RoadVitals

2002 Dodge 1500 Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
53
Latest Dec 18, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 815 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Dodge 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 53 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

The 25 most recent of 53, in the owner's own words

Visibility
Filed Dec 18, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR WIRING WAS DAMAGED IN THE VEHICLE AND FAILED TO PRODUCE HEAT IN COLD WEATHER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED ANCHORAGE CHRYSLER, DODGE, JEEP (2601 EAST 5TH AVENUE, ANCHORAGE, AL 99501, 855-269-2609), BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID
11162268
Incident
Nov 9, 2018
Mileage
170,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 29, 2018

TAKATA RECALL. NO HEAT FROM DRIVERS SIDE HVAC, THIS CAUSES VISIBILITY PROBLEMS CAUSE POOR WINDOW DEFROSTING. WIFE IS DISABLED WITH NO INCOME CAN'T AFFORD THE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR SERVICE OR AFFORD A NEWER VEHICLE. NEVER HAD HEAT PROBLEMS IN ANY OF MY OLDER VEHICLES LIKE THIS. BEEN THIS WAY FOR 4 YEARS NOW.

NHTSA ID
11154759
Incident
Nov 1, 2014
Mileage
75,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jan 16, 2018

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
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Jun 13, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE HVAC BLOWER MOTOR FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V078000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

NHTSA ID
10873993
Incident
Sep 13, 2015
Mileage
190,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 30, 2012

THE HEATER "VENT CONTROL" HAS STOPPED WORKING ON MY TRUCK AND I CAN NO LONGER SELECT "DEFROST" IN MY TRUCK. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN WITHOUT CLEAR VISIBILITY THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR DODGE RAM TRUCKS AND HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED. I CANNOT DEFROST MY WINDOWS AS A RESULT. I'VE BEEN HOLD IT'S THE HVAC BLEND DOORS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10482651
Incident
Oct 30, 2012
Mileage
160,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 27, 2012

NO HEAT OR A/C ON DRIVER'S SIDE. IT HAS DUAL CLIMATE ZONES. LOOKED ON ONLINE FORUMS AND SAW OTHERS ARE HAVING SAME ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10482430
Incident
Oct 17, 2012
Mileage
159,060 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed May 8, 2012

VEHICLE BLOWER MOTOR FUSE WAS BLOWN ON THIS OCCASION, AND THEN LATER DATES THE AC CONDENSER FAN FUSE WAS BLOWN. THE 40 AMP FUSE FOR THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS REPLACED TO FIX THE FIRST PROBLEM. THE CONDENSER FAN FUSE WAS REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE, AND THEN THE FUSE BOX - WHERE THE CONDENSER FAN FUSE GOES - MELTED SO THAT THE FUSE COULD NOT BE REPLACED. TAKING IT TO THE DEALER TODAY. ALSO NOTICED LOTS OF DASHBOARD CRACKING COMPLAINTS. I ALSO HAVE A DASHBOARD THAT IS SERIOUSLY CRACKED. PAID TO REPLACE THE PART CLOSEST TO THE WINDOW, BUT THE DASHBOARD OVER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS NOT REPLACED. ASKED DEALER TO REPLACE IT THREE TIMES, AND ALL THREE TIMES THEY SAID NONE WAS IN STOCK. ONE PERSON TOLD ME THAT THEY DON'T LIKE REPLACING THEM BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THE JOB. *TR

NHTSA ID
10457797
Incident
Jun 7, 2003
Mileage
11,615 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Feb 17, 2012

