NHTSA Complaint #10766690 — 2001 DODGE RAM 1500

AFTER ABOUT 11,000 MILES THE DASH BEGAN TO GET CRACKS AND FALL APART. IT GRADUALLY HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT THERE ARE VERY LARGE HOLES AND PIECES OF THE DASH HAVE GOTTEN INTO THE DUCT WORK OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO HAVE BEEN HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH FUSES BLOWING. THAT IS WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO VANN DODGE IN VINELAND NJ AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. THEY TOOK PHOTOS AND LATER CALLED ME AND SAID THE DETERMINED THAT THE DASH WAS FAILING BECAUSE OF EXPOSURE TO SUN!!! THE VEHICLE IS GARAGED OR PARKED IN THE SHADE FOR MOST OF ITS EARLY LIFE AND CRACKS AND CHUNKS HAPPENED FOR NO APPARENT REASON, BUT THIS IS PROBABLY THEIR WAY OUT OF FIXING THE PROBLEM. NOW COMES ANOTHER PROBLEM OR INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED TO ME BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY PLASTIC THAT WAS USED TO CONSTRUCT THE DASH. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND TURNED ON MY DEFROSTER AND A PIECE OF PLASTIC BLEW OUT OF THE VENT ON THE TOP OF THE DASH OR LACK THERE OF, AND HIT ME IN THE FACE CAUSING ME TO SWERVE AND ALMOST HIT AN ONCOMING CAR. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE CAR AVOIDED ME OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 MONTHS AGO TO HAVE SERVICE ON A DIFFERENT VEHICLE AND QUESTIONED THEM ON THE STATUS OF ANY RECALL AND THEY ASKED ME FOR MY VIN # OF MY DODGE RAM PICKUP WHICH I PROVIDED AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECORD OF ME TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THEM FOR A INSPECTION, WHICH IS TOTALLY FALSE!!! THEY CONVENIENTLY LOST MY RECORDS ON MY PICK UP!!!!! SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE TO PREVENT SOMEONE FROM BEING KILLED DUE TO THIS FAULT OF CHRYSLER CORP. I HAVE PUT A REPLACEMENT SKIN ON THE DASH BUT THERE WAS NOT MUCH LEFT TO ADHERE THE SKIN TO AT A COST OF NEARLY $300 BUT THE PIECES CONTINUALLY FALL INTO THE VENTS. THANK YOU *TR