IllustrationCOMPLETE FAILURE OF DODGE RAM 2002 PU DASH. THE DASH HAS CRACKED IN MULTIPLE PLACES (MORE THAN 20) AND HAS DISINTEGRATED. THE TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN PARKED IN EXCESSIVELY HOT OR DRY CLIMATES. *TR
2002 Dodge RAM Quad Cab
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM Quad Cab 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
340–25K
2925–50K
3950–75K
3375–100K
13100–150K
8150K+
156 reports with mileage · 50 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 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports4 fire reports8 injury reports
Structure complaints
68 reports2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB. THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DEVELOPED A TOTAL OF FOUR SEPERATE CRACKS WITHIN A 6 WEEK TIME FRAME. THE CRACKS RUN FROM THE WINDSHIELD IN THE TOP SECTION DOWN INTO THE SECTION THAT CONTAINS THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. 3 OF THE CRACKS ARE IN THE TOP SECTION WHILE THE FOURTH ONE IS IN THE AIRBAG SECTI…
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2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB. THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DEVELOPED A TOTAL OF FOUR SEPERATE CRACKS WITHIN A 6 WEEK TIME FRAME. THE CRACKS RUN FROM THE WINDSHIELD IN THE TOP SECTION DOWN INTO THE SECTION THAT CONTAINS THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. 3 OF THE CRACKS ARE IN THE TOP SECTION WHILE THE FOURTH ONE IS IN THE AIRBAG SECTION OF THE DASH. *TR
DASHBOARD IS CRACKING IN SEVERAL PLACES FROM FRONT TO BACK FOR UNKNOWN REASON. NO CHEMICALS USED ON DASH. BELIEVE THIS MAY CAUSE PASS. SIDE AIRBAG FROM DEPLOYING OR MAY CAUSE PIECES OF THE DASH TO TURN INTO PROJECTILES IF AIRBAG DEPLOYS. *TR
PURCHASED 2002 DODGE RAM USED. AT FIRST SERVICE INTERVAL, RACK AND PINION BOOTS WERE LEAKING, MAIN SEAL WAS SHOT. ALSO HAD MANIFOLD LEAK, ALONG WITH A STEERING PROBLEM THAT CAUSES SHAKING AT 40 MPH. STEERING PROBLEM STILL REMAINS, AND THERE IS A LOUD RATTLE THAT THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE, …
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PURCHASED 2002 DODGE RAM USED. AT FIRST SERVICE INTERVAL, RACK AND PINION BOOTS WERE LEAKING, MAIN SEAL WAS SHOT. ALSO HAD MANIFOLD LEAK, ALONG WITH A STEERING PROBLEM THAT CAUSES SHAKING AT 40 MPH. STEERING PROBLEM STILL REMAINS, AND THERE IS A LOUD RATTLE THAT THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE, MOST RECENTLY, MY FUEL PUMP DECIDED TO QUIT WORKING. ALSO, THE INTERIOR TRIM, NAMELY THE HAND GRIPS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES, DUE TO THE CHEAP PLASTIC THAT IS USED AS A HOLDING RING. DO NOT PURCHASE THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT HEADACHES WITH THE TRUCK, FROM THE SIMPLE THINGS, TO THE EXPENSIVE THINGS...WAS JUST TOLD THAT MY HEAD GASKETS ARE SHOT AS WELL, HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS ON THIS TRUCK, WITH NO RETURNS, DO NOT GET THIS YEAR/MODEL OF RAM 1500. *JB
THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 HAS SEVERAL LARGE CRACKS AND PARTS ARE STARTING TO BRAKE AWAY. I FEEL THAT THIS COULD CAUSE HARM TO ME OR MY PASSENGERS IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I FEEL THAT IT IS VERY UNSAFE DUE TO SHARP HARD PLASTIC PARTS OF THE DASH THAT COULD DO SERIOUS HARM. I ALSO FEEL THAT THIS COULD AFFECT THE D…
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THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 HAS SEVERAL LARGE CRACKS AND PARTS ARE STARTING TO BRAKE AWAY. I FEEL THAT THIS COULD CAUSE HARM TO ME OR MY PASSENGERS IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I FEEL THAT IT IS VERY UNSAFE DUE TO SHARP HARD PLASTIC PARTS OF THE DASH THAT COULD DO SERIOUS HARM. I ALSO FEEL THAT THIS COULD AFFECT THE DEFROST DUCT AND CAUSE THE DEFROSTER TO NOT WORK PROPERLY. *TR
THE MAIN DASH IN MY 2002 DODGE RAM IS CRACKED JUST ABOVE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. HEARD THAT OTHER DODGE OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND GOT IT FIXED UNDER WARRANTY FROM THE DEALERSHIP. *JB
DASHBOARD IS CRACKING AND FALLING IN EXPOSING ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO SUNLIGHT AND INTENSE HEAT. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE AS TIME GOES ON. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB TRUCK. THE DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO. THERE ARE FIVE CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD NOW. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER, I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL OTHER DODGE RAM OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
THE DASHBOARD ON THE V 2002 DODGE RAM WAS BEGINNING TO CRACK. THE CRACK STARTED OFF VERY SMALL, AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS, IT SPREAD ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE DASHBOARD. *AK
I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM THAT HAS 5 CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD. 4 OF THE CRACKS GO FROM THE WINDOW TO THE DEFROSTER VENTS ,AND ONE GOES FROM THE SIDE DEFROSTER VENT TO THE GLOVE BOX. AT THIS TIME THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS OR RECALLS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.*AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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.