2002 Dodge RAM 2500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
155 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
68,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 114 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure is the most frequently named component, appearing in 29 of 155 complaints (18.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 22 | 14.2% |
| Braking behavior | 21 | 13.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 7.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 5.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 4.5% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure | 29 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Structure:Body | 7 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 6 |
| Tires | 6 |
| Suspension | 5 |
Structure: 29; Fuel System, Diesel: 13; Unknown Or Other: 13; Steering: 8; Structure:Body: 7; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 6; Tires: 6; Suspension: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 17 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 22 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 26 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 20 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 22; 50,000 to 74,999: 26; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 20; 150,000 and above: 12
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 41 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 18 |
| 2008 | 13 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 20 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2002: 12; 2003: 13; 2004: 8; 2005: 13; 2006: 5; 2007: 18; 2008: 13; 2009: 9; 2010: 10; 2011: 20; 2012: 4; 2013: 2; 2014: 8; 2015: 2; 2016: 4; 2017: 9; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Structure leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10004869 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014558 · 2003-03-27 (March 27, 2003)
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WHILE DRIVING. *JB. DUE TO THE WIPERS FAILING, THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014558 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020760 · 2003-05-30 (May 30, 2003)
POOR STEERING CONTROL. VEHICLE DRIFTS. LOOSNESS IN STEERING. MANUFACTURER'S RERESENTATIVE STATES THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE CORRECTED. ALL DODGE 2002 PICKUP HAVE PROBLEMS WITH STEERING. THE STEERING HAS BEEN WORKED ON SINCE THE FIRST 150 MILES OF BEING NEW. VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000 MILES TO DATE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020760 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023545 · 2003-06-22 (June 22, 2003)
LIFT (TRANSFER) PUMP FAILURE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 23,742 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023545 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10027240 · 2003-08-15 (August 15, 2003)
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR AN INSPECTION ON 7/11/2003 THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THREE OUT OF THE FOUR RIMS WERE CRACKED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIMS WERE CRACKED WHERE THE FACTORY MOUNTED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10027240 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031285 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)
3 REAR SEAT BELTS WERE NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY IN THIS VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031285 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031736 · 2003-07-31 (July 31, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE SPARE TIRE HAD BROKEN LOOSE AND WAS BOUNCING ON THE ROAD. WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO RETRIEVE THE WHEEL, HE FOUND A 4X5 INCH BRACKET BEING SUPPORTED BY AN EIGHTH INCH CABLE. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034538 · 2003-08-25 (August 25, 2003)
TRANSFER CASE HAS GONE OUT FOUR TIMES IN VEHICLE, ALWAYS WHILE DRIVING. ON TWO OCCASIONS TRANSFER CASE DISINTEGRATED. CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE, THEN HEARD PIECES FALLING AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE, THEN SLOW DOWN. ON TWO OCCASIONS CONSUMER HEARD NOISES, AND TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHERE TRANSFER CASE WAS REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034538 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.