I've never had a car or truck where the dashboard simply started to fall apart by itself. The dashboard is as brittle as thin potato chips.
I take care of my truck pretty well. However I know for a fact that many if not all Dodge truck owners are having the same issues with the dashboard simply cracking up and falling apart. Dodge should recall there vehicles with a newer designed better product for their dashboards.
Ignoring these complaints simply warrants less sales of future dodge and Chrysler products.
I for one will not ever buy or recommend another Dodge or Chrysler vehicle knowing that my next vehicle would end up in the same condition as my current truck. However if Dodge and Chrysler/Fiat would man up and recall my vehicle along with all that are effected by this and fix/replace my dashboard at no cost I would then be able to recommend them once again.
However the chances of this happening are Zero to none judging by the lack of caring from them from what I have read so far.
I have maintained this vehicle extremely well, and have been proud of it, but not anymore. This manufacturers defect (cracked Dash, in two places so far), makes my vehicle look like something that has been sitting on the back 40 for the last 30 years!
Not only does it look bad, it has me extremely worried that if the air bags inflate, it will send pieces of plastic flying through the air into peoples faces or eyes. I have noticed that the cracks continue to "grow", and who knows where they will stop?! I'm also worried about exposed wiring, and the possibility of a fire!
This defect in materials is totally Dodge/Chrysler's responsibility to fix, I paid good money for supposedly "intact" machine, and now due to faulty materials, it is falling apart!! It is totally ridiculous for a vehicle with no more miles on it than this one has to have a CRACKED DASH!
Get up off of your cheap, tightwad ass Dodge/Chrysler and REPLACE this!!! I paid for a Dash in one piece, not one in pieces!! I might also add I paid CASH for this truck,....there was no financing!
I have contacted Dodge several times over the years and always get the same answer as everyone else: 'Yes we know about the problem, but it is not our problem. you did not care for your truck and therefore all the huge pieces of the dash top that have fallen, and all those cracks and grill vents that have fallen in, are not defects. it's your problem!' My parents have owned many Dodge products over the years, but no more. Man up Dodge, Your previously loyal customers are leaving for better built and warranted products. BYE!
- KEN M.,
Ontario, CA, US
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Started with small crack and grew and grew and grew and etc.
vent portals broken out left open holes
started with the upper part dash and continued to the lower part dash
blower fan roars on high heat or cool...repaired approx 3 times at my cost and still have to turn lower than high to hear yourself think. Always told that a leaf or something has gotten down into the fan, but then AGAIN starts up after a little while.
Like Dodge a lot but am thinking very muck of going Ford very soon. Kind of fed up know what I mean.
We came back from vacation, leaving our vehicles at home without being used for 2 1/2 weeks. Getting home and driving to work I notice that my dashboard is cracked in 2 different places..... These cracks were not there when we first left on vacation.....
what's left of my dashboard make's me mad as xxx. it took a whole lot of time and money for me to get a [ at the time a NEW TRUCK] I try to take care of what i have; and it make's me VERY MAD it's FALLING APART like it's doing. it's 4 door 4 wheel drive full size truck; I for me spent a lot of money on buying this truck. I like dodge; but they won't fix something that's not my fault. IF I EVER ANOTHER TRUCK IT WON'T BE A DODGE....RAY
I don't really remember when the crack started. Bought it since 2004. My friends always tell me is that I let expose to the sun a lot. I know that really can be it since my dad has a nissan truck and also expose it to the sun. Wasn't until I found this site that everybody shared the same problem as me. Now I can at least buy a cover, don't feel like getting a new dashboard.
Back in 09, my son noticed a small crack in the dash, and since then it's become so bad that the defrost cover is sitting in 3 separate pieces, with chunks of the dash missing. Where they went....I don't know, but I'm sure it's not good.
This is the truck that I've promised my son for staying on the honor roll for 5 straight years, and I'm ashamed to give it to him in this condition, but the cost to have it replaced it ridiculous, not to mention having to look forward to it cracking again since the parts are coming from the same place. It's a sad day when I have to actually consider putting a dash mat over the problem because the manufacturers "fix" isnt really a fix, but more of a band aid that happens to cost over a $1000.
It almost hurts my feelings to admit that I'm looking for a different brand of truck to replace this one when I pass it down to my son. It also concerns me with the safety of him when is has it. If the dashboard is made so poorly, and I've had other issues and recalls as well, what else may be wrong with the truck? I did notice that a while back, when I ran into the back of another vehicle, that my airbags did not deploy. But never really questioned it, and at the time that everyone involved was ok. But now my son will be operating this vehicle.
Everyone I've met who has a similar year dodge truck has the exact same problem. If that's not a defect that should be recalled, I don't know what is.
First my dash had a small crack, then a second and finally a section fell off leaving a big hole in my dash, my truck has less than 40000 miles on it. However I do live in Florida and my truck sits outside in the sun all the time. I do think that the dash material is defective, it should not turn as brittle as it did even if it sits in the sun.
When I purchased my truck the dash had one small crack in it now it has gotten much worse. I have at least four separate ones and one is by the defrost vent. I contacted Dodge and was told that it is not a recall part and since it is out of warranty they will not cover it.
I love my truck I take very good care of it, but I am not sure that I would purchase another one.
Dodge should step up to the plate and repair all of the defective dashboards and stand by their slogan "Ram Tough"
The dash has started to have sharp edges that could severely cut you. Dodge needs to step up and fix the issue. I'f not, they are going to have a lawsuit instead.
I love the body style of my 2002 and 2003 Dodge trucks when they came out. No questions about it. So, I also bought (You know) the HEMI (my 03).
Well, both have cracked PLASTIC dash panels now....Dodge should cover the replacement of both my vehicles. Once it was discovered, Dodge should have had a recall before the problem got too big...... It is a Major flaw in their interior design specs. Why didn't they conduct a structural / endurance test on the dash panels. I will not ever buy another Da#@*!! dodge again.
Hey, Dodge go back to the drawing board and get this fixed ASAP. You are losing the respect of the American people again.......Bail Out my A#@!! How about Bail US out with a proper fix at your cost Dodge!! And, start producing quality crafted vehicles...!
My main problem was when I took the truck in for maintenance work for AC not working I got the truck back with a small crack and I told them. They said they didn't so it that I didn't take care of the dash and weather elements caused this problem. I told them that was not like that and I baby my truck............ I investigated online and found numerous other people with crack dashboard complaints. It would of cost over $1000 to fix. I am very disappointed with Dodge and will never buy another vehicle from them.... It is very sad that such a large company will not stay by their products.
A short time after the 36,000 mile warranty was up, I noticed a crack at the 1 1/4 round vent in the center of the dash. a year later there were 5 cracks. Now there are 16 cracks across the dash. I feel with something like this where there were so many cases across the country the country, this is obviously a Dodge problem. This is a problem with the materials they use. I am in customer service for a well known Boat manufacturer and if we were to have a problem like this, it would be a no brain er. No doubt about it.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Total manufacturer oversight. I'm just waiting for a piece of the dash to hit someone in the face when the fan turns on.
- Will P., Waynesville, MO, US