Dash polymer material is inferior and should never become so brittle. It literally completely cracked up and is not falling to pieces. I had to purchase a dash cover so as to not have to look at it.
It just sucks that my dashboard is literally falling apart. I have a few cars 10 years older then my 03 dodge 2500 and never had a problem with the dash. I keep trying to super glue it but I feel as though this should of never happened. The truck drives nice that's why I don't understand why it has this piece of crap dashboard. I guess instead of hard vinyl its made of cheap cardboard. This really pissed me off. Hopefully we can get some help.
I bought this truck with 8 miles on it. I have always owned Dodges so I figured loyalty should account for something. Yeah right!! I started off with having so other types of issues--- I will just call it the Bouncing Death -- due to the fact it is a different issue. Moving on to the dash. It started off with two cracks on the passenger side so I brought it up with the dealer back in 2006 when I was dealing with the other issue. Well all did not go well with that issue and it got ugly so the dash got forgotten. When I remembered the dash being cracked, I just figured to let it go for awhile. It was better than what I was ready to do to the smart _ss service manager at the dealership. Well the dash finally started to fall out in chunks. Now, it is held together with duct tape..... Heck, why not??? Quality parts deserve a quality fix.. Now don't they? And just a quick note to service manager's-- make sure the customer that you are smarting off to isn't an automotive engineer. Or better yet, check your mouth in at the door and make an honest effort to complete some customer service today!!!!
Update from Apr 3, 2021: I replaced the dashboard. I found a new unit while searching the web. Granted, it is a plastic molded covering in which it is glued down to the original. Now the problem I had was with the old dash. It has pieces that had fallen off and got lost. I ended up using fiber glass mesh and compound to repair the missing parts. Not perfect but it works. I would suggest if you do this, pull the old dash out and repair it inside. The cover was $109, the fiberglass was $21 and $8 in glue. I did look up the price on a replacement dash and at that time it was only available through the dealership for a staggering price of $1049. So to say the least I went with the $138 that I spent instead. The cracked dashes in these years seem to be fairly constant with all the manufactures. Poor quality and that's it.
My dash is cracking in multiple places and is extremely annoying and Dodge doesn't want to do anything about it. I'm worried about the fact that if the vehicle is in an accident piece might hurt someone when the airbags go off.
I really love my RAM 2500 4x4, but it is certainly a big disappointment seeing the cracked dash every time I drive it. It appears my only option is a dash cover unless Dodge offers a replacement, even for a fair price would fine with me.
It is a problem that dodge should take care of. I have had a piece of this dash cut me in the past and have finally decided I will have to replace it myself. It is a disgrace that dodge will not fix these when there is already a precedent with ford replacing dashes.
In the beginning it was just a small crack, then it progressed and now the entire dashboard is cracked in several different places and is lifting up. I have talked by phone to the Dodge dealership and they said it would cost approximately $1500.00 to $2000.00 to repair. If this is an ongoing problem then I feel that it should be addressed to repair at no cost to me. It should have been a recall if Dodge knew about this problem all along and if this gets worse there could be other problems. Please let me know if Dodge should be responsible for this problem with my dashboard.
I own a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup in almost showroom condition and always garaged. Now this is, EXCEPT for the cracking and separation of the top 2 piece dash......and is popping out in pieces.
I request / demand my complaint to be entered with other complaints filed by Dodge owners who have the same problem with the dash issue. Chrysler needs to step up and get real and announce another 2003 recall to resolve the problem and not hold off, just get it done NOW!!!!!!!
The dash cracking is a major concern since if I were to be in a major accident with all of the stress cracks how much of the dash could break apart which could be deadly when the shards go flying. The cracks are definitely stress related and not spider cracks. The plastic vent grills have, and are breaking more and more. This is an issue that Chrysler like any other typical automaker just wants to ignore, forgetting that (until they wants repeat sales) when enough owners speak loud enough, their sales fall. CHRYSLER WAKE UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT YOU SOLD US. I KNOW IF IT WAS ONE OF YOUR EXECUTIVES IT WOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN CORRECTED.
My dash is falling off in piece's. Dealership says because it's old and caused by the sun. Which is BS cause I've always kept my sun blocker installed when parked.
Always have taken care of the interior and also have covered my windshield so the sun will not damage my dash. It is cracked real bad. I might not even have a dash come next year due to it is all cracked and falling apart. I have a 2002 Ford Focus ZTX never have protected it like I have my Dodge and it is in perfect condition. No cracked or signs of any stress on the dash.
Why hasn't the NHTSA issued a recall for this well known documented problem? It's obviously a safety issue if sharp pieces can strike the driver or front seat passenger in the face.
Dangerous situation that gets worse each month. More and more sharp pieces of dash fall off each time I drive. Afraid that they will kill me in an accident. Hate it even more that my wife NEEDS this to haul her horses and we cannot afford a new truck or even a decent used one. This one runs great and looks good everywhere but the dash. Even if could sell and replace- who would buy such a death trap?
VERY CRACKED AND NOT SURE WHY MY CAR HAS A BLACK DASH AND IT SETS IN THE SAME LOCATION NO CRACKS ON IT ...NOT LOOKING FOWARD TO PAYING FOR THIS....I THINK DODGE SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THEM!!!!!
Dash cracked a few years back, now it is almost completely disintegrated. Besides the danger of flying projectiles, the defroster air vents no longer direct the air flow.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Dash polymer material is inferior and should never become so brittle. It literally completely cracked up and is not falling to pieces. I had to purchase a dash cover so as to not have to look at it.
- James G., Norwood, US