DODGE RAM QUAD CAB · model year

2002 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB

265 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002DODGERAM QUAD CAB carries 265 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 13 crashes, 4 fires, 16 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 RAM QUAD CAB is structure with 62 filings, followed by electrical system (18) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor (12). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 2002 RAM QUAD CAB, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

265
Complaints
13
Crashes
4
Fires
16
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

265 filings

Crashes Reported

13 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STRUCTURE62
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM18
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR12
UNKNOWN OR OTHER11
STEERING10
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE6
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL6
STEERING:RACK AND PINION6
EXTERIOR LIGHTING5
POWER TRAIN5
VISIBILITY5
SUSPENSION:FRONT4
SUSPENSION4

Recent Complaints

20191226STRUCTURE:BODY

THE PLASTICS USED IN THE 2002 DODGE RAM INTERIOR ARE A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE IS WIDESPREAD EVIDENCE ACROSS THE INTERNET SHOWING THE DASH BREAKING APART LIKE MINE. IT IS STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND AND DODGE SHOULD FIND A SAFE SOLUTION. IF I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT SHARP SHARDS OF DASH FLYING AROUND IS MORE LIKELY TO CAUSE INJURY THAN THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH.

Mileage: 180,000

20190602POWER TRAIN

BOUGHT TRUCK IN 2009. DRIVE A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK. TRANSMISSION HAS WENT OUT 5 TIMES NOW INCLUDING THIS MORNING. WAS TOLD BY A COWORKER THAT THERES AB ISSUE WITH THE DODGERS NOT CIRCULATING FLUID WHEN IDLING IN GEAR.??? EITHER WAY THIS WILL BE THE 5TH TIME IN 10 YEARS TAKING IT TO GET REBUILT!!!! WHICH HAS BEEN 2,500.00 TO 4,000.00 EACH TIME!!! REALLY BOUT TO GIVE UP ON DODGE

Mileage: 180,000

20180527POWER TRAIN

REAR END LOCKED UP GOING DOWN HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, SENT ME SLIDING INTO THE SLOW LANE AND THEN OFF OF THE HIGHWAY INTO A DRIVEWAY COMING TO A HALTING STOP WITH MY TAILGATE WAS STILL PARTIALLY IN A HEAVILY TRAVELED HIGHWAY. THE DRIVESHAFT ALSO DROPPED DOWN AND EVENTUALLY CAME COMPLETELY OFF AND I HAD TO CALL A ROLL BACK TO COME GET TRUCK. I HAVE HAD THIS 2002 TRUCK FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED BY DODAGE THAT THIS COULD BE A MAJOR ISSUE. ALL IN ALL IT HAS BEEN A GOOD TRUCK. THIS INCIDENT REALLY SCARED ME, AS I WORK OUT OF THIS TRUCK WITH MY BUSINESS AND NOW I HAVE TO SUFFER A LOSS FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO WORK UNTIL I SPEND A GOOD SOME OF MONEY TO FIX THIS ISSUE SO I AM ABLE TO USE IT AGAIN.

Mileage: 203,695

20180316STRUCTURE:BODY

CRAKED DASH, SHARP METAL AND SHARP BROKEN CHUNKS OF PLASTIC THAT USED TO BE A DASHBOARD. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THIS WAY! THE PARTS IF AVAILABLE ARE EXSPENSIVE, WHY IS THIS NOT RECALLED REPLACING USING BETTER SAFER PRODUCTS.

Mileage: 89,000

20180316UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CRAKED DASH, SHARP METAL AND SHARP BROKEN CHUNKS OF PLASTIC THAT USED TO BE A DASHBOARD. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THIS WAY! THE PARTS IF AVAILABLE ARE EXSPENSIVE, WHY IS THIS NOT RECALLED REPLACING USING BETTER SAFER PRODUCTS.

Mileage: 89,000

20180313UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 P/U TRUCK. I'M AWARE THAT IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. I PLAN TO KEEP THIS TRUCK UNTIL I DIE. THE DASHBOARD IS COMPLETELY DAMAGED. I NOW HAVE A DASH COVER OVER IT. AND IT'S SEEM TO BE FALLING IN AS WELL. PLEASE CONSIDER REPLACING MY DASH SINCE IT'S THE WRONG MATERIAL ON ALL 3RD GENS WERE MADE OUT OF POLYVINYL CHLORIDE. AS TIME PASSES THEY DRY OUT AND CRACK. CAUSING PIECES TO FALL INSIDE CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE BLOWER AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I PLAN TO TRAVEL FROM SAN DIEGO CA TO CHICAGO ILL. IN AUGUST IN MY TRUCK, I CAN'T PUT ANYTHING ON THE DASHBOARD WITHOUT THE FEAR OF DAMAGE OR MALFUNCTION TO THE ELECTRONICS OR OTHER PARTS UNDERNEATH.WITH LIQUIDS OR MORE PLASTICS FALLING INSIDE OR PASSING THOUGH THE THE DASH COVER ITS NOT WATER PROOF OR WATER RESISTANT PLEASE HELP... PLEASE HELP SAVE MY TRUCK, PLEASE AND KEEP ME SAFE ON THE ROAD.

Mileage: 27,536

20180124VISIBILITY/WIPER

BLOWS HEAT ONLY ON PASSENGER SIDE VENTS. BLOWS COOL AIR ON DRIVERS SIDE.

Mileage: 208,000

20171212STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS FRACTURED ALONG THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER VENT. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY BECAUSE OF THE FRACTURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER VENT WERE INOPERABLE ON THE LOWER SETTINGS DUE TO OBSTRUCTION FROM PIECES OF FRACTURED DEBRIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATING SYSTEM WOULD ONLY FUNCTION ON A HIGH SETTING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 103,000

20171212VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS FRACTURED ALONG THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER VENT. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY BECAUSE OF THE FRACTURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER VENT WERE INOPERABLE ON THE LOWER SETTINGS DUE TO OBSTRUCTION FROM PIECES OF FRACTURED DEBRIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATING SYSTEM WOULD ONLY FUNCTION ON A HIGH SETTING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 103,000

20150213TIRES

MICHELIN LATITUDE TIRES P265/70 R17 BOUGHT SEPT. 2011 FROM COSTCO IN INGLEWOOD CALIF. THE TREAD SURFACE IS PEELING FROM THE TIRE. THERE ARE SMALL CRATER LIKE AREAS WHERE THE TREAD HAS CRUMBLED AWAY. THE LATITUDE TIRE WAS ADVERTISED AS; "LATITUDE TOUR TIRES USE A SILICA-BASED TREAD COMPOUND MOLDED INTO A SYMMETRIC TREAD DESIGN". I WENT TO COSTCO TO SEE IF THEY WOULD WARRANTY THE TIRE. AT FIRST THEY TOLD ME THE DETERIORATION OF THE TIRE THREAD WAS DUE TO THE SURFACE THAT I DROVE ON. AFTER I ASSURED THE COSTCO SERVICE TECH THAT I DRIVE ON THE STREETS AND HIGHWAY, NOT OFF ROAD, HE SAID HE WOULD ONLY PRORATE THE TIRE VALUE BASED ON THE THREAD USE. THAT TURNED OUT TO BE 50 PERCENT OF ON A NEW SET OF TIRES. *TR

20140808EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ALL THE SUDDEN ALL REAR LIGHTS WENT OFF TOOK TO GARAGE THEY COULDN'T TELL WHAT WAS WRONG AFTER PAYING TO FIND OUT NOTHING AND THEY HAVING TRUCK FOR 2 DAYS AND DEAD BATTERY FROM TRYING A BUNCH OF [XXX], I BROUGHT IT HOME AND STARTED TO TRY FOR MYSELF IT WAS THE FUSE BOX OF ALL THINGS I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE HEARD OF HAVING TO REPLACE FUSE BOX ABOUT 500.00 , AND DASH IS CRACKED ALL OVER THE PLACE PRICED TO REPLACE COST ABOUT 700.00 I WILL WAIT TO SEE IF THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE IT ALREADY HAD TO GET DEFROSTER VENT FIXED FROM STUFF FALLING IN THERE ,I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF OWNERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THESE THINGS GOING WRONG BUT I THOUGHT ONE MORE MY MAKE A DIFFERENCE . I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS IS RECALLED BEFORE SOME ONE GETS INJURED AND ALL SO THE BACK DOOR WIRING ON BOTH SIDES WENT BAD HAD TO REPAIR THEY I WOULD THING THAT IS A FIRE ISSUE BUT WHO AM I THE CONSUMER WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING THAT'S WHY I A WOMEN FIX MY OWN TRUCK. HOPE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS.. *TR INFORMATION REDAC

Mileage: 124,000

20140624FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

KNOCK ON MY DOOR FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, SAID MY TRUCK BURNED UP. IT WAS NOT DRIVEN THAT DAY. ANY ELECTRICAL RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE? *TR

