MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 DASH BOARD HAS BEEN CRACKING AND STEADILY GETTING WORSE OVER THE PAST YEAR. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD ONLY PAY $500.00 TOWARDS A $1200.00 REPAIR. *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
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.
Structure complaints
278 reportsTHE DASH ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK IN CRACKING ON PASSENGER SIDE ABOVE THE AIR BAG. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DODGE TRUCKS BETWEEN 1998 AND 2006. *TR
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 HAS STARTED TO CRACK. THIS WILL ONLY GET WORSE AND WILL LEAD TO POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. DODGE HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS SINCE 2001 AND REFUSES TO CLASSIFY IT AS A SAFETY ISSUE AND REFUSES TO REPLACE THE ITEM. *TR
I OWN A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 AND I HAVE BEEN NOTICING THAT THE DASH HAS BEEN CRACKING AND THEN IT BEGAN TO CRACK MORE TO THE POINT OF HAVING NO DASH AT ALL. I DON'T THINK THIS IS JUST A COSMETIC DEFECT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IT DOESN'T TAKE A HOARD OF INSPECTORS TO SEE HOW THIS CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO OCCUPANTS IN THE TRUCK. LETS JUST…
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I OWN A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 AND I HAVE BEEN NOTICING THAT THE DASH HAS BEEN CRACKING AND THEN IT BEGAN TO CRACK MORE TO THE POINT OF HAVING NO DASH AT ALL. I DON'T THINK THIS IS JUST A COSMETIC DEFECT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IT DOESN'T TAKE A HOARD OF INSPECTORS TO SEE HOW THIS CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO OCCUPANTS IN THE TRUCK. LETS JUST FORGET ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE FOR A SECOND, AFTER BUYING A DODGE INTREPID AND HAVE THE MOTOR FAIL AT 60,000 AND I SAID " I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE", BUT I GAVE DODGE A SECOND CHANCE BECAUSE I LIKED THE LOOK OF THE TRUCK INSIDE AND OUT. WITH THAT SAID I DON'T MIND REPLACING THE CONTROL ARMS WHERE THE BALL JOINTS ARE WELDED IN, AT A COST OF 600.00 DOLLARS. WISH I WOULD HAVE LOOKED AT THAT TOO, BUT HAVING TO REPLACE THE DASH IS NOT JUSTIFIED AS AN EXPENSE THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR. IF I SOLD THIS TRUCK TO SOMEONE I KNOW THE FIRST THING THEY WOULD SAY, "THAT DOESN'T LOOK SAFE AND MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT ELSE IS UNSAFE WITH THE TRUCK." IT DOES MAKE YOU WONDER ABOUT THE REST OF THE TRUCK, DID THEY CUT CORNERS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE VEHICLE? LET ME ASK NHTSA WHEN YOU GET IN YOUR VEHICLE TO GO HOME AFTER WORK AND YOUR DASH STARTED CRACKING, TO THE POINT OF YOUR SPEAKERS FALLING OUT WHEN YOU HIT THE BRAKES WOULD YOU FEEL SAFE. THAT'S MY STORY AND I AM STICKING TO IT. *TR
THIS CONCERNS THE CRACKING OF THE DASHBOARD ON A DODGE RAM. IF CRACKED OR BROKEN ENOUGH, IT COULD CAUSE INJURY OR FIRE IF THE SUN WOULD GET TO THE WIRES IN THE DASH. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FILED ON DODGE RAMS FROM 1998-2005 FOR THE DASHBOARDS BEF…
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THIS CONCERNS THE CRACKING OF THE DASHBOARD ON A DODGE RAM. IF CRACKED OR BROKEN ENOUGH, IT COULD CAUSE INJURY OR FIRE IF THE SUN WOULD GET TO THE WIRES IN THE DASH. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FILED ON DODGE RAMS FROM 1998-2005 FOR THE DASHBOARDS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR
THE DASHBOARD OF MY TRUCK JUST STARTED CRACKING. I'M AFRAID THE DIRECT SUNLIGHT IS GOING TO DAMAGE OR SHORT THE WIRING. THE DAMAGE MAY CAUSE FAILURE OF COMPONENTS. ALSO IF ACCIDENT OCCURS PIECES OF THE DASH MAY END UP HITTING THE PERSONS INSIDE. *TR
THE DASHBOARD CRACKS BY ITSELF AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE DASHBOARD WILL JUST SPLIT. THE NOISE IS VERY LOUD AND STARTLING AND COULD CREATE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DISTRACTION WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, RESULTING IN NUMEROUS CRACKS IN MY DASHBOARD AND EXPOSING …
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THE DASHBOARD CRACKS BY ITSELF AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE DASHBOARD WILL JUST SPLIT. THE NOISE IS VERY LOUD AND STARTLING AND COULD CREATE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DISTRACTION WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, RESULTING IN NUMEROUS CRACKS IN MY DASHBOARD AND EXPOSING THE COMPONENTS INSIDE MY DASHBOARD TO THE HEAT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT COMING THROUGH MY WINDSHIELD. *TR
2002 DODGE RAM 1500-DASH BOARD CRACKS IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS. SEAT BELT LATCH COVERS DISINTEGRATED. *TR
THE DASH ON MY 2002 DODGE 1500 STARTED OFF WITH A SMALL CRACK ACROSS THE DEFROST VENT. WITHIN A FEW DAYS THERE WAS ANOTHER CRACK ON THE ADJACENT VENT. IN LESS THAN A MONTH, MY ENTIRE DASH HAD VERY LARGE CRACKS ALL OVER IT. *TR
I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT THE DASHES THAT ARE IN DODGE RAMS? YOU CAN BROWSE THE WEB, AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE, BUT ALL THE DASHES IN DODGE RAMS FROM 00' UP TO 02' ARE CRACKING, AND DODGE REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT... HERE RECENTLY, THEY RELEASED A RECALL FOR STEERING WHEEL COLUMNS, BUT STILL NOT EVEN THE SLI…
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I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT THE DASHES THAT ARE IN DODGE RAMS? YOU CAN BROWSE THE WEB, AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE, BUT ALL THE DASHES IN DODGE RAMS FROM 00' UP TO 02' ARE CRACKING, AND DODGE REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT... HERE RECENTLY, THEY RELEASED A RECALL FOR STEERING WHEEL COLUMNS, BUT STILL NOT EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BUDGE AS TO A DASH RECALL. IT IS HAPPENING IN DODGE RAMS ALL ACROSS THE U.S. PROVING THAT IT IS NOT JUST THE SOUTHERN HEAT THAT IS CAUSING THIS, BUT RATHER A DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL. THE DASHES CRACK WITHOUT THE SLIGHTEST SIGN OF SUN DAMAGES, SPOTS, OR FADING... PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS... THE DASH ALSO COVERS MAJOR WIRES THAT ARE THE KEY FOR THE VEHICLE, AND IF THEY MELT OR GET WET, IT COULD CAUSE MAJOR MALFUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES. *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.
Illustration