NHTSA Complaint #10263109 — 2000 CHRYSLER 300M

CHRYSLER 200M FRONT DASH PASSENGER AREA. VERTICAL CRACK APPEARED AT 2" AND HAS INCREASED IN SIZE TO OVER 12" OVER TIME. PASSENGER AIR BAG IS LOCATED IN THIS AREA OF THE DASH; APPEARS AS IF INTERNAL PRESSURE IS CAUSING CRACK TO INCREASE IN SIZE. UNCLEAR IF PASSENGER AIR BAG HAS BEEN COMPROMISED OR WILL OPERATE PROPERLY IF DEPLOYED. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF CRACKED PASSENGER DASH AREA HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED WITH NO APPARENT CORRECTIVE ACTION TO RESOLVE SYSTEMIC ISSUE. LOCAL DEALERSHIPS ARE HESITANT TO REPAIR/REPLACE DUE TO AIRBAG LIABILITY AND WHILE I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE AGE OF THE CAR SHOULD BE TAKEN IN TO CONSIDERATION (NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR) THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED. THE CAR IS STILL BEING MANUFACTURED AND CHRYSLERS' QUALITY CONTROL TEAM SHOULD BE ENGAGED TO EVALUATE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, RISK ANALYSIS OF PASSENGER AIR BAG FUNCTIONALITY, AND RECOMMENDED CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN. BEYOND COSMETIC INCONVENIENCE, THE CRACK IN MY DASHBOARD CONTINUES TO GROW IN SIZE AND I AM UNCERTAIN IF MY PASSENGER AIR BAG IS, OR WILL BE COMPROMISED. DOING NOTHING DOES NOT RESOLVE THE QUESTION OF AIR BAG RELIABILITY, AND I UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATION OF A BULLETIN FOR A NINE YEAR OLD CAR, HOWEVER THERE IS ALSO THE POTENTIAL TO OFFER SOME TYPE OF FIX FOR THE DASHBOARD FOR THOSE WHOSE VEHICLE IS STILL IS GOOD WORKING ORDER AND WHO WISH TO KEEP THE CAR. RECOMMEND ENGAGEMENT OF CHRYSLER QUALITY CONTROL TEAM AND RESULTING BULLETIN TO PROVIDE OWNERS WITH AN OPTION TO REPAIR THE DASH. *TR