NHTSA Complaint #10413710 — 2001 DODGE RAM 1500

I OWN A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP THAT HAS A MYSTERIOUSLY CRACKING DASH PANEL. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A FRONT-END COLLISION OR ANYONE POUNDING ON THE DASH, AS I AM THE SECOND OWNER. I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK IN 2006 WHEN THE TRUCK WAS ABOUT 5 YEARS OLD AND HAD ABOUT 63,000 MILES. I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW WIDESPREAD THIS ISSUE IS UNTIL THE LAST YEAR OR SO WHEN I STARTED SEEING DIFFERENT WEBSITES WITH TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, PARTICULARLY CHRYSLER PRODUCTS AND MORE SPECIFICALLY - PICKUP TRUCKS BETWEEN '97 - '02. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUES THAT COULD ARISE DUE TO BROKEN PIECES DAMAGING ELECTRICAL WIRING OR COMPONENTS SUCH AS AIRBAG WIRING. ALSO, IT SEEMS A SLIGHT POSSIBILITY THAT THIS PLASTIC COULD BECOME DANGEROUS PROJECTED SHRAPNEL, IF YOU WILL, IN THE CASE OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS PLASTIC IS VERY BRITTLE AND SEEMS TO BE AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURE DEFECT IN THAT MAYBE THE PLASTIC WAS NOT CURED AT AN APPROPRIATE TEMPERATURE CAUSING THE BRITTLENESS. I AM NOT SURE IF THE PANEL WAS PURCHASED FROM A SUPPLIER OR WAS MANUFACTURED BY CHRYSLER. MY PARTICULAR TRUCK WAS ASSEMBLED IN MEXICO, JUST IN CASE THAT IS A COMMON THREAD. *KB