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.

8.2

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$880
Average Mileage:
84,050 miles
Total Complaints:
522 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. Dodge should recall the dashboard (safety issue) (281 reports)
  2. not sure (115 reports)
  3. replace dashboard (105 reports)
  4. class action lawsuit against Dodge for inferior dashboards (16 reports)
  5. bought an aftermarket dash replacement (3 reports)
  6. dashboard, vents, radio replacement (1 reports)
2002 Dodge Ram 1500 accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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2002 Dodge Ram 1500 Owner Comments (Page 18 of 27)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #182

Jan 012009

Ram 1500 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

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

Notice a small creeping crack in the front dash near windshield earlier this year. About mid year notice a crack just above the glove box which is almost completely cracked all the way through to the front down to the glove box.

Dodge needs to come out with a recall NOW.

- Dan C., South Mills, NC, US

problem #181

Feb 042006

Ram 1500 SLT 5.9L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90 miles

This is complete BS that Dodge wont replace the dash for free. Every 02 Dodge has the same problem. If anyone out there with an 02 Dodge Ram 1500 and there dash is not cracked I will pay the money for it to be fixed but its funny havent found one yet????

- Nicl G., Oakhurst, NJ, US

problem #180

Jun 012005

Ram 1500 Sport 5.9L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

My Dodge to date has run nicely and had few issues. Now with 129K miles I hope it continues running good.

The Dash issue is a royal pain in the ass. Dodge should have recalled this. If I were to be in an accident the shards of plastic from the dash would be flying everywhere and be an opportunity for injury. The dash is cracked in multiple pieces and continues cracking.

- saxon, Saint Petersburg, FL, US

problem #179

Jan 042006

Ram 1500 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,029 miles

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

For someone who really takes care of their truck and parks it in the garage 365 days a year, The dash board looks like sh*t...He has numerous little and huge cracks running from the windshield to the little defroster vents. and the cracks are deep...... Dodge needs to come up with something for the poeple who are driving their products!

- cbraden, Montclair, CA, US

problem #178

Dec 092009

Ram 1500 LX 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 99,000 miles

click to see larger images

cracks in dashboard cracks in dashboard cracks in dashboard

i buy a new truck see what i have know .my dash is cracked all to hell. it has holes all over the place dodge should issue a recall this is bullsh!t i like dodge but if they dont do something about this i won't get another

- hoang, Thomasville, NC, US

problem #177

Dec 012007

Ram 1500 V8 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,000 miles

click to see larger images

cracks in dashboard cracks in dashboard cracks in dashboard cracks in dashboard cracks in dashboard

I think the goverment should do something about it. Nobody wastes time complaint. We've got more important things to do. If we complaint and it's not one rare case. It's a lot of folks with pictures to prove it. Dodge must have used very bad quality abs plastic when manufacturing this part. So what can we expect? I called the dealer and he told me that just the upper dash which is the one where the tweeters are located cost between U$ 189.00 and $400.00 for a piece of plastic that is going to give us the same problem again and again. Government regulatory agencies should demand Dodge to recall all cars and fix this problem once and for all. I will not pay about $800.00 for just two pieces of bad quality plastic. I hope we have a judge or congressman that has a dodge with this same problem so they can feel a little bit of our frustration and maybe they can do something.

- humbertos, Kenner, LA, US

problem #176

Aug 152008

Ram 1500 SLT 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,000 miles

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

This is one of the reasons that American Auto Makers are going in the toilet. High labor costs and poor quality materials and workmanship. It's embarassing. And Dodge wants to brag about owner loyalty. What a joke!

- Rick M., Safety Harbor, FL, US

problem #175

Oct 052009

Ram 1500 SLT 4.7L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

Rediculous, My boy and I were riding down the road and he was like nice crack in your dash. i was like yeah right! Sure enough 2 or 3 cracks running from windshield to the front. That is crap and the dash looks like sh**!

- rough, Germantown, MD, US

problem #174

Apr 162008

Ram 1500 5.9L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,000 miles

I have 32 cracks in my dash.... it is Bull sh*t...... and the dealership wants $1400 plus instalation fees to replace it i found one for $309.00 plus ship and handling if i do it myself... kids can be hurt on the sharp edges... it looks like sh*t.... it is not quality... i have had numerous problems with my dodge, but i love them they need to step their game up

- Nick B., Conway, SC, US

problem #173

Nov 262009

Ram 1500 SLT 5.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 63,000 miles

I just bought my truck about 2weeks ago and now I see there's a crack in dash board which wasn't there before I purchased it. My brother in-law has the same exact truck and wouldn't you know it, his dash is covered with a dash pad, so we looked under the dash pad and he also has the same exact crack! When is dodge going to fix this problem?

- Larry M., Silver Creek, NY, US

problem #172

Jun 012003

Ram 1500 Sport 5.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

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

I took my truck a 2002 ram 1500 4wd to the dealer in 2003 where it was bought (Sorensen Schade Lake Wales, FL) and asked about a recall for the dash cracks which starting to appear. I was told by a service tech there where no recalls on the dash. As the years (6 years now) have passed the dash now looks like a jigsaw puzzle. My truck was only a year old at the time the cracks started to appear. The cracks now have moved into the front portion of the dash going down into the area where the air bags deploy. I have been a loyal customer of Dodge starting with the Intrepid when the body style was changed in 98 and also. I truly feel as a loyal customer that some sort of fix for this problem should be made.

- Jeffery M., Winter Haven, FL, US

problem #171

Aug 142007

Ram 1500 1500 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,000 miles

Wife's 2002 Dodge 1500 pickup, Dash has several cracks in it on both the front and the back of it. I do think that dodge needs to fix this problem and pay for it.

- Bryan M., Ingram, TX, US

problem #170

Oct 012009

Ram 1500 SLT 4.7L

  • Manual transmission
  • 43,000 miles

My Ram 1500 has a six inch crack near center windshield in my dash running back toward occupants in forward panel

- Walter S., Flatwoods, KY, US

problem #169

Oct 232009

(reported on)

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles

dash is cracked in 4 different places very noticeable

- Ethel H., Dayton, TX, US

problem #168

Jan 012003

Ram 1500 5.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles

I also have many crackes in the dash ,I booght the car brand new in 2002, in 03, i noticed the crackes. Today the back of the dash is taken out, it is in many pieces and was falling into the windshild vent holes. There is pieces still in there i cant get out or find. The front part of the dash is cracked in about 4 places i even have a big hole where the cracks meet. I think dodge should replace it. We did not pay all that money so we can have many problems. I realy wanted a ''FORD'' but my wife talked me into a dodge i will never buy a dodge again. Since the cracks are not the only problem with the truck. not to mention 3 recalls allready, 1 of which i still have to take care of.

- James S., Sun Valley, CA, US

problem #167

Oct 092008

Ram 1500 Sport 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 96,000 miles

I have a 2002 doge ram 1500 sport. About a year ago my wife and I were going down the road and she made the comment that I had a crack on the passenger side of the dash. Bull sh---T I said because she likes to mess with me and she knows how I am about my truck. Well I did and about 2 months later another and another. I have 6 big cracks now. I have bought a dash overlay off ebay for about 275.00 and have not put it on yet but will let you know how it goes! My advice to anyone going to buy a new truck is to buy a toyota they are more expensive but worth the money plus have an excellent resale value have you checked your dodge!!! Its like they say, you get what you pay for!!!!!!!! As far as a recall forget it if it doesn't endanger someone's life they are not going to do sh---t about it! This is all I have to say and do about it - you are not the only one that feels like you got the shaft!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Bennett H., Leesville, SC, US

problem #166

Oct 082007

Ram 1500 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

Has to be some way of contacting dodge to complain. Or is there some type of safety people to contact?

- Brent M., Seabrook, TX, US

problem #165

Jun 202009

Ram 1500 1500 4.8L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 94,000 miles

So many stories I have read here are an exact duplicate of what has happened to my dash. Not only is the front cover nearest the window cracked in 6 places, the portion facing the cabin of the truck is now split in 2 places where the cracks run vertically. I read in a earlier post to contact Dodge at 1-800-992-1997. Dodge should be made to pay for the full cost of this repair. I know of no other car/truck ever made with a dash that literally disintegrated for absolutely no reason.

- stoney4kc, Sealy, TX, US

problem #164

Dec 312008

Ram 1500 STX 4.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

Dodge has known about the dash cracking in their trucks since 2000. A news station in Florida report the problem to Dodge. Dodge was going to send out a team to investigate and come up with a solution, that was 2 years ago. I like my dodge and have thought about purchasing a 2010, b ut I am not sure they have corrected the problem.

- hudgins, Ponchatoula, LA, US

problem #163

Jan 142009

Ram 1500 ST 4.7L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 87,000 miles

I bought the truck from a used lot, everything was perfect on it, and I did not notice the cracks in the dash, I called them up about a week later when I noticed them, they took it back and had it "fixed" they wrapped the dash in vinyl, it looks like sh*t and they wouldn't replace it. I finally went and bought the front piece for right under the windshield and replaced that for $200, while at the Dodge dealership I tried to get quotes on the rear part of the dash and at first I got $1200 just for parts, then when I asked about it again I was told all the parts are out of stock, discontinued, etc. My whole family has driven Dodge since I was young and I'm honestly considering a Chevy or Nissan as my next truck due to how f*cking annoying this problem is and how difficult it is to have it fixed, I just wish I would have known at the time that I first noticed it that it's a common problem.

- Christopher W., San Diego, CA, US

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