NHTSA Complaint #10567371 — 2003 DODGE RAM 1500

DASHBOARD DIRECTLY ABOVE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HAS COMPLETELY CRACKED CREATING A SIGNIFICANT GAP. THIS HAS CAUSED MY WIFE TO INADVERTENTLY GET HER FINGER CAUGHT IN IT AND BE CUT AND INJURED. ADDITIONALLY THE LOCATION AND SEVERITY OF THE CRACK HAS SIGNIFICANTLY WEAKENED THE DASHBOARD AND COMPROMISED IT'S STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. THIS PROBLEM WILL ONLY GET WORSE AND EXPAND. SHOULD THE VEHICLE BE INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHICH CAUSES THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IT WILL MOST CERTAINLY POSE A GREAT RISK TO ALL OCCUPANTS AS THE DASHBOARD IS LIKELY TO FRAGMENT AT HIGH VELOCITY, SENDING SHARP SHARDS OF PLASTIC THROUGHOUT THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ADDITIONALLY, THIS MAY CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO BE PUNCTURED UPON DEPLOYMENT AND FAIL TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED.