Illustration2002 DODGE RAM 1500, DASH CRACKING. THIS TRUCK STAYS COVERED UP IN THE DRIVEWAY MOST OF THE TIME. 81K MILES ON THE TRUCK. I BELEIVE THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *TR
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
Structure complaints
278 reportsDASHBOARD CRACKING ACROSS TOP. *TR
SIGNIFICANT CRACKS IN BOTH PRIMARY DASH AND AUXILIARY DASH SECTION BETWEEN DASH AND WINDSHIELD. EXISTING CRACKS GROWING/OPENING AND NEW ONES DEVELOPING. STARTING TO EXPERIENCE UNEXPLAINABLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES, LIKE POWER WINDOWS, AND DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING ON OCCASION. DEALER QUOTED REPLACEMENT COST IS OUTRAGEOUS. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE FRONT PART OF THE DASH NEXT TO THE WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED,BROKEN ETC. I HEARD THAT THEY ARE A LOT OF THESE DASHES LIKE MINE. I THINK THEY NEED TO RECALL THE ITEM OR FIX IT AT COMPANY COST NOT BY THE CONSUMER. *KB
2002 DODGE RAM 1500 CRACKED DASHBOARD OVER AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE . THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TOO MANY DODGE RAM PICKUPS FROM THE 1993 MODEL YEAR THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR. THE EDGE OF THE CRACKED PLASTIC IS SHARP AND POSE A SERIOUS INJURY PROBABILITY IN THE EVENT OF ACCIDENT AND AIRBAG INFLATION. A PERSON CAN EAS…
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2002 DODGE RAM 1500 CRACKED DASHBOARD OVER AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE . THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TOO MANY DODGE RAM PICKUPS FROM THE 1993 MODEL YEAR THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR. THE EDGE OF THE CRACKED PLASTIC IS SHARP AND POSE A SERIOUS INJURY PROBABILITY IN THE EVENT OF ACCIDENT AND AIRBAG INFLATION. A PERSON CAN EASILY CUT THEIR FINGER OR HAND WHILE CLEANING THE DASH ARE SERVICING THE VEHICLE. *KB
2002 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCK. DASHBOARD BEGAN CRACKING AND NOW HAS TOTALLY CRACKED AND PARTS HAVE FALLEN INTO THE DEFROST/AIR UNIT AS WELL AS CAUSING SHARP EDGES THAT CAN CAUSE INJURY. AFRAID THAT IF AIRBAG DEPLOYS THIS WILL CAUSE JAGGED EDGES OF PLASTIC TO BE PROPELLED TO DRIVER OR PASSENGER, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY, IN ADDI…
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2002 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCK. DASHBOARD BEGAN CRACKING AND NOW HAS TOTALLY CRACKED AND PARTS HAVE FALLEN INTO THE DEFROST/AIR UNIT AS WELL AS CAUSING SHARP EDGES THAT CAN CAUSE INJURY. AFRAID THAT IF AIRBAG DEPLOYS THIS WILL CAUSE JAGGED EDGES OF PLASTIC TO BE PROPELLED TO DRIVER OR PASSENGER, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY, IN ADDITION TO THE DAMAGE OF THE A/C AND DEFROST. THERE HAVE BEEN TEN OF THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND DODGE REFUSES TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT ON THEIR TRUCKS FROM 1995-2006. *KB
2002 DODGE RAM 1500 DASHBOARD STARTED CRUMBLING TO PIECES AFTER ONLY 3 YEARS. DODGE DEALER TOLD US IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD AT OUR OWN EXPENSE. THE DEALER EVEN TOLD US THIS WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT FROM DODGE TRUCK OWNERS. *KB
BIG CRACKS IN THE DASH OF MY 2002 DODGE RAM TRUCK. *KB
2002 DODGE RAM 1500 5.9L SPORT. I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS SPECIAL ORDER TRUCK AND NOW THE DASH IS CRACKING ALL OVER????? NEVER HAD A NEW VEHICLE DO THIS IN ALL MY 54 YEARS. I LIVE IN TEXAS AND I KNOW IT IS HOT,BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE CRACKING LIKE IT IS,NONE OF MY OTHER CARS OR TRUCKS ARE CRACKING AT ALL, I TAKE GOOD CARE OF AL…
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2002 DODGE RAM 1500 5.9L SPORT. I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS SPECIAL ORDER TRUCK AND NOW THE DASH IS CRACKING ALL OVER????? NEVER HAD A NEW VEHICLE DO THIS IN ALL MY 54 YEARS. I LIVE IN TEXAS AND I KNOW IT IS HOT,BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE CRACKING LIKE IT IS,NONE OF MY OTHER CARS OR TRUCKS ARE CRACKING AT ALL, I TAKE GOOD CARE OF ALL MY VEHICLES SO WHY IS THE DODGE THE ONLY ONE CRACKING?I THINK IT SHOULD BE RECALLED TO GET THIS FIXED!! *KB
I HAVE A 2002 DODGE PICKUP WITH A CRACKED DASH. I HAD TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE AND WHEN THE DASH WAS REMOVED I NOTICED CRACKS ALL IN THE DASH. WHILE REMOVING THE DASH I AND MY HELPER BOTH SUSTAINED SEVERE CUTS FROM VERY SHARP EDGES OF THE BROKEN DASH. THIS PROMPTED ME TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE OF THE NATURE AND SHAPE O…
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I HAVE A 2002 DODGE PICKUP WITH A CRACKED DASH. I HAD TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE AND WHEN THE DASH WAS REMOVED I NOTICED CRACKS ALL IN THE DASH. WHILE REMOVING THE DASH I AND MY HELPER BOTH SUSTAINED SEVERE CUTS FROM VERY SHARP EDGES OF THE BROKEN DASH. THIS PROMPTED ME TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE OF THE NATURE AND SHAPE OF THE CRACKS CAN CAUSE SEVERE INJURY OR EVEN DEATH TO OCCUPANTS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN,IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH AS WELL AS CUTS AND ABRASIONS WHEN SIMPLY ENTERING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE. *TR
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.