Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Pinion nut became loose. It was caught before it totally fell off, however if it did fall off the rear axle could possible seize up and cause loss of control of the vehicle. This is a 2002 Dodge Ram with the 9.25" rear axle and they appear to still have issues to this day with that axle model. The recall Dodge had in 2009/10 does not even begin to cover the number of Dodge Ram/Dakota vehicles with this issue. The axle in this vehicle was replaced in 2009 for another issue with an axle retainer clip falling off and causing the internal assembly to grind on the boss for the axle. So as the original owner, and with only 137,140 miles on the vehicle in 19 years, it has had multiple problems fixed under warranty, including total axle replacement and now it will have rebuilt again. …
My friend was outside the 2002 Dodge Ram. It was running and in park. He leaned in the door to check the mileage on the oil change sticker on the windshield. Suddenly, in park, the truck began rolling down a very slight grade. It drug my friend who was attempting to stop the truck. It rolled about 25 yards until it hit a parked car. This all happened while in park! He was bruised and banged up, and was sore for a few days.
2002 Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab sport 4x2 1. Gas peddle has to be press down at all time in order for truck to stay on once I let go of gas peddle truck stalls. 2.first day I bought truck from deal I ask is this faint sound coming fom transmission, I was told Dodge dealer thats a sound that trasmission makes, I said really. 3.interior top dsah so thin sun is able to crack dash by it self with the hot heat and sharp plastic and its now dangerous its become a hazad toall occupants or pedestrians passegers. 4. The whole back tail light found hanging tried to hook it back up its made of plastic components crack with noway of hooking it with nuts so for now I type it in place, its truly falls under a recall. 5.ac works but no heater. 6.mirror cover on passenger side has fallen off on freeway. …
2002 Dodge Ram quad cab sport 4x2 (1.)gas peddle has to be press down at all time in order for truck to stay on and once I let go of gas peddle truck stalls. (2.)first day I bought truck from dealership I ask, is that faint sound coming from transmission, I was told by Dodge dealer thats the sound transmission makes,I said really. (3.)interior top dash so thin sun is able to crack dash by its self with the hot heat and dash plastic is sharp and dangerous its become a hazard to all occupants or pedestrians, passegers. (4.)the whole back tail light found hanging tried to hook it back up its made of plastic components crack with no way of hooking it with nuts, so for now I tape it in place, it truly falls under a recall. (5.)ac works but no heater slite warm. (6.)mirror cover on passenger side has fallen off on freeway. …
My wife and I were driving at about 55 MPH and next thing we know we heard a very loud bang and then my rear end locked up and about caused us to hit the car beside us once I was able to pull over safely I got out and found my driveshaft separated from the rear end so I had it towed to the local mechanic and he had informed me that my pinion nut had came loose and backed out that it was not properly torqued I have contacted the dealership and the corporation of Ram and neither will own up to it even though they informed me there was a pending recall for my year model for that pinion nut and they also informed me that I do have the same rear end as the 05 model that did have a recall on the pinion nut which is the 9.25' ring gear Chrysler rear end but they said since mine is a 2002 they can do nothing about it and that I am stuck with paying for repairs for something that should've never …
On July 8, 2012, the mother carried her 2 year-old daughter to her husband's parked 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup equipped with a manual transmission. The mother opened the passenger door, inserted the ignition key into the ignition switch, turned the key as the mother was trying to activate the air conditioner and cool the vehicle down before her husband came out to drive them home from church.the vehicle was in 1st gear and lurched forward when the key was turned.the speed of 2 MPH at time of incident is an approximation only. The mother was struck by the moving vehicle which knocked her child from her arms to the pavement. The child suffered severe head trauma and was removed to the hospital by ambulance. The child later died in the emergency room. The accidental death was caused by failure of the clutch ignition interlock safety switch, compression spring, and attendant parts. …
Tl contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 30 MPH, the rear differential fractured impacting the drive shaft which then fractured the transfer case and caused damage to the transmission. The contact indicated that the bolt fractured while the vehicle was in motion. The contact was able to pull the vehicle over. The vehicle was towed and parked to be further taken to an authorized dealer for inspection and diagnosis. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 14V796000 (power train). The approximate failure mileage was 150,000. Updated 5/4/15 the consumer stated the dealer was able to fix the truck with used parts and was also able to save the transmission and transfer case. The rearend and driveshaft had to be replaced. Updated 11/16/2015
Tl contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The vehicle was serviced for an ignition shift park interlock recall, but a NHTSA campaign id number was not found. When the vehicle was retrieved from the dealer, the gear was able to shift from park without the brake being applied. The gear was shifted back into park and the contact exited the vehicle. The vehicle then began to roll backwards. The contact was knocked to the ground by the door when he attempted to jump back in the vehicle. He was also run over by a tire. The vehicle rolled through a yard and a ditch before crashing into a fence. The contact sustained back injuries and abrasions on his foot. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not taken back to the dealer because they wanted to charge just to inspect the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 157,000. Updated 06/05/08.
The bolt attaching the drive shaft to the rear differential pinion came off and the drive shaft fell off. The pinion was then able to slide back and lock the differential carrier causing the rear axle and tires to lock in place, the dealer explained this is a problem and they actually recalled the 2005 model for the same problem. Because I was never made aware that this needed to be checked, severe damage has occurred which will cost several thousand to fix. I was fortunate this happened on a side road going 30 MPH, if this happened on a highway or worse yet while hauling a trailer, chances are a major accident would have happened (serious safety risk). There needs to be some kind of notification to other Ram truck owners that this May occur and the simple fix or maintenance that is needed.
While driving home a noise started to occur when letting off gas pedal, got louder the more I drove, I drive 25 miles to and from work, well as I was coasting to slow to enter my driveway (I live in the country) and the then boom and no power rear end locked right at end of my drive and would not move, found drive shaft gone and pinion was pulled into differential, stopped in the middle of as state route had to drag truck off of road removed cover and found rear end chewed up, my question is why is Dodge only coving this rea end back to 2005 and not to when they started using it in 2002, glad it didn't happen in heavy traffic, I would have been hurt or worse someone else would have
NHTSA investigations
Rear axle failure
See attached report.
Transmission complaints in other Ram 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500?
NHTSA has 99 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500, 12% of the model year's 815 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (19 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles, and 16% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 1 fire and 5 injuries and 1 death to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.