I don't need to say much more than what has already been said. Started with one crack and now is a huge hole and passenger airbag is falling out. Dodge cannot with any integrity say this is not a safety or re callable issue.
In contrast I have a 20 year old Honda beater that sits outside and has for the past 7 years. The interior, dash included, is in excellent shape for the age.
Dash had a small crack in it when I bought it now the is no dash left. Dash must have cut the wiring cant get it through emisions due to the plug not reading any data. I think this should be a factory recall. Found a complete dash at a local parts yard they want 750.00 for dash with harness, but how long before this one cracks and cuts the wiring.
Hello, my name is Robbie and im far from pissed off. I have a 99 dodge ram 1500 4x4. Dodge should have been takin out back and shot along time ago for even putting something so %$*&@! chinsey in a truck like that dash. I don't need the radio now because i can listen to the wonderful cracking of the dash. BELIEVE it or not, i had a nice carpet molded dash cover on for a couple of years but i'm pretty sure that made it even worst. It took only 5 days for the dash to start cracking and already it cracked in half. When i turn on my defroster, u can hear it crack more in other places. I'm afraid to touch the damn thing because it WILL fall through. It would be a different story if it was easier to change out, made a better quality dash, and yet still affordable. DODGE! COME ON!!! Get your head of your @$$!!!
I have talked with several repair shops about the dash problem in my Ram. All say the same thing. I could have told you not to buy a DODGE, 4 of 5 have the same problem. I have fixed mine with the one thing in the world that solves most problems with defects of workmanship in the Auto Industry. and what is that you ask? DUCT TAPE, if it was good enough for Apollo 13, it will work for me. Maybe Dodge needs to supply a couple of rolls with each new truck and after each service call to a dealer.
I BOUGHT THIS 1999 DODGE RAM IN 2002 WITH ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON IT. I NOW HAVE 79,000. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE, THE DASH CRACKED. AFTER ABOUT 10 CRACKS ACROSS THE TOP OF THE DASH IN EVERY HORIZONTAL DIRECTION. I WENT TO THE "5 STAR" LOCAL DEALER AND SHOWED THEM THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM AND ESTIMATED $1500 TO REPAIR. UNTIL NOW, I THOUGHT THAT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH THE PROBLEM AND ASSUMED THAT THIS CERTAINLY WASN'T A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT MAY BE IN LINE FOR A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. I ORDERED A CUSTOM FIT MAT AT AUTOZONE TO PUT OVER THE CRACKS. THE CRACKS HAVE CONTINUED AND ARE NOW GOING VERTICAL ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEZEL. THERE ARE PROBABLE 15 CRACKS IN ALL. IN ADDITION, THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT PLASTIC DOOR FRAME HINGE PIN (PART OF THE DASH) BROKE OFF ON THE LOWER LEFT SIDE. I EPOXIED IN A PIECE OF WOOD DOWEL ROD TO MAKE THE GLOVE BOX DOOR WORK. I WISH THAT SOMEONE WOULD START A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT RESULTED IN FREE DASH REPLACEMENT WITH THE LAWYER FEES BEING ADDED ABOVE AND BEYOUND THE BASIC REPLACEMENT BENEFIT. THE GOOD FAITH ON THE PART OF THE DODGE "5 STAR" WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BE LESS HOSTILE AND POSSIBLY DO FURTHER PURCHASES FROM CHRYSLER MOTORS. RIGHT NOW, I WOULD NOT BUY OR RECOMMEND ANY OF THEIR VEHICLES. IF THEY DON'T DO SOMETHING BY THE TIME THAT I EVETUALLY SELL THIS TRUCK (IF POSSIBLE), I WILL MAKE IT MY PERSONAL GOAL TO SPREAD THIS NEWS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THEIR UNWILLINGNESS TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT A KNOWN SERIOUS PROBLEM. I'LL BET IT WILL BE CHEAPER FOR THEM TO INSTALL A FREE NEW DASH! IS THERE A DODGE TRUCK OWNER WHO IS A LAWYER IN THE AUDIANCE? ANYONE OUT THERE THAT CAN RECOMMEND A SOLUTION?
Update from Oct 25, 2009: UPDATE - I JUST REPORTED IT TO THE NHTSA AS AN AIRBAG SAFETY PROBLEM AS FOLLOWS:
SEEMS LIKE THE DASH FALLING APART WOULD SET OFF THE AIR BAG OR SHORT THE WIRING TO CAUSE UNSAFE OPERATIONAL PROBLEM SUCH AS A FIRE. IF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYS WITH A FRAGMENTED DASH, WILL THE SHARP FRAGMENTS BECOME MISSLES THAT COULD INJURE OR KILL THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER? THIS APPEARS TO BE A REALLY UNSAFE CONDITION. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET. CAN YOU HELP PUT THE PRESSURE ON DODGE FOR A RECALL TO REPLACE OUR DASHES?