2002 DODGE RAM 1500 SLT 2WD 5.9 V8 (GAS) WITH 86,000 MILES. TURN SIGNALS HAVE SUDDENLY BECOME DANGEROUSLY INTERMITTENT. ALSO, OCCASIONALLY WHEN SIGNALING 'LEFT' THE RIGHT DASH INDICATOR FOR THE TURN SIGNALS WILL FLASH INSTEAD. IT HAPPENED TWICE TODAY, WE TURNED THE SIGNAL OFF THEN BACK 'ON' AND IT WORKED PROPERLY. BECAUSE THIS IS INTERMITTENT WE CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM TO DETERMINE IF THE OUTSIDE BULBS ARE FLASHING LEFT OR RIGHT, THEREFORE WE WORRY THEY MIGHT BE INCORRECTLY SIGNALING OUR INTENTIONS TO OTHER DRIVERS. WHILE SEARCHING ON-LINE FOR A SOLUTION BEFORE WE DETERMINE A REPAIR COURSE OF ACTION, WE DISCOVERED THIS IS COMMON TO THE DODGE RAM TRUCKS FROM 2002 THROUGH AT LEAST 2008 MODEL YEAR TRUCKS, BUT THE DEALER DID NOT MENTION OR ADDRESS IT IN ADVANCE OF FAILURE. WE PAID IN ADVANCE FOR A SEVEN YEAR 100% WARRANTY WITH NO DEDUCTIBLE, WHICH HAS NOT EXPIRED. WE BELIEVE DODGE HAD PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THE WEAKNESS AND COULD HAVE REPAIRED IT DURING THE NO-DEDUCTIBLE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW SWITCH CONTINUES TO FAIL. ITS A SIMPLE PLUG-IN MODULE AND I HAVE REPLACED IT TWICE WITH THE FACTORY PART, AND NOW ITS INTERMITTENT AGAIN AFTER LESS THAN ONE YEAR. FROM THE MILEAGE ITS CLEAR WE ARE NOT WEARING OUT SWITCHES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10448276
Incident
Feb 12, 2012
Mileage
85,075 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 21, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MALFUNCTIONED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE CLEARLY BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

NHTSA ID
10436611
Incident
Nov 7, 2011
Mileage
151,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 20, 2011

MY 2002 DODGE RAM HAS A BAD BLEND DOOR CONTROLLER. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT I ONLY HAVE COLD OR WARM AIR COMING OUT OF THE VENTS IN THE FRONT PART OF THE DASH AND AM UNABLE TO SWITCH THE AIR TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS. DEALER SAYS IT'S AN $800 FIX. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN MY WINDOWS STEAM UP I HAVE TO USE A TOWEL TO WIPE THE WINDSHIELD AS I AM TRAVELING 70 MPH DOWN THE FREEWAY. HOW SAFE IS THAT. DODGE NEEDS TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE!!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10383381
Incident
Feb 1, 2011
Mileage
102,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Dec 20, 2010

2002 DODGE RAM 1500 HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS IN DASH W/ AT LEAST TWO IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AREA. HEATER AND DEFROSTER ALSO DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10371771
Incident
Jul 13, 2009
Visibility
Filed Dec 5, 2010

#1 WHEN IT GOT COLD I TURNED IT OVER TO THE HEATER. #2 HEAT WILL NOT COME OUT THE DRIVERS SIDE VENTS ,ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR. PASSENGER SIDE HAS HEAT BUT IS LACKING. THIS IS ON ALL OF THE HEATING SYSTEM UPPER AND LOWER. #3 HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIR CAN'T AFFORD IT RIGHT KNOW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10369257
Incident
Nov 17, 2010
Mileage
82,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 30, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITIONING, HE NOTICED A NOISE WITHIN THE BLOWER. HE EXAMINED THE BLOWER HOUSING AREA AND FOUND BROKEN PIECES. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CRACKED WHEN HE REMOVED IT TO INSPECT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT BUT WAS OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,993.

NHTSA ID
10358442
Incident
Jul 28, 2010
Mileage
66,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Sep 16, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO FEEL HEAT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE; ALL OF THE HEAT WAS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. FURTHERMORE, THE DASHBOARD BEGAN TO CRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 146,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

NHTSA ID
10355933
Incident
Nov 19, 2005
Mileage
40,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 1, 2009

WIPER MODULE FAILURE/ LOSS OF VISIBILITY / SAFETY ISSUE FROM WATER INTRUSION INTO MODULE CAUSING CORROSION AND WIPER MODULE/ MOTOR FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10267468
Incident
Mar 9, 2009
Mileage
57,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningVisibility
Filed Dec 29, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. IN WARM WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM BECOMES INOPERATIVE. ALSO, IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE FAILURE CAUSES IMPAIRED VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V078000 (STEERING:COLUMN). THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS OVERLAY AT THE COST OF $800. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED HIM TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ID
10253045
Incident
Dec 29, 2006
Mileage
71,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Aug 29, 2008

