NHTSA Complaint #10532121 — 2003 DODGE RAM 1500

OK, SO I RECENTLY BUY THIS ONE OWNER DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP. 2003, 90,000. IN PRISTINE CONDITION. I MEAN PRIMO. I GET IN THE PICKUP, AND AM PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND HEAR WHAT WAS A LOUD CRAKING SOUND, LIKE BREAKING PLASTIC. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT, THINKING I RAN OVER A CAN OR SOMETHING. LATER IN THE DAY, I NOTICE MY DASH BOARD. OH MY GOD. IT HAS THIS LARGE CRACK IN IT. RIGHT ABOVE THE GLOVE BOX FROM THE GLOVE BOX TO THE WINDOW. I THEN NOTICE ANOTHER CRACK RIGHT ABOVE THE PASSANGER DOOR VENT (DASH) THAT IS WORKING IT'S WAY UP TOWARD THE WINDOW. I DO SOME MORE INSPECTION AND SEE YET ANOTHER CRACK NEAR THE DEFROST VENT AND A SMALL PART OF THE VENT MISSING. I FIGURED THAT OUT TODAY WHEN I PIECE OF PLASTIC BLEW IN MY FACE AND HIT ME IN THE EYE WHEN I TURNED THE AC ON. I THOUGHT, WELL, MAYBE I WAS DUKED. MAYBE IT WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. I CHECK IT ALL OUT WITH CARFAX. NOTHING. CLEAN TITLE. WELL MAINTAINED ONE OWNER. WTF. I CALL MY LOCAL DEALER. 'WELL, WE ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT THESE THINGS HAPPENING, BUT YOUR TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY". WHAT? THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE. IT'S A DEFECT. AFTER HOURS OF RESEARCH, I SEE THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. THE DEALER SAID IT'S ABOUT A $2800.00 FIX?? WHAT?? SO NOW I AM STUCK. I AM GOING TO PERSUE THIS MATTER FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES. THIS IS NOT "SUN DAMAGE" I KNOW WHAT SUN DAMAGE IS. THIS IS A DEFECT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING CARS/TRUCKS FOR 30 YEARS, NEVER EVER SEEN A DASHBOARD DO THIS. EVER. PLEASE KEEP THE COMPLAINTS COMING. TOMORROW I AM DOING BATTLE WITH DODGE AT 800-992-1997. I AM ONE PISSED CUSTOMER. WHO WAS A LOYAL DODGE FAN....NOT ANY LONGER. *TR