I think we all know this a defective product an could be a very hazardous problem in a lot of ways. Shattering into pieces upon air bag deployment on passenger side,electrical failure if water got down behind dash panel,not to mention how bad it looks. I filed a complaint with http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ and suggest you do the same. Let's get a recall.
With all the customers complaints why in the hell can't chrysler/dodge grow some balls and admit that there is a problem with the material used on the dashes in these vehicles, my (1999 dodge quadcab 1500 4x4) beautiful deep red/gray two tone truck only has 26000 miles on it, looks brand new, WELL, UNTIL YOU GET CLOSE TO IT AND SEE ALL THE DAMN CRACKS IN THE DASH. It is garaged most of the time, unless we are camping.
So they can't tell me it is sun baked, I started a list aprox. 4 years ago, and have aprox. 600 names of people that drive dodge trucks with there vin # that have cracks in there dash!!!!!!! and that is just in a tri-state area by me within aprox. a 300 mile area, hey CHRYSLER DOESN'T THAT TELL YOU THERE IS A DEFECT!!!!!!!
My Dodge 1500 dash cracked for no reason. I was looking for the part to fix it and found that it is a very big problem. I think Dodge should really be helping us out with this problem.
My Dash started cracking about 2 years ago, since there are so many complaints that either the manufacturer that made the dash should pay for it getting replaced,or class actions law suit should be filed on the behalf of all of us. I call dodge dealer they made a appointment to see my dash there respond was you did this your self that was it.
I own 2 Dodge 1500 pickups. The dash has cracked on both vehicles and caved in. I went to dodge who told me "Yea we've had a lot of those", hint Dodge sounds like a problem. I love my vehicles and take care of both. I want to fix my vehicle but it will cost 200 dollars a piece for the part and then 700 dollars a piece for the labor. This sucks and I can't afford this. Dodge just a hint you've lost me as a customer and I'm sure several others as a result of your poor customer service. I paid cash for both vehicles looks like Ford or Toyota will be getting my money from now on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have 2 Dodge Trucks 2001 dodge 2500 diesel and a 1999 1500 Both have cracked dashes .I have been in contact with dodge and spent many hours on the phone with customer service .I was told that i needed to take both trucks to dealer to be looked at and that i would be contacted.that was over a year ago and i have not been contacted .I called back about a week after contacting and was put on hold and then hung-up on.I have looked on line and have seen 2 or 3 news casts on dodge cars and trucks having cracked dashes .The problem is very large and covers many years and many different models .Is there any one who has thought of a class action suit against dodge?
got my truck used in 2002 keep it in the garage until 2 years ago,now I have a hole in my dash on passenger side right at the glass ,the hole appeared around september of 2008 , This morning 06/29/09 when i started my truck several bad cracks
ran across my dash from the hole area toward the front looks so bad i turned off passenger air bag in case the dash comes loose and sets it off. this all happened with no stress to the dash ,I agrre with th person who said we need a class action law suit
The first time my dash cracked was in March 2005 which was replaced. Just this morning I found my dash cracked!!! Barely two years and it cracked again? I love my truck but this is getting rather annoying, just hope I don't get any transmission problems.
My Dash started cracking about 5 years after I bought the Truck, My grip is that since there are so many complaints that either the manufacturer that made the dash for Chrysler or Chrysler Corporation itself should pay for it getting replaced. I agree with another person’s grip, a class actions law suit should be filed on the behalf of all of us. I also will not buy another Chrysler product since they know this is a problem and they failed to act on it. And to think we (taxpayers) are paying the money for there bailout.
My dash started cracking with just small cracks and continued to worsen. I took the truck to a Dodge dealer and I was advised they had seen several such problems in these trucks but the Dodge Corp. would not fix them. They advised if I wanted the truck repaired, I would have to pay for the repairs.
The dash continues to fall apart. I think there should be a class action law suit against Dodge and would be a willing participant.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I don't need to say much more than what has already been said. Started with one crack and now is a huge hole and passenger airbag is falling out. Dodge cannot with any integrity say this is not a safety or re callable issue.
In contrast I have a 20 year old Honda beater that sits outside and has for the past 7 years. The interior, dash included, is in excellent shape for the age.
- Joe Z., Sussex, WI, US