2002 Ram 1500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,004 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2002 Ram 1500, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 46/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Body & structure leads the reports, typically around 75,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2002 sits among all 1500 years
What owners report
“I'm concerned the cracked dash will become sharp plastic projectiles if the airbag ever deploys.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 1500
“While driving all of the gauges have quit working headlights stay on will not turn off.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 1500
“2002 dodge ram 1500 4x4 5.9l was driving dow hey 10 when my back tries locked up couldn't get it in gear or out almost crash when got it on to side of road and stopped when it finally was able to go in a gear it was reverses and it would just make this god awful grinding nose truck was towed back…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 1500
“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…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 1500
“Consumer states when driving and if hit any bump in the road the car violently pulls to the right.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 1500
“Dash is cracked big pieces broken and falling in messed up air box so that air and heat don't come out hot or cold sharp pieces could fly in to your face.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 1500
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 696 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 73,700 miles. Half of those reports fall between 42,000 and 110,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (6)
FEDERAL-MOGUL IS RECALLING CERTAIN CARQUEST, NATIONAL, AND PERCISION BRAND WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS 515073 AND 515073, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2008 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCKS. THE INBOARD ROLL FORM USED TO…
Fix: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND TECHNICIANS WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED HUB ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL…
CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF…
Fix: SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND…
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT K&N FUEL PERFORMANCE KITS, P/NOS. 57-1509, 57-1511, 57-1511-1, 57-1517, 57-1517-1, 57-1527, AND 57-1530. ALSO, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THESE KITS WERE SOLD UNDER THE MOPAR PERFORMANCE PARTS BRAND NAME (P/NOS. P5007069 AND P5007070). ALL…
Fix: K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.
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.…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE DETENT SYSTEM ON THE EXTERIOR MIRROR HOUSINGS MAY LOSE THE FUNCTIONALITY.
Fix: 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…
Federal defect investigations
Technical service bulletins
22 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on body & structure and engine — are on file for the 2002 Ram 1500. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2002 Ram 1500 reliable?
The 2002 Ram 1500 drew 1,004 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 46/100, scored against the model's worst year (2014).
What are the most common 2002 Ram 1500 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2002 Ram 1500 are body & structure (279 complaints), electrical (136), and transmission & drivetrain (100).
At what mileage do 2002 Ram 1500 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2002 Ram 1500 problems around 73,700 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 42,000 and 110,000 miles.
Does the 2002 Ram 1500 have recalls?
6 recall campaigns apply to the 2002 Ram 1500. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.