Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Body & structure 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.
15
Latest Apr 24, 2012
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.
13%
of 116 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.
1
What this page shows
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Dodge Ram submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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 body or structure
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Body & structure
Filed Apr 24, 2012
THE DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING AROUND 60,000 MILES. IT HAS CONTINUED TO CRACK AND ALL OF THE PLASTIC VENT COVERS HAVE FALLEN APART INTO THE VENTS. I HAVE NOW FOUND OUT THAT THE INSULATION IN THE DASH IS DRY ROTTING AND FALLING INTO THE A/C VENTS AND CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE A/C MOTOR. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ID
10456343
Incident
Aug 1, 2006
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Nov 4, 2011
Fire reported1 injury reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM MODEL R35. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN SMOKE EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND FLAMES WERE VISIBLE FROM THE HOOD. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE INTO A DITCH BUT THERE WAS NO CRASH. THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN DURING THE FAILURE SO THE CONTACT ESCAPED BY PUNCHING AND SHATTERING THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE POWER DISRUPTION CAUGHT FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.
NHTSA ID
10434257
Incident
Oct 29, 2011
Mileage
50,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 21, 2011
THE DASH IN MY 2002 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB PICKUP BEGAN TO CRACK AND HAS NOW COMPLETELY SHATTERED. THERE ARE PIECES THAT HAVE BROKEN OFF AND ARE NOW EFFECTING MY HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF I HIT A BUMP TO HARD THAT A PIECE MIGHT ACTUALLY DISLODGE AND HARM SOMEONE. OR CAUSE EVEN MORE SEVERE INTERNAL DAMAGE THAT MIGHT EFFECT MY ABILITY TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10432304
Incident
Aug 6, 2009
Mileage
80,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 29, 2011
THE DASH WAS FINE NO EVENTS UNTIL SEPT.2008. OPENED THE TRUCK UP ONE DAY TO REVEAL A HUGE CRACK IN THE DASH. THE DASH IS CRACKING IN THE RATE OF 2 CRACKS IN 2008 AND ONE IN 2009 ,ONE IN 2010. WE ARE UP TO 4 CRACKS NOW. HASN'T BEEN FIXED. I AM HEARING HORROR STORIES OF THIS CAUSING SERIOUS PROBLEMS. I DO NOT LET MY KIDS RIDE IN IT.THE MORE IT CRACKS THE LESS SAFE WE FEEL DRIVING IT. *TR
NHTSA ID
10422521
Incident
Sep 8, 2008
Body & structure
Filed Feb 9, 2011
DASH CRACKING ON 2002 DODGE RAM QUADCAB; NOT THE FIRST VEHICLE TO BE EXPERIENCING THIS. MANY FORUMS AND COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS MATTER. FORMAL COMPLAINT ON DODGE TO NHTSA. VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 95K WHEN FIRST APPEARED; PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, BECOMING A DRIVING HAZARD. *TR
NHTSA ID
10381304
Incident
Jan 1, 2008
Mileage
95,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 24, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONERY, THE EXTERIOR BODY PAINT EXPOSED A WHITE SPOT THE SIZE OF A SOFTBALL. THE DEFECT WAS LOCATED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND THE HOOD. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS BUBBLING ON THE EXTERIOR PAINT NEAR THE DRIVER'S SIDE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR BODY PAINT DEFECT WOULD EVENTUALLY RUST FROM THE INNER TO THE OUTER SURFACE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE BE BROUGHT IN WHEN IT BEGINS TO RUST AND POSSIBLY REPAIRED AT NO COST. AS OF JULY 24, 2008, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP FOR A SECOND OPINION. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
NHTSA ID
10235686
Incident
Feb 2, 2008
Mileage
85,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 22, 2008
AFTER OWNING THIS VEHICLE FOR 6 YEARS< THE PAINT IS STARTING TO PEEL, AND IT IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE I AM HOPING YOU CAN POINT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THANK YOU. *TR
NHTSA ID
10235315
Incident
Feb 1, 2008
Mileage
88,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 25, 2007
DASH ON OUR 2002 DODGE RAM IS CRACKING. *JB
NHTSA ID
10204043
Incident
Aug 23, 2007
Body & structure
Filed Sep 13, 2007
CONSUMER IS COMPLAINING ABOUT CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD. CUSTOMER STATES THAT VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 10 CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD. THE CUSTOMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY DODGE IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *KB
NHTSA ID
10203765
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Body & structureOther / unspecified
Filed Jun 19, 2007
THE BOARD 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB DASHBOARD IS ALL CRACKED AND BREAKING APART. READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN MY LOCAL ACTION LINE SECTION WHERE OTHER DODGE OWNERS OF DIFFERENT MODELS BETWEEN THE YEARS 2000 AND NEWER WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING NEAR THE VENTS AND HAS PROCEEDED TO BREAK IN OTHER PLACES ALONG THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD, ABOUT LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I' HAVE ASKED AROUND TO PEOPLE RELATED IN THE INDUSTRY, AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT WAS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR. SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS WORTH. ALSO, I HAVE A FRIEND WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM ON A 2000 DODGE 1500 . PLEASE HELP, THANK YOU. *AK
NHTSA ID
10193686
Incident
Nov 1, 2005
Body & structure
Filed May 10, 2007
CRACKED DASHBOARD. *AK
NHTSA ID
10190424
Incident
May 1, 2006
Body & structure
Filed May 14, 2003
WHILE DRIVING, THE TAIL GATE DISCONNECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA ID
10019799
Incident
Mar 12, 2003
AirbagsBody & structureElectrical+3 more
Filed May 6, 2003
THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LOCKS, SPEAKERS, AND BODY SCRATCHES. ALSO NO KEYLESS ENTRY AS PROMISED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *AK ALSO THE PASSENGER DOOR REGULATOR WAS REPLACED, THE ROOF SEAM LEAKED WATER *JB
NHTSA ID
10017850
Incident
Sep 26, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Apr 21, 2003
WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY WHICH CAUSED WATER TO COME INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *NLM
NHTSA ID
10017303
Incident
Apr 21, 2003
Body & structureTransmission
Filed Aug 9, 2002
TRANSFER CASE IS LEAKING, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES ALREADY FOR TRANSFER CASE LEAK, BUT SOLUTIONS DO NOT WORK. *AKCONSUMER RECEIVED NO HELP FROM THE DEALERSHIP. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REPLACEMENT OF VEHICLE. ALSO THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER QUAD DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WITH THE INNER HANDLE, THE LOCK RODS WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. *JG
NHTSA ID
8015919
Incident
Apr 26, 2002
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own