IllustrationMY 2002 DODGE 1500 PICKUP DASH HAS CRACKED. IT INTERFERES WITH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROST BECAUSE OF THE CRACKED VENTS.
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 reportsDASH BOARD HAS DEVELOPED SEVERAL CRACKS BOTH FRONT AND REAR. *TR
SERIOUSLY CRACKED DASHBOARD, NO WRECKS OR DAMAGE TO CAUSE THE CRACKS. *TT
DASHBOARD FOR MY 2002 DODGE RAM ALL CRACKED FEAR FOR SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. *TT
2002 DODGE RAM 1500 5.9L SPORT. I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS SPECIAL ORDER TRUCK AND NOW THE DASH IS CRACKING ALL OVER????? NEVER HAD A NEW VEHICLE DO THIS IN ALL MY 54 YEARS. I LIVE IN TEXAS AND I KNOW IT IS HOT,BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE CRACKING LIKE IT IS,NONE OF MY OTHER CARS OR TRUCKS ARE CRACKING AT ALL, I TAKE GOOD CARE OF AL…
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2002 DODGE RAM 1500 5.9L SPORT. I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS SPECIAL ORDER TRUCK AND NOW THE DASH IS CRACKING ALL OVER????? NEVER HAD A NEW VEHICLE DO THIS IN ALL MY 54 YEARS. I LIVE IN TEXAS AND I KNOW IT IS HOT,BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE CRACKING LIKE IT IS,NONE OF MY OTHER CARS OR TRUCKS ARE CRACKING AT ALL, I TAKE GOOD CARE OF ALL MY VEHICLES SO WHY IS THE DODGE THE ONLY ONE CRACKING?I THINK IT SHOULD BE RECALLED TO GET THIS FIXED!! *KB
DASHBOARD OF MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 HAS FIFTEEN CRACKS. THE DASH IS IN TWO PARTS. THE PART WHERE THE VENTS ARE IS READY TO EITHER FALL OUT OR COME COMPLETELY OUT. THERE HAS BEEN OVER THREE HUNDRED COMPLAINTS ON AUTOBEEF. MY CONCERNS IS THE PLASTIC IS GOING TO FALL IN AND CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. DODGE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT…
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DASHBOARD OF MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 HAS FIFTEEN CRACKS. THE DASH IS IN TWO PARTS. THE PART WHERE THE VENTS ARE IS READY TO EITHER FALL OUT OR COME COMPLETELY OUT. THERE HAS BEEN OVER THREE HUNDRED COMPLAINTS ON AUTOBEEF. MY CONCERNS IS THE PLASTIC IS GOING TO FALL IN AND CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. DODGE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT THEY KEEP TELLING ME IT'S A WARRANTY ISSUE. IT IS A DEFECT IN THEIR PRODUCT. I'M SO DISAPPOINTED NOT ONLY DOES IT LOOK BAD BUT I JUST KEEP WAITING FOR IT TO FALL IN ON ME WHEN I'M DRIVING. I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CAUSE THIS ISSUE. I KEEP MY TRUCK CLEAN AND KEEP MY WINDOWS CRACKED FOR AIR CIRCULATION. I ALWAYS TRY TO PARK MY VEHICLE IN THE SHADE. I HAVE TRIED TWO DIFFERENT TIMES TO SEE IF DODGE WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BUT THEY WON'T. ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU, CONCERNED CITIZEN
THE DASHBOARD HAS STARTED CRACKING AFTER THE TRUCK HIT THE 60,000 MILE MARK. THERE ARE NOW HOLES IN PORTIONS OF THE DASHBOARD, AND THE PIECES HAVE FALLEN DOWN INTO THE HEATER MOTOR, AND IT HAS CAUSED THE DOORS ON THE HEATER TO NO LONGER OPEN AND CLOSE CORRECTLY, LEAVING THE VEHICLE WITH NO HEAT. WE HAVE CONTACTED DODGE AND THE…
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THE DASHBOARD HAS STARTED CRACKING AFTER THE TRUCK HIT THE 60,000 MILE MARK. THERE ARE NOW HOLES IN PORTIONS OF THE DASHBOARD, AND THE PIECES HAVE FALLEN DOWN INTO THE HEATER MOTOR, AND IT HAS CAUSED THE DOORS ON THE HEATER TO NO LONGER OPEN AND CLOSE CORRECTLY, LEAVING THE VEHICLE WITH NO HEAT. WE HAVE CONTACTED DODGE AND THEY SAY THAT THIS IS NOT A DEFECT, AND WILL NOT RECALL THE DEFECTIVE PIECE, BUT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE, AND IT SEEMS TO BE COMMON WITH THE DODGE RAM. THIS PROBLEM IS AFFECTING THE HEAT IN THE TRUCK AND ISSUES WITH THE DEFROSTER, AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED.
MY DASHBOARD BEGAN CRACKING IN THE SUMMER OF 2005 AND HAS CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE TO THE POINT THAT IT IS COLLAPSING IN AND CREATING ELECTRICAL AND SAFETY ISSUES. *LN
I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THIS TRUCK HAS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE DASH. THE DASH START CRACKING REALLY BAD. DODGE DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. FOR A TRUCK THAT IS LESS THEN 10 YEARS OLD THAT I PAID 32,000 DOLLARS FOR THE DASH SHOULD NOT BE CRACKING. I BELIEVE DODGE SO HAVE A RECALL FOR THE DASHES …
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I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THIS TRUCK HAS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE DASH. THE DASH START CRACKING REALLY BAD. DODGE DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. FOR A TRUCK THAT IS LESS THEN 10 YEARS OLD THAT I PAID 32,000 DOLLARS FOR THE DASH SHOULD NOT BE CRACKING. I BELIEVE DODGE SO HAVE A RECALL FOR THE DASHES BECAUSE ALMOST EVERY ONES DODGE RAM DASH IS CRACKED. I DID A WEB SEARCH AND EVERY ONES DASH CRACKS IN THE SAME SPOT RIGHT OVER THE AIR BAG. THE AIR BAGS IN MY TRUCK HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. I AM SURE IF THIS TRUCK WAS EVER IN A WRECK THE AIR BAG COULD GET STUCK IN THE CRACK AND WONT GET DEPLOYED TO SAVE A LIFE. THANKS DODGE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 .THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ENTERING HIS VEHICLE HE NOTICED CRACKS ON THE DASHBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAS FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FAILURE ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. UPDATED EVOQ 03/22/11
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.