WINDSHIELD FOGGING UP ON INSIDE DUE TO LEAKING HAND HOLDS. RESULTING IN VISUAL PROBLEMS ALONG WITH EXCESSIVE MOISTURE UNDER THE DASH PAD CAUSING CRACKING. ALONG WITH SAFETY CONCERNS WITH PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WORKING PROPERLY WHEN NEEDED AND ANY OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE MOISTURE. DODGE IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT IT SUCH AS A RECALL. I FEEL THEY MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DEFECTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10240239
Incident
Aug 1, 2008
Visibility
Filed Jun 25, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR FLEW OFF THE VEHICLE. THE MIRROR WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V077000 (VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR). ONE YEAR LATER, THE SAME MIRROR DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE CONTACT HAS ATTEMPTED TO GET IT REPAIRED BY THE DEALER, BUT HAS BEEN GETTING THE RUN AROUND. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 9400 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/15/08 *JB

NHTSA ID
10232244
Incident
Aug 15, 2006
ElectricalVisibility
Filed May 22, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE BLOWER WOULD TURN ON AND OFF AUTOMATICALLY AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BLOWER EVENTUALLY FAILED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V078000 (STEERING:COLUMN), IN WHICH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PROPERLY FOR THIRTY DAYS BEFORE FAILING AGAIN. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY NEEDS A NEW COMPUTER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10228659
Incident
Dec 19, 2006
Mileage
120,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 14, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE HEATER CORE HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES. WHEN THE CONTACT ACTIVATES THE HEATER, THE HEATER CORE FAILS. THE DESIGN OF THE HEATER CORE DOES NOT ALLOW FLEXIBILITY OR ANY OTHER MOVEMENT. THE HEATER CORE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED AGAIN. THE TOTAL COST FOR EACH REPAIR WAS $850. THE DEALER HAD TO STRIP DOWN THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL IN ORDER TO REACH THE HEATER CORE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ID
10218057
Incident
Oct 1, 2002
Mileage
20,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 7, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR SHUT OFF. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THEY STATED THEY WOULD DECIDE IF THEY WOULD PAY DEPENDING ON THE DIAGNOSIS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10198775
Incident
Aug 4, 2006
Mileage
27,000 mi
Body & structureOther / unspecifiedVisibility
Filed May 3, 2007

DASH BOARD CRACKING, DASH LIGHT AND HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, REPLACE WINDSHIELD TWICE. UNKNOWN WHY THE WINDSHIELD CRACK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10189623
Incident
Mar 10, 2007
Visibility
Filed Aug 21, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS WORK INTERMITTENTLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT, THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS A SWITCH INSTALLED ON THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE 2ND TIME, THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE THIRD TIME THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE MASTER CONTROL WAS DEFECTIVE. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS.

NHTSA ID
10166080
Incident
Aug 21, 2006
Mileage
66,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 5, 2006

HEATER CORE FAILS ON COOLING LINE FITTING COMING OUT OF IT. THIS CAUSES LEAKAGE AND DUE TO HVAC DESIGN AND NEWNESS OF MAKE IT IS ONLY POSSIBLE TO GET THE PART FROM THE DEALER AND THE PART ITSELF IS CHEAPLY MANUFACTURED AND APPEARS TO BE CHEAPLY DESIGNED. WHEN IT DOES FINALLY FAIL AT THE FITTING ONE WILL RUN THE DEFROSTER AND THE WINDOWS WILL MILK OVER IN COLD WEATHER CAUSING SEVERE VISIBILITY PROBLEMS. NOT TO MENTION ONE IS BREATHING IN GASEOUS HOT COOLANT THAT DODGE USES WHICH ITSELF BREAKS DOWN INTO AN ACID IN OPEN AIR AT HIGH TEMPERATURES. *NM

NHTSA ID
10151803
Incident
Jan 27, 2006
Mileage
76,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 31, 2005

CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR HE REPLACED ON THE 2002 DODGE RAM 1500.*MR THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR RECALL#03V077000. *JB

NHTSA ID
10124768
Incident
May 2, 2005

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data on this page last refreshed .