Most common 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 problems
Share of the 155 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Ram 2500 complaints by model year
Best Ram 2500 years: 2002, 2000, 1998. Years to avoid: 2006, 2003, 2004. Compare all years →
What 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 owners say
Body & structure all 40 →
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.
My 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 quad truck dash board started to crack about three years ago. When I checked with my dealer I was told that it would not be covered by warranty. Shortly later I was walking in a walmart parking lot and notice a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 which had a dash board cracked worse than mine. I then made a trip to many used car lots--I found that seven (7) out of ten (10) 2001+ Dodge Ram pickups I checked had cracked dashes. I contact Dodge with my complaint and what I had observed in other Dodge pick ups and asked about any recall for the problem. I was sent the typical form letter that said sorry not under warranty nor recall. Now where cracks joined chunks of the dash have fell in leaving gaping holes with jagged edges. …
Fuel & propulsion system all 24 →
Tl contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact experienced issues with the 6-speed manual transmission in his vehicle. The clutch would fail while driving at various speeds. In addition, the gears would slip as if the clutch were depressed and the contact smelled a burning odor while driving in reverse. He took the vehicle to multiple dealers more than ten times. One of the dealers installed a new clutch, but it failed 10,000 miles later. At approximately 34,000 miles, the dealer repaired the clutch again; however, the issue recurred. The manufacturer offered no assistance. The current mileage was approximately 37,000 and failure mileage was approximately 500. Updated 1/5/09 the consumer also stated when backing up his trailer there was a burning smell coming from the clutch area. …
Have had nothing but trouble with my 02 Ram 2500 truck. Rear brake pads had nothing but rust holding the pads in place, had the turbo and fuel pump replaced, u-joints and yoke on 4wd shaft worn out and hanger bearing on rear drive shaft worn out at about 70,000mi, tail gate cable broke after only two years, when clicking from high beam to low beam occasionally all lights go out, cannot use heated mirrors because they will blow a fuse and I won't have any heat, and now all ball joints and tie rod ends are worn and need replaced. I bought this truck new with only 75 miles on it, when I had the fuel pump and turbo replaced at around 78,000 miles, my mileage increased from about 350 miles per tank to about 550 miles per tank of fuel. Highway driving is much higher mpg. Fuel gage no longer works, empty at half tank of fuel now. Was quarter tank and empty. …
Steering all 20 →
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 a good car?
Based on 155 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Ram 2500 rates better than average: 56% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Ram 2500 at the same age. It is one of the best Ram 2500 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Dodge Ram 2500?
The body & structure — 40 complaints, 26% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (24) and steering (20).
How many recalls does the 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Dodge Ram 2500. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Ram 2500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2002, 2000 and 1998. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006, 2003 and 2004. See the full Dodge Ram 2500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 69,000 miles; 34% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.