Model year record

2002 Dodge RAM 1500

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 1,005 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V504000

Tires

Component: Tires
Manufacturer: DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected: 214
Reported to NHTSA: 2003-12-10
Owners notified: 2003-12-22

Defect description

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."

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V077000

Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior

Component: Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior
Manufacturer: DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected: 195,500
Reported to NHTSA: 2003-03-10
Owners notified: 2003-04-10

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE DETENT SYSTEM ON THE EXTERIOR MIRROR HOUSINGS MAY LOSE THE FUNCTIONALITY.

Safety risk

THIS COULD POTENTIALLY AFFECT REARWARD FIELD OF VISION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V078000

Steering: column

Component: Steering: column
Manufacturer: DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected: 287,725
Reported to NHTSA: 2003-03-10
Owners notified: 2003-04-10

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE IMPAIRMENT OF VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Structure	232	75,000 mi
Electrical system	65	99,502 mi
Unknown or other	62	75,000 mi
Power train	44	130,000 mi
Structure: body	38	94,000 mi
Suspension	35	72,000 mi
Air bags	34	77,000 mi
Exterior lighting	25	104,000 mi
Steering	25	60,000 mi
Engine	23	116,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling	22	69,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	22	38,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	19	35,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	18	77,755 mi
Air bags: frontal	14	30,000 mi
Suspension: front	14	78,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor	13	22,000 mi
Suspension: rear	13	40,000 mi
Tires	13	12,000 mi
Power train: driveline: differential unit	11	53,500 mi
Steering: rack and pinion	9	70,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system	9	82,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor	9	66,000 mi
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices	9	—
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior	9	42,000 mi
Equipment	7	78,000 mi
Wheels	7	107,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel	6	55,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood	6	31,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	6	94,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	6	42,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition	5	1,401 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	5	81,000 mi
Power train: axle assembly	5	10,908 mi
Power train: driveline: driveshaft	5	124,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint	5	50,000 mi
Visibility	5	57,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers	4	70,200 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	4	80,000 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal	4	112,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	4	31,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift	4	100,000 mi
Power train: driveline	4	100 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist system	4	54,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring	3	72,000 mi
Exterior lighting: tail lights	3	91,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap	3	46,500 mi
Seat belts	3	95,000 mi
Service brakes	3	117,320 mi
Tires: tread/belt	3	22,112 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control	3	21,800 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	3	66,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash	2	40,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan	2	28,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	2	51,679 mi
Equipment: mechanical: accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift	2	—
Exterior lighting: brake lights	2	46,874 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	2	105,000 mi
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft	2	48,000 mi
Power train: driveline: universal joint	2	73,000 mi
Seat belts: front: retractor	2	14,000 mi
Seats	2	70,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	2	13,019 mi
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar	2	—
Structure: body: door	2	—
Structure: body: tailgate: hinge and attachments	2	—
Structure: frame and members	2	97,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint	2	40 mi
Suspension: front: hub	2	42,000 mi
Visibility/wiper	2	—
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core	2	20,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor	2	27,000 mi
Wheels: hubcap/cover	2	25,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery	1	26,000 mi
Electrical system: horn	1	84,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: switch	1	1,200 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	1	176,000 mi
Electronic stability control: automatic (ASC)	1	6,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: radiator assembly	1	100,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	1	52,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	1	71,000 mi
Equipment: electrical: anti-theft devices	1	—
Exterior lighting: fog lights: switch	1	64,968 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights	1	41,379 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights: concealment devices	1	70,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch	1	64,968 mi
Exterior lighting: tail lights: switch	1	64,968 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal: flasher unit	1	—
Exterior lighting: turn signal: switch	1	—
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system	1	45 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	1	140 mi
Interior lighting	1	45,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages	1	—
Parking brake: indicator light	1	91,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)	1	11,000 mi
Power train: axle hubs	1	17,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission	1	—
Power train: manual transmission: shift pattern indicator	1	—
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly	1	17,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: power adjust	1	22,000 mi
Seats: mid/rear assembly	1	—
Service brakes, air: antilock: interconnecting assembly(wiring)	1	12,635 mi
Service brakes, air: supply: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	1,600 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads	1	32,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder	1	—
Steering: column	1	28,059 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist: power steering fluid	1	41,367 mi
Steering: linkages: knuckle: spindle: arm	1	14,000 mi
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly	1	47,000 mi
Structure: body: hood	1	—
Structure: body: tailgate	1	—
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields	1	—
Suspension: front: control arm: upper arm	1	40 mi
Suspension: front: stabilizer bar	1	40 mi
Suspension: front: wheel bearing	1	—
Suspension: multiple axle	1	80,000 mi
Suspension: rear: springs	1	56,000 mi
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems	1	100 mi
Tires: sidewall	1	32,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	1	—
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element	1	42,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear	1	6,000 mi
Visibility: rear window wiper/washer	1	57,000 mi
Visibility: windshield	1	—
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer	1	41,379 mi
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs	1	48,782 mi
Wheels: rim	1	27,709 mi

The 2001 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2003 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.