IllustrationI HAVE SEVERAL LARGE CRACKS IN MY DASHBOARD. SMALL CHUNKS FALL OFF OF IT WHENEVER I DRIVE IT. IT IS A 2002 DODGE 1500 PICK UP. *TR
2002 Dodge RAM 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Dodge RAM 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 520.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
860–25K
10525–50K
12050–75K
10775–100K
104100–150K
62150K+
584 reports with mileage · 231 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 278 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 93 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
55 crash reports14 fire reports43 injury reports
Structure complaints
278 reportsDASH STARTED TO CRACK ON 02 DODGE RAM. APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH NUMEROUS 02 AND 03 DODGE RAMS. SPECULATION THAT THE PLASTIC USED IS NOT UV RESISTANT. *TR
ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO I STARTED NOTICING THIS SMALL CRACK IN MY DASH, A DAY OR TWO LATER THE CRACK HAD GOTTEN MUCH BIGGER AND THERE WAS ANOTHER CRACK. NOW I HAVE THREE LARGE CRACKS ON MY DASHBOARD AND THEY ARE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE RUNNING FROM THE WINDSHIELD TOWARD THE GLOVE BOX, IT WILL COST ALMOST $1100.00 TO REPLACE THIS. I …
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ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO I STARTED NOTICING THIS SMALL CRACK IN MY DASH, A DAY OR TWO LATER THE CRACK HAD GOTTEN MUCH BIGGER AND THERE WAS ANOTHER CRACK. NOW I HAVE THREE LARGE CRACKS ON MY DASHBOARD AND THEY ARE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE RUNNING FROM THE WINDSHIELD TOWARD THE GLOVE BOX, IT WILL COST ALMOST $1100.00 TO REPLACE THIS. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT DODGES CRACKED DASHBOARDS. I FEEL THIS MAY BE A SERIOUS AIR BAG ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/DODGE/RAM_1500/2002/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/CRACKS_IN_DASHBOARD.SHTML. *TR
2002 DODGE RAM TRUCK HAS SEVERAL CRACKS IN DASHBOARD. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN FROM FLYING DEBRIS IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS APPARENTLY IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH DODGE TRUCKS AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE DESCRIBED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, BUT DODGE HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 AND OVER THE PAST YEAR IT HAS DEVELOPED MULTIPLE CRACKS ON THE DASH. THE MAJOR CONCERN IS THE INTEGRITY OF THE DASH AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. DUE TO THE CRACKING, IF THE AIRBAG WERE TO DEPLOY, I FEAR THAT THE CRACKED DASH WOULD CAUSE MULTIPLE PIECES OF PLASTIC TO FLY AROUND THE CABIN. I WOULD N…
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I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 AND OVER THE PAST YEAR IT HAS DEVELOPED MULTIPLE CRACKS ON THE DASH. THE MAJOR CONCERN IS THE INTEGRITY OF THE DASH AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. DUE TO THE CRACKING, IF THE AIRBAG WERE TO DEPLOY, I FEAR THAT THE CRACKED DASH WOULD CAUSE MULTIPLE PIECES OF PLASTIC TO FLY AROUND THE CABIN. I WOULD NOT WRITE THIS COMPLAINT IF I THOUGHT THIS WERE AN ISOLATED PROBLEMS. I HAVE READ ENDLESS COMPLAINS ON BLOG SITES OF PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IN SIMILAR YEARS OF THIS VEHICLE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM AND IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
CRACKS IN DASHBOARD FROM WINDSHIELD TO INSTRUMENT PANELS. *TR
I OWN A 2002 DODGE 1500 PICKUP AND KEEP IT UP VERY WELL. I STAYED IN A CARPORT AND IS TAKEN CARE OF. THE DASH HAS BEGUN TO DISINTEGRATED AND FALL APART LEAVING WIRING AND OTHER ITEMS EXPOSED. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DEFECT IN MATERIAL OF DODGE. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE DASH BOARD IS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO THOUSANDS OF RAM OWNERS ACROSS THE NATION. I CONTACTED MY DEALER ABOUT THE ISSUE. BUT THERE'S NO RECALL ON IT, SO THEY WONT FIX IT UNLESS I PAY $1000+! THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE, AND DODGE NEEDS TO RESOLVE IT. *…
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I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE DASH BOARD IS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO THOUSANDS OF RAM OWNERS ACROSS THE NATION. I CONTACTED MY DEALER ABOUT THE ISSUE. BUT THERE'S NO RECALL ON IT, SO THEY WONT FIX IT UNLESS I PAY $1000+! THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE, AND DODGE NEEDS TO RESOLVE IT. *TR
THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2002 DODGE RAM TRUCK IS LITERALLY SPLINTERING BEFORE MY EYES. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER REPORTS OF THIS INCIDENT HAPPENING WITH A LOT OF OTHER DODGE TRUCKS AROUND THE SAME YEAR AS MINE. IT STARTS WITH CRACKING... THEN THE DASHBOARD STARTS FALLING OFF IN PIECES! I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE CAUSED BY A…
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THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2002 DODGE RAM TRUCK IS LITERALLY SPLINTERING BEFORE MY EYES. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER REPORTS OF THIS INCIDENT HAPPENING WITH A LOT OF OTHER DODGE TRUCKS AROUND THE SAME YEAR AS MINE. IT STARTS WITH CRACKING... THEN THE DASHBOARD STARTS FALLING OFF IN PIECES! I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS BY DODGE! THE DASHBOARD IS LITERALLY FALLING APART BEFORE MY VERY EYES!! *TR
2002 DODGE RAM PICKUP- DASH HAS BEEN CRACKING IN SEVERAL PLACES FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. MULTIPLE CRACKS ARE DEEPENING AND WIDENING AN NEW CRACKS DEVELOPING. CONCERNED ABOUT EXPOSED WIRING AND POTENTIAL AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. *TR
Official recalls
303V504000 · Tires
Dec 10, 2003
ON CERTAIN 4X4 PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH THE SNOW PLOW PREPARATION PACKAGE, THE TIRES SUPPLIED ON SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATINGS THAT SLIGHTLY EXCEED THE MAXIMUM TIRE LOAD CAPACITY AS DEFINED IN FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEALERS WILL PROVIDE REPLACEMENT P245/75R16 TIRES TO MEET THE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY SPECIFIED ON THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL AND ACCOMMODATE THE ADDITION OF A COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE SNOW PLOW AND HARDWARE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-992-1997.
03V077000 · Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices:exterior
Mar 10, 2003
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE DETENT SYSTEM ON THE EXTERIOR MIRROR HOUSINGS MAY LOSE THE FUNCTIONALITY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD POTENTIALLY AFFECT REARWARD FIELD OF VISION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MIRROR DETENT RETAINER KIT TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 10, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
03V078000 · Steering:column
Mar 10, 2003
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN CONTAINS AN UNDER-SIZED TERMINAL FOR THE HVAC BLOWER MOTOR CIRCUIT. LOCALIZED HEATING FROM CURRENT FLOW WITH THE BLOWER SPEED SET ON HIGH MAY CAUSE THE TERMINAL CONTACTS TO RELAX AND LOSE ELECTRICAL CONTACT. THIS CAN CAUSE THE HVAC BLOWER MOTOR TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE IMPAIRMENT OF VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS OVERLAY TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 15, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE02096 · Rear Axle Failure
Opened Dec 26, 2002 · Closed May 15, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:axle Assembly; Power Train:driveline:differential Unit
SEE ATTACHED REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:axle Assembly
SEE ATTACHED REPORT.
Power Train:driveline:differential Unit
SEE ATTACHED REPORT.