2002 Dodge Ram — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Dodge Ram passed 83.6% of its 262 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.3% fail rate), the 2002 Ram comes out 10.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.4% of all tests — 5.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, ball joint and ball joint dust cover — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 16 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.8% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 10.3% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 27.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.3% in 2022 to 13.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 35 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.0% | 21 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.9% | 18 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 12 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 10 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.7% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 16 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 11 |
| 3 | Ball joint dust cover | 9 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 9 |
| 5 | Flexible brake hoses | 9 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 9 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 27.9% | 73 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.1% | 71 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 37 |
| 4 | Steering | 13.7% | 36 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.0% | 34 |
| 6 | Tyres | 9.9% | 26 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 57 | 15.8% |
| 90-120k | 68 | 11.8% |
| 120-150k | 53 | 24.5% |
| 150k+ | 58 | 10.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 230 | 17.0% |
| Diesel | 32 | 12.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 69 | 20.3% |
| 2023 | 58 | 15.5% |
| 2024 | 57 | 14.0% |
| 2025 | 54 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Ram
On a 2002 Ram, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (6.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2002 Dodge Rams pass their MOT?
83.6% of the 262 2002 Dodge Ram MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Dodge Ram?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by brakes (8.0%).
Does the 2002 Ram get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.8% in the 60-90k band to 10.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 262 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.