Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: running costs are the problem rather than the car itself.
Owners have filed 156 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Dodge Ram 2500, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 31 | 20% |
| Steering | 14 | 9% |
| Unknown or other | 13 | 8% |
| Power train | 13 | 8% |
| Fuel system | 8 | 5% |
| Suspension | 7 | 4% |
| Tires | 7 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 6 | 4% |
| Steering | 5 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I PURCHASED A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 5.7 V8 4WD. MY STEERING HAS GOTTEN REALLY LOOSE OVER THE LAST WEEK. I BROUGHT IT IN TO DEALERSHIP FOR A PREVIOUS RECALL. AND THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT MY STEERING GEAR WAS GOING OUT AN
NHTSA complaint: Steering
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WONT ACCELATE THEN LOOSE POWER , THEN AFEW A FEW MINUTES DRIVES GREAT THEN NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL NOT ACCELATE DRANGE LOSING POWER LIKE THAT
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
DASHBOARD HAS STARTED CRACKING AND SHARP PIECES OF PLASTIC HAVE BECOME LOOSE CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR THEM TO BECOME PROJECTILES IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. SEEMS MOST OF THE PLASTIC TRIM PIECES ARE BRITTLE INSIDE THE
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON AND USED ACCELERATOR PETAL TO ACCELERATE, ENGINE RPM WENT TO MAX AND SPEED INCREASED 20 MPH AND CONTINUED. TAPPED ACCERATOR AND TURNED OF SPEED CONTROL, SPEED CONTINUED. PUT GEAR IN NEUTRAL AND WO
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
THE PLASTIC DASHBOARD AND RELATED UNDERPINNINGS AND SUPORT STRUCTURE FOR EVERYTHING FROM PASSENGER AIRBAG,RADIO, CLIMATE CONTROL AND VENTS, HEADLIGHT, MIRROR DEFROSTER, GAUGE POD, ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC PLUG, ETC. BEGAN DI
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE DASH HAS CRACKED INTO SEVERAL PIECES THAT ARE NOW A HAZZARD OF FLYING SHARDS IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. ALSO THERE ARE HOLES INT THE DASH WHERE THE PIECES HAVE BROKEN OUT THAT CAN ALLOW DEBRIS TO FALL INSIDE THE DASH TH
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
I AM HEARING A POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, PLAY IN STEERING, TRUCK IS WOBBLING ALL OVER THE PLACE WHEN DRIVING ON UNEVEN ROADS, HISSING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT END WHEN ACCELERATING. PLAY IN STEERING
NHTSA complaint: Steering
DODGE RAM "DEATH WOBBLE" OR SHIMMY PHENOMENON, WHILE IN MOTION AND ENCOUNTERING HIGHWAY ROAD SURFACE CHANGES.
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2002 Dodge Ram 2500. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 FEDER
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 REIM
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,
Risk: A JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH OR INCREASED STOPING DISTANCES WHEN BRAKING.
Fix: K&N WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006.
| Reliability | 69 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 68 | good |
| Maintenance | 49 | below average |
| Depreciation | 81 | excellent |
| Performance | 79 | good |
Percentile ranks against other pickup trucks in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 156 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and structure is the most reported area with 31 of them (20%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 69/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.
AVOIR scores its longevity 68/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2002 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip unless cheap, because running costs are the problem rather than the car itself. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.