NHTSA Complaint #10852813 — 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500

I HAVE A 2008 SILVERADO 2500HD WITH 48,000 MILES ON IT AND JUST NOTICED TWO CRACKS HAVE FORMED ABOVE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. EVEN THOUGH THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY CHEVROLET AT NO CHARGE. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN STORED SUN PROTECTED EXCEPT WHEN TRAVELING. AT THAT TIME A DASH SCREEN IS USED FOR SUN PROTECTION. I CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER IMMEDIATELY AND THEY HAD ME TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALER FOR EXAMINATION. I HAD MY VEHICLE EXAMINED AT THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP ON MARCH 21, 2016. THEY EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, TOOK PHOTOS AND TOLD ME THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME WITH THE DECISION. THEY DID SO LATER THAT DAY BUT THE DECISION WAS TO REPLACE THE DASH WHICH WOULD BE $1000.00 OF WHICH GM WOULD BE WILLING TO PICK UP HALF, SO MY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE WOULD BE $500.00. I REFUSED THIS OFFER AND TOLD THE DEALER I WOULD BE CONTACTING THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER TO DISPUTE ME HAVING TO PAY $500.00 OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE TO CORRECT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. I CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER IMMEDIATELY VIA PHONE AND ASKED THAT THE ISSUE BE ELEVATED TO THE APPROPRIATE PERSON. I PROVIDED THE REPRESENTATIVE ALL THE INFORMATION SHE REQUESTED FROM ME AND SHE ASSURED ME THAT SHE WOULD ELEVATE THE ISSUE TO THE SENIOR MANAGER IN MY AREA AND THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME WITHIN 48 HOURS WITH A DECISION. AS OF THIS WRITING I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM ANYONE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THE AIRBAG ON HE PASSENGERS SIDE WERE TO DEPLOY IT WOULD SENT PLASTIC SHRAPNEL INTO THE DRIVER CAUSING SEVERE INJURY. I KNOW THIS TO BE A FACT BECAUSE I WORKED ON AIRBAG TECHNOLOGY BACK IN THE 80'S AND SAW VIDEOS OF WHAT OCCURS UPON AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WHEN PARTICLES ARE SENT FLYING. THINK OF A STRAW BEING DRIVEN INTO A TREE DURING A TORNADO. SAME PRINCIPLE.