NHTSA Complaint #10277425 — 2003 DODGE RAM 2500

ON 9/20/2008 I NOTICED SOME SMALL CRACKS IN MY DASH. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK THE DASH HAD SEVERAL CRACKS AND THE SMALL ONES WERE NOW LARGE CRACKS GOING FROM THE FRONT OF THE DASH ALL THE WAY TO THE WINDSHIELD. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE DASH GETS WORSE PIECES CAN FALL IN TO THE ELECTRONICS IN THE DASH AND EFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE SEEN THIS SAME THING HAPPEN TO THE 2ND GENERATION DODGE RAMS FROM 94-02. DODGE HAS ACCEPTED LIABILITY FOR THOSE DASHES CRACKING, WELL THIS IS THE VERY SAME PLASTIC USED IN THOSE TRUCKS. I DON'T THINK DODGE WANTS TO HAVE TO REPLACE ALL OF THESE DASHES FOR THE REASON OF REPUTATION AND COST TO THE COMPANY. I DON'T THINK YOU CAN REALLY PUT A PRICE OF SAFETY. THESE CAR MAKERS NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE VEHICLES THEY MAKE, NOT JUST UNTIL THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT. THAT KIND OF THINKING TELLS ME THAT THE CAR MAKER DOES NO CARE ABOUT HOW LONG THEIR VEHICLES LAST JUST THAT THEY CAN'T WAIT FOR THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT SO THEY CAN TELL THE CUSTOMER....SORRY, WISH WE COULD HELP. I AM REALLY DISGUSTED IN THE FACT THAT THE US CAR MAKERS HAVE NO PRIDE IN WHAT THEY BUILD. THEY WONDER WHY THE FOREIGN CARS AND TRUCKS BASICALLY SELL THEMSELVES. I REALLY HOPE WE CAN RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. IF CHRYSLER DOES NOT STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND FIX THESE PROBLEMS I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT. *TR