Consumer - There are already several complaints filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The more complaints that are filed the more chances of a recall there will be.
Aftermarket Replacement Dash For 2003-2005 - This dash is advertised to never crack. This is the only full replacement dashboard that I have found for my 2003 Dodge 4x4 3/4 ton. They also have earlier models as well. You can also check out www.lmctruck.com and www.genosgarage.com and both of them have full replacement dashboards for the dodge pickup. Don't buy the one from Dodge, it will just crack again.
The dash window vents started cracking after about 3 1/2 years. Now there are no vents, the covers have cracked all over and the air/heat vents have fallen out. Dodge service told me on several occasions that there was no warranty coverage on the dash. They did offer to sell me a replacement dash for $3800.00 installed, but they only offered a 90 day warranty on it.
I recently tried to trade it for a new Dodge1500, but they offered me $2000 less than the Ford dealer. The salesman said their offer was so low because the dash was in such bad shape and ruined the value of the truck. Needless to say, I'm now a Ford driver and sold the Dodge for a work truck.
My 03 Dodge only has 44,000 miles on it. Truck looks like brand new from the outside, Two months ago I noticed a large crack on my dashboard went from the front windshield all the way back, right above the glove box. Two days ago I was driving down the road and hit a bump and the plastic over the vents on the dashboard caved in WTF!!!!!!!!!!!! My truck is always cared for and love it but I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE PRODUCT! RAM TOUGH YEAH RIGHT. Change your commercial to RAM CRAP!!!!! Pay 40,000 for our truck and your dash will fall in.
Didn't notice the crack in the dash until I saw the vent grill in the middle of the dash was missing some its bars. Then I looked a little harder and notice it was from the top of the dash down to the bottom of the dashboard. I had an 1981 Chevrolet pickup that I traded in that didn't have that problem.
My 2003 RAM 1500 is my baby, that I don't leave outside, its parked under a carport. It gets detailed 2 to 3 times per year. The truck runs like its brand new without any problems. This dashboard problem is only a little surprising since a church member showed me his 2006 about two years ago and his dash was completely caved in. The exterior of his truck is in excellent condition and he was devastated that Dodge was not going to cover the damage. I will take and add pictures soon as possible:(
- Ronald G.,
Mobile, AL, US
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Dodge needs to make this right! The thin plastic dashboard is hardly the dash I thought it was when I purchased the vehicle and it wasn't until I paid off the vehicle that I found out the cheap dash had started to crack and fall into itself. There is no way to fix besides replacing it or covering the wounds.
When the first crack appeared a few years ago I blamed my son who had used it a few times to go to school. I know that my son would have accepted blame if he had done it but said he did not. Then I thought the car wash was responsible since I go about every 10 days to get it washed. But as time has gone by it has gotten progressively worse. There are several big cracks and now the vent holes on the top have fallen into the dash. Wow what a class act for Dodge to not accept responsibility for this crappy, cheaply made eyesore. I definitely will NEVER buy another dodge product ever again. Since this is just cosmetic I won't go into all the other disappointing problems this beast has since dodge didn't accept responsibility for them either.
The dash on my 2003 Dodge RAM 1500 began to crack within 3 years of driving the truck. I use a windshield shade when parking, and the dash shows no discoloration. Originally the crack formed near the glove box, now many smaller cracks have formed. I recently went over a bump and the driver's side vent near the windshield disintegrated. I was proud to own a Dodge truck. I cannot believe they are going to chase customers away by this lack of support with this issue
I'm not getting on here to rant and carry on. I just want it to be known that I paid a lot of hard earned money for my truck and I love it. I've always taken are of it keeping a sun shade in the front window and keeping some sort of protectant (I usually use Turtle Wax products) applied. I have very low miles and can assure everyone that it has not been abused at all. I wouldn't say anything if it had been. But as I stated before, I paid a lot of hard earned money for my truck and really just want to receive the quality of product that I deserve.
It started with one crack about 2 months ago, now there are 3. Reading all the others, and seeing the other pics I'm not optimistic it will not get horrifically worse.
It makes me sick. I have a beautiful truck. And the dash looks like crap. I just want Dodge to replace it. Paid a lot of money for this truck so I expect the dash to last as long as the truck.
For the amount of money we spend on these trucks, we could at LEAST expect the plastic dash covers to last at least 10 years (should last much longer than that). Cheap workmanship Dodge...
I keep Truck out of the sun. This is so bad now that there are pieces falling down onto the Tweeter Speakers ruining the high cost factory Infinity sound system in my Truck.
Who is the materials engineer at Chrysler. Have they ever tested this for UV breakdown?
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
The dash window vents started cracking after about 3 1/2 years. Now there are no vents, the covers have cracked all over and the air/heat vents have fallen out. Dodge service told me on several occasions that there was no warranty coverage on the dash. They did offer to sell me a replacement dash for $3800.00 installed, but they only offered a 90 day warranty on it.
I recently tried to trade it for a new Dodge1500, but they offered me $2000 less than the Ford dealer. The salesman said their offer was so low because the dash was in such bad shape and ruined the value of the truck. Needless to say, I'm now a Ford driver and sold the Dodge for a work truck.
- Ed B., Bessemer, AL, US