NHTSA Complaint #10462203 — 2002 DODGE RAM 1500

THE DASHBOARD OF MY DODGE RAM IS DISINTEGRATING INTO SHARP POINTED SHARDS OF PLASTIC. THE PLASTIC MATERIAL WHICH MAKES UP THE DASH HAS CHANGED IN IT CHARACTERISTICS SO AS TO BECOME QUITE BRITTLE. THE POTENTIAL FOR THESE SHARDS TO BECOME PROJECTILES AND/OR ANYTHING COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE DASH CAUSING THE DASH TO FREELY BREAK APART INTO HUNDREDS OF KNIFE-LIKE BLADES AND CAUSING INJURY, IS IMMINENT. WE HAVE MADE GIANT STRIDES IN VEHICLE OCCUPANT SAFETY BY REQUIRING SHATTER PROOF GLASS, REQUIRING OCCUPANTS TO USE SEATBELTS, ETC. . NOW WE ARE FACING OTHER DILEMMAS WHERE MANUFACTURERS HAVE INTRODUCED MATERIALS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF VEHICLES WHICH MAY NEGATE THOSE SAFETY PROGRESSIVE INNOVATION GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO IMPLEMENT. ALTHOUGH MY CURRENT CONCERN MAY BE PREVENTIVE IN NATURE I BELIEVE ANY REASONABLE AND PRUDENT PERSON CAN EASILY DEDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR GRAVE HARM WHICH MAY BEFALL THE CONSUMER UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES. THE DODGE DASHBOARD REPRESENTS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THESE VEHICLES. *JS