2002 Dodge RAM 1500 Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 93about this part
- Share
- 11%of 815 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 80,799miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 93 complaints about the electrical system of the 2002 Dodge RAM 1500, 11% of the 815 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,799 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved and 7 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Intermittent turn signal failure. Turn left signal on, and flash then right signal will occasionally flash. Sometimes left and right will alternate. This is not the same as emergency flashers where both lights are on at the same time. This is dangerous, I'm in a left turn lane with my left blinker on but my truck is telling other drivers that I want to turn right. The failure, erratic behavior is random and intermittent.”
NHTSA complaint #11143387, filed 2018-10, 98,000 miles“I was just driving along, crack my dash cracked from front end to almost the back. The crack caused me to jump swerve my truck almost causing an accident. Dodge has been no help and my dash has deteriorated even more ever since, I'm getting very worried it might affect the air bags as all the dash pieces fall into the recess where the air bags are which would be a bad thing should there be an accident.”
NHTSA complaint #10481076, filed 2012-10, 70,000 miles“Started truck turned on headlight switch ,was on high beam so pulled lever to dim an lights would not dim then wipers come on and wouldnt shut off and wiper sprayer come on and would not shut off but if I held lever back all went off so have to drive holding lever back.when I got home and shut truck off all of the problems would not shut off even with key out of ignition so had to tie lever back.”
NHTSA complaint #10381743, filed 2011-02, 130,000 miles“While driving over railroad tracks last week, the key slid out of the ignition. When I attempted to pull to the right shoulder, my steering colomn locked and the motor finally died and coasted to a stop.”
NHTSA complaint #10896800, filed 2016-08, 222,750 miles“Have had a cracked dashboard for quite some time now, I have filed a complaint before and could not get a resolution from chrysler/Dodge. My dashboard has cracked to pieces causing a safety hazard. Finally my electrical systems have started to malfunction due to the pieces of my fallen dashboard falling on electrical components, there was a small short/fire that caused my cruise control to stop working and my dash lights also. …”
NHTSA complaint #10423116, filed 2011-09, 114,000 milesRelated service bulletins
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Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 175 | 25% |
| 2011 | 214 | 31% |
| 2010 | 71 | 15% |
| 2009 | 97 | 14% |
| 2008 | 52 | 9% |
| 2007 | 62 | 12% |
| 2006 | 125 | 16% |
| 2005 | 63 | 5% |
| 2004 | 99 | 9% |
| 2003 | 62 | 5% |
| 2002 | 93 | 11% |
| 2001 | 81 | 7% |
| 2000 | 35 | 7% |
| 1999 | 36 | 6% |
| 1998 | 32 | 6% |
| 1997 | 23 | 6% |
| 1996 | 26 | 9% |
| 1995 | 31 | 15% |
| 1994 | 22 | 19% |
| 1991 | 1 | 14% |
Other parts of the 2002 Dodge RAM 1500
278 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
99 complaintsSuspension
71 complaintsOther or unknown
62 complaintsEngine cooling
58 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
53 complaintsAir bags
46 complaintsSteering
44 complaintsBrakes
36 complaintsExterior lighting
35 complaintsEngine
22 complaintsVehicle speed control
22 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Dodge RAM 1500
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology