NHTSA Complaint #10190251 — 2001 DODGE RAM 1500

2001 DODGE RAM 1500, PURCHASED NEW BY MY INLAWS IN FLORIDA IN 2001 AND GARAGE KEPT 80% OF THE TIME. I PURCHASED THE TRUCK IN NOVEMBER 2004 WITH 56000 MILES ON IT. DROVE IT BACK TO VIRGINIA, WHERE IT WAS ALSO GARAGE KEPT. I NOTICED ONE SMALL, ABOUT 1", CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE ONE MONTH LATER. BY APRIL, SEVERAL CRACKS FORMED ALL OVER THE DASHBOARD AND AROUND THE AIR BAG. I CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND GAVE ME CHRYSLERS 800 NUMBER WHICH I CALLED AND FILLED A COMPLAINT, BUT THAT WAS ALL THEY WOUDL DO. I COULD NOT AFFORD THE $1500 TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD AS I WAS STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THE VEHICLE. ONCE PIECES OF THE DASHBOARD STARTED TO FALL OUT SHORTLY, THERE AFTER, I INSTALLED A DASHC OVER, PARTIALLY FOR THE ASTHETICS, BUT ALSO BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID OF WHAT THE FRAGILE CRUMBLING DASHBOARD WOULD DO IN AN ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY IF THE AIRBAG WENT OFF. FLYING SHARDS OF SHARP PLASTIC DID NOT SOUND GOOD TO ME.*AK