Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Aug 26, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
12%
of 116 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2
What this page shows
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 Ram submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 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.
Owner reports naming brake
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Brakes
Filed Aug 26, 2021
Fire reported1 injury reported
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at various speeds, the ABS warning light illuminated and the vehicle seized. The contact managed to coast the vehicle to the shoulder of the road and place the vehicle in park. The contact exit the vehicle to inspect the engine and without warning when the front hood was open 4-foot flames shoot out from the hood. The contact sustained burns to the right hand. No medical attention was sought. The contact ran to the rear of the vehicle open the trunk and poured water that he had in a bucket on the flames. No police report was made. The fire department was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. No dealer was contacted nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. Damages were to the wire harness, ABS module, and connecting rod. The failure mileage was approximate 220,000.
NHTSA ID
11430600
Incident
Aug 19, 2021
Mileage
220,000 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 5, 2005
TRUCK BEGAN TO VIBRATE DRAMATICALLY UPON BRAKING. THE ROTORS WERE WARPED, THE BRAKE PADS IN THE FRONT WERE TOO SMALL AND WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM, A CLUNKING NOISE HAD STARTED COMING FROM THE REAR AS TIME PROGRESSED AND RETURNED AFTER REPAIRS. *SC AT 30,000 MILES THE ENTIRE REAR DIFFERENTAIL WENT OUT.
NHTSA ID
10107049
Incident
Jan 1, 2005
Mileage
12,000 mi
BrakesInterior & seats
Filed Aug 19, 2004
WHILE DRIVING THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF ON ITS OWN. THE LIGHT BULB SWITCH RATTLED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL. *AK THE FRONT BRAKES WERE BAD. *SC *JB
NHTSA ID
10083258
Incident
Jul 19, 2004
Brakes
Filed Jan 15, 2004
FRONT ROTORS KEEP WARPING ON THIS TRUCK IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT EVERY 10,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP KEEPS REPLACING THE ROTORS UNDER WARRENTY THE PADS HAVE NEVER NEEDED REPLACING AND MY TIRES ARE IN GREAT CONDITION. THERE RESPONCE IS TO CHANGE MY DRIVING HABITS. I DRIVE 50 MILES ONE WAY ON THE HIWAY EVERYDAY WITH LITTLE BRAKING IM AT 45,000 AND IN NEED OF ROTORS AGAIN THIS WILL BE THE 5TH SET.
NHTSA ID
10070220
Incident
Jun 15, 2003
Mileage
35,000 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Nov 20, 2003
COMPLAINT INVOLVING 2002 DODGE RAM TRUCK.*MR (NAR) THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE AND REQUESTED THAT THE DEALERSHIP REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE. *CB
NHTSA ID
10048469
Incident
Oct 3, 2002
Brakes
Filed Nov 12, 2003
THE OWNER HAD REMOVED THE WHEELS TO CHECK THE BRAKES. OWNER NOTICED ALL FOUR-BRAKE ROTORS HAD GROOVES. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED THE BRAKES TO LOSE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS. BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH
NHTSA ID
10047777
Brakes
Filed Sep 23, 2003
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE SEVERELY. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WORN DISC ROTORS, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
NHTSA ID
10040399
Incident
Sep 20, 2003
Mileage
33,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 7, 2003
CONSUMER STATED ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHICH WAS AN INDICATION THE ABS WAS INOPERATIVE *AK *CB *JB
NHTSA ID
10029470
Incident
Aug 1, 2002
Mileage
20 mi
AirbagsBrakesSeat belts
Filed Jul 7, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH, HAD AN ACCIDENT BY REAR ENDING VEHICLE IN FRONT. ABS BRAKING SYSTEM HAD LOCKED UP. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SKID INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. FRONT END OF VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. ALSO, SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RESTRAIN AND DRIVER SUFFERED CHEST PAINS FROM HITTING STEERING WHEEL, AND HAD TO BE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL.*AK
NHTSA ID
10026688
Brakes
Filed May 19, 2003
THE VEHICLES ROTORS WARPED WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM
NHTSA ID
10020068
Incident
Oct 15, 2002
Mileage
33,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 10, 2003
THERE WAS A RECALL IN REFERENCE TO THE REAR AXLE FLANGE WELDS WHICH MAY FATIGUE AND CAUSE THE CALIPER TO ROTATE. MR THE LOCAL DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A BACKLOG ON THE REPAIR PARTS AND WERE UNABLE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS ( RECALL #02V159000). SCC *NLM
NHTSA ID
10014896
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 19, 2003
RECALL REPAIR 02V159000 CONCERNING TRUCK AXLE FLANGES WELD WHICH MAY FATIGUEAND ALLOW BRAKE CALIPER TO ROTATE, CAUSING REAR BRAKE TUBE TO AND LEAK, RESULTING IN A PARTIAL BRAKE LOSS AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WERE NOT DONE BY DEALER DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. *AK
NHTSA ID
10011365
BrakesEngineSuspension
Filed Mar 5, 2003
ODI #768732: BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER CLANKING NOISE AT FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT WHEEL AREA STILL EXISTED. INSPECTION REVEALED PIVOT ARMS HAD ROTATED, MAKING CONTACT WITH THE SUSPENSION ARM FRAME MOUNT AREA WHICH CAUSED GOUGES IN THE FRAME MOUNT AREA. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED EXHAUST LEAK FROM BOTTOM SIDE OF MUFFLER. *TT *JB
NHTSA ID
10007248
Brakes
Filed Oct 22, 2002
AFTER VEHICLE HAS GONE IN REVERSE AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND AGAIN WHEN PULLING FORWORD AND BRAKE IS APPLIED, THERE IS A "CLANKING NOISE" AS IF MAYBE A LOOSE BRAKE CALIPER. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE FIRST TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT I JUST NEEDED TO TIGHTEN MY WHEELS. THE SECOND TIME THE (RT) UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED. THE THIRD TIME THE LEFT CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE BRAKE PADS. ALL THIS WORK IS BEING DONE TO A NEW TRUCK AND THE MECHANICS DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THEY ARE SIMPLY REPLACING THINGS THAT THEY THINK IT MIGHT BE. I-AM VERY CONCERNED AND FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I HAVE A NEW TRUCK THAT IS CONSTANTLY IN THE SHOP AND I NOW HAVE NOTHING TO DRIVE. PLEASE HELP. DT
NHTSA ID
768732
Incident
Oct 9, 2002
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own