I had just purchased the vehicle and one time getting in my truck, the vynl(sp?) A post cracked so i had to drive my truck with a dangling piece of plastic constantly in my line of sight. Finally a month ago, i went to install cab lights and it happened again. With all these problems about cracked dashboards don't you think they would have fixed it by now?
I love everything about my Dodge Ram 1500, but the dash !! I bought this truck because I loved the way it ran and the way it looked. Now thanks to the manufacturers defected dash board, my truck looks like i picked it up straight out of the junk yard. My dash started out with a small crack and before I knew it, there were 5 small cracks, then more. Now I have no dash left in my truck !! Seriously I am driving around with exposed wires and it looks horrible !! You would think if Dodge wanted to stay in business past this recession, they would take care of their customers and issue an immediate recall on the crap they sell !!!
When my dash cracked it was the beginning of the summer. Before the end of the year was out, it looked like the grand canyon national park. I contacted the local Dodge dealer for a replacement and was told Chrysler was working on the problem (bull-$*!).
I bought my truck In January of 2008 and it had a few cracks in the dash already. Now the cracks have spidered all over the dash and caving in. I have sections of the dash that have fallen in that are more then a foot wide. It is embarrassing because its the first thing you see when you look at the front side of the truck. I have looked all over the internet to find out why Dodge has not had a recall on this. Now that I have seen how many other people have had the same problems it really aggravates me that Dodge wont do anything about there own problems. They want the government to help bail them out in financial problems but don't even think of taking care of the customers they currently have them selves!!!!!! Last Dodge I will buy!!!
I wish Id thought to snap a few pics before I typed this..
My dash starting cracking shortly after the truck was paid off. Since then it starting to look like the Salt Flats out west...the cracks not only run all over the dash pad but also extend into the trim over the Driver console (around the gauge display).
A new dash is simply outta the question. The cost has sky-rocketed because you just can't find one without a cracking issue.
This is really the only eyesore on my truck and has actually dropped the offers that potential buyers are offering by a couple of hundred dollars (yeah, its for sale!)
With a professional background in chemical and Polymer manufacturing, I know a few things about this product. I work for more than a few Tier 1, 2, and 3 suppliers (supplied straight to Ford, GM, Chrysler, etc) and I know what the problem is...Degradation. This is caused by the producer trying to cut cost of raw material by using a high percentage of "regrind" in their process. After several generations of regrind are pass through the thermal process, the molecular bonding in the polymer start to break down and it become more and more brittle, losing the flexibility and durability of the "first generation" productions. During quality testing this is not detectable because these parts haven't been exposed to extended period of UV exposure. Its only detectable after these periods.
Dodge/ Crysler put the demands on their supplier, but the supplier is ultimately responsible for the evident quality issue
I think dodge needs to have a recall on the dash and fix everones because it costs way to much to go and fix it your self its there fault they put that cheep ass dash in all there trucks.never had a problem with any of my other trucks.
The dash has 3 major cracks at first there was only 1 for a couple of years than this year 2008 we now have 2 more from the drivers side across to the passenger side. It looks awful don't know what to do. We are looking for a new pickup it will not be a Dodge, we have been looking at the Toyota Tundra.
I think I am ready for that class action lawsuit against Dodge. Its time we as consumers stand up and show the makers of our autos, that we will not stand for cheap quality made transportation any longer.
It is a shame, that we buy our cars that are not guaranteed any more for the lifetime of the vehicles. I see these trucks on the road all the time. Good trucks, but the quality manufacturers put into the materials they use to build the inside of the vehicles we use to go to work, for work and our families, is just dwindling down to throw away crap. We work hard for our money, and its not right, that the American people are ripped off this way. What has happened to the pride that we use to have in the products we made? Pride...no pride any more, just money hungry, cheaply made, throw away products, and no one will stand behind what they make. This will be the last Dodge product I buy.
Anyone still want to get that lawsuit started? I am in!
