NHTSA Complaint #10350422 — 2002 DODGE RAM 1500

THE DASH BOARDS ON THE 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 IS MADE FROM AN INFERIOR PLASTIC THAT CRACKS,BUSTS,AND EVENTUALLY JUST FALLS INTO A GAPING HOLE. THIS RESULTS IN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. I DID NOT REALIZE WHAT A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM THIS WAS UNTIL I DID SOME RESEARCH OF MY OWN. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF WEBSITES DEDICATED TO THIS VERY PROBLEM AND DODGE IS AWARE IT EXISTS BUT THUSFAR HAS NOT SUBMITTED A RECALL. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO REPLACE MY DASH FOR THIS VERY REASON BUT THE COST IS VERY HIGH AND I FEEL AS A CONSUMER IT SHOULD NOT BE MY RESPONSIBILITY SINCE THE MATERIAL WAS INFERIOR TO BEGIN WITH. RIGHTNOW MY DASH IS GLUED TOGETHER AND I AM SURE THIS ISN'T A LONG TERM FIX BUT I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS I HAVE READ THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD ARE NUMEROUS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING IN DARK CONDITIONS. I AM AFRAID MY DASH TOO WILL COLLAPSE IF NOT REPLACED. PLEASE CONSIDER THE RAMIFICATIONS IF THIS PROBLEM ISN'T TAKEN CARE OF. *TR