NHTSA Complaint #10031037 — 1999 CHRYSLER 300M

I OWN A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M.PURCHASED IN JANUARY OF 2001. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, IT HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG.WHEN I ASKED THE SALESMAN ABOUT IT, HE SAID THAT THEY HAD REPAIRED SOMETHING ELECTRICAL UNDER THE DASH AND PROBABLY HAD TO GO INTO THE SYSTEM AT THAT POINT. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 6 MOS. THE DASH START TO SPLIT IN A VERTICLE LINE ALONG THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER SAID THAT HE COULD NOT REPLACE THE DASH UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COVERED AND WAS ONLY COSMETIC. I TRIED TO CONVINCE THE MANAGER THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. BUT INSTEAD OF CHRYSLER BACKING THEIR PRODUCT AND FOCUSING ON CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, REPLACING THE DASH, THEY REPAIRED IT ONE MORE TIME, AND THEY GAVE ME A CHEAP DASH BOARD COVER TO "HIDE" THE DEFECT - WHICH SLIDES ALL OVER THE PLACE EVERY TIME I TURN THE CAR. I DO NOT WISH TO USE THE STICKY TAPE TO HOLD IT IN PLACE AS I FEAR IT WILL LEAVE GUMMY SUBSTANCE MELTED INTO THE DASH CAUSING MORE DEPRECIATION OF THE CAR. ONE OF THE SERVICE PEOPLE TOLD ME THAT THE SPLIT IS OCCURRING IN THE SEAM OF THE DASH WHERE THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG WOULD DEPLOY AND THAT IT IS COMMON! OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DASH. I THEN CONTACTED CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN MICHIGAN, AGAIN NOTHING BUT A LOT OF EXCUSES AND NO ONE WILLING TO REALLY LISTEN TO MY COMPLAINT. I AM NOT TRYING TO ASK FOR SOMETHING UNREASONABLE, I AM ONLY ASKING CHRYSLER TO FIX SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE FIXED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEFECT IN THE DASH IS AFFECTING THE RESALE VALUE OF MY CAR AND I THINK THERE IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD NOW WITH THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG. *PH