2002 Dodge Ram 3500 recalls & problems

The 2002 Dodge Ram 3500 has 1 safety recall and 44 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is structure (9 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints44filed by owners

Crashes · fires2 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Visibility › Glass, side/rear

NHTSA recall 07E104000 · Dec 11, 2007 · 1,657 vehicles

Problem: 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."

Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT(S) MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY SHATTERED GLASS.

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 CUSTOMER'S GLASS. WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE'S WHOLESALE DIVISION, SERVICE AUTOGLASS TOLL FREE AT 1-888-246-6298. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Structure Body	9	0	0	90,000 mi
Steering Linkages › Tie rod assembly	8	2	2	89,250 mi
Air bags Frontal › Sensor/control module	5	1	2	17,000 mi
Power train Manual transmission	5	1	2	71,119 mi
Suspension Front › Control arm › Upper ball joint; Front	5	0	0	45,000 mi
Fuel system, diesel Storage › Tank assembly	4	0	0	70,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components › Disc › Rotor	3	0	0	—
Fuel system, other Fuel injection system; Delivery › Fuel pump	3	0	0	—
Unknown or other	3	0	0	—
Electrical system Wiring › Interior/under dash; Wiring	2	0	0	—
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Engine › Gasoline	2	0	0	—
Tires Valve	2	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Feb 5, 2023Fuel system, diesel › Storage › Tank assembly
Installed transfer fuel tank in back of my pickup truck, two weeks ago after putting 45 gals of fuel in tank, next morning tank was empty. Removed tank and found the bottom of tank has many holes from defective aluminum plate which entire tank is made from. Contacted manufacture ( RDS Manufacturing, 300 Industrial Park Drive, Perry, FL ). Was informed that water in contact with bottom probably caused the problem, my thought is when the sheet of aluminum was made there was contamination in the process therefor causing porosity in the sheeting. There are thousands of these tanks out there on the road and this can't be the only one with this problem, fuel leak of this magnitude is very…
Apr 20, 2019 · 160,000 milesSteering
WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK ON AT LEAST 10 TIMES THE VEHICLE HIT A BRIDGE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE STARTS TO HAVE A DEATH WOBBLE I CANT CONTROL IT I TRY TO STOP ON A HIGHWAY ALMOST WAS HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER AND OTHER VEHICLES EACH TIME I HAVE REPLACED ALOT OF FRONT END EQUIPMENT AND IT HAS 6 NEW TIRES ALSO THE DASH EXPLODED IN ALOT OF PIECES ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE
Jan 1, 2016 · 100,000 milesUnknown or other
THE DASH IN MY TRUCK HAS BROKEN PIECES ARE COMING OUT REALLY BAD LOOKS LIKE IT EXPLODED WITH THE AIR CONDITION TURNED ON OR THE DEFROST PIECES HIT YOU IN THE FACE DODGE REFUSES TO HELP RECALL THIS EVERYONE I KNOW HAS THIS ISSUE WITH THERE DODGE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY GRAND CHILDREN WHO RIDE IN THIS TRUCK ALSO
Mar 27, 2006Unknown or other
HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 3500 THAT I BOUGHT NEW AND THE DASH HAS DISINTEGRATED. THE PLASTIC IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS CRUMBLED INTO A MULTITUDE OF PIECES. THESE PIECES FLY OUT OF THE AIR VENTS INTO YOUR EYES AND ARE SHARP AND WILL CUT LIKE A KNIFE. THIS IS A DANGER NOT ONLY TO MY EYES BUT IT I WAS TO HAVE A WRECK THEY WOULD FLY AND CUT YOU. HAVE HAD TO REMOVE THE PIECES FROM VENTS THAT WON'T BLOW OUT THAT HAVE GOTTEN INTO THE AC/HEAT DOOR FLAP. I HAVE NEVER HAD A DASH ON ANY CAR OR TRUCK FALL APART LIKE THIS. IF YOU JUST TOUCH IT IT FALLS APART.
Jun 6, 2016 · 130,000 milesEngine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE SERVICE VEHICLE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK WITH THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Oct 8, 2016 · 48,500 milesSuspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND VIBRATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR BUMP AND LIFT BUMP WERE FAULTY AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,500.
Jan 1, 2003 · 10,000 milesUnknown or other
MY DODGE 3500 2002 DASHBOARD HAS FELL APART CAVED IN I CAN SEE THE INSIDE OF THE RADIO, AIR CONDITION VENTS ITS AWFUL AND I HAVE BOUGHT A COVER AND JUST DEALT WITH IT BUT NOW I WANT TO TRADE IT IN AND I KNOW IT WILL EFFECT THE TRADE IN VALUE
Sep 15, 2015Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 3500. THE VEHICLE WAS HITCHED TO A 2015 PJ GOOSENECK TRAILER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE ATTACHED VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER HYDRAULIC LINE FRACTURED FROM THE BRAKE CALIPER. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC LINE HIMSELF. NINE DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FRONT DRIVER HYDRAULIC LINE SEPARATED FROM THE BRAKE CALIPER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT APPLICABLE.

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.