NHTSA Complaint #10905809 — 2006 DODGE DAKOTA

THE WINDSHIELD IN MY 2006 DODGE DAKOTA HAS A 26" CRACK, WHICH LIMITS MY VISIBILITY AND IS A DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN FROM A CHIP OR CRACK, BUT RATHER FROM THE POOR MANUFACTURE DESIGN. THE CRACK BEGAN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER AND CREATES A HALF MOON SHAPE DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS TOLD BY A PROFESSIONAL AT SAFELITE AUTO GLASS THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURE'S DESIGN WHICH DOES NOT PROPERLY SEAL THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSES WATER TO ROT OUT THE WINDSHIELD FRAME. THE TECH WAS ALSO ABLE TO SHOW ME THE EXTENT OF THE METAL ROT, BUT PULLING THE CEILING COVER DOWN AND FