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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

206 reports
88,470 miles · Oct 21, 2010
SteeringStructureSuspension

I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB 4X4, VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND WAS NEVER ABUSED. ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO I NOTICED A CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WITHIN SEVERAL MONTHS ONE CRACK HAD GROWN TO 6 CRACKS. THEN ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO THE AIR WOULD NOT FLOW THROUGH THE DASH VENTS ANYMORE. IN ORDER TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM …

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I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB 4X4, VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND WAS NEVER ABUSED. ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO I NOTICED A CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WITHIN SEVERAL MONTHS ONE CRACK HAD GROWN TO 6 CRACKS. THEN ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO THE AIR WOULD NOT FLOW THROUGH THE DASH VENTS ANYMORE. IN ORDER TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM I HAD TO REMOVE THE DASH BOARD TO GET THE HEAT AND AIR SYSTEM. WHEN I REMOVED THE DASH BOARD IT CRUMBLED INTO ABOUT 20 PCS. UPON INSPECTION OF THE AIR PROBLEM I FOUND OUT THE BLEND DOOR THAT CONTROLS THE AIR TO THE DASH WAS BROKEN. SEEMS THIS IS A PROBLEM. I AM NOW HAVING TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD, FRONT AND REAR PC AND THE 4 BLEND DOORS IN THE AIR SYSTEM. WHILE REPLACING THE SHOCKS I NOTICED THE RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING EXTREMELY BAD WHICH HAS NEVER LEAKED BEFORE. NO NOISE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, NO WARNING LIGHT TO ADVISE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10361536

45,000 miles · Sep 24, 2010
Structure

2002 DODGE RAM QUADCAB PU- DASHBOARD FALLING APART. NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO IT EXCEPT FOR DAILY USE. IT IS CRUMBLING AS I TYPE. PIECES COULD LODGE IN DEFROSTER TO CAUSE FAILURE. SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY CONCERN TO ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10357357

78,000 miles · Aug 28, 2010
Structure

DASH CRACKING AND COLLAPSED IN 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 CREW CAB TRUCK. THE DAMAGE CONTINUES TO GET WORSE AND NOW MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS IN JEOPARDY, ALONG WITH MY LACK OF PROTECTION THAT IS PROVIDED BY A SOLID DASH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10352467

84,000 miles · Aug 27, 2010
StructureVisibility

2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB PU. CRACKED DASHBOARD. SHARP EDGES COULD BE A SERIOUS ISSUE. ALSO, THE SUN VISORS FALL DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING TEMPORARY LIMITED VISIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10352324

85,000 miles · Aug 23, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVisibility

2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB HAS A SURGING PROBLEM AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND IT IS READ AS TRANSMISSION FLUID PRESSURE SENSOR. THIS WAS REPLACED WITH A FACTORY SENSOR AND WITHIN 2 WEEKS IT DID IT AGAIN. AFTER 200 MILES THE LIGHT WENT OUT AND THE SURGING STOPPED ONLY TO START AND STOP REPEATEDLY UP…

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2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB HAS A SURGING PROBLEM AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND IT IS READ AS TRANSMISSION FLUID PRESSURE SENSOR. THIS WAS REPLACED WITH A FACTORY SENSOR AND WITHIN 2 WEEKS IT DID IT AGAIN. AFTER 200 MILES THE LIGHT WENT OUT AND THE SURGING STOPPED ONLY TO START AND STOP REPEATEDLY UP TO THIS DATE, 8/23/2010. HOW CAN A SENSOR REPAIR ITSELF? IMPOSSIBLE! MILEAGE AT FIRST CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS LESS THAN 100,000. ALSO DASH IS CRACKED TO A COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL FOR THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND MILEAGE ON DASH AT 138,000 WITH CARE TAKEN TO KEEP IT CLEAN AND CONDITIONED. CRACKS BEGAN AT 85,000 MILES. WIPERS WHEN OPERATING ON HIGH WILL LOWER SPEED AND WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE FROM HIGH TO LOW INTERMITTENTLY UNLESS THEY ARE TURNED OFF AND TURNED BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES. DO NOT CONSIDER THIS SAFE IN ANY WAY. INTERMITTENT WIPER USE WITH DELAY FEATURE SEEMS TO BE COMPLETELY OKAY. AIR CONDITIONER WILL ONLY BLOW COLD AIR ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND BLOWS WARM AIR ON PASSENGER SIDE. AFTER 45 MINUTES OF A/C USE, ROARING SOUND ISSUES FROM THE VENTS AND A GRADUAL DECREASE IN ALL AIR BEGINS UNTIL ONLY WISPS OF AIR ESCAPES FROM DRIVER SIDE VENTS.

NHTSA ODI #10351382

89,000 miles · Jul 13, 2010
Structure

2002 DODGE QUAD CAB 1500 THE DASH IS FALLING APART. IT HAS SEVERAL CRACKS AND THE VENTS GRATES ARE FALLING CREATING JAGGED EDGES WHICH COULD EFFECT AIR BAG SAFETY AND POTENTIAL WIRING DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343009

107,000 miles · Jul 3, 2010
Structure

THE DASH ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 IS CRACKING AND FALLING APART. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IF THE TRUCK IS IN AN ACCIDENT, SHARP PIECES OF PLASTIC COULD INJURY PEOPLE IN THE TRUCK AND INTERFERE WITH THE AIRBAGS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER REPORTS JUST LIKE MINE ON THE INTERNET BUT DODGE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BUT …

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THE DASH ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 IS CRACKING AND FALLING APART. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IF THE TRUCK IS IN AN ACCIDENT, SHARP PIECES OF PLASTIC COULD INJURY PEOPLE IN THE TRUCK AND INTERFERE WITH THE AIRBAGS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER REPORTS JUST LIKE MINE ON THE INTERNET BUT DODGE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BUT CHARGE THE CUSTOMER APPROXIMATELY $800.00 TO REPLACE IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10341330

48,000 miles · Jun 29, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility

TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS WERE GOING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHETHER THE LIGHT SWITCH WAS ON OF OFF AND THE KEY WAS IN THE RUN POSITION (STARTED OR NOT) AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD TURN OFF WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I ABOUT HAD A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT WHEN I FOUND OUT THE WIPERS QUIT WORKING, IMAGINE THAT! …

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TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS WERE GOING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHETHER THE LIGHT SWITCH WAS ON OF OFF AND THE KEY WAS IN THE RUN POSITION (STARTED OR NOT) AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD TURN OFF WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I ABOUT HAD A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT WHEN I FOUND OUT THE WIPERS QUIT WORKING, IMAGINE THAT! TOOK MY 2002 DODGE RAM 4X4, 3.7L QUAD CAB SPORT TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE PDC (POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER (FUSE BOX)) THAT THEY ARE PRONE TO CORROSION AND THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY OF THEM. WHY NO RECALL WHEN MANY LIVES ARE AT STAKE HERE AND SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THESE FOUND? COULD HAVE BEEN ME, AND I HAVE 3 CHILDREN THAT DEPEND ON ME, SO CHRYSLER OWN UP TO IT AND DO THE RIGHT THING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10340679

54,000 miles · Jun 28, 2010
Structure

2002 DODGE RAM 1500 . CRACKED DASHBOARD . DASH IS CRACKING SO BAD THAT IT IS STARTING TO GET HOLES . FALLING PLASTIC WITH JAGGED EDGES . EXPOSING WIRES THAT COULD POSSIBLE CAUSE SHORTS OR FIRES . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10340337

150,241 miles · Jun 5, 2010
Structure

I OWN A '02 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB. DASH IS CRACKING WHILE DRIVING, ONCE I HIT A POT HOLE, A PIECE FLEW OFF AND HIT ME IN THE FACE. I WAS LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS TRAVELING FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION. I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A HEAD ON COLLISION BECAUSE I JERK THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT WHEN THE PIECE HIT ME UNDER MY RIGHT EYE. I AM CONCER…

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I OWN A '02 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB. DASH IS CRACKING WHILE DRIVING, ONCE I HIT A POT HOLE, A PIECE FLEW OFF AND HIT ME IN THE FACE. I WAS LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS TRAVELING FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION. I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A HEAD ON COLLISION BECAUSE I JERK THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT WHEN THE PIECE HIT ME UNDER MY RIGHT EYE. I AM CONCERN THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAN A COSMETIC PROBLEM. I BOUGHT A DASH COVER SO I WOULD NOT GET HIT AGAIN, BUT THE WEIGHT SEEMS TO HAVE ACCELERATED THE CRACKING. THE DASH PART COST OVER $700 AND IS MADE OF THE SAME MATERIAL AND THE PROCESS WILL REPEAT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE!! PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM, THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10334715

Official recalls

0

No 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

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.