10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
76,620 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 Van 1500:

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

problem #5

Feb 032015

Ram Van 1500 8-cyl

  • 165,000 miles
Took van in for inspection and was informed that the entire frame had rust issues. Was told the front frame was so bad I should just park it as that anything from the radiator to the engine could just fall out with one good jolt. Did a little research and found this is a common problem with these vehicles as with the Toyota trucks. The body shop I took it to said he had 13 of them this year alone. I crawled under there and there are large areas of frame that has just disappeared. Either poor quality steel or improper rust prevention at manufacture point could cause this much damage. Company should be made to step up and replace the frames.

- Langhorne , PA, USA

problem #4

Oct 292011

Ram Van 1500

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram model R35. The contact was driving 5 mph when smoke emitted inside of the vehicle and flames were visible from the hood. The failure caused the contact to drive into a ditch but there was no crash. The doors failed to open during the failure so the contact escaped by punching and shattering the windshield. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic where the mechanic confirmed that the power disruption caught fire. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure and the current mileages were 50,000.

- East Jewett, NY, USA

problem #3

Aug 062009

Ram Van 1500

  • 80,000 miles
The dash in my 2002 Dodge Ram quad cab pickup began to crack and has now completely shattered. There are pieces that have broken off and are now effecting my heating and cooling system. I am concerned that if I hit a bump to hard that a piece might actually dislodge and harm someone. Or cause even more severe internal damage that might effect my ability to operate the vehicle.

- Webster, TX, USA

problem #2

Feb 022008

Ram Van 1500

  • 85,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram. While the vehicle was stationery, the exterior body paint exposed a white spot the size of a softball. The defect was located on the driver's side door and the hood. In addition, there was bubbling on the exterior paint near the driver's side fuel tank. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they stated that the exterior body paint defect would eventually rust from the inner to the outer surface. The authorized dealer advised that the vehicle be brought in when it begins to rust and possibly repaired at no cost. As of July 24, 2008, the vehicle has not been repaired. The contact took the vehicle to an auto body shop for a second opinion. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 85,000 and current mileage was 89,000.

- Columbia , MD, USA

problem #1

May 272004

Ram Van 1500 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,100 miles
My 2002 Dodge conversion van would sit overnight then start the next day but stall right after starting. Happened twice in 3 weeks.

- Pennsauken, NJ, USA