2002 Dodge Ram problems
The 2002 Dodge Ram has 152 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (11%) concerns suspension. After that come air bags (10%) and body & structure (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 152 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Suspension 11% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 21 and 4
- Injuries and deaths
- 23 and 2
- Typical mileage
- 35,000 miles 43 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 16 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 8 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 8 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 6 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 43 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 35,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 21 complaints mention a crash; 4 complaints mention a fire; 23 injuries reported; 2 deaths reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 91% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 9th most-complained-about out of 18 model years of the Dodge Ram with enough data (110 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While traveling at 50 the right front tire slightly touched the gravel on an uneven parkway, and caused the driver to lose control of vehicle, the vehicle flipped and crashed. Upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy. The passenger was killed. When the tire left the road the consumer turned the wheel back to the left to get the vehicle back onto the road. The vehicle fishtailed in the rear and collided head on into the concrete culvert, flipped end over, and rolled upside down into a ditch.
The factory undercoating was put so heavy and sloppy that when the engine exhaust system heats up the undercoating drips on the exhaust manifold and exhaust pipe "flashing" causing hazardous fumes to enter the cab of the vehicle thru the air condition ducts. I requested a "material safety data sheet" for the applied undercoating from the dealership but haven't received anything to date. The fumes entering the truck are suspected carcinogens and could have long term affects.
I brought my truck to the dealer because it pulled to the right and shuddered at 75MPH. I had already had 3 alignments on it since I bought it. Dealer said it was due to the tire wear. Tires wore out at 27,000 miles. Dealer was shocked; it?s a new truck the tires should have lasted 40,000 miles. I got new tires but the truck still pulls right and now it is starting to shudder at 65MPH. I have had a pull problem since day one.
While driving vehicle will experienced sudden acceleration. However, when applying the accelerator pedal vehicle idled quietly, and then suddenly accelerated.