NHTSA Complaint #10170861 — 1999 DODGE RAM 1500

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1999 DODGE RAM 1500. I KNOW THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE DASH BOARD ON MY TURCK WAS IN GREAT SHAPE WHEN I PURCHASED THE TRUCK. NOW WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS THE DASH BOARD HAS BEGAN TO DEVELOP LARGE CRACKS IN IT, AROUND THE RIGHT SIDE AIRBAG. THE PROBLEM HAVE GOTTEN PROGRESSIVLY WORSE UNTIL TODAY, WHILE SHUTTING MY HOOD, A VERY LARGE CHUNK AND SEVERAL SMALLER CHUNKS FELL INTO THE FIREWALL AREA WITH A COUPLE SMALLER PIECES FALLING DOWN ONTOP OF THE AIRBAG. I AM FILING A COMPLAINT DUE TO A FEAR THAT IF I WAS TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT, WHERE AN AIRBAG WOULD SAVE THE FRONT PASSENGERS LIFE, THAT 1.) THE AIRBAG WILL FAIL TO DEPLOY PROPERLY DUE TO CHAFFING AND CUTS INTO THE AIRBAG FROM DASH PIECES FALLING AND 2.) LARGE PIECES OF PLASTIC DASH WILL BECOME SHRAPNAL FLYING AROUND THE CAR OF THE TRUCK RESULTING IN FURTHER AVOIDABLE INJURIES. I AM HAVING TO REPLACE THIS DASH OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. PAYING FOR A PROBLEM THAT COUNTLESS FELLOW DODGE OWNERS ARE HAVING. LOOK AROUND ON ANY DODGE RAM FORUM AND DO A SEARCH ON DASH AND YOU WILL PULL UP THOUSANDS ON TOP OF THOUSANDS OF POSTS ABOUT THE 2ND GEN DODGE RAM PICK-UPS (94-01) HAVEING THE SAME DASH BOARD PROBLEM.