NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
815 reports54,000 miles · Feb 1, 2008
Steering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE RED-COLORED FLUID UNDERNEATH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE NEAR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEALS IN THE POWER STEERING RACK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONE MONTH LATER, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN P…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE RED-COLORED FLUID UNDERNEATH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE NEAR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEALS IN THE POWER STEERING RACK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONE MONTH LATER, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGER PUDDLE OF POWER STEERING FLUID. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,603 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
NHTSA ODI #10216722
70,000 miles · Jan 30, 2008
StructureInjury
DASHBOARD OF MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 SINGLE CAB TWO WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK IS CRACKED. ONE OF THE PIECES IS STICKING UP AND A PASSENGER HAS CUT THEIR HAND AS A RESULT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10216523
Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2008
Structure
THE DASH OF MY 2002 DODGE RAM IS CRACKING AND I FEAR IT MAY COLLAPSE, EXPOSING ALL ELECTRICAL WIRING AND CONNECTIONS TO SUN RELATED DAMAGE. I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF DODGE OWNERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10215987
98,000 miles · Jan 8, 2008
Structure
I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB. THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED LATERALLY TOWARDS THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES AND COULD ULTIMATELY DISINTEGRATE UPON A HEAD ON COLLISION CAUSING ADDITIONAL INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. THE DASH IS LITERALLY IN FOUR DISTINCT SECTIONAL CRACKS AND COULD EXPOSE THE…
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB. THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED LATERALLY TOWARDS THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES AND COULD ULTIMATELY DISINTEGRATE UPON A HEAD ON COLLISION CAUSING ADDITIONAL INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. THE DASH IS LITERALLY IN FOUR DISTINCT SECTIONAL CRACKS AND COULD EXPOSE THE HEATING/AC LINES UNDERNEATH OR CAUSE THEM TO DISLODGE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT UPON IMPACT. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND NOT COVERED OR A SAFETY HAZARD. THEY DO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE OFFERED TO SELL ME A REPLACEMENT DASH COVER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10214156
101,000 miles · Jan 4, 2008
Air BagsElectrical System
EXCESSIVE CRACKS HAVE FORMED IN BOTH DASHBOARD PIECES. THE PLASTIC HAS BECOME VERY BRITTLE AND SHARP PIECES ARE BEGINNING TO FALL INTO THE WIRING UNDERNEATH. NOTHING PARTICULAR HAPPENED THAT CAUSED IT, THEY JUST APPEARED OVERNIGHT. CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE YEILDED NO ASSISTANCE. …
Read full complaint
EXCESSIVE CRACKS HAVE FORMED IN BOTH DASHBOARD PIECES. THE PLASTIC HAS BECOME VERY BRITTLE AND SHARP PIECES ARE BEGINNING TO FALL INTO THE WIRING UNDERNEATH. NOTHING PARTICULAR HAPPENED THAT CAUSED IT, THEY JUST APPEARED OVERNIGHT. CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE YEILDED NO ASSISTANCE. I AM CONCERNED OF THE SHARP EDGES OF THE PLASTIC FALLING INTO THE DASHBOARD WIRING AND CAUSING ELECTRICAL FAILURES WHILE DRIVING OR, IN THE EVENT OF AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, SHARDS OF THE SHATTERING PLASTIC IMPALING THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER. *CN
NHTSA ODI #10213694
90,000 miles · Jan 3, 2008
Equipment
(1) NO EVENTS THAT LED TO CRACKED DASHBOARD. (2) DASHBOARD HAS DEVELOPED NUMEROUS CRACKS AND SMALL PIECES FROM VENTS HAVE STARTED TO FALL. (3) BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF DODGE DEALERSHIP DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, SERVICE PERSONNEL SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, BECAUSE TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *CN
NHTSA ODI #10213591
111,000 miles · Jan 1, 2008
Unknown Or Other
2002 DODGE RAM 1500 CRACKED DASH FROM SUN. TRUCK'S INITIAL QUALITY WAS TERRIBLE AND THE DASH IS CRACKING DUE TO THE SUN. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A 5 YEAR OLD TRUCK THAT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND NEVER ABUSED.*CN
NHTSA ODI #10213334
91,000 miles · Dec 19, 2007
Exterior LightingParking BrakeFire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE 1500. THE TAIL LIGHTS AND PARKING LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE RELAY FOR THE FUSES WERE BURNED AND COULD NOT FIND THE PART TO MAKE THE REPAIR. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 91,000.
NHTSA ODI #10212293
136,000 miles · Dec 11, 2007
Air Bags
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 45MPH, THE VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF A PICK UP TRUCK. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS FOR THE AIR BAGS PRIOR TO OR AFTER THE INCIDENT. THERE WAS MAJOR DAMAGED IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE COLLI…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 45MPH, THE VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF A PICK UP TRUCK. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS FOR THE AIR BAGS PRIOR TO OR AFTER THE INCIDENT. THERE WAS MAJOR DAMAGED IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE COLLISION CAUSED THE DRIVELINE OF THE VEHICLE TO PUSH TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS AT 136,000 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #10211508
55,000 miles · Nov 27, 2007
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS BEGINNING TO SHATTER IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES, LEADING TO THE AIR BAG. HE STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WILL EVENTUALLY DEPLOY. THE DEALER ACCUSED HIM OF TIGHTENING THE SCREWS TOO TIGHTLY UNDERNEATH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL; HOWEVER, THE CONTA…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS BEGINNING TO SHATTER IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES, LEADING TO THE AIR BAG. HE STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WILL EVENTUALLY DEPLOY. THE DEALER ACCUSED HIM OF TIGHTENING THE SCREWS TOO TIGHTLY UNDERNEATH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS NEVER TOUCHED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IN THAT REGARD. OTHER DEALERS HAVE STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,199.
NHTSA ODI #10210032
Official recalls
3Dec 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.
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.
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 ↗
Illustration