Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Dodge Ram, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train17
- Suspension16
- Air bags15
- Structure15
- Engine and engine cooling14
- Service brakes, hydraulic13
- Visibility11
- Steering8
- Electrical system5
- Unknown or other5
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 15 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 164 2002 Ram vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 78 people died inside them, and 41 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2002 Dodge Ram failed the safety check 1.68% of the time — 16% less often than the average 2002 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 156,902 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
5 2002 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 2002 Dodge Ram.
| 2009081 11 Mar 2009 | Electrical Certain aftermarket replacement windshield wiper motor assemblies, sold during the '08 and '09 calendar year for use as service equipment on 2002-2009 Dodge Ram… |
| 2007389 5 Dec 2007 | Other On certain vehicles, the ignition/park shift interlock system may become inoperable. This can allow the shifter to be moved out of the PARK position with the i… |
| 2003059 10 Mar 2003 | Electrical On certain pickup trucks, the electrical connector at the bottom of the steering column may contain an under-sized terminal in the Heater Ventilation Air Condit… |
| 2003058 7 Mar 2003 | Visual System On certain pickup trucks, the detent system on the exterior mirror housing may lose functionality, potentially affecting the driver's rearward field of vision. … |
| 2002110 6 Jul 2002 | Brakes On certain Ram 1500 4x4 pickup trucks the rear axle flange weld to the axle tube could fatigue and allow the brake caliper assembly to rotate. During rotation, … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN VAN AND WAGON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS (ABS), AFTERMARKET BATTERIES MAY LEAK ELECTROLYTE ONTO THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR, WHICH CAN COMPROMISE SEALING INTEGRITY OF THE CONNECTOR.
ON CERTAIN 4X4 PICKUP TRUCKS, THE REAR AXLE FLANGE WELD TO THE AXLE TUBE COULD FATIGUE AND ALLOW THE BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY TO ROTATE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Dodge told its dealers about the 2002 Dodge Ram: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635734 | INFORMATION ON TAMPERING WITH VP44 FUEL PUMP ON CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINES. *TT |
| 635732 | INFORMATION ON TAMPERING WITH VP44 FUEL PUMP ON CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINE. *TT |
| 635730 | INFORMATION ON THE USE OF SYNTHETIC REAR AXLE LUBRICANT. *TT |
| 635721 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISION IN DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES AND LABOR OPERATION TIMES FOR RE TRANSMISSIONS. *TT |
| 635693 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE WATER LEAKS FROM THE REAR WINDOW (BACK LIGHT). *TT |
| 635691 | INFORMATION ON ADDITIONAL PLASTIC RETAINERS TO SECURE THE GRILLE GUARD PLASTIC COVER TO THE VERTICAL BAR. *TT |
| 635690 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE WATER LEAKS AT THE GRAB HANDLE. *TT |
| 634272 | FLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *SLC |
| 634138 | SUBJECT REGARDING CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR SIGNAL, VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 3.7 L ENGINE, ALSO REFER TO 02003. *SLC |
| 634112 | REVISION OF FLASH PROCESS FOR NEW ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) FROM CUMMINS. *SLC THIS BULLETIN SUPERSEDES BULLETIN 18-019-02 DATED JUNE 17, 2002. *TT |
| 634090 | SUBJECT REGARDING FUEL CAP DIFFICULT TO REMOVE. *SLC |
| 634087 | SUBJECT REGARDING REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *SLC |
| 634082 | CHROME WHEEL CARE. *SLC |
| 634077 | SUBJECT REGARDING OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *SLC |
| 633990 | SUBJECT REGARDING CRANKCASE BREATHER OVERFLOW. *SLC |
| 633987 | SUBJECT REGARDING TRUCKS THAT WERE BUILT WITH INCORRECT STEERING GEARS. *SLC |
| 633964 | SUBJECT REGARDING 4.7L CRANKSHAFT TO BEDPLATE INTERFERENCE. *SLC |
| 633961 | SUBJECT REGARDING LEFT AND RIGHT CAM SPROCKET BOLTS NOT TORQUED TO CORRECT SPECIFICATION. *SLC |
| 633497 | SUBJECT REGARDING THE OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *SLC |
| 633485 | SUBJECT REGARDING A TOE IN SPECIFICATION CHANGE. *SLC |
| 632203 | THE FRONT AXLE DISCONNET SYSTEM. *TT |
| 631783 | INFORMATION ON TRAILER TOW WIRING. *SLC |
| 631756 | INFORMATION ON RKE TRANSMITTER PROGRAMMING. *SLC |
| 629161 | SUBJECT REGARDING HOOD DISTORTION/ LOW SPOTS. *TT |
| 629157 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION WHERE IN THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE INTERMITTENTLY DROPS TO ZERO. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
REAR AXLE FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation