NHTSA Complaint #10372348 — 2003 DODGE RAM 3500

THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2003 DODGE 3500 QUAD CAB HAD DEVELOPED CRACKS WHICH HAS SPLIT THE DASH INTO PIECES DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AND DIRECTLY OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THE CRACKS AND BROKEN DASH PIECES WILL NOT ALLOW THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH AND NOT ONLY WILL THE AIRBAG HARM THE PASSENGER, THE BROKEN PIECES OF DASH WILL BE DANGEROUS AS WELL. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED, AND IS IN GOOD CONDITION. THE DASH CRACKED AND BROKE AS A RESULT OF NORMAL DRIVING; THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WILL NOT PAY TO REPLACE THE DASH. NOT ONLY WILL THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY DUE TO THE CRACKED AND BROKEN DASH AND THREATEN THE PASSENGER, IT COULD ALSO DEPLOY IN A MANNER HAZARDOUS TO THE DRIVER. THIS IS A DEFECT MANY 2003-2005 DODGE 3500 TRUCK OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED AND IS WIDELY DISCUSSED ON INTERNET FORUMS. DODGE 3500 2003 MODEL DASHBOARDS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED BY DEALERS BECAUSE THE DEFECTIVE DASHES INSTALLED BY DODGE ARE A HIGH SAFETY HAZARD FOR PASSENGERS AND DRIVERS AS WELL DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY WILL NOT ALLOW THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. WHILE I MUST INCLUDE AN INCIDENT DATE BELOW THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AND EXPANDED OVER THE COURSE OF 2010. *TR