CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2002 has the well-known and documented problem with their dashboards falling to pieces, but it also has engine failure from oil sludge. That's a doube shot of awful in your morning coffee.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
12 / 0
Average Mileage:
63,451 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Dodge Ram 1500 body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2002 Dodge Ram 1500 Owner Comments (Page 7 of 13)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #121

Jan 232010

Ram 1500 8-cyl

  • 73,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Originally with no warning the truck would just die at intersections. Now it is starting to die when driving, even while turning. My teenage son usually drives this truck and I am truly afraid he is going to get in an accident. With the vehicle only having only 73,000 miles on it, I would not expect such a dangerous thing to happen. I have seen many posts from others indicating the same thing happening to them. I think Chrysler should be fixing these before someone dies. Also have the cracked dash.

- Hooper, UT, USA

problem #120

Jan 012008

Ram 1500

  • 85,000 miles
Dashboard cracking on 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. Vent and speaker cover began cracking two years ago. The full dash panel began cracking shortly after. Dash is becoming worse and worse. I believe that the pieces of the dash could cause injury in an accident. Also the structural integrity of the dash is becoming compromised and may be a hazard.

- Charleston, SC, USA

problem #119

Dec 012004

Ram 1500

  • 48,000 miles
I have a problem with the dashboard of a Dodge Ram 1500 2002. My dashboard is cracked up in 9 pieces. The replacement parts are about $800 and the defective plastic has not been fixed. So in less than a years I'm going to end up where I started or with the same problem again and again. This complaint is not about the money. It's about the fact that Dodge is aware of this problem and they haven't fixed the replacement part which means that if I go there right now and buy this part I'm going to have the same problem in less than a year.

- Kenner, LA, USA

problem #118

Nov 252009

Ram 1500

  • 63,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Cracked dash board on a Dodge Ram 1500 im concerned that if I were to get into any type of accident no matter the speed and the air bag deploys that the pieces of the dash will also fly off causing injury to my passengers.

- Silver Creek, NY, USA

problem #117

Apr 102006

Ram 1500

  • miles
I have a 2002 Dodge Ram that I bought used in 2006. I did not have the truck six months and I noticed a small crack. A couple of days later I noticed two more including the speaker grills in the dash completely falling apart. This is a nationwide problem that needs to be fixed before someone takes a piece of plastic to the face if in an accident. Once it starts cracking it is not going to stop and this is a safety issues for not only exposed wires but also airbags that if deployed will send sharp pieces of plastic everywhere.

- Martinsville, VA, USA

problem #116

Nov 172009

Ram 1500

  • 76,000 miles
Over a period of 6 months the dashboard on my 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 has began to crack and crumble away leaving sharp edges. There has never been any impact to the dash or vehicle. The plastic that the dash is composed of is brittle and weak.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #115

Nov 052009

Ram 1500

  • 165,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 truck my dashboard is cracking and falling apart. It wont be long before the dash falls into the truck.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #114

Jan 012006

Ram 1500

  • miles
Dash is cracked on my 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 in multiple places.

- Acworth, GA, USA

problem #113

Aug 102009

Ram 1500

  • 80,500 miles
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 towards a $1200 repair.

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

problem #112

Apr 282009

Ram 1500

  • 590,390 miles
The 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.

- Ponchatoula, LA, USA

problem #111

Aug 012009

Ram 1500

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Ponchatoula, LA, USA

problem #110

Aug 102009

Ram 1500

  • miles
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 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.

- Mullins, SC, USA

problem #109

Jun 012009

Ram 1500

  • 115,000 miles
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 Ram from 1998-2005 for the dashboards before someone gets hurt.

- Mooresville, NC, USA

problem #108

Aug 312009

Ram 1500

  • 116,000 miles
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.

- Laredo, TX, USA

problem #107

Jul 012006

Ram 1500

  • 100,000 miles
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.

- Pensacola, FL, USA

problem #106

Jan 012007

Ram 1500

  • 95,000 miles
2002 Dodge Ram 1500-dash board cracks in several locations. Seat belt latch covers disintegrated.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #105

Mar 012009

Ram 1500

  • miles
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.

- Tomball, TX, USA

problem #104

Aug 112009

Ram 1500

  • 116,000 miles
I wanted to know what could be done about the dashes that are in Dodge Ram? you can browse the web, and I'm not the only one, but all the dashes in Dodge Ram 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 Ram 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.

- Grenada, MS, USA

problem #103

Aug 012009

Ram 1500

  • 85,000 miles
2002 Dodge Ram dash panel falling apart, the air bag will eventually be affected.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #102

Nov 012006

Ram 1500

  • miles
2002 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.

- Axson, GA, USA

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