IllustrationDASBHBOARD BEGAN CRACKING AT 103,000 MILES. WITHIN WEEKS AFTER INITIAL CRACK WAS NOTICED, THE CRACKS EXTEND FROM THE WINDSHIELD ALL THE WAY TO THE FRONT EDGE OF THE DASH. MULTIPLE CRACKS ARE RUNNING OVER THE TOP AND EDGE OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG, CAUSING SAFETY CONCERNS IF THE AIRBAG WAS TO BE DEPLOYED.
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
62 reports02 DODGE RAM 1500 DASH FALLING APART. SHORTED RADIAN WIRES AND RUBBING AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE CAUSING SIGNIFICANT POSSIBILITY FOR AIR BAG FAILURE. DODGE DEALER OFFERS NO RECALL OR RECOURSE OTHER THAN COSTLY REPAIR, ONLY TO REOCCUR. FEEL LIKE THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD IN MANY WAYS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO CRACK IN JANUARY OF 2008. BY JUNE OF 2008, THE PANEL HAD CRACKED INTO SMALL PIECES AND A PIECE FELL INTO THE AIR CONDITIONING MOTOR, WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM USING THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR F…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO CRACK IN JANUARY OF 2008. BY JUNE OF 2008, THE PANEL HAD CRACKED INTO SMALL PIECES AND A PIECE FELL INTO THE AIR CONDITIONING MOTOR, WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM USING THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE AND IS CHARGING $800. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH REFERENCE NUMBER 17583492 AND ADVISED HIM TO CHECK WITH THE DEALER. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR FREE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000. UPDATED 09/13/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/17/08. *JB
CRACKED DASHBOARD. *TR
2002 DODGE RAM 1500 CRACKED DASH FROM SUN. TRUCK'S INITIAL QUALITY WAS TERRIBLE AND THE DASH IS CRACKING DUE TO THE SUN. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A 5 YEAR OLD TRUCK THAT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND NEVER ABUSED.*CN
I HAVE AN 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 @ ABOUT 42,000 MILES THE DASH STARTED CRACKING NOW ITS ALL THE WAY CRACKED IN TWO PIECES. THE DEALER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I GOT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT IT IS NOT JUST MINE. THERE IS A LOT MORE. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE PLASTIC BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED IN SEVEN DIFFERENT AREAS. THE CRACKS HAVE BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE COURSE OF ONE YEAR. THERE ARE NO EXPOSED WIRES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY CAN REPAIR THE DASHBOARD AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CURRENT …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE PLASTIC BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED IN SEVEN DIFFERENT AREAS. THE CRACKS HAVE BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE COURSE OF ONE YEAR. THERE ARE NO EXPOSED WIRES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY CAN REPAIR THE DASHBOARD AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 70,100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAS SEVERAL CRACKS. THE CRACKS EXTEND FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE WINDSHIELD TO THE END OF THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 53,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB. THE OTHER DAY, I GOT INTO MY TRUCK AND NOTICED A SMALL CRACK IN THE CENTER OF THE DASH NEAR THE VENT. NEXT DAY, I GET IN AND THERE ARE 4 CRACKS. TODAY, MY DASH CRACKED OVER THE EDGE NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. AFTER GETTING ONLINE AND SEEING THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, I WOULD LI…
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I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB. THE OTHER DAY, I GOT INTO MY TRUCK AND NOTICED A SMALL CRACK IN THE CENTER OF THE DASH NEAR THE VENT. NEXT DAY, I GET IN AND THERE ARE 4 CRACKS. TODAY, MY DASH CRACKED OVER THE EDGE NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. AFTER GETTING ONLINE AND SEEING THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE (IE - FREE DASH REPLACEMENTS FROM DODGE). I HAVE HAD NO OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TRUCK BUT THIS IS A LITTLE RIDICULOUS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE REPLACED FOR FREE. THIS IS WHAT CHRYSLER/DODGE GETS FOR TRYING TO CHEAPEN THEIR MATERIALS IN ORDER TO SAVE A BUCK.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAS TWO CRACKS. THE CRACKS EXTEND FROM THE WINDSHIELD TO THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 48,085 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
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.