IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
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 reportsTHE VEHICLES DASHBOARD IS FALLING APART, CRACKING UP LIKE THIN POTATO CHIPS. NO ABUSE TO THE VEHICLE OF ANY KIND. IT IS JUST CRACKING UP FROM POOR LOUSY PLASTIC THAT CAN'T HANDLE WEATHER CONDITIONS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. DODGE/CHRYSLER/FIAT SHOULD RECALL THE VEHICLE FOR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT WHICH IS THE DASHBOARD PLASTICS. THIS IS…
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THE VEHICLES DASHBOARD IS FALLING APART, CRACKING UP LIKE THIN POTATO CHIPS. NO ABUSE TO THE VEHICLE OF ANY KIND. IT IS JUST CRACKING UP FROM POOR LOUSY PLASTIC THAT CAN'T HANDLE WEATHER CONDITIONS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. DODGE/CHRYSLER/FIAT SHOULD RECALL THE VEHICLE FOR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT WHICH IS THE DASHBOARD PLASTICS. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS MOST OF THERE TRUCKS DOING THIS EXACT SAME THING. *TR
THE DASHBOARD HAS DEVELOPED LARGE CRACKS. IT IS DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING AND COULD POSSIBLE BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I ALSO ALMOST CUT MY HAND WHEN APPLYING INTERIOR CLEANER/SHINE THIS PAST SATURDAY. I KNOW I NEED TO BE CAREFUL BUT IT IS PRETTY RIDICULOUS FOR THIS TO BE CRACKED SO BAD. DODGE NEEDS TO STEP UP AND AT LEAST OFFER STEEP …
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THE DASHBOARD HAS DEVELOPED LARGE CRACKS. IT IS DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING AND COULD POSSIBLE BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I ALSO ALMOST CUT MY HAND WHEN APPLYING INTERIOR CLEANER/SHINE THIS PAST SATURDAY. I KNOW I NEED TO BE CAREFUL BUT IT IS PRETTY RIDICULOUS FOR THIS TO BE CRACKED SO BAD. DODGE NEEDS TO STEP UP AND AT LEAST OFFER STEEP DISCOUNTS TO GET THIS FIXED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD DEVELOPED A LARGE FRACTURE, WHICH SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD DEVELOPED A LARGE FRACTURE, WHICH SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. ... UPDATED 02/28/13 *BF
DASH BOARD CRACKED AND FELL IN LEAVING SHARP PIECES OF PLASTIC ALL OVER DASH BOARD. PLASTIC HAS FALLEN INTO DEFROSTER VENTS. NOW NO HEAT ON LEFT SIDE OF TRUCK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.
DASH IS CONTINUOUSLY CRACKING AND FALLING APART. *TR
I WAS JUST DRIVING ALONG, CRACK MY DASH CRACKED FROM FRONT END TO ALMOST THE BACK. THE CRACK CAUSED ME TO JUMP SWERVE MY TRUCK ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DODGE HAS BEEN NO HELP AND MY DASH HAS DETERIORATED EVEN MORE EVER SINCE, I'M GETTING VERY WORRIED IT MIGHT AFFECT THE AIR BAGS AS ALL THE DASH PIECES FALL INTO THE RECESS WHE…
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I WAS JUST DRIVING ALONG, CRACK MY DASH CRACKED FROM FRONT END TO ALMOST THE BACK. THE CRACK CAUSED ME TO JUMP SWERVE MY TRUCK ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DODGE HAS BEEN NO HELP AND MY DASH HAS DETERIORATED EVEN MORE EVER SINCE, I'M GETTING VERY WORRIED IT MIGHT AFFECT THE AIR BAGS AS ALL THE DASH PIECES FALL INTO THE RECESS WHERE THE AIR BAGS ARE WHICH WOULD BE A BAD THING SHOULD THERE BE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
STARTING IN OCTOBER OF '08 I NOTICE A SMALL VERTICAL CRACK IN MY DASH ON THE TOP OF MY DASH BETWEEN THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND THE RADIO. SINCE THEN THE CRACK HAS GROWN AND THEN A PIECE BROKE OFF AND TOO MY SURPRISE IS VERY SHARP. *TR
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK (6-7 INCHES LONG) NEAR THE AIR BAG OF THE PASSENGER. I FEEL THIS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD CAUSE PARTICLES OF PLASTIC TO BE THROWN AT HIGH SPEEDS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS A USED RAM AND IT IS UNKNOWN IF THE CRACK WAS THERE P…
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THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK (6-7 INCHES LONG) NEAR THE AIR BAG OF THE PASSENGER. I FEEL THIS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD CAUSE PARTICLES OF PLASTIC TO BE THROWN AT HIGH SPEEDS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS A USED RAM AND IT IS UNKNOWN IF THE CRACK WAS THERE PRIOR TO PURCHASE OR NOT. BECAUSE OF THE SUMMER HEAT, THE VINYL EXPANDS WHICH CLOSES THE GAP AND NOW THE COLD WEATHER CONTRACTS IT AND REVEALS THE CRACK. THIS CONTINUOUS EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING COULD CAUSE, OVER TIME, THE VINYL TO BECOME WEAK AND BREAK DOWN FURTHER. *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.