NHTSA Complaint #10413408 — 2003 DODGE RAM 2500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE A-PILLAR, WHICH HELD THE WINDSHIELD IN PLACE, BROKE. AS A RESULT, THE DASHBOARD ALSO SUFFERED DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BOLTS FOR THE A-PILLAR WERE KNOWN TO BREAK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,900. UPDATED 08/24/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HIS FATHER GRABBED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD PILLAR HANDHOLD TO ASSIST HIM ENTERING THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE WAS HALFWAY UP THE HANDHOLD, IT GAVE WAY AND HE FELL BACK AGAINST THE DOOR WHICH KEPT HIM FROM FALLING COMPLETELY ON THE PAVEMENT. WHEN THE CONSUMER EXAMINED THE DAMAGE, HE FOUND THE HANDHOLD WAS FORMED WITH THE WINDSHIELD PILLAR TRIM. IT WAS MADE OF PLASTIC WHICH WAS HELD ON WITH TWO 8MM BOLTS. THE BOLTS WERE RECESSED, ONE AT THE TOP OF THE HANDHOLD AND ONE AT THE BOTTOM. BOTH BOLTS WERE STILL ATTACHED; THE TOP BOLT TRIM BASE HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM THE TRIM/HANDHOLD AND STILL HAD THE PLASTIC TRIM BEHIND THE HEAD OF THE BOLT. THE BOTTOM BOLT HAD PULLED COMPLETELY THROUGH THE TRIM/HANDHOLD BASE. THE TRIM/HANDHOLD PULLED SO FAR OUT, THAT IT ALSO BROKE THE DASHBOARD TOP. UPDATED 04/19/12