Illustration2002 DODGE RAM DASH PANEL FALLING APART , THE AIR BAG WILL EVENTUALLY BE AFFECTED. *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 reports2002 DODGE RAM 1500 PICK-UP TRUCK HAS HUGE CRACKS AND HOLES IN DASHBOARD. THE SUNLIGHT AND HEAT DIRECTLY HITTING WIRES AND OTHER COMPONENTS AS A RESULT OF THE CRACKS AND HOLES IS A SAFETY HAZARD. DODGE SHOULD RECALL ALL MODELS/YEARS EFFECTED WITH THESE DEFECTIVE DASHBOARDS. *TR
2002 DODGE RAM 1500 DASHBOARD CRACKING AT 85,000 MILES AND IT WILL NOT STOP LOOKS LIKE IT WILL CONTINUE TO CRACK TILL IT IS COMPLETELY GONE. *TR
DASH HAS STARTED CRACKING AND FALLING APART IN PLACES. IM AFRAID THAT IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IS GOING TO SEND PLASTIC SHARDS THROUGHOUT MY TRUCK DOING MORE HARM THAT GOOD. DODGE SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMETHING COMES FROM IT. IS IT GOING TO TAKE A LAWSUIT TO GET THIS NOTICED. HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAK…
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DASH HAS STARTED CRACKING AND FALLING APART IN PLACES. IM AFRAID THAT IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IS GOING TO SEND PLASTIC SHARDS THROUGHOUT MY TRUCK DOING MORE HARM THAT GOOD. DODGE SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMETHING COMES FROM IT. IS IT GOING TO TAKE A LAWSUIT TO GET THIS NOTICED. HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING IF I GET INTO A WRECK AND MY SON DIES FROM A PIECE OF PLASTIC THROWN ACROSS THE CAR, NO AMOUNT OF MONEY WILL EVER FIX THAT PROBLEM. HAVE ALREADY ASKED DODGE ABOUT THIS AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS AND BLAME IT ON THE OWNERS LACK OF CARE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
DASH BOARD COMPLETELY CRACKED TO PIECES AND I AM CONCERNED IT WILL NOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE ANY MORE. ALL IT WAS CAUSED BY WAS HEATING AND COOLING THROUGH OUT THE YEAR. THERE IS LIKE NO INSULATION IN THE DASH. I KNOW OF TRUCKS THAT WERE ONE YEAR OLD AND THERE DASH CRACKED. THE ENTIRE DASH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WILL BE A NA…
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DASH BOARD COMPLETELY CRACKED TO PIECES AND I AM CONCERNED IT WILL NOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE ANY MORE. ALL IT WAS CAUSED BY WAS HEATING AND COOLING THROUGH OUT THE YEAR. THERE IS LIKE NO INSULATION IN THE DASH. I KNOW OF TRUCKS THAT WERE ONE YEAR OLD AND THERE DASH CRACKED. THE ENTIRE DASH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WILL BE A NATION WIDE CAMPAIGN. *TR
MY DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK IS A 2002 MODEL. THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING SO BADLY THAT LARGE PIECES ARE FALLING DOWN INTO THE ELECTRICAL SECTION. IT GETS WORSE DAILY AND I'M AFRAID OF A FIRE. *TR
THE DASH HAS BEGUN CRACKING. LITTLE PIECES ARE FALLING DOWN INTO THE DASH THE LOWER DASH AND INTO AIR VENTS. THESE ARE NOT SMALL MINOR CRACK, THEY ARE LARGE CRACKS THAT COVER THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH DODGE RAM DASHBOARDS FOR YEARS. *TR
DASH IS CRACKING, ONE DEFROSTER VENT SCREEN HAS BROKEN OFF AND FALLEN INTO DEFROST VENT DUE TO BECOMING BRITTLE, ADDITIONAL CRACKS ARE BECOMING MORE EVIDENT AS THE DAYS GO BY. *TR
MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 HAS CRACKED DASH AND IT IS VERY BRITTLE. WHILE RESEARCHING ONLINE I FOUND HUNDREDS MORE WITH SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS COULD CAUSE AN AIRBAG MALFUNCTION OR IF THE AIRBAG DOES WORK IT WOULD THROW PIECES OF THE DASH INTO THE PERSON CAUSING MAJOR INJURES TO THAT PERSON. I BELIEVE THAT DODGE SHOULD LOOK I…
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MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 HAS CRACKED DASH AND IT IS VERY BRITTLE. WHILE RESEARCHING ONLINE I FOUND HUNDREDS MORE WITH SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS COULD CAUSE AN AIRBAG MALFUNCTION OR IF THE AIRBAG DOES WORK IT WOULD THROW PIECES OF THE DASH INTO THE PERSON CAUSING MAJOR INJURES TO THAT PERSON. I BELIEVE THAT DODGE SHOULD LOOK IN TO THIS. THEY SHOULD RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR
PURCHASED VEHICLE USED IN 2006 WITH 34,000 MILES. IN JUNE OF 2008 I NOTICED A CRACK APPROX. 2" LONG IN THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE STARTING IN THE TRAY, VEHICLE HAD APPROX. 53,000 MILES ON IT. BY SEPTEMBER OF 2008 THE ONE CRACK DEVELOPED INTO 3 CRACKS WITH 1 SPANNING THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE DASH ALONG THE CENTERLINE OF…
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PURCHASED VEHICLE USED IN 2006 WITH 34,000 MILES. IN JUNE OF 2008 I NOTICED A CRACK APPROX. 2" LONG IN THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE STARTING IN THE TRAY, VEHICLE HAD APPROX. 53,000 MILES ON IT. BY SEPTEMBER OF 2008 THE ONE CRACK DEVELOPED INTO 3 CRACKS WITH 1 SPANNING THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE DASH ALONG THE CENTERLINE OF THE VEHICLE. NOW IN MARCH OF 2009 WITH 69,000 MILE, THERE ARE 5 CRACKS TOTAL AND THE DASHBOARD IS SAGGING AND THE DEFROSTER VENTS ARE STARTING TO CRACK APART. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN A ACCIDENT, THE ONLY PROTECTANT USED ON THE DASH WAS RECOMMENDED AND PURCHASED AT THE DODGE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. *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.