NHTSA Complaint #10597142 — 2003 DODGE RAM 3500

WHILE CLEANING THE TRUCK, I NOTICED A CRACK HAD APPEARED THAT RAN ACROSS THE DASHBOARD. THE DASHBOARD IS ALWAYS SHADED BY A SUNSCREEN WHEN THE TRUCK IS PARKED. I CALLED MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER TO ASK WHAT COULD BE DONE TO REPAIR THE DASHBOARD AND THEY TOLD ME TO CALL CHRYSLER/DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GAVE ME THE PHONE NUMBER. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE, EXPLAINED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD UNEXPECTEDLY CRACKED AND THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO MY LOCAL DEALER WHERE DIGITAL PICTURES WOULD BE TAKEN AND SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW. FIVE DAYS LATER I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER STATING THAT MY CLAIM WAS DENIED. I CALLED CHRYSLER/DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO FOLLOW UP. THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO AND CONFIRMED THAT THE CLAIM HAS BEEN DENIED. THE CRACK CONTINUES TO GET LARGER AND EVENTUALLY I EXPECT THE DASHBOARD TO DISINTEGRATE AS HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OTHER DODGE RAM DASHBOARDS ARE DOING. DODGE SHOULD RECALL THE FAULTY DASHBOARDS FOR REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THERE IS A GREAT POTENTIAL FOR PLASTIC SHARDS AND SPLINTERS TO CAUSE INJURY DURING AN ACCIDENT OR AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR