Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Dodge Ram
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Dodge Ram has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 116 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E009000 AFTERMARKET WINDSHEILD WIPER MODULES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E066000 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS/TOW ASSEMBLIE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E049000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V185000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/ABS MODULE CORROSION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V159000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/BRAKE CALIPER NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 17 complaints
- Suspension 16 complaints
- Air Bags 15 complaints
- Structure 15 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 14 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 13 complaints
Of the 116 complaints on file, 14 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 116 complaints, owners report 15 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $8,000–$13,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Dodge RAM has a below-average reliability rating due to frequent complaints about the power train and suspension. Recalls highlight issues with exterior lighting and visibility, compounded by complaints about various systems. These contribute to a higher likelihood of repair costs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| power train | 90,000–120,000 miles | $1,500–$3,000 | very common |
| suspension | 80,000–110,000 miles | $400–$1,200 | common |
| engine cooling | 100,000–130,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | occasional |
| service brakes | 60,000–100,000 miles | $200–$800 | occasional |
| steering | 70,000–110,000 miles | $300–$1,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- oil and filter changes
- brake system inspection
- coolant flush
- tire rotation and alignment
- replace air filter
- transmission service
- spark plug replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- unusual transmission noises
- excessive suspension wear
- overheating engine
- brake pedal vibration
- steering wheel play
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Dodge Ram at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.