1999 Dodge Ram 1500 with a cracked dash board. I have put several thousands of dollars into this truck only to have the dash fall apart, cup holder break, evaporator
coil going bad. Least to say how disappointing to have these problems. I have a
'90 Chevrolet work van with 300,000 miles and has no cracks in the dash. Obviously
by all the complaints this is definitely a manufacturer defect and there should be a recall
of some kind. I was thinking about buying the new Challenger but I think i'll wait for the
I understand this isn't don't on purpose but, I think with as many people that are having the same problem with this and similar vehicles,that dodge should really do something about this.It's not like one or two people are doing this just to fix something that they may have messed up themselves.Ifeel proud to represent dodge but I can't make it look good like this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE DODGE TRUCKS, THIS IS MY THIRD ONE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BY THE DEALER , CHRYSLER DODGE,, OR SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. REPLACED IT IN 2006 AND THE 2ND ONE CRACKED 16 MONTHS LATER ,, NOW IT HAS 84,000 MILES AND ANOTHER CRACKED UP DASH. THINK I WILL JUST GET THE DASH COVER,,,,,,,,,,,THE NEXT 1 WILL BE THE NISSAN TITAN,,,,,,,,,...????????????
I bought this truck new, the cracked dash board was one of may problems faced with this vehicle since I have owned it. Truck was in mint condition when it happened went to drive it one day and noticed a snap sound, low and behold it was the dash board. it has several cracks in it including from the glass to the driver seat, from the glass to the radio , from the glass to the passenger side air bag. I have yet been able to find a remedy for this problem and trying to get help from the dealer who sold it to me is next to impossible for any complaint. Dodge should stand behind their product and realize that this model and year is terrible for this problem and they should either recall it or pay the repair cost. I feel I was charged extremely good money for a company who obviously cut corners on quality.
I bought a 1999 Dodge Quad Sport 4x4 in 2005 from a local dealer. 6 months later I got a large crack in the dash from the vent to the radio. I covered it with a dash mat. Looks kinda cheesy if you ask me but it was a cheap band-aid. I just looked under it last week and I now have 6-7 large cracks from the windshield to the bezel and glove box areas. This is the 3rd complaint thread I've posted on and I can tell you this is DEFINITELY NOT AN ISOLATED CASE! There are thousands of these bad dashes and calling the dealers and corporate have had mixed results. I'm calling next week to 1-800-992-1997 and giving my vin# along with my complaint. You can try yourself if you like. Some have gotten theirs fixed for free, some with deductibles and some got snubbed. Or should I say MOST got snubbed. Used replacement parts are rare at best and new ones from the dealer are in the $400-550 range so I've heard. Then there's the labor cost of $500-700. I've been looking everywhere for info on how to remove the dash for the DIY'ers but I've had little luck except for the fact I've been told it's a pain in the butt. Wish me luck calling them.....
Everyone I know with this year and model has had the dash crack. Currently mine is cracked from windshield to airbag and there's a nice big chunk that rattles around for that extra ambiance. I bought this truck in new in 1999 and have never had major engine trouble but the interior is falling apart including the driver side door panel. The small things start to add up and I will never buy another Dodge again.
It's sad to say that everything we work hard to pay just crumbles in front of us. My dashboard is cracked, crumbled, broken, missing, etc...I also agree that Dodge should step up and take responsibility for this defect. If I wanted a broken dash, I would have just taken a hammer to it. It's very embarrassing to drive around with my dash looking this way. It's more depressing that I paid all that money just to see it that happen.I hadn't even finished paying off my truck when this happened.What a shame...Definitely no more Dodge for me!!!!
I have put great pride into my truck and it is a shame that the dash has crumbled. It is embarrassing. I see others have had the same problem. And unfortunately Dodge has been unable to help. I have been looking with repair facilities and auto yards and I have been told it is virtually impossible to find a used dash that is not cracked the same as mine. How is this possible?
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I had just purchased the vehicle and one time getting in my truck, the vynl(sp?) A post cracked so i had to drive my truck with a dangling piece of plastic constantly in my line of sight. Finally a month ago, i went to install cab lights and it happened again. With all these problems about cracked dashboards don't you think they would have fixed it by now?
- farmerjp37, Glen Allen, VA, US