CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2002 has the well-known and documented problem with their dashboards falling to pieces, but it also has engine failure from oil sludge. That's a doube shot of awful in your morning coffee.

8.2

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,700
Average Mileage:
72,650 miles
Total Complaints:
12 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (5 reports)
  2. replace rusted spots (5 reports)
  3. new weld, repaint (2 reports)
2002 Dodge Ram 1500 body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2002 Dodge Ram 1500 Owner Comments

problem #12

May 282009

Ram 1500 PT 4.7L

  • Manual transmission
  • 40,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This is my first Dodge and my last Dodge what a piece of junk!!!!!!!! I need to get a tetnus shot from trying to get in and out of it. The oil pan rusted off. I have changed wheel bearings on it for the last 4 years. Every year I have no heat on the driver side, it blows out cold air. The passenger side has good ,but I'm not over there. I can go 0 to 60mph in about 10 min lol THIS WAS A GOOD LOOKING TRUCK WHEN I BOUGHT IT!!!!!!!!!

- Thomas T., akron, OH, US

problem #11

Aug 112013

Ram 1500 1500 Sport 5.9L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,900 miles

I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 SPORT 5.9L V8 . YOU KNOW OVER THE YEARS YOU WOULD HAVE MINOR PROBLEMS WITH ANYTHING YOU BUY, BUT WHEN THINGS START RUSTING OUT, OUT OF NO WHERE. THAT KIND OF PISSED ME OFF. DOES ANYONE IN THE CHI. KNOW OF ANYTHING ABOUT A RECALL ON RUSTED WHEEL WELLS? PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THEY'RE GOOD LOOKING TRUCKS, BUT THEY MAKE YOU WANT TO GET A CHEVY OR A TOYOTA WHEN THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP.

- kkelvin, Chicago, IL, US

problem #10

Jan 012011

Ram 1500 4x4 Sport 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 115,000 miles

A person would think as much as we pay for these damn trucks not only from dodge but all them theyd be able to do something to keep this under control! i know alot depends on where you live and how well u take care od your vehicle, i cant speak for everyone but i know ive took very good care of my truck wash it faithfully wax it at least 3 times a year with good wax not cheap stuff and in the good ol cold winters in indiana i keep the salt washed off it!

Update from Nov 29, 2012: Damn tailgate startn to get some rust on it now. other than that my truck looks damn good on the drivers side then you walk around to passenger side and your like "WHOA WTF"? Ive took it to a cpl different places and its gonna cost me out the butt to cut out the rust and replace with new metal then both places said the whole damn bed should be repainted so itll match but it be hard to match the bed with the rest of truck. idk

- Robert W., Edinburgh, IN, US

problem #9

Jan 012009

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • 58,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My beef is with the premature rust on the quarter panel (right above the wheel) on both sides of the truck. At 1st the areas started bubbling with the paint and now its become a huge rust area. I took it in to get an estimate done and it will be around $900.00 to get it fixed. This problem is due to the insulation foam used where the frame is connected to the truck. I have been looking and looking to see if there is a recall about this problem and I have not found anything in regards to this. It looks awful!

- Raul G., Lake Geneva, WI, US

problem #8

Oct 172012

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • 159,000 miles

I am getting a lot of rust in the left rear wheelwell. I think its almost all the way through.

- kaneroberts, Cincinnati, OH, US

problem #7

Apr 102007

Ram 1500 SLT 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,000 miles

ibought this truck new 2002,5 years later both rear wells are rusting out completely.what a hunk of junk.also paint on entire truck is fading off down to the primer.nice job dodge.never again will i buy this companies junk product.they take your money and then the service leaves when you drive off the lot

- Dan M., Methuen, MA, US

problem #6

Mar 042009

Ram 1500 Sport/slt 5.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,643 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

click to see larger images

body is rusting body is rusting body is rusting

I have a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 sport loaded. When I bought this truck I was actually the Used Car Manager for a local Chevrolet dealership. Against my better judgment I bought this vehicle even though I was a chevy man. When it first started rusting I contacted chrysler to see what they would do for me. I took it to their shop and left it for the day. The next day their service manager called and told me no worries they were gonna help me. Turns out they were only going to pay for half of the repairs. My end of the repair ran around $2,000. Needless to say I cannot afford that. So it sits in my driveway rusting until I can put some cash together to fix it. When it gets a little worse I think I'm gonna make a website devoted to outing dodge for these mistakes and not helping out the public. Bottom line buy chevy, ford, toyota or anything else. They might actually help....

- jpoe78, Galax, VA, US

problem #5

Jun 012010

Ram 1500 4.7L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles

Paint is bubbling from rust over the rear wheel well on one side. Area is about 9 inches and will be rusting through soon. This is the original paint and should not be rusting. There is no noticable rust in the wheel well above the tire only on the painted surface.

- Scott L., Cedar Grove, NJ, US

problem #4

Jun 182007

Ram 1500 SLT 5.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,000 miles

I am disgusted with Dodge, at 52,000 miles I noticed bubbling of the paint on bottom of tailgate and over the rear wheels. I was told my warranty was expired so they wouldn't do anything to help me out. I have been a Dodge fan for years but now am starting to feel different, this was the first new vehicle I've ever bought and will probably be the last. I let everyone know how Chrysler was to deal with, so much for buy American. You spend a lot of money and then you have a problem and they stick it in your ass and then break it off. I intend to get it fixed but don't know how long I will keep it, they say the rust will come back and they can't guarantee it.

- Steve W., Crete, NE, US

problem #3

Aug 142008

Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport 5.9L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 59,000 miles

Paint Bubbled over Both back wheels. Factory seal problem. Body man began sanding down rust and caled me to come look. About a 4 feet section over both wheels were pitted with rust! You could not see it because the paint was hiding the bigger problem.

I couldn't sleep at night knowing 4 gallons of fiberglass was used on my truck. So I replaced both sides. ---- Add this with the $1,750 transmission repair I did last summer. Great truck at 10 mpg. Dodge Sux!

- Stan R., Williamson, WV, US

problem #2

Sep 082007

Ram 1500 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,089 miles

dodge ram 1500 2002 model new body style . At 62,000 miles the wheel wells on rear began to bubble in the paint and upon investigating I found a ton of rust and corrosion. I am an experienced body man and know that this was caused by the foam insulation they put in the wells from the factory. I have seen since, several dodge rams 2002-2005 models rusted out or paint bubbled above rear wheels. This is ridiculous - a factory paint job should last way longer than 4 years and that foam should have never been put there. I think they designed it to rust. I have a 1979 vw bus that has seen many wv winters on salty roads and is rust free. I have not driven my ram in the salt. That foam holds water and dirt and causes corrosion. Crysler should fix this!!!!!!

- Floyd H., Daniels, WV, US

problem #1

Mar 062008

Ram 1500 Sport 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,000 miles

they won't fix it, it hasn't rusted through,(rear fenders rusting out around wheel well from the inside) exceeded the years now and only getting worse, looks like crap.... time to buy a Toyota..

- bowhunter04265, New Baltimore, MI, US

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