2002 Dodge Ram 1500

What a nice truck! I liked the first generation of this body style when they came out, and this generation still looks just as good, drives better, has a better interior and is more reliable, more or less. But all is not well. The single biggest complaint I’ve heard about is a cracking dash panel. It seems to be related to heat because it’s almost totally concentrated in the south. So, beware if you are looking for a truck from the hot states. The dash will crack and start to look hideous and even worse, set you back over $1000!! Don’t bother buying one from a salvage yard unless it comes from up north. While this isn’t a functional issue, it’s ugly and will really tick you off!

There are a few serious issues to look out for. If you see a power steering leak, or the fluid level is low, look elsewhere. If there are any noises, let me repeat, ANY noises or vibrations upon acceleration, run far and run fast. There are u-joint issues and rear axle issues that will set you back over $1200 and could still come back again later. Don’t get me wrong, these are not bad trucks, it just seems that you either get a peach or a rotten apple here. Given the issues with the power steering and rear axle, I’d ask to see service records. These fluids should be replaced and the owner’s manual will have guidelines as to how often to replace these fluids.

To be honest, if I were looking at one of the earlier years of this generation (say 2002 or 2003) truck I would also expand my search to the first generation Ram. You can still find a babied truck from the first generation and avoid some possible expensive repairs.