NHTSA Complaint #10555236 — 2004 DODGE RAM 2500

I HAVE A 2004 DODGE RAM 2500. MY TRUCK IS TAKEN CARE OF VERY WELL. I BELIEVE IT WAS IN JUNE 2008 WHEN I FIRST STARTED TO NOTICE SMALL CRACKS IN THE CENTER OF MY DASH. AT THAT TIME I WAS THE PARTS MANAGER FOR A GENERAL MOTORS DEALERSHIP THAT ALSO OWNED A DODGE DEALERSHIP NEXT DOOR. I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND DODGE WOULD REPLACE THE DASH FOR A $100.00 DEDUCTIBLE. I LEFT THAT JOB AND NEVER HAD THE DASH REPLACED. I LATER WENT TO A DODGE DEALER NEAR MY HOME AND WAS TOLD TO CONTACT CHRYSLER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. CHRYSLER TOLD ME THEY WOULD ONLY PAY 50% OF THE REPAIRS. I DID NOT AGREE TO THE OFFER. IT WOULD COST ME $700 TO $800 OUT OF MY POCKET. I PUT A CARPETED MAT OVER THE TOP OF THE DASH TO COVER UP THE HOLES. THERE ARE ACTUALLY HOLES AND BIG PIECES OF PLASTIC UPPER DASH FALLING INTO THE DASH. IN OCTOBER 2013 I WENT BACK TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER TO TELL THEM IF THEY PAID FOR THE PARTS I WOULD DO THE LABOR MYSELF. THEY HAVE CHANGED THEIR OFFER AND ONLY WANT TO PAY 50% OF PARTS NOW. MY PART WOULD BE $495.00. I TRIED A DIFFERENT DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT CHRYSLER WOULD NOT GIVE ANY HELP. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE TEXAS HEAT. THAT IS NOT TRUE BECAUSE IT IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES. THERE NEEDS TO BE A SAFETY RECALL OPENED BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THESE VEHICLES ARE IN A ACCIDENT TO WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS DEPLOYED IT IS GOING TO FILL THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WITH FLYING PIECES OF PLASTIC THAT MAY IMPALE ITS PASSENGERS. MAYBE CHRYSLER IS WAITING ON A FEW ACCIDENTS TO WHERE THE PASSENGERS HAVE PLASTIC STICKING OUT OF THEIR BODIES. MAYBE A COUPLE OF LAWSUITS WILL GET THEM OFF THEIR REARS. I SPENT OVER THIRTY YEARS IN GENERAL MOTORS AND DODGE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. I DO HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE OF THESE THINGS. *TR