Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 45 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Dodge Ram 3500, and it carries 1 recall. 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 | 8 | 18% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 9% |
| Steering | 4 | 9% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 7% |
| Power train | 3 | 7% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 4% |
| Suspension | 2 | 4% |
| Air bags | 2 | 4% |
| Engine | 1 | 2% |
| Steering | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
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 OTHE
NHTSA complaint: Steering
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 THI
NHTSA complaint: Unknown 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 WI
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
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
NHTSA complaint: Engine
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
NHTSA complaint: Steering
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 EF
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
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 FAI
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2002 Dodge Ram 3500. 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
| Reliability | 77 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 72 | good |
| Maintenance | 45 | 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 45 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and structure is the most reported area with 8 of them (18%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 77/100 (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 72/100, 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: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. 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.