2002 Dodge Ram 1500: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500: 3 recalls, 815 owner complaints and up to 16 mpg combined.
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Recalls
3 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 3 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Steering Vehicle recall #03V078000 · 2003 · 287,725 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: This condition could cause impairment of visibility in inclement weather, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install a wiring harness overlay to correct this condition. Owner notification began April 15, 2003.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #03V077000 · 2003 · 195,500 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain pickup trucks, the detent system on the exterior mirror housings May lose the functionality.
Why it matters: This could potentially affect rearward field of vision, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install a mirror detent retainer kit to correct this condition. Owner notification began on April 10, 2003.
Tires Vehicle recall #03V504000 · 2003 · 214 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters:
The fix: Dealers will provide replacement p245/75r16 tires to meet the load carrying capacity specified on the vehicle certification label and accommodate the addition of a commercially available snow plow and hardware. Owner notification began on December 22, 2003. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at…
3 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Engine & cooling Equipment recall #06E024000 · 2006 · 44,386 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: A jammed open throttle could cause unintended acceleration of the vehicle, possibly resulting in a crash or increased stoping distances when braking.
The fix: K&n will provide owners with a free repair kit along with repair instructions. The recall began on April 20, 2006.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Equipment recall #07E104000 · 2007 · 1,657 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant(s) May be seriously injured by shattered glass.
The fix: Safelite will notify its retail customers and replace the glass free of charge. Retail customers can contact safelite toll free at 1-888-843-2906. Safelite will notify its wholesale customers and reimburse wholesale customers for current inventory and at a specified rate for replacing their…
Wheels Equipment recall #10E040000 · 2010 · 34,604 vehicles
What's wrong: The inboard roll form used to maintain the hub assembly can fatigue resulting in noise and/or wheel separation on the two wheel drive (2wd) applications. The risk of these issues do not occur on the four wheel drive (4wd) applications, and installation on the 4wd applications are not part of this recall.
Why it matters: A vehicle crash can occur if the wheel separates from the vehicle.
The fix: Federal-mogul will notify owners of record and technicians will replace the affected hub assemblies free of charge. The safety recall began on September 15, 2010.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 14 mention a fire, 62 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Body & structure (278): the most common themes are noise or vibration (10).
- Transmission & drivetrain (99): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (20), noise or vibration (19).
- Electrical (93): the most common themes are electrical failure (46), stalls / loses power (18), door / lock issues (14).
- Suspension (71): the most common themes are noise or vibration (15), steering problems (13).
The 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 has 815 owner complaints, ranking #5 of 23 Ram 1500 model years for complaints (1.5× the average Ram 1500 year). Complaints peaked in 2003 (100 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 70,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2001 (1112 complaints, 2 recalls), 2003 (1171 complaints, 1 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | Regular |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 18 | 15 | Regular |
| 4.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 18 | 15 | Regular |
| 4.7 L 8-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 17 | 14 | Regular |
| 4.7 L 8-cyl | Manual 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 12 | 16 | 14 | Regular |
| 3.9 L 6-cyl | Automatic 3-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 15 | 14 | Regular |
| 4.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 11 | 16 | 13 | Regular |
| 5.9 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 11 | 16 | 12 | Regular |
| 5.9 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 10 | 14 | 12 | Regular |
| 5.2 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 11 | 14 | 12 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
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FAQ
Does the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recalls for the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500, plus 3 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 problems?
Owners have filed 815 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are body & structure (278), transmission & drivetrain (99), electrical (93).
What gas mileage does the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 get?
EPA ratings run up to 16 mpg combined (3.7 L, Manual 5-spd), across 10 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.