NHTSA Complaint #10424118 — 1998 DODGE RAM 1500

THE DASHBOARD ON MY 1998 DODGE RAM HAS CRACKED AND FALLEN INTO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN SEVERAL PLACES. IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE PLASTIC ITSELF AS NO EXTERNAL SOURCES CAUSED THE DAMAGE. IT STARTED HAPPENING IN FEBRUARY OF 2009 AND HAS GOTTEN STEADILY WORSE.THE PLASTIC HAS BECOME SO SHARP AND BRITTLE THAT DRIVING ON A BUMPY ROAD WILL ACTUALLY CAUSE PIECES TO FALL INTO THE DASH.THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN CRASH, THE DASHBOARD COULD BECOME AIRBORNE IN SHARDS. THESE SHARDS OF PLASTIC ARE SHARP ENOUGH TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF THEY WERE TO STRIKE YOUR FACE OR EYES. THE PIECES FALL INTO THE DASHBOARD AND ONTO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, ONCE THEY FALL INTO THIS POSITION IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THEM FROM THE INSIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. I CAN SEE FUTURE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS A VEHICLE FIRE RESULTING FROM THE SHARP SHARDS OF PLASTIC BEING IN CONTACT WITH WIRING THAT IS NOW EXPOSED AS A RESULT OF THE PLASTIC FALLING AWAY. I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE BUT WAS ADVISED THAT NO RECALL EXISTS AND THEREFORE THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE DASHBOARD. IT SEEMS THAT A SIMPLE FIX ON THEIR BEHALF COULD AVOID MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH SOMEBODY GETTING SERIOUSLY INJURED. AN INTERNET SEARCH HAS REVEALED THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE, I HAVE OWNED A DODGE VEHICLE FOR ALMOST MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE AND I AM NOW LOOKING TO PURCHASE A NEW FORD THIS YEAR BECAUSE I AM SO CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR