2002 Dodge 1500 Body & structure Problems

THE BEAM UNDER THE BED OF THE TRUCK IS BREAKING APART. NO OTHER PART UNDER THE TRUCK HAD THIS PROB. NO CORROSION ANY OTHER PLACE BUT THE BEAM OF THE TRUCK

NHTSA ID

11338270

Incident

Jul 1, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRAME AROUND THE STEERING BOX DISCONNECTED FROM THE STEERING DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.

NHTSA ID

11150278

Incident

Oct 26, 2018

Mileage

65,000 mi

A FEW YEARS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE DASH BEGAN TO DEVELOP CRACKS AND HOLES. THIS HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE A DASH COVER HAD TO BE PURCHASED TO AVOID THINGS FALLING DOWN BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. CURRENTLY, THERE IS MORE MISSING THAN STILL IN PLACE IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS GENERATION, AND DODGE HAS NOT ADDRESSED IT, OTHER THAN TO CLAIM IT IS STRICTLY COSMETIC. THE PLASTIC PIECES ARE EXTREMELY SHARP, AND HAVE RESULTED IN A NUMBER OF SUPERFICIAL CUTS WHEN WORKING ON THE DEFROST VENTS, OR WHEN ADJUSTING THE CARPETED DASH COVER. OTHER PIECES HAVE FALLEN INTO THE VENTS AND THEN BEEN EJECTED INTO BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S FACES WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER ARE TURNED ON. PIECES OF PLASTIC RATTLE BEHIND THE DASH, AND HAVE FALLEN INTO THE AIR CONDITIONER CONTROLS AND RADIO HARNESS, POSSIBLY BEING THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF THE FRONT SPEAKERS (BUT NOT VERIFIED) IF THEY HAVE CUT THE WIRES. IF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS, THE PERDON IN THE SEAT IS LIKELY TO BE BLINDED OR DISFIGURED FROM THE AMOUNT OF DANGEROUSLY SHARP SHRAPNEL, ASSUMING IT HAS NOT ALREADY BEEN CUT AND RENDERED USELESS. REPLACEMENT DASHES FROM DODGE ARE PRICED AT NEARLY $1,000, WHICH IS A RIDICULOUSLY EXORBITANT AMOUNT TO EXPECT CUSTOMERS TO PAY IN ORDER TO FIX A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT INSTALLED BY THE COMPANY. OVERLAYS OF DECENT QUALITY COST NEARLY A THIRD OF THAT.

NHTSA ID

11149560

Incident

Jun 13, 2007

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST, CORROSION, AND HOLES ALONG THE ENTIRE FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS DETACHING DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ID

11090087

Incident

Apr 25, 2018

Mileage

118,000 mi

MY DASHBOARD HAS HOLE IN IT. ITS BEEN CRACKING FOR A WHILE AND REALLY DIDN'T PAY ATT

NHTSA ID

11062924

Incident

Jun 6, 2017

DASH IS FALLING APART. EVERY DAY PIECES ARE COMING OFF. ALSO I NEED TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE AND I'M AFRAID THE THAT THE DASH WILL COMPLETELY FALL APART.

NHTSA ID

11048121

Incident

Jun 1, 2016

I'M CONCERNED THE CRACKED DASH WILL BECOME SHARP PLASTIC PROJECTILES IF THE AIRBAG EVER DEPLOYS.

NHTSA ID

11002962

Incident

Feb 1, 2016

CAR ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN VEHICLES BACK CAB HYDROPLANED AND FISHTAILED OUT OF CONTROL AT LESS THEN 25MPH AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND DRIVER WAS HURT.

NHTSA ID

10972170

Incident

Apr 12, 2017

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT SWAY BARS DETACHED AND THE STEERING CONTROL ARMS SEPARATED DUE TO RUSTING OF THE SUBFRAME. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,888.

NHTSA ID

10910822

Incident

Sep 28, 2016

Mileage

158,888 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED AND FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

NHTSA ID

10897236

Incident

Dec 15, 2014

Mileage

149,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD IS BREAKING APART AND THROWING SHARDES OF IT IN MY FACE WHEN DRIVING

NHTSA ID

10735884

Incident

Mar 2, 2012

Mileage

130,465 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS FRACTURED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10723636

Incident

Jun 16, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

DASHBOARD CRACKING - VEHICLE IS ALWAYS COVERED OR GARAGED OR UNDER A COVERED PARKING SPOT. DASH STARTED CRACKING AROUND MAY 2010 WHILE LIVING IN OKLAHOMA AND HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. PIECES HAVE BROKEN AND FALLEN INTO THE VENTS, AND WHEN THE DEFROST IS TURNED ON OR WHEN THE AC IS TURNED ON, SMALL TO MEDIUM PIECES FLY OUT AND CAN HIT SOMEONE, MYSELF OR FRONT SEAT PASSENGER IN THE EYE. AND IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE AIR BAGS ARE DEPLOYED, PIECES COULD BREAK OFF AND DO MORE INJURY TO OCCUPANTS. I HAVE BEEN HIT IN THE FOREHEAD WITH PIECES ALREADY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10706382

Incident

May 10, 2010

Mileage

67,904 mi

DASHBOARD IS CRACKING AND LITTLE PIECES OF PLASTIC ARE COMING OUT OF THE AC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10703452

Incident

Apr 12, 2006

Mileage

54,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MULTIPLE FRACTURES DEVELOPED ON THE DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10700701

Incident

Aug 15, 2005

DASHBOARD CAME APART, PLASTIC FLYING IN CAB. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683574

Incident

Feb 15, 2015

DASH BOARD HAS SHATTERED AND THE AIR CONDITION/HEATER DOES NOT BLOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10681598

Incident

Dec 1, 2014

Mileage

201,000 mi

I HAVE EMAILED DODGE MANY YEARS AGO ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE OF MY DASH BUSTING IN SEVERAL PLACES WHEN MY TRUCK WAS JUST ONE YEAR OLD. THE ONLY RESPONSE I RECEIVED WAS AN OFFER TO BUY A DISCOUNTED DASH. I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND I REALIZE MY TRUCK IS NOW 12 YEARS OLD BUT THIS HAPPENED IN ONLY 1 YEAR. I HAVE SINCE READ WHERE I AM NO WHERE NEAR ALONE. DODGE KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10678162

Incident

Jan 31, 2003

Mileage

13,000 mi

DASHBOARD HAS BEEN CRACKING SINCE 2006, NOW DASHBOARD HAS COMPLETELY CRUMBLED APART. TOTALLY UNSAFE HAZARDOUS SITUATION NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10660249

Incident

Jul 1, 2006

Mileage

45,000 mi

MY DASHBOARD IS CRACKING AND FALLING APART IN ON ITSELF I HAVE TRIED BLOWING BUT IT CONTINUES TO CRACK APART AND IT IS FALLING IN ON THE DASH AFRAID IF ITS EVER IN AN ACCIDENT CLASSIC WILL FLY EVERYWHERE AND CUT OR KILL SOMEONE. IT STARTED DOING THIS IN TWO THOUSAND AND TEN AFTER I MOVED TO FLORIDA. AND THE PAINT ON THE VEHICLE HOOD QUARTER PANELS FRONT AND UPPER DOORS AND AROUND THE LOWER DOORS IS FADING AWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10660095

Incident

Nov 1, 2010

Mileage

200,000 mi

DASHBOARD BEGIN CRACKING AND FINALLY IN A COUPLE DAYS OF WEEKS BROKE APART COMPLETELY AS I HAD BEEN IN A CRASH.I CALLED THE COMPANY THEY SAID THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED.I TOLD THEM I HAVE 1992 FORD AEROSTAR WHOSE DASHBOARD WAS COMPLETELY .INTACT AND THAT IT WAS MUCH OLDER IT HAD TO BE A STRUCTURAL DEFECT. THEY OFFER TO PAY HALF WHICH MEANT I HAD TO PAY 500.00 DOLLARS, WHICH I DIDN'T HAVE. I FELT THEY SHOULD PAY ALL OF IT. ALSO THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE RPM ACCELERATE WITHOUT ME PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL.I TOOK MANY TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT BUT THEY NEVER DID. *TR

NHTSA ID

10649859

Incident

Mar 15, 2006

Mileage

35,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED MULTIPLE TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE DASHBOARD BEGAN TO CRACK AND LATER COLLAPSED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CRACK WAS NEAR THE AIR BAG AND COULD POTENTIALLY INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY THE AIR BAG. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PIECES FROM THE DASH BOARD FELL INTO THE AIR VENTS CAUSING THE A/C UNIT TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE AND DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

NHTSA ID

10637095

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

Mileage

54,000 mi

THE DASH HAS CRACKED ON IS FALLING APART INTO PIECES. THESE PIECES ARE FALLING INTO THE DASH AND DEFROSTER VENT. IF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYS IT WILL SEND PLASTIC INTO THE AIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10632448

Incident

Oct 15, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi

I AM THE OWNER OF 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCK AND RECENTLY TOOK IT TO THE SHOP FOR A MUFFLER REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN THAT WAS DOING THE REPAIR NOTIFIED ME OF THE EXTENSIVE CORROSION THAT WAS ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE VEHICLES FRAME JUST UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE AFT DOOR. THE CORROSION IS THE WORST I HAVE EVER SEEN AND HAS DEEMED THE VEHICLE NOT DRIVABLE. I HAD JUST PULLED MY CAMPER THE WEEK BEFORE WITH MY WIFE AND 3 KIDS IN THE CAR. THE FRAME IS LITERALLY HANGING ON BY A PIECE OF METAL 3 INCHES WIDE, THE BOTTOM AND SIDES OF THE FRAME ARE COMPLETELY GONE IN A 16 INCH SECTION. IN MY OPINION IT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 12 YEARS OLD TO BE SCRAPPED BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE METAL. NOT TO MENTION THAT IF I HAD NOT HAD MY MUFFLER REPAIRED I NEVER WOULD HAVE SEEN THE CORROSION AND WOULD HAVE PUT MY FAMILIES LIVES AT RISK. HOW MANY OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES AND DO NOT EVEN KNOW? I HAVE PICTURES BUT COULD NOT ATTACH THEM TO THIS MESSAGE.....YOU REALLY NEED TO SEE THE PICS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10611298

Incident

Jul 17, 2014

Mileage

142,000 mi

DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING - DEALER SAID OUT OF WARRANTY - CRACKING HAS CONTINUED. THIS VEHICLE HAS 44000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND IS IN BEAUTIFUL CONDITION EXCEPT FOR THE AWFUL DASHBOARD PROBLEM. IF I EVER HAVE A BAD ACCIDENT THE DASHBOARD WILL COME APART AND CAUSE ADDED INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. IT IS TIME FOR RAM TO STEP UP AND GIVE SOME HELP TO ALL ITS CUSTOMERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN VARIOUS PICTURES SHOWING THE DASHBOARDS COMPLETELY COLLAPSED. THIS IS CLEARLY BEYOND A COSMETIC ISSUE AND INTO A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10610837

Incident

Nov 15, 2006