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
What owners actually said
815 reports
42,655 miles · Mar 25, 2013
Structure
THE VEHICLES DASHBOARD IS FALLING APART, CRACKING UP LIKE THIN POTATO CHIPS. NO ABUSE TO THE VEHICLE OF ANY KIND. IT IS JUST CRACKING UP FROM POOR LOUSY PLASTIC THAT CAN'T HANDLE WEATHER CONDITIONS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. DODGE/CHRYSLER/FIAT SHOULD RECALL THE VEHICLE FOR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT WHICH IS THE DASHBOARD PLASTICS. THIS IS…
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THE VEHICLES DASHBOARD IS FALLING APART, CRACKING UP LIKE THIN POTATO CHIPS. NO ABUSE TO THE VEHICLE OF ANY KIND. IT IS JUST CRACKING UP FROM POOR LOUSY PLASTIC THAT CAN'T HANDLE WEATHER CONDITIONS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. DODGE/CHRYSLER/FIAT SHOULD RECALL THE VEHICLE FOR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT WHICH IS THE DASHBOARD PLASTICS. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS MOST OF THERE TRUCKS DOING THIS EXACT SAME THING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10504455
176,000 miles · Feb 17, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed ControlCrash
GAS PEDAL STUCK, AND CAUSED UNINTENDED ACCELERATING WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO A BUSY STREET. VEHICLE SPUN OUT WHILE MY HUSBAND TRIED TO GET THE PEDAL UNSTUCK THE TRUCK SPUN OUT MORE AND TURNED A 180 FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC BACK PASSENGER TIRE HIT AGAINST THE CEMENT MEDIAN KNOCKING THE TIRE IN AND BUSTING THE AXEL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10498413
170,000 miles · Feb 12, 2013
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SCRAPING HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SCRAPING HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
NHTSA ODI #10497938
210,000 miles · Feb 12, 2013
Structure
THE DASHBOARD HAS DEVELOPED LARGE CRACKS. IT IS DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING AND COULD POSSIBLE BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I ALSO ALMOST CUT MY HAND WHEN APPLYING INTERIOR CLEANER/SHINE THIS PAST SATURDAY. I KNOW I NEED TO BE CAREFUL BUT IT IS PRETTY RIDICULOUS FOR THIS TO BE CRACKED SO BAD. DODGE NEEDS TO STEP UP AND AT LEAST OFFER STEEP …
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THE DASHBOARD HAS DEVELOPED LARGE CRACKS. IT IS DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING AND COULD POSSIBLE BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I ALSO ALMOST CUT MY HAND WHEN APPLYING INTERIOR CLEANER/SHINE THIS PAST SATURDAY. I KNOW I NEED TO BE CAREFUL BUT IT IS PRETTY RIDICULOUS FOR THIS TO BE CRACKED SO BAD. DODGE NEEDS TO STEP UP AND AT LEAST OFFER STEEP DISCOUNTS TO GET THIS FIXED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10497835
95,000 miles · Jan 15, 2013
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD DEVELOPED A LARGE FRACTURE, WHICH SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD DEVELOPED A LARGE FRACTURE, WHICH SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. ... UPDATED 02/28/13 *BF
NHTSA ODI #10493018
45,000 miles · Jan 3, 2013
Structure
DASH BOARD CRACKED AND FELL IN LEAVING SHARP PIECES OF PLASTIC ALL OVER DASH BOARD. PLASTIC HAS FALLEN INTO DEFROSTER VENTS. NOW NO HEAT ON LEFT SIDE OF TRUCK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10490950
Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2012
Steering
MY STEERING IS VIBRATING AT LOW SPEEDS EASING INTO CURVES LEFT OR RIGHT AND CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE AS IF I'M GOING TO SHAKE OFF THE ROAD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10489280
147,000 miles · Dec 18, 2012
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.
NHTSA ODI #10489178
160,000 miles · Oct 30, 2012
Visibility
THE HEATER "VENT CONTROL" HAS STOPPED WORKING ON MY TRUCK AND I CAN NO LONGER SELECT "DEFROST" IN MY TRUCK. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN WITHOUT CLEAR VISIBILITY THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR DODGE RAM TRUCKS AND HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED. I CANNOT DEFROST MY W…
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THE HEATER "VENT CONTROL" HAS STOPPED WORKING ON MY TRUCK AND I CAN NO LONGER SELECT "DEFROST" IN MY TRUCK. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN WITHOUT CLEAR VISIBILITY THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR DODGE RAM TRUCKS AND HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED. I CANNOT DEFROST MY WINDOWS AS A RESULT. I'VE BEEN HOLD IT'S THE HVAC BLEND DOORS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10482651
159,060 miles · Oct 27, 2012
Visibility
NO HEAT OR A/C ON DRIVER'S SIDE. IT HAS DUAL CLIMATE ZONES. LOOKED ON ONLINE FORUMS AND SAW OTHERS ARE HAVING SAME ISSUES. *TR
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.
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.
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
1
PE02096 · 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.
2002 Dodge RAM 1500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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