Mileage: 156,000

20130424STRUCTURE

I HAVE 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 WITH A CRACKED DASH WHICH IS BAD THE CRACKS STARTED OUT SMALL AND NOW THERE ARE SEVERAL. IN THE EVENT OF AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WHAT IS TO STOP THIS DASH FROM SEPARATING AND CAUSING LIFE THREATENING INJURIES. DODGE NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND RECALL FOR REPLACEMENT. *TR

Mileage: 102,000

20130114STRUCTURE

AT APPROXIMATELY 25,000 ON MY VEHICLE, IN THE YEAR OF 2004, I NOTICED SMALL CRACKS STARTING TO FORM ON THE DASHBOARD THIS PROGRESSED INTO MUCH LARGER CRACKS, COMPLETELY DESTROYING THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD OVER THE YEARS. THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE SMALL SEGMENTS OF THE PLASTIC MATERIAL FELL INTO THE BACK OF THE DASHBOARD CAUSING FAILURE OF THE AIR CONDITIONER VENTS, DEFROSTER, AND ILLUMINATION OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS. A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED BASED ON THE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS BY DISSATISFIED OWNERS. CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS AGREED TO REPAIR THE DASHBOARD, BUT ONLY IF I AGREE TO A $500 DEDUCTIBLE, IN WHICH I HAVE NOT AGREED TO, SIMPLY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THEY ARE TRYING TO CHARGE ME THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICE, OF THE DASHBOARD. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. ..UPDATED 01/17/2013 *BF

Mileage: 25,000

20110926ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DASH IS CRACKING IN SEVERAL PLACES DROPPING PARTS OF DASHBOARD INTO FAN MOTOR TO OVERHEAT CAUSING INTERFERENCE WITH AIR CONDITIONER OPERATION. *TR

20110926STRUCTURE

DASH IS CRACKING IN SEVERAL PLACES DROPPING PARTS OF DASHBOARD INTO FAN MOTOR TO OVERHEAT CAUSING INTERFERENCE WITH AIR CONDITIONER OPERATION. *TR

20110913ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

REAR DOOR WIRING FAILURE CAUSING THE WIRES TO SHORT OUT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, SPEEDOMETER, DOOR LOCKS, POWER WINDOWS, DOOM LIGHTING. THE WIRING FAILURE IS DUE TO A POOR DESIGN AND POOR QUALITY OF MATERIALS USED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE READ DOORS WIRING SYSTEM BETWEEN THE B PILLAR CONNECTOR AND THE DOOR. THIS CAN BE IDENTIFIED BY REMOVING THE BLACK RUBBER BOOTH. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

20110913EXTERIOR LIGHTING

REAR DOOR WIRING FAILURE CAUSING THE WIRES TO SHORT OUT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, SPEEDOMETER, DOOR LOCKS, POWER WINDOWS, DOOM LIGHTING. THE WIRING FAILURE IS DUE TO A POOR DESIGN AND POOR QUALITY OF MATERIALS USED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE READ DOORS WIRING SYSTEM BETWEEN THE B PILLAR CONNECTOR AND THE DOOR. THIS CAN BE IDENTIFIED BY REMOVING THE BLACK RUBBER BOOTH. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

20110913VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

REAR DOOR WIRING FAILURE CAUSING THE WIRES TO SHORT OUT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, SPEEDOMETER, DOOR LOCKS, POWER WINDOWS, DOOM LIGHTING. THE WIRING FAILURE IS DUE TO A POOR DESIGN AND POOR QUALITY OF MATERIALS USED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE READ DOORS WIRING SYSTEM BETWEEN THE B PILLAR CONNECTOR AND THE DOOR. THIS CAN BE IDENTIFIED BY REMOVING THE BLACK RUBBER BOOTH. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

20110828UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 WITH A CRACKED DASH WHICH IS BAD THE CRACKS STARTED OUT SMALL AND NOW THERE SO MANY THAT THE BROKEN PIECE HAVE STARTED TO FALL THROUGH INTO THE FLOOR AND DOWN THROUGH THE DEFROST .WHAT THESE DASHES ARE MADE OF YOU WOULD THING THAT THEY WOULD NOT CRACK BUT HAS SOME OF THESE PIECES COULD BECOME AIRBORNE IF YOU HAVE THE WINDOWS DOWN CAUSING ACCIDENT IF IT WERE TO HIT YOU IN THE FACE. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT FROM FLYING PLASTIC. *TT

Mileage: 90,000

Compare 2002DODGERAM QUAD CAB to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB have?
The 2002 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB has 265 NHTSA complaints, 13 crashes, 4 fires, 16 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB?
The most-complained component for the 2002 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB is STRUCTURE with 62 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR.
Is the 2002 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.