Dodge RAM Wagon Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Dodge RAM Wagon options? We analyzed 4 model years (2000–2003) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Dodge RAM Wagon has 2,172 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls across model years 2000–2003. The most reported issue area is STRUCTURE. 2003 drew the most complaints; 2000 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Dodge
- Model
- RAM Wagon
- Model years analyzed
- 2000–2003 (4 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 2,172
- Safety recall campaigns
- 0
- Crash-related complaints
- 155
- Fire-related complaints
- 31
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2003 (1,222 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2000 (4 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- STRUCTURE
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Dodge RAM Wagon: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe DODGE RAM WAGON has 2,172 NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. 155 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 2,172 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 0 federal recall campaigns
- 155 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
0 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
No NHTSA recalls were found in our database for this model. Always verify open recalls using your specific VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2000–2003. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 2,172 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
2,172 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
WHEN DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY FELT INTERMITTENTLY LOSS OF STEERING, BRAKES FELT WEAK, NOISE WHEN TURNI G. REPAIR SHOP SAID BEARINGS GAVE AND NEEDED BRAKES. THEN LOST ALIGNMENT, STEERING,WOULD NOT RESPOND PROPERLY...MECHANIC SAID DUE TO RUST, BEARING FAILED AGAIN, FRAME IS ROTTED BY STEERING BOX AND HELPING TO SPREAD UNDER PRESSURE..LUCKY TO BE ALIVE , HE SAID...NO REPAIR PARTS AVAILABLE AND DODGE, AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, SAID SORRY...NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED...MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS FRAME FOR DUE TO A/ C DRAINAGE AND RADIATOR OVERFLOW..NOW UNREPAIRABLE PAPER WEIGHT....MECHANIC SAID PREVIOUS WELDING / REPAIR WAS ATTEMPTED WHICH SAYS KNOWLEDGE PRIOR TO ME BUYING THIS FAULTY, UNSAFE VEHICLE..
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE RAM WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS NOT LOCKED BUT, WHEN THE LEVER WAS TOUCHED, THE GEARS SHIFTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE RAM B3500 WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE REAR BRAKE, HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM TO FAIL. ADDITIONALLY, THE FUSE BOX WAS FOUND TO BE BURNED WHICH CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,457. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I HAVE A 2000 DODGE RAM 3500 VAN THAT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVERS 'FALLS' OUT OF PARK AND GOES INTO REVERSE ON IT'S OWN. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VANS AND THE NHTSA ISSUED A RECALL FOR THESE VEHICLES WITH A DATE OF MANUFACTURE FROM 07/2000 TO 07/2002 AND IS CAMPAIGN NUMBER 07V555000. MY VAN WAS MANUFACTURED ON 05/2000 (2 MONTHS BEFORE THE RECALL DATE) SO CHRYSLER WILL NOT REPAIR THE FAULTY SHIFTER LINKAGE ON MY VAN. *TR
Was in a car accident on Wednesday may 27,2026 . Crashed at a speed of about 51 if not more and NONE of the air bags deployed. I have spoken to my insurance and they said I needed to file a complaint or claim someway else for the airbags not deploying.
I bought this truck new I still own problem is the cooling system does not function properly I have put new radiator and all heat and cooling in it the heat and air does not operate properly I have talked with crysler several times and they will help with issue it’s been like this about as long as I have had it please help me and there’s a whole lot more people with same issue and it’s a very bad problem with the windshield keeps fogging up can not see the road or traffic
Read 14 more owner reports
Dodge Ram 2002 ABS brake module failure. No recourse for repairs. Dodge has rendered this part obsolete and although they have the technology to repair or replace it they neglect to help thousands of vehicle owners.
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, he became aware that the external lights and turn signal lights were not functioning properly. The lamp out warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The heat stopped working so i replaced the blower motor and blower relay the heater switch and still have no heat. The wire gets hot to the touch. The heater only use to work on high then all of a sudden it just stopped all the way around
To put it as simple as I can describe it is a death wobble. that occurs every time you hit a bump in the road, hole, or pot hole. This truck has always had this death wobble from factory. The reason why this is a safety issue is because it causes the steering wheel to go out of balance and go into other lanes in the road and potentially cause an accident.
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated while attempting to turn on the heat in the vehicle, the HVAC system failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the instrument panel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated there was no recall for the failure. There was no additional assistance provided. The failure mileage was 50,000.
I was driving on the highway at about 65mph and at first I noticed that it felt like my tie rod ends were going bad. And then all of a sudden I felt an explosion and my truck made a sharp right dive into the right hand lane and caused the car in that lane to swerve right. I was then able to gain back control and gradually came to a stop on the right hand berm of the highway. The right rear tire appeared just as it does in the attached photos. The tire size is p264/70R17 no authorities were notified and the tire has not been inspected by anyone.
