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.
I love my truck, but I always thought that a hard plastic dash was a bad idea. When the cracks started, it only confirmed my fears. The dealer said that it isn't their responsibility, and since Chrysler has had all of their financial woes, they wouldn't be covering it either. I've seen the same problem on other Dodge trucks. Come on Dodge, we've bought American, back up your product and get repeat customers.
While driving to work on the interstate in my truck, i put the drivers side window down to try and get some of the frost off of the window. All of a sudden a small piece of my dashboard came off by the wind hitting it and flew and hit me on my forehead. The piece that flew off was part of the defroster grill. If that piece would have hit me in the eye, it is a strong possibility that i could have had a very bad accident or death. Chrysler need to own up to their responsibility and stand behind their vehicles like GM and Ford does and fix this nationwide problem. I have a 1984 Cadillac that sits in the sun day after day, and the dash has not 1 crack in it. Now this is a 27 year old car compared to my 2003 Dodge Ram 1500, which is 8 years old. You do the math. STEP UP CHRYSLER AND BE LOYAL TO YOUR CUSTOMERS. CUSTOMERS ALWAYS RIGHT.
well had to replace my heater core and knew my dash was cracked from the get go but as i tried to pull it apart from the fittings that fasten it to the inner frame it all just cracked to pieces because it was soo brittle. very poor workmanship on the interior plastics very dissatisfied. guess ill have to get a dash mat to try and cover up the ugliness until i can afford a new dash which is over 500 dollars dodge should recall this and replace these stat.
2003 Dodge ram, both speaker grills broken out. dash has cracks all over it and looks like hell. Pieces of broken grill have fallen down inside of dash, and replacement part is 500.00.
Dodge needs to recall and repair this problem, and live up to there advertisements they use to lure the public into buying there vehicles.
- bigtim279,
Los Banos, CA, US
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Same thing. A nice truck with a sucky dash. Dodge should recall and fix all of the broken dashes as they are unsightly and dangerous. I will be riding Dodge until they agree to fix the problem at no cost to me. I have or have had 4 different trucks with the same problem.
I like my truck, but the cracked dash is very annoying. The first crack was such a straight and smooth line I initially thought it might be a two piece dash panel, if there ever was such a thing. But then, over time, more cracks started popping up, and now the thing is a mess. The last straw was when I was cleaning the dash with a paper towel and the grate over the defrost vent fell off. The plastic has become very brittle, and I'm afraid to touch any of it. Looks terrible.
The main reason that I purchased a Dodge, was that their interior was normally of better quality than their competitors. But was I surprised when the whole dash began to crack up and disintergrate. What lousy manufacturing and even worse customer service. Part of the dash is now falling down onto the airbag.
I have owned SEVERAL trucks by Ford and 1 Suburban and have NEVER had a dashboard crack- even have a 2001 Ford Lariat and the dash looks like it did the day I bought it- like it should....and for some reason in 2005 I bought a used Dodge Ram 1500. Only had 24000 miles. By 40,000 miles, the dash started cracking. My son drive the truck so I don't keep up with it that much. I "borrowed" his truck today since mine was in the shop and saw 2 Grand Canyons across the dashboard. The factory won't do anything about it- took it to a dealership and they basically said "so sad too bad." Guess what Dodge- I will post on facebook, twitter, local news and everywhere else i can to have Joe Consumer be aware of the lack of quality and how Dodge sticks its head in the sand when a problem comes up. I just found this website and it is blatantly obvious I am not alone. As one writer said..."NUT UP" and accept responsibility - redeem yourself!
When I bought my truck it had a small crack in the dashboard but over the past 5-6 months it has been cracking like crazy!! I have 5 cracks that extend all the way over pretty much making columns and then more cracks in between those!! I have a piece that completely fell out because it cracked so many different ways. My entire dashboard has cracks all over it now and I've only had it for 9 months....
First of all I love my truck. The only issue I have is the dashboard. It started as a small crack on the passenger side of the dash. It almost seemed like over night it turned into several cracks to the point where large pieces can be removed. The small slats over the vents are broken and have fallen into the defrost vents. Now when I turn on the defroster it sounds like I have pebbles in the vents. I was planning on buying another Dodge next year, but now I may have to look at other makes, unless Dodge steps up and makes things right.
2003 RAM 1500 QUAD CAB Truck has 27500 miles well taken care of, has cracks in dash. contacted chrysler they told me to bring in to take pictures, mileage, an such. well after all that service manager said I'm sorry we can't help you. earlier the chrysler guy told me " being out of warranty doesn't matter we still honor our product" yea right. you don't see other trucks dash cracking. what if i or my wife get in a front end wreck will pieces of the dash come flying like shrapnel?????. don't what to do. thanks
I really like the truck but my friend has the same model and his dash is cracked in the same places. That would tell me they should replace the cracked dashboards or at least offer a better deal to buy them and have them replaced. I am sure they dont need anymore bad publicity.
For the price that we payed for this Dodge Ram 1500, I can't believe how bad my dashboard looks and it happened so fast and looks awful. I always take care of the interior and exterior really good, but it does not matter how clean I've got it, it just looks awful with all the cracks on the dashboard.
I love my truck, my daughter who is 4 named her. She is a 2003 White Dodge Ram she calls snowtrain. A few month ago the dash just cracked in multiple places. It really got to me and I am not sure how to fix it. My daughter now says whenever she get in the truck that "?Snowtrain needs a bandaid." I would like my truck fixed, I am extremely disappointed that I come to the internet and find out this is a known issue. Recall the dash! I pray a piece of the dash doesn't come off and hit me or my daughter.
I thought this was a problem with just my truck, but was I surprised! I've taled to at least ten people in my area with the same problem. My dash is splitting, cracking, and falling down into the dash. There are numerous sharp edges, and in the case of a wreck, will be many flying pieces. Now that I know this is a rampant problem, if I get in a wreck, and my children are injured because of the dash, I will sue the hell out of Dodge. They will need Obama on speed dial for another bailout to pay off all the lawsuits. Do not be quiet about this people!!!!!
I have had this truck since Nov of 2003, and I love it. This just showed up in the spring time (2010) and I have not found a good option for replacing the damaged panel. OEM dealer pieces cost $500+ and that is ridiculous. I don't have time to go all over exploring junk yards either. Other options like a cap or pad just cover up the problem. There is an insufficient amount of aftermarket support for a real fix. I don't want this covered up, I want it repaired with OEM or similar quality for a reasonable price.
My dashboard is cracked all over, and one piece has even fallen out leaving a big hole with sharp plastic exposed. This is a serious problem as I see from the internet. DODGE NEED TO 'MAN - UP' and come up with a fix (recall) for this issue. I will not buy another Dodge truck again unless they fix this issue with these dashboards. The plastic used for making these dashes is obviously defective formula. No other brand of pickup has any where near as many cracked dashboards as dodge.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I love my truck, but I always thought that a hard plastic dash was a bad idea. When the cracks started, it only confirmed my fears. The dealer said that it isn't their responsibility, and since Chrysler has had all of their financial woes, they wouldn't be covering it either. I've seen the same problem on other Dodge trucks. Come on Dodge, we've bought American, back up your product and get repeat customers.
- Rick M., Long Beach, CA, US