2002 Dodge Ram 2500

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 155 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure. It has been recalled 2 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
69,000 milesMedian miles at failure

114 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Structure25
003
Unknown or Other13
000
Fuel System, Diesel10
000
Steering8
000
Structure › Body7
000
Tires6
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission6
200
Suspension › Front4
000
Power Train4
101
Wheels › Rim3
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear07E104000
Filed Dec 11, 20071,657 vehiclesSafelite Fulfillment, Inc.

Defect. 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 TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT(S) MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY SHATTERED GLASS.

Remedy. 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 REIMBURSE WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS FOR CURRENT INVENTORY AND AT A SPECIFIED RATE FOR REPLACING THEIR CUSTOMER'S GLASS. WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE'S WHOLESALE DIVISION, SERVICE AUTOGLASS TOLL FREE AT 1-888-246-6298. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008.

Engine and Engine Cooling06E024000
Filed Mar 15, 200644,386 vehiclesK&n Engineering, Inc.

Defect. 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 KITS WERE MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 20, 1999, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 23, 2004. THESE ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN DODGE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUVS. A SMALL PIECE OF MATERIAL FROM THE TUBE WALL COULD BE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE OPEN POSITION.

Risk. A JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH OR INCREASED STOPING DISTANCES WHEN BRAKING.

Remedy. K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Steering
Filed Apr 13, 2021122,153 milesAR

I PURCHASED A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 5.7 V8 4WD. MY STEERING HAS GOTTEN REALLY LOOSE OVER THE LAST WEEK. I BROUGHT IT IN TO DEALERSHIP FOR A PREVIOUS RECALL. AND THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT MY STEERING GEAR WAS GOING OUT AND THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE BAD.

Engine
Filed Jul 18, 202070,000 milesTN

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WONT ACCELATE THEN LOOSE POWER , THEN AFEW A FEW MINUTES DRIVES GREAT THEN NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL NOT ACCELATE DRANGE LOSING POWER LIKE THAT

Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 16, 201985,000 milesOR

DASHBOARD HAS STARTED CRACKING AND SHARP PIECES OF PLASTIC HAVE BECOME LOOSE CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR THEM TO BECOME PROJECTILES IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. SEEMS MOST OF THE PLASTIC TRIM PIECES ARE BRITTLE INSIDE THE VEHICLES PASSENGER CABIN.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 11, 201995,000 milesWA

CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON AND USED ACCELERATOR PETAL TO ACCELERATE, ENGINE RPM WENT TO MAX AND SPEED INCREASED 20 MPH AND CONTINUED. TAPPED ACCERATOR AND TURNED OF SPEED CONTROL, SPEED CONTINUED. PUT GEAR IN NEUTRAL AND WORKED MY WAY TO ROAD SIDE. FOUND THAT CABLE FRAYED AND JAMMED AT HIGH RPM. DISCONNECTED CABLE AND HAVE NOT FOUND REPLACEMENT CABLE YET. PART DISCONTINUED

Air BagsCrash
Filed Feb 5, 2018149,000 milesCA

THE PLASTIC DASHBOARD AND RELATED UNDERPINNINGS AND SUPORT STRUCTURE FOR EVERYTHING FROM PASSENGER AIRBAG,RADIO, CLIMATE CONTROL AND VENTS, HEADLIGHT, MIRROR DEFROSTER, GAUGE POD, ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC PLUG, ETC. BEGAN DISINTEGRATING IN LARGE SHARP PIECES WHILE DRIVING. THESE PIECES CUT WIRING AND FLES FOR ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING AND ARE DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS IN MULTIPLE WAYS WORSE IF IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAD TO REMOVE RADIO, AND DISABLE AIRBAGS FOR SAFETY. REPLACEMENT PARTS ALONE ARE POTENTIALLY IN THE THOUSANDS, NOT INCLUDING LABOR AND WIRING HARNESS REPAIRS.

Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 31, 2017NC

THE DASH HAS CRACKED INTO SEVERAL PIECES THAT ARE NOW A HAZZARD OF FLYING SHARDS IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. ALSO THERE ARE HOLES INT THE DASH WHERE THE PIECES HAVE BROKEN OUT THAT CAN ALLOW DEBRIS TO FALL INSIDE THE DASH THAT CAN CAUSE FIRES OR ELECTRICAL SHORTS.

Steering
Filed Nov 30, 2017144,222 milesCA

I AM HEARING A POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, PLAY IN STEERING, TRUCK IS WOBBLING ALL OVER THE PLACE WHEN DRIVING ON UNEVEN ROADS, HISSING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT END WHEN ACCELERATING. PLAY IN STEERING GEAR BOX. THE CLICKING POPPING SOUND I HEAR WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL IS WHEN DRIVING OR NOT MOVING. I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK PULL FAR RIGHT ON THE ROAD WHEN GOING ON UNEVEN ROADS.

Suspension
Filed Sep 12, 2017128,392 milesMI

DODGE RAM "DEATH WOBBLE" OR SHIMMY PHENOMENON, WHILE IN MOTION AND ENCOUNTERING HIGHWAY ROAD SURFACE CHANGES.

Power Train1 injured1 killed
Filed May 23, 2017138,013 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT WAS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. WHILE A MOTHER WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500 WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE TWO YEAR OLD PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE FROM THE PARK POSITION INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CAUSED THE MOTHER TO FALL. THE CHILD SUBSEQUENTLY FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS RUN OVER BY FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. THE CHILD WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE NEARBY HOSPITAL. THE CHILD WAS PRONOUNCED DECEASED UPON ARRIVAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE POLICE REPORT NUMBER WAS: 2017-6489. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE SHIFT INTERLOCK FUNCTION FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,013. .UPDATED 09/07/17 *BF *JS

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 31, 201779,950 milesVA

TRUCK GARAGE KEPT FOR 10 OF ITS 14 YEARS. CURRENT MILEAGE 2017 = 90,000. AUG 2014 DASH BOARD BEGAN TO CRACK AND FALL APART - TRUCK HAD ONLY 79,950 MILES! PLASTIC PIECES FALL INTO DASH HOLES AND GET STUCK UNDER DASH AMONGST STEERING WHEEL, ELECTRICAL WIRES/CONTROLS, ETC. PLASTIC PIECES CAN FALL AT ANY TIME WHETHER IN MOTION OR STATIONARY.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 6, 2017155,570 milesOR

WHILE TRAVELING ON I-5 IN PORTLAND, OREGON, I LOST CONTROL OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, IT WHEN INTO A "DEAD PEDAL MODE". I WAS ON A VERY BUSY SECTION OF THIS INTERSTATE AND HAD TO IMMEDIATELY FIND A LOCAL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD NEXT TO AN ON RAMP. IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT WAS AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM.

Steering
Filed Mar 3, 2017160,000 milesID

DEATH WOBBLE. EXPERIENCE WHEN HITTING SMALL/MINOR BUMPS IN THE ROAD OR RAILROAD TRACKS. VIOLENT SHAKING CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO TRY TO COME TO A STOP. SHAKING IS SO VIOLENT THAT THE DRIVER IS BOUNCED AROUND IN THE SEAT, MOMENTARILY AIRBORNE AND ITESM IN THE TRUCK FLY AROUND. LAWSUIT WAS ISSUSED ON 2004 AND NEWER MODELS BUT AFFECTS OLDER MODELS AS WELL. WE NOW HAVE PAID $900 IN PARTS TO FIX THE "DEATH WOBBLE" THAT HAD WE KNOWN WAS AN ISSUE, WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THE TRUCK. COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHEN IT IS OUR DAILY DRIVER AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO PARK IT AND PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE TO REPLACE IT WITH. CANNOT SELL IN CURRENTY CONDITION HAVING A "DEATH WOBBLE". NO GUARANTEE THAT THE PURCHASED PARTS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 28, 201730,000 milesID

THE DASHBOARD HAS LITERALLY BROKEN INTO PIECES AND SHARDS 3 YEARS AFTER WE PURCHASED THE TRUCK. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS WE HAVE GREAT CONCERNS FOR THE SAFETY OF THOSE DRIVING AND/OR RIDING IN THE VEHICLE. THE SHARDS ARE VERY SHARP AND COULD EITHER PUNCTURE THE AIRBAG OR CAUSE HARM TO AN INDIVIDUAL IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE MANY VEHICLES WITHIN A PERIOD OF YEARS MADE BY THIS MANUFACTURER THAT HAVE ALL HAD THIS SIMILAR ISSUE. IT IS OBVIOUSLY DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE PLASTIC USED IN THE DASHBOARDS AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT OFFERED A RECALL FOR THIS REAL SAFETY ISSUE. WOULD THEY SETTLE FOR THIS WITH THEMSELVES OR THEIR LOVED ONES IN A VEHICLE WITH THIS ISSUE. THE DASHBOARD IS LITERALLY DISINTEGRATING.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 11, 20171 milesCA

THE DASH IS CRACKING AND DISINTEGRATING AND THE SHARP SHARDS OF THE PLASTIC DASH PIECES ARE A SAFETY HAZARD.

Unknown or Other
Filed Nov 29, 2016120,000 milesGA

DASH STARTED CRACKING IN 2009 AND PIECES ARE FALLING OFF. THE CRACKED DASH AND LOOSE PIECES ARE DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY HARM IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE YEARS AGO.

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 28, 2016101,000 milesID

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING; HOWEVER, THE SPECIFICS OF THE DIAGNOSIS COULD NOT BE PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 3, 201658,000 milesWV

DASH CRACKING SEVERELY. IF AIRBAG DEPLOYS PLASTIC SHARDS WILL IMPALE PASSENGER AND/OR DRIVER

Structure › Body
Filed Jun 1, 2016198,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS FRACTURED IN SEVERAL AREAS. THE FAILURE STARTED SMALL, BUT WORSENED PROGRESSIVELY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS FAILURE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000.

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 12, 2015160,000 milesCO

THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING BADLY AND CRUMBLING. LARGE HOLES ARE FORMING AND BROKEN PIECES OF PLASTIC FROM THE DASH ARE FALLING INTO THE DASH AREA. THE DEALER WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 17, 2015180,000 milesMI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT IT TOOK A GREATER AMOUNT OF DISTANCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

20 of 155 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2006
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20122835120Above average
2011297460Above average
2010236440Above average
2009214530Do not drive
2008317980Do not drive
20073611192Do not drive
2006669940Do not drive
2005422981Do not drive
2004582974Fatalities reported
2003661922Do not drive
2002 — this page155211Fatalities reported
20014692110Above average
2000211250Above average
1999313220Above average
1998225230Above average
19972131140Above average
19962911150Above average
19952671130Above average
1994168160Routine
199339000Routine
199232020Routine
199116000Routine

Compare every Ram 2500 year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Dec 11, 2007. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.