2002 Dodge Ram Pickup Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 Dodge Ram Pickup, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure828.6%
- Airbags414.3%
- Transmission310.7%
- Other / unspecified27.1%
- Powertrain (other)27.1%
- Electrical27.1%
- Tires & wheels13.6%
- Visibility13.6%
- Brakes13.6%
- Driver assistance13.6%
- Engine13.6%
- Interior & seats13.6%
- Suspension13.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
THE VEHICLE ACCELERATEED ON ITS OWN WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING DUE TO DEFECTIVE THROTTLE POSITION CONTROL SENSOR FAILURE AND WAS REPLACED. *YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
THE VEHICLE ACCELERATEED ON ITS OWN WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING DUE TO DEFECTIVE THROTTLE POSITION CONTROL SENSOR FAILURE AND WAS REPLACED. *YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE BLOWER MOTOR WIRING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS NOT BROKEN BUT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER THE MOTORS WAS BROKEN. *NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE ACCELERATEED ON ITS OWN WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING DUE TO DEFECTIVE THROTTLE POSITION CONTROL SENSOR FAILURE AND WAS REPLACED. *YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
DEFECTIVE AC FAN MOTOR AND WIRING HARNESS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
AFTER HAVING VEHICLE REPAIRED BY DODGE DEALER SHIP INTERIOR DASHBOARD WIRING HAS CAUSED DASHBOARD FIRE. DEALER DOES NOT HAVE A SOLUTION ON WHY DASHBOARD FIRES ARE OCCURRING. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
DODGE RAM WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. HAD IT REPAIRED BY DEALERSHIP. CURRENTLY VEHICLE HAS BEEN RIPPING FRONT TIRES APART. MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION ON FRONT END SUSPENSION, REFERRED CONSUMER TO MANUFACTURER. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .