NHTSA Complaint #10351054 — 2003 DODGE RAM 1500

I HAVE DODGE RAM 1500 03 TRUCK AND APPROX. IN DEC OF 2008 I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK IN DASH - THOUGHT IT WAS MY PROBLEM AND DUE TO LIVING IN SOUTH FLORIDA- THE CRACK BECAME 2 THEN 3 THEM MORE GETTING WORSE AS TIME WENT ON- I FOUND THAT FRIENDS AND OTHER PEOPLE WHERE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEM. II THEN FOUND OUT ABOUT THE NEWS STORY DONE BY LOCAL SOUTH FLORIDA NEWS STATIONS WHICH SHOWED THE PROBLEM BEING A DEFECT AND LEADING TO ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY LIGHTING FAILURES AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS RESULTING FROM THE CRACKS AND BROKEN DASHBOARDS. THE PROBLEM NOW IS OUT OF CONTROL WITH BIG CRACKS AND HOLE THROUGHOUT THE DASH- THIS IS NOT A COSMETIC ISSUE - THE PLASTIC PIECES ARE SHARP AND CAN INJURE SOMEBODY AND EVENTUALLY CAN DAMAGE THE ELECTRIC THAT RUNS UNDERNEATH THE DASH. I REPORTED IT TO DODGE WHO THEN GAVE A CASE NUMBER AND TOOK PICTURES AND IMMEDIATELY OFFERED TO COVER HALF THE COST TO REPLACE- I DO NOT FIND THIS SUFFICIENT - THE FACT THAT IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE DEALERS HAVE REPLACED THIS PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE AND THEIR ADMITTANCE AND RESPONSE TO COVER HALF OF THE COST IS PROOF ENOUGH THAT DODGE IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT IS LUDICROUS TO CHARGE FOR REPAIR FOR SOMETHING THAT IS POTENTIALLY A LETHAL THREAT DUE TO ACCIDENT - WHEN THERE IS NO PERMANENT REPAIR - THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT PART THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO DATE THAT REALLY FIXES THE PROBLEM- IT IS STILL A CRAPSHOOT WHETHER IT HAPPENS AGAIN AFTER REPLACEMENT SINCE THE DASH IS A DEFECT TO BEGIN WITH. *TR