IllustrationDASH BOARD CRACKING ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 5.9. *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 reportsMY TRUCK IS 6 YEARS OLD I BOUGHT IN 2002 WITH 2 MILES ON IT. IT NOW HAS 100,000 MILES ON IT AND I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THE OTHER DAY AND PART OF DASH COLLAPSED IN ABOVE THE DRIVER SIDE STEERING WHEEL. I ALMOST WRECKED WHEN THAT HAPPENED. I CHECKED ONLINE AND NOTICED A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DASH CRACKING AND DODGE WAS NO…
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MY TRUCK IS 6 YEARS OLD I BOUGHT IN 2002 WITH 2 MILES ON IT. IT NOW HAS 100,000 MILES ON IT AND I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THE OTHER DAY AND PART OF DASH COLLAPSED IN ABOVE THE DRIVER SIDE STEERING WHEEL. I ALMOST WRECKED WHEN THAT HAPPENED. I CHECKED ONLINE AND NOTICED A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DASH CRACKING AND DODGE WAS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE DASH IS FALLING APART AND CHRYSLER OR THE NHTSA WON'T RECALL OR FIX THIS ISSUE. IT INVOLVES THE 98-2005 MODELS. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT GETTING ANY BETTER THROUGH THE YEARS. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED TO RESULT IN A RECALL? I AM GOING TO DO MY BEST TO GO NATIONAL WITH THIS I…
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I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE DASH IS FALLING APART AND CHRYSLER OR THE NHTSA WON'T RECALL OR FIX THIS ISSUE. IT INVOLVES THE 98-2005 MODELS. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT GETTING ANY BETTER THROUGH THE YEARS. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED TO RESULT IN A RECALL? I AM GOING TO DO MY BEST TO GO NATIONAL WITH THIS ISSUE TO GET RESULTS FROM CHRYSLER OR THE NHTSA. *TR
THE DASH BOARD ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM IS CRACKING AND IN DANGER OF COLLAPSING EXPOSING THE WIRING AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS REQUIRED FOR SAFE OPERATION. *TR
DASHBOARD HAS SO MANY CRACKS ITS A SAFETY ISSUE. 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. *TR
DASH IN 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB. *TR
THE DASHBOARD BEGAN CRACKING TWO YEARS AGO AND HAS CONTINUED TO DO SO. THERE ARE NOW SEVERAL LARGE CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD. *TR
MY DASH ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 IS CRACKED ALL TO PIECES. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLE AND THE DASH IS STILL CRACKING MORE EVERYDAY. THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO CHEAP PLASTIC BEING USED BY DODGE. I THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, BUT I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. DODGE DOESN'T SEEM TO T…
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MY DASH ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 IS CRACKED ALL TO PIECES. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLE AND THE DASH IS STILL CRACKING MORE EVERYDAY. THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO CHEAP PLASTIC BEING USED BY DODGE. I THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, BUT I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. DODGE DOESN'T SEEM TO THINK THAT IT IS THEIR FAULT, BUT WITH THE LARGE OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM IT HAS TO BE. *TR
AROUND THE MIDDLE OF APRIL I NOTICED A SMALL PATCH OF PAINT DISAPPEARING FROM THE ROOF OF MY TRUCK. OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS MOST OF THE PAINT ON MY ROOF AND OTHER PARTS OF THE TRUCK IS COMING OFF. *TR
WINDSHIELD FOGGING UP ON INSIDE DUE TO LEAKING HAND HOLDS. RESULTING IN VISUAL PROBLEMS ALONG WITH EXCESSIVE MOISTURE UNDER THE DASH PAD CAUSING CRACKING. ALONG WITH SAFETY CONCERNS WITH PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WORKING PROPERLY WHEN NEEDED AND ANY OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE MOISTURE. DODGE IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM…
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WINDSHIELD FOGGING UP ON INSIDE DUE TO LEAKING HAND HOLDS. RESULTING IN VISUAL PROBLEMS ALONG WITH EXCESSIVE MOISTURE UNDER THE DASH PAD CAUSING CRACKING. ALONG WITH SAFETY CONCERNS WITH PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WORKING PROPERLY WHEN NEEDED AND ANY OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE MOISTURE. DODGE IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT IT SUCH AS A RECALL. I FEEL THEY MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DEFECTS. *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.