This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Shortly after we purchased the vehicle back in 2000 the dashboard started to crack. Throughout the years the plastic dash has become more brittle and the broken pieces have the strength and texture of peanut brittle but are rather sharp. We would find pieces all over the cab of the truck and if you dropped something down in the dash and tried to retrieve it, you would often come in contact with the sharp edges of the plastic that was still attached to the rest of the dash assembly. Here recently the inner-frame that is also made of the same faulty plastic which holds the radio, temperature controls, headlight switch, airbag control switch, instrument panel, etc has also started to crack and the components are beginning to detach from the rest of the dash assembly. The main concern that we have recently noticed is how the passenger air-bag cover snaps onto the cracking dashboard plastic, if the air-bag were to deploy sharp plastic shards would be sent towards the passenger with the airbag. We have filed multiple complaints with our local Dodge dealer and the Dodge corporation directly and they simply tell us the vehicle is out of warranty and there is nothing they can do and offer for us to pay for the dashboard to be replaced. We should not have to pay for the mistake of the company due to them using defective plastic to mold the dashboard assembly.
A crack was noticed on the top of the dash on the passenger side. Over time a piece of the top of the dash has dropped down inside the dash. A crack is extending slowly toward the drivers side of the dash.
I purchased the vehicle in 2006, shortly thereafter, I began to notice pieces of plastic laying on the floor. It was my belief that the children were breaking the plastic until I was driving and a large piece of the dash simply fell to the floor. This problem has persisted to the point where I am afraid to drive the vehicle anymore. I am afraid because the dashboard appears to be detached from the body, the way it gyrates about vigorously. I am afraid that the airbags will be activated or the dash will fall to my lap while driving.
- Dallas, TX, USA
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The entire dashboard becomes brittle and falls apart. It is very thin to start. When I call around to buy a replacement dashboard at local junk yards, I'm told that if I can find one, I should play the lottery, that's letting me know that it is a large problem that affects all the trucks. I personally know 6 people with the same year trucks that all have the same problem.
While warming my truck up on a cold morning I turned on the windshield defrost once the truck was warm. I heard cracking and popping. When I turned the defrost fan off I noticed the dash had cracked into approx 24 pieces causing the dash to fall onto the wires. When I contacted Dodge I was told that they were aware of the issue however there had been no recall but they could replace the dash for $900. I looked at molded dash overlays to repair the problem but there is nothing left to adhere it to.
The dash board on my Ram has a huge crack { along with several small cracks} running from passenger side windshield back across to center of dash. I have to wonder what is keeping dash together, very unsafe. This is a big problem in this model and needs to be taken care of!
No matter what I do to take care of it the dash just keeps cracking more and more. There are rattles in the dash from the pieces that have broken off. I fear that some day the dash is going to break loose while I am driving causing my foot to get stuck on the accelerator.
The dash board has shattered and fallen into the vehicle. Pieces of the dash fly out at you when you turn the fan on. The pieces of the dash are allover the floor and get into everything. If we ere to be in an accident the air bags would come straight out the top and hit the windshield. The dash board provides no support to the vehicle and would not help anyone in the front seat if they were to be in an accident..
The dash started to crack in this time frame and continues to crack into pieces which may fall into the housing. These pieces are sharp and in an accident could easily break away and cause bodily harm. This is a well known issue with the dash and also the black cover in this vehicle spanning a number of years. The plastic is obviously sub standard and defective. It is not only a cosmetic issue but a safety issue in that further damage could occur from further deterioration of the defective materials.
For the last few years I have watched my dashboard slowly deteriorate. It started with small hairline cracks that have evolved into huge cracks. Every bumb causes the cracked sections to cave in, requiring me to lift those sections with a screw driver. I take very good care of my truck, cleanin and polishin it twice a month. I receive compliments from people telling me that my truck looks as if it was just drivin out of a show room except for my dashboard. I'm terrified to think of what might happen if some sharp pieces were to fly in my or my passengers eyes in the event of an impact. ( please) bring this matter to Dodge's attention, lets not wait for a statistic to make us think, yea, we should have done something about it.
The dash on my 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 has cracked to the point that there is barely any left. I feel this is a safety issue because the broken pieces could fly at someone and cause serious injuries. Also upon impact the dash could have further pieces break off and cause damage.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Maysel, WV, USA