5.5

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
16,667 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2002 Dodge Ram 2500:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #3

Dec 212003

Ram 2500 4WD 6-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles
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. I'm sure the transmission will be next, I've been putting special fluid additive in that, this seems to help with smoothness of shifting and power. Never ever will I waste my money on a vehicle made by the "big three" again. There is a good reason why Toyota is taking over the market.

- Bedford, PA, USA

Add Complaint
problem #2

Jul 022002

Ram 2500

  • miles
Driver's side mirror came out of socket while manually folding in for car wash 7/02. Replaced by dealer at that time. Passenger side mirror came out of socket during manual fold in for car wash 10/02. Replaced by dealer. I was told there was no known design defect and replacement mirrors have the same design. This could become a safety issue if it occurs while driving.

- Brookfield, WI, USA

Add Complaint
problem #1

Sep 062002

Ram 2500 4WD

  • miles
Folding side mirror spring mechanism failed causing the mirror to "flop" against the side of the vehicle. These mirrors are designed to be folded in and out for clearance at drive-up windows, car washes, etc. The passenger side mirror failed while driving in early September and was repaired under warranty by the dealer in mid-September on 10/19/2002. The driver side mirror failed, this time while folding it back out from the "in" position to the "normal" position. Since there is no way to "rig" the failed mirror in place so that the driver can use it, and because of the long wait for a replacement part, this defect presents a serious safety hazard.

- Spring Lake, MI, USA

Add Complaint