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#BS-2002-DODRAM-4743

2002 Dodge Ram 1500

Based on reports from 1,000 owners and 6 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
1,000
Crashes
74
Fires
22
Recalls
6
TSBs
22
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 1,000 complaints, 74 crashes, 22 fires, and 6 recalls. This is the worst model year for this vehicle.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

cracks in dashboard

522 complaints • Severity 8.2/10

$X,XXX
2

engine failure due to oil sludge

37 complaints • Severity 9.3/10

$X,XXX
3

engine failure

27 complaints • Severity 8.6/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the StructureHIGH

232 owners reported structure issues — failures commonly reported around 72K miles.

!Inspect the ElectricalMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

119
0–30K
153
30–60K
188
60–90K
120
90–120K
54
120–150K
86
150K+

Peak failure range: 60–90K miles (188 reports) • Median: 72K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Structure (232 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Structure232 (23%)
Other68 (7%)
Electrical65 (7%)
Drivetrain43 (4%)
Engine43 (4%)
Structure:body38 (4%)
Suspension35 (4%)
Airbags34 (3%)

2002 Dodge Ram 1500: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Structure Issues

Structure complaints account for 23% of all reports filed for the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500, with 232 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 72,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 72K-mile mark.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500, with 65 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500, with 43 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500, with 43 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

1
00
3
01
70
02
102
03
52
04
52
05
49
06
74
07
87
08
67
09
71
10
89
11
62
12
41
13
43
14
42
15
26
16
20
17
25
18
12
19
1
20
5
21
1
22
3
23
2
24

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. Recent trend: decreasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (6 recalls)

03V077000Apr 2003

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

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

03V078000Apr 2003

STEERING:COLUMN

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.

03V504000Dec 2003

TIRES

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."

06E024000Apr 2006

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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.

07E104000Jan 2008

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

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."

+ 1 more recall in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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This is the worst model year for the Dodge Ram 1500 according to owner complaint data. The biggest problem area is accessories - interior.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1,000 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 6 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Dodge Ram 1500 Model Years

201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997199619951994199319921991
View all Dodge Ram 1500 years →

2002 Dodge Ram 1500: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 is related to the structure, with 232 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 reliable?
The 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 has 1,000 complaints, 74 crash reports, and 22 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 have any recalls?
Yes, the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 has 6 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Dodge Ram 1500 problems start?
Based on 720 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 72,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 60–90K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,000 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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