IllustrationWHEN I TURN ON THE HEATER THE BLEND DOOR AND ACTUATOR MAKE A POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNED HEAT ON , BLEND DOORS BROKEN AND ACTUATOR NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT OCCURS WHILE VEHICLE STATIONARY AND IN MOTION WHEN HEAT IS TURNED ON.
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
62 reportsIGNITION / PARK INTERLOCK SYSTEM INOPERATIVE.
THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED IN MULTIPLE PLACES. THIS ISSUE STARTED IN 2004 AND HAS CONTINUED DESPITE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS AT FINDING A CAUSE OR A VIABLE SOLUTION TO STOP THE CRACKING. NOTICED OTHERS HAVE MADE THE SAME COMPLAINT. DODGE DID NOT ATTEMPT TO FIX OR GIVE A SOLUTION TO FIX THE CRACKING. IT NOW INTERFERES WITH THE AIR…
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THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED IN MULTIPLE PLACES. THIS ISSUE STARTED IN 2004 AND HAS CONTINUED DESPITE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS AT FINDING A CAUSE OR A VIABLE SOLUTION TO STOP THE CRACKING. NOTICED OTHERS HAVE MADE THE SAME COMPLAINT. DODGE DID NOT ATTEMPT TO FIX OR GIVE A SOLUTION TO FIX THE CRACKING. IT NOW INTERFERES WITH THE AIR FLOW AND CAUSES WINDSHIELD FLOW TO BE DIRECTED AWAY FROM REMOVING INTERNAL "FOGGING". NOW THE BLOWER WILL ONLY OPERATE AT THE HIGHEST SPEED.
MY TRUCK STARTED THIS GRINDING SOUND AN IT JUST STOP WORKING SO I HAD TO PUT IT IN AUTO SERVICE JIMMY'S 2407 KAW ST NEW ORLEANS CELL NUMBER 5044511533 HE CAN EXPLAIN IT BETTER.THANKS
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM IS LITERALLY DISINTEGRATING BEFORE MY EYES. IT HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS ALL OVER IT. THE VENT COVER UNDER THE WINDSHIELD HAS ALSO BROKEN, AND THE SMALL PIECES THAT COVER THE DEFROSTER HOLES HAVE BROKEN AND FALLEN DOWN INTO THE DEFROSTER SO THAT WHEN IT IS TURNED ON HIGH SMALL PIECES OF PLASTIC WIL…
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THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM IS LITERALLY DISINTEGRATING BEFORE MY EYES. IT HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS ALL OVER IT. THE VENT COVER UNDER THE WINDSHIELD HAS ALSO BROKEN, AND THE SMALL PIECES THAT COVER THE DEFROSTER HOLES HAVE BROKEN AND FALLEN DOWN INTO THE DEFROSTER SO THAT WHEN IT IS TURNED ON HIGH SMALL PIECES OF PLASTIC WILL FLY UP AND HIT YOU IN THE FACE. IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT YOU HAVE TO PUT ON SAFETY GLASSES IF YOU ARE GOING TO RUN THE DEFROSTER SO THAT YOU DON'T RISK HAVING PLASTIC PIECES STRIKE YOU IN THE EYES. SEVERAL OF THE DASHBOARD CRACKS RUN COMPLETELY FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR OF THE UPPER DASHBOARD. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM TO DODGE, AND I AM BAFFLED THAT THIS SAFETY ISSUE OF FAILING DASHBOARDS IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED AND CORRECTED. THIS HAS TO BE CORRECTED AND I FEEL DODGE SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND BE MADE TO FIX THIS DEFECT!
DASHBOARD CRACKED, LAMP LIGHT IS ON AND ALARM KEEPS DINGING. CHECKED ALL LIGHTS AND THEY ARE ALL WORKING.
CRACKED DASHBOARD. PARTS OF THE DASHBOARD ARE FALLING DOWN INTO AIR CONDITIONER AND EVERYTHING ELSE UNDER IT. THERE ARE PARTS OF THE FOAM THAT ARE FLYING OUT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER VENTS AND PIECES ARE COMING OUT THE VENTS, HEAS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND NOW ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT EXPLODED NOW IT NEEDS AN ENGINE VEHICLE MODEL YEAR …
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CRACKED DASHBOARD. PARTS OF THE DASHBOARD ARE FALLING DOWN INTO AIR CONDITIONER AND EVERYTHING ELSE UNDER IT. THERE ARE PARTS OF THE FOAM THAT ARE FLYING OUT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER VENTS AND PIECES ARE COMING OUT THE VENTS, HEAS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND NOW ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT EXPLODED NOW IT NEEDS AN ENGINE VEHICLE MODEL YEAR HAS MANY KNOWN NON RECALLED ISSUES
CRACKED DASHBOARD. PARTS OF THE DASHBOARD ARE FALLING DOWN INTO AIR CONDITIONER AND EVERYTHING ELSE UNDER IT. THERE ARE PARTS OF THE FOAM THAT ARE FLYING OUT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER VENTS.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVE SHAFT CAME OFF AND THE REAR END LOCKED UP. MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK STARTED TO FISH TAIL DUE TO THE REAR END LOCKING UP BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE HALT ON A BUSY STREET. LUCKILY THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO SWERVE AROUND AND AVOID A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. THE DRIVE SHAFT TWISTED AND TORE IN…
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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVE SHAFT CAME OFF AND THE REAR END LOCKED UP. MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK STARTED TO FISH TAIL DUE TO THE REAR END LOCKING UP BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE HALT ON A BUSY STREET. LUCKILY THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO SWERVE AROUND AND AVOID A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. THE DRIVE SHAFT TWISTED AND TORE INTO TWO PIECES. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY BAD AND COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. DODGE HAS A RECALL FOR THIS ON 2005 MODELS AND NEWER BUT THE 2002-2004 MODELS OF THE RAM 1500 PICK UP SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS.
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICHLE IN JUNE OF 2008 AND NOTICED A MINOR CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD AND DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT, SINCE THEN THE BOTH PIECES OF THE DASHBOARD HAVE SEVERELY CRACKED AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IF I GET IN A CRASH AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY THAT SHARDS OF THE BROKEN PLASTIC DASHBOARD WILL BECOME PROJECTILES AND CAUSE SERIO…
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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICHLE IN JUNE OF 2008 AND NOTICED A MINOR CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD AND DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT, SINCE THEN THE BOTH PIECES OF THE DASHBOARD HAVE SEVERELY CRACKED AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IF I GET IN A CRASH AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY THAT SHARDS OF THE BROKEN PLASTIC DASHBOARD WILL BECOME PROJECTILES AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY.
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.