"How reliable is the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500?"

"Based on 1004 NHTSA complaints, the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 has a median complaint mileage of 72000 miles. The most common issue is STRUCTURE."

"What are common problems with the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 is STRUCTURE, accounting for a significant portion of the 1004 total complaints filed."

2002 Dodge Ram 1500: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1004 complaints

1004

Total Complaints

72,000mi

Median Mileage

STRUCTURE

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

41,000 25th Percentile

72,000 Median Mileage

109,750 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

STRUCTURE

232

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

POWER TRAIN

STRUCTURE:BODY

SUSPENSION

AIR BAGS

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

STEERING

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"RIGHT REAR AXLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER SENT BROKEN SHAFT TO DEALER FOR TESTING, BUT DEALER DENIED ANY CLAIMS, STATING THAT IT WAS DRIVER NEGLECT, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE REAR AXLE. *TT"

"TIRES WOULD NOT STAND GRAVEL ROADS. IF TIRES HIT A BUMP ON OIL OR CONCRETE ROADS TIRES WILL BREAK. GOOD YEAR WRANGLER, TIRE SIZE 28570R17, DOT # NOT AVAILABLE. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND DEALER STATED THAT TIRES WILL NOT STAND UP ON GRAVEL ROADS. DEALER DID AGREE TO REPLACE TIRES. *AK THE DEALER REPLAC..."

"NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28