NHTSA Complaint #10262878 — 2003 DODGE RAM 2500

MY DASHBOARD IS VERY BRITTLE, CRACKING BAD AND IS CONTINUALLY GETTING WORSE. DURING OUR LAST COLD WEATHER, I TURNED ON MY HEATER AND A PIECE OF THE PLASTIC WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER VENT POPPED UP AND HIT MY WINDSHIELD AND FELL INTO THE VENT. IT DOES THIS WHEN I TURN ON MY A/C IN HOT WEATHER WHEN I CAN HEAR PLASTIC PIECES FALLING DOWN INTO THE DASH. IF THAT FLYING PIECE OF PLASTIC WOULD HAVE HIT ME OR ONE OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN INJURY ESPECIALLY IF IT HIT ONE OF US IN THE EYE. I HAVE READ IN MANY ONLINE FORUMS OF OTHER DODGE RAM OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE BUT DODGE WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ONE OF THE POSTS STATED THE DASHBOARDS ARE MADE OF CHEAP PLASTIC WHICH IS NOT UV RATED. IF MY VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC COLLISION, THE BRITTLE DASHBOARD COULD SHATTER LIKE POTATO CHIPS AND FLY THROUGH-OUT THE CABIN AND CAUSE INJURY TO THE OCCUPANTS! I CAN HEAR THE DASH CRACKING OFTEN AND MORE PIECES FALLING DOWN INTO THE VENTS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE FANS OR OTHER COMPONENTS. EVEN AFTER CLEANING THE INTERIOR OF MY VEHICLE ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH UV PROTECTANTS, THE DASHBOARD IS STILL DETERIORATING EACH WEEK AND IS RECENTLY GETTING WORSE. WE THE CUSTOMERS HAVE PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THESE VEHICLES, YET DODGE WONT EVEN REPLACE A DANGEROUS, BRITTLE DASHBOARD TO MAKE IT SAFER FOR US? POOR QUALITY PLASTIC IS BEING USED INSIDE THE DODGE RAMS WHICH CAUSE THE DASHBOARDS TO BECOME BRITTLE AND DANGEROUS. IT IS ALSO CRACKING BAD AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AREA WHICH COULD ALSO CAUSE THE DASHBOARD TO EXPLODE IF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS. *TR