Your vehicle report
2002 Dodge RAM 1500
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 815
- Received Nov 2000 to Mar 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Dashboard cracks near passenger airbag243 complaints · 30% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly56 complaints · 6.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Engine suddenly shuts off while driving26 complaints · 3.2% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #03V504000On 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."
- Recall #03V077000On certain pickup trucks, the detent system on the exterior mirror housings may lose the functionality.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 55 crashes, 14 fires, 62 people injured, 1 death.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
- Engine suddenly shuts off while driving
- Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips
- Head gasket leaks coolant into engine
1 more problem
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 52 |
| 2003 | 94 |
| 2004 | 43 |
| 2005 | 39 |
| 2006 | 39 |
| 2007 | 67 |
| 2008 | 74 |
| 2009 | 55 |
| 2010 | 58 |
| 2011 | 76 |
| 2012 | 48 |
| 2013 | 31 |
| 2014 | 30 |
| 2015 | 33 |
| 2016 | 19 |
| 2017 | 18 |
| 2018 | 16 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 1 |
| Total | 815 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dashboard cracks near passenger airbag | 243 | 30% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 56 | 6.9% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 26 | 3.2% | – | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 25 | 3.1% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 22 | 2.7% | – | |
| Dashboard melts, becomes sticky and glares | 19 | 2.3% | – | |
| Heater blows cold air, defroster fails | 17 | 2.1% | – | |
| Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps | 17 | 2.1% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 16 | 2.0% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 16 | 2.0% | – | |
| Side mirrors give poor rear visibility | 15 | 1.8% | – | |
| Axle breaks while driving, wheel detaches | 15 | 1.8% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 13 | 1.6% | – | NHTSA recall #03V504000 |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 13 | 1.6% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 13 | 1.6% | – | |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 12 | 1.5% | – | |
| Power steering rack leaks fluid | 10 | 1.2% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 10 | 1.2% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 7 | 0.9% | – | |
| Vehicle rolls backward out of park | 7 | 0.9% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #03V504000December 10, 2003214 vehicles affected
tires
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."
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #03V077000March 10, 2003195,500 vehicles affected
visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior
On certain pickup trucks, the detent system on the exterior mirror housings may lose the functionality.
This could potentially affect rearward field of vision, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #03V078000March 10, 2003287,725 vehicles affected
steering: column
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.
This condition could cause impairment of visibility in inclement weather, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2002 Dodge RAM 1500.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN