IllustrationTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR, HIS DASHBOARD HAS DISINTEGRATED INTO PIECES. THE DEFROSTER VENT ON THE DRIVER SIDE IS COMPLETELY GONE. THE VIN AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 53,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
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
What owners actually said
815 reportsWE OWN A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 AND THE DASHBOARD HAS SEVERE CRACKED. THIS WAS NOT CAUSED BY ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE DONE, AND WE COULD NNOT AFFORD AND DO NOT FEEL THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED. WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED FROM OTHER PEOPLE THAT THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. RESEARCH DONE ON THE INTERNET SHOWED THAT IT IS A W…
Read full complaint
WE OWN A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 AND THE DASHBOARD HAS SEVERE CRACKED. THIS WAS NOT CAUSED BY ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE DONE, AND WE COULD NNOT AFFORD AND DO NOT FEEL THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED. WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED FROM OTHER PEOPLE THAT THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. RESEARCH DONE ON THE INTERNET SHOWED THAT IT IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM.*AK
OIL PAN WAS REPLACED DUE TO RUST. COVERED BY WARRANTY, WITH $100 DEDUCTIBLE. APPARENTLY CHRYSLER CAN'T BUILD A PAN THAT WILL LAST A FULL FIVE YEARS. ALSO, ON THIRD SET OF BRAKES AT 81K MILES. APPARENTLY, AS SOON AS I TRADED MY TOYOTA, I STARTED DRIVING LIKE AN OLD LADY. EITHER THAT, OR THE BRAKES ON THE TRUCK ARE SUBSTANDAR…
Read full complaint
OIL PAN WAS REPLACED DUE TO RUST. COVERED BY WARRANTY, WITH $100 DEDUCTIBLE. APPARENTLY CHRYSLER CAN'T BUILD A PAN THAT WILL LAST A FULL FIVE YEARS. ALSO, ON THIRD SET OF BRAKES AT 81K MILES. APPARENTLY, AS SOON AS I TRADED MY TOYOTA, I STARTED DRIVING LIKE AN OLD LADY. EITHER THAT, OR THE BRAKES ON THE TRUCK ARE SUBSTANDARD. EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE BROKE IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR. ETC..........
2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB (NEW BODY STYLE) DEVELOPED LARGE CRACKS IN THE DASH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS OR BEEN TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. VEHICLE HAS 38,000 MILES AND IS ONLY DRIVEN THREE TIME A WEEK FOR 15 MILES. *TR
2002 DODGE RAM 1500 VERY WELL KEPT AND CLEAN, DASH HAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES AND IS NOW SEPERATING AND IS VERY NEAR AIRBAG ON PASSENGER SIDE! I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SAFE ANYMORE! THE AIRBAD MY BE DEPLOYED AND HURT SOMEONE! I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS SITUATION AND ALSO OWN ANOTHER DODGE (MAGNUM) BUT WILL GLADLY SW…
Read full complaint
2002 DODGE RAM 1500 VERY WELL KEPT AND CLEAN, DASH HAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES AND IS NOW SEPERATING AND IS VERY NEAR AIRBAG ON PASSENGER SIDE! I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SAFE ANYMORE! THE AIRBAD MY BE DEPLOYED AND HURT SOMEONE! I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS SITUATION AND ALSO OWN ANOTHER DODGE (MAGNUM) BUT WILL GLADLY SWITCH TO ANOTHER MANUFACTURER IF THIS ISN'T LOOKED INTO AND SOMETHING DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM!! THERE ARE MANY OF THESE CRACKED DASHES OUT THERE NOW AND DODGE IS LOOKING AT MANY UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS AND MUST DEAL WITH THIS AND SOON!!!!
DASHBOARD FAILURE IN 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. *AK
I OWN A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. APPARANTLY, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT HAS CRACKS ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS IS NOT A RECALLED ITEM, BUT WITH AS MANY COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE SEEN ON LINE, IT IS A PROBLEM THAT CAN BECOME SERIOUS AND DESTROY OTHER PARTS UNDERNEATH.*AK
DODGE RAM 1500 DASHBOARD - FIRST BEGAN CRACKING IN 2006. DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF PROBLEM AND REFUESED TO DO ANYTHING. IN SEPT EMBER 2006 THE DASHBOARD COMPLETELY CRACKED INTO 3 PIECES. AGAIN TOLD ME IT WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBLILITY. THE ENTIRE MIDDLE SECTION OF THE DASHBOARD WAS LOOSE AND VIBRATED. AFTER SEEING RECENT N…
Read full complaint
DODGE RAM 1500 DASHBOARD - FIRST BEGAN CRACKING IN 2006. DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF PROBLEM AND REFUESED TO DO ANYTHING. IN SEPT EMBER 2006 THE DASHBOARD COMPLETELY CRACKED INTO 3 PIECES. AGAIN TOLD ME IT WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBLILITY. THE ENTIRE MIDDLE SECTION OF THE DASHBOARD WAS LOOSE AND VIBRATED. AFTER SEEING RECENT NEWS STORIES ON THIS I REALIZED THAT WAS NOT THE ONLY 'VICTIM. THE DEALER MAD ME FEEL LIKE I HAD DONE SOMETHING WRONG AND WAS RESPONSIBLE. THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY DODGE - AT DODGE'S EXPENSE.*AK
THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKS THAT DEVELOPED OVER TIME. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY DAMAGE OR ACTION TAKEN TO CAUSE THE CRACKS.*AK
CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW THE DEFOGGER TO DIRECT TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD TO ENABLE THE CLEARING OF THE WINDSHIELD. *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.