. *JB
THE FRONT BRAKES SHUDDER VIOLENTLY WHEN I TRY TO STOP. I HAD THE BRAKES FIXED BUT THEY ARE DOING IT AGAIN. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A GENIUS TO KNOW THAT THE ROTORS ARE INFERIOR!!! THE DEALER SAID THIS IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER OF THIS TRUCK SO I KNOW THAT I DO NOT OVER BRAKE... THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. *NM
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS, CRUISE CONTROL, AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OF 0-65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER NOTICE WATER WAS NOT DRAINING FROM THE ROTORS. THE EXCESS WATER CAUSED THE ROTORS TO BECOME OUT OF ROUND. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY BROKE ON DRIVER'S SIDE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FLIP.*AK
2002 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 - BRAKE SHIMMY / SHAKE, REDUCED BRAKING POWER. ROTORS REPLACED TWICE IN 20,000, PROBLEM STILL HAPENNING. COULD NOT STOP QUICKLY ALMOST CAUSING A SEVERE ACCIDENT.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED. HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. THE DRIVER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK
FIRST THERE WAS AN INTERMITTANT FAILURE OF BRAKE LIGHTS THEN ONE FAILED COMPLETLY AND THE OTHER FAILED THE FOLLOWING DAY. I HAD A CLOSE CALL (REAR ENDED)WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT WAS WRONG , AND REPLACED TAIL LIGHT TREE COMPONET, THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THIS AND HAD TOLD ME THEYHAD ALOT OF THEM FAILING, IWAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS CHARGED FULL PRICE FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND REPLACEMENT PARTS ETC. I WAS UNHAPPY WITH THE WAY THEY TREATED THIS SAFETY PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO DOWN SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION GEARS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK IN ADDITION, CONSUMER IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH TIRES AND ITS SIDEWALL AND REQUESTING MANUFACTURER TO DESIGN TIRES FOR OFF ROAD CONDITIONS. FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED AND THE PADS HAVE 80 PERCENT LEFT AT 34,000 MILES. *LA
ROTORS ON 2002 DODGE RAM IS WARPED. AGAIN FOR THIRD TIME IN 6 MONTHS. TRUCK SHIMMIES OR SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. GO TO WWW.DODGETRUCKWORLD.COM AND LOOK UP BRAKES IN THE FORUM SECTION. DEALER WON'T FIX UNDER WARRANTY. TRUCK IS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED AT HIGH SPEEDS (20 AND ABOVE). *NLM
VEHICLE PULSATED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS THREE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST 20,000 MILES. *AK
2002 2WD DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB 4.7L - AT 25000 MILES, DEALER FOUND WARPED FRONT ROTORS CAUSING MY DESCRIBED HARD SHIMMY IN FRONT END WHILE BRAKING. SOLUTION WAS TO TURN ROTORS TO ELIMINATE THE WARPING. AT 29500 MILES, TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER AGAIN, AND DEALER INFORMED THAT ROTORS NEEDED TO BE TURNED AGAIN, AND IT NEEDED NEW PADS TO CORRECT THE SHIMMY. NOW AT 32000 MILES, SHIMMY IS BACK AND DEALERS ARE SAYING TRUCK NEEDS NEW ROTORS. SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE ROTORS ON A TRUCK THAT DOES NOT HAUL, TOW, OR IS DRIVEN HARD. I HAVE OWNED TRUCKS OF OTHER MAKES, AND NONE NEEDED BRAKE ROTORS UNTIL AT LEAST 75000 MILES. I FEEL THERE IS SOME PROBLEM WITH THIS PRODUCT THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. TO THE DATE, I HAVE SPENT OVER $400 FOR THESE REPAIRS, AND THEY EXPECT ROTOR REPLACEMENT TO COST NEARLY ANOTHER $400. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC INDICATED THAT BRAKE ROTORS WERE SEVERELY WARPED.*AK *JB *NLM
BRAKE FAILURE ON 2002 DODGE RAM WITH 13,000 MILES DUE TO LOOSE BRAKE LINE.
TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE BRAKE FAILED, AT 4500 MILES WHILE DRIVING AT 40-MPH. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES AT ALL. AS RESULT, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT COLLISION. BOTH TIMES DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.*AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .