IllustrationTHE DASH ON MY DODGE RAM IS CRACKING IN SEVERAL PLACES, I AM CONCERNED THAT IT IS GOING TO CAVE IN. *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 reportsI HAVE PURCHASED A 2002 DODGE RAM P/U AND HAVE BEEN READING THAT THE DASH IN THESE VEHICLES CRACK AND FALL IN. THIS MAKES THE ELECTRICIAL SYSTEM FAIL. I HAVE NOTICE 3 CRACKS IN MY DASH. I WANT SOMEONE TO KNOW. I STILL MAKE PAYMENTS ON THIS VEH. *TR
I HAVE HAD LARGE CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE STRUCTURAL PORTION OF MY DASH. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *TR
I HAVE A 2001 OR 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 (CAN'T RECALL THE YEAR SITTING AT MY DESK) AND THE DASHBOARD HAS STARTED TO CRACK. AT FIRST IT WAS ONE SMALL CRACK AND NOW I HAVE 4 SEPARATE CRACKS AND MY DASH APPEARS AS IF IT MIGHT CAVE IN. I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL SIMILAR ISSUES LIKE THIS WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. *TR
2002 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK - THE DASH HAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. I ACTUALLY SAW IT CRACK AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, ON A SMOOTH HIGHWAY. ALSO, THE ROTORS WARPED WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR, THE DEALER TURNED THEM, EVEN THOUGH WE ASKED THAT THEY BE REPLACED. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS AND THE …
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2002 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK - THE DASH HAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. I ACTUALLY SAW IT CRACK AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, ON A SMOOTH HIGHWAY. ALSO, THE ROTORS WARPED WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR, THE DEALER TURNED THEM, EVEN THOUGH WE ASKED THAT THEY BE REPLACED. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS AND THE DEALER TURNED THEM AGAIN. ONCE MORE, WE HAD ASKED THAT THEY BE REPLACED AND WE WERE TOLD DODGE WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE ROTORS TO BE REPLACED. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC BAR USED ONTO TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE CONTACT TO FALL AND LAND ON THE GROUND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. 08/01/06 UPDATED. *TT
WHILE DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEED (70 MPH), AND SWITCHING LANES WHILE ON A BRIDGE, THE EXCESSIVE BOUNCING AND BAD SUSPENSION OF TRUCK MAKE ME LOSE CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE REAR END OF THE TRUCK ENDED UP SPINNING AROUND, MAKING A COMPLETE 180--- ON A BRIDGE!! I ENDED UP SLAMMING INTO THE SAFETY …
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WHILE DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEED (70 MPH), AND SWITCHING LANES WHILE ON A BRIDGE, THE EXCESSIVE BOUNCING AND BAD SUSPENSION OF TRUCK MAKE ME LOSE CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE REAR END OF THE TRUCK ENDED UP SPINNING AROUND, MAKING A COMPLETE 180--- ON A BRIDGE!! I ENDED UP SLAMMING INTO THE SAFETY RAIL OF THE BRIDGE. AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. LUCKILY, I WASN'T INJURED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE ACCIDENT WAS MY FAULT, BUT AFTER TALKING TO A FEW OWNERS OF THIS MODEL, I FIGURED OUT THAT MANY OF US HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK. THE QUESTION IS, WHY IS THIS PROBLEM NOT BEING FIXED?? I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY JUST KEEP REFERRING ME TO DEALERS FROM OTHER TOWNS. *JB
OUR COMPANY, AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE, HAS 2 CLAIMS ON THE SAME VEHICLE FOR 2 DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO GOT THEIR FOOT CAUGHT IN BETWEEN THE RUNNING BOARD AND THE CAR. ONE PERSON'S ANKLE GOT BROKEN IN 3 DIFFERENT PLACES, AND THE OTHER PERSON TORE LIGAMENTS.*AK
TAILGATE WAS LOWERED WHILE DRIVING AND BOTH SAFETY CABLES WERE ATTACHED. AFTER ENCOUNTERING A DIP IN THE ROAD, THE TAILGATE BECAME INSTANTLY DISLODGED AND VERY NEARLY INJURED TWO PEDESTRIANS. ALLEN SAMUELS DODGE REFUSED RESPONSIBILITY AND REFUSED TO REPAIR TAILGATE - THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS ALSO FAILURE AT CUSTOMER RELATIONS. …
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TAILGATE WAS LOWERED WHILE DRIVING AND BOTH SAFETY CABLES WERE ATTACHED. AFTER ENCOUNTERING A DIP IN THE ROAD, THE TAILGATE BECAME INSTANTLY DISLODGED AND VERY NEARLY INJURED TWO PEDESTRIANS. ALLEN SAMUELS DODGE REFUSED RESPONSIBILITY AND REFUSED TO REPAIR TAILGATE - THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS ALSO FAILURE AT CUSTOMER RELATIONS. I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATE OF THE INCIDENT SO THE LISTED DATE IS ONLY AN ESTIMATION. I ALSO NOTICE THAT THIS IS THE SECOND COMPLAINT LISTED FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.
TAILGATE COMPLETELY SEPARATES FROM TRUCK WHILE DRIVING - DODGE REFUSES RESPONSIBILITY. *JB
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.