While traveling at normal speeds approximately 40 mph a car ran a stop sign I t-boned them on their passenger side with my front end I hit them at approximately 40 mph my airbags did not deploy my face and chest hit the steering wheel and dash
Pinion nut became loose. It was caught before it totally fell off, however if it did fall off the rear axle could possible seize up and cause loss of control of the vehicle. This is a 2002 Dodge Ram with the 9.25" rear axle and they appear to still have issues to this day with that axle model. The recall Dodge had in 2009/10 does not even begin to cover the number of Dodge Ram/Dakota vehicles with this issue. The axle in this vehicle was replaced in 2009 for another issue with an axle retainer clip falling off and causing the internal assembly to grind on the boss for the axle. So as the original owner, and with only 137,140 miles on the vehicle in 19 years, it has had multiple problems fixed under warranty, including total axle replacement and now it will have rebuilt again. There should be a real safety concern for all Dodge pickups with the 9.25" rear axle and a recall for every one of them, not just 2009/10. This has been happening for 20 years. When will NHTSA step up and hold Dodge to task for this issue. Regards, [XXX] Minden, NV INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at various speeds, the ABS warning light illuminated and the vehicle seized. The contact managed to coast the vehicle to the shoulder of the road and place the vehicle in park. The contact exit the vehicle to inspect the engine and without warning when the front hood was open 4-foot flames shoot out from the hood. The contact sustained burns to the right hand. No medical attention was sought. The contact ran to the rear of the vehicle open the trunk and poured water that he had in a bucket on the flames. No police report was made. The fire department was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. No dealer was contacted nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. Damages were to the wire harness, ABS module, and connecting rod. The failure mileage was approximate 220,000.
The brakes failed due to corrosion of the brake line from the master cyl. to the LH front brake flex hose. The brake fluid simply came out of the line. There was insifficient fluid pressure to do any wheel braking. Luckily, I had just moved off from a stop and was applying the brakes to slow down on a bend. The corrosion occured under a plastic clip that is there to keep adjacent brake lines from vibrating against each other. The corrosion occured in an area that is not inspectable unless the front wheel and wheel arch cover is first removed.
2002 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 5.9L WAS DRIVING DOW HEY 10 WHEN MY BACK TRIES LOCKED UP COULDN'T GET IT IN GEAR OR OUT ALMOST CRASH WHEN GOT IT ON TO SIDE OF ROAD AND STOPPED WHEN IT FINALLY WAS ABLE TO GO IN A GEAR IT WAS REVERSES AND IT WOULD JUST MAKE THIS GOD AWFUL GRINDING NOSE TRUCK WAS TOWED BACK HOME
EXITED I-40 IN TUCUMCARI, NM. RIGHT TURN OFF INTERSTATE, RIGHT TURN INTO SHELL. UPON LEAVING THE FUEL STATION TO ENTER I-40 WESTBOUND, I HAD NO BRAKES. PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. COASTED UPHILL TO RESTAURANT PARKING LOT; BRAKE FLUID UNDER DRIVER-SIDE FRONT WHEEL. UNUSUAL SINCE I HAD ZERO BRAKING POWER. SHREDDED BRAKE HOSE WAS REPLACED THE NEXT DAY. PROBLEM IS DISCUSSED BY A MECHANIC HERE: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=3OUZ-TRM5KG&T=620S
THE BEAM UNDER THE BED OF THE TRUCK IS BREAKING APART. NO OTHER PART UNDER THE TRUCK HAD THIS PROB. NO CORROSION ANY OTHER PLACE BUT THE BEAM OF THE TRUCK
WHILE DRIVING ALL OF THE GAUGES HAVE QUIT WORKING HEADLIGHTS STAY ON WILL NOT TURN OFF.
Showing 20 of 2,172 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Dodge RAM Wagon
These pages show model-year patterns across 4 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Dodge RAM Wagon, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Dodge RAM Wagon has 2,172 complaints on record across 4 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Dodge RAM Wagon has 0 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 155 of the Dodge RAM Wagon's 2,172 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Dodge RAM Wagon vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Dodge RAM Wagon vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Dodge RAM Wagon has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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By state
Check a Dodge RAM Wagon by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Dodge RAM Wagon.
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Dodge RAM Wagon reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Dodge RAM Wagon reliable?
Poor. The Dodge RAM Wagon has 2,172 NHTSA owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is STRUCTURE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Dodge RAM Wagon years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2003 (1,222 complaints), 2002 (946 complaints), 2000 (4 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Dodge RAM Wagon problems?
Top reported issues: STRUCTURE (538 complaints); AIR BAGS (525 complaints); POWER TRAIN (252 complaints).
Does the Dodge RAM Wagon have recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns are currently on record for the Dodge RAM Wagon. Always verify with a VIN check as recalls can be added at any time.