2002 Ram 2500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
210 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2002 Ram 2500, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 7/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Body & structure leads the reports, typically around 62,000 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2002 Ram 2500 has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2002 sits among all 2500 years
What owners report
“I bought my dodge ram 2500 4x4 year of mfr.2002 with 32000 miles.i have owned this truck for just about a year i now have 47000 miles.what i have noticed is the lower inside edge of my doors are showing sighns of rust,to the point that rust pits are showing through the outside finish.my manaul says…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 2500
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 154 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 62,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 32,275 and 101,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
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.
Technical service bulletins
28 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and body & structure — are on file for the 2002 Ram 2500. 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 2500 reliable?
The 2002 Ram 2500 drew 210 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 7/100, scored against the model's worst year (2018).
What are the most common 2002 Ram 2500 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2002 Ram 2500 are body & structure (41 complaints), steering (23), and transmission & drivetrain (21).
At what mileage do 2002 Ram 2500 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2002 Ram 2500 problems around 62,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 32,275 and 101,000 miles.
Does the 2002 Ram 2500 have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2002 Ram 2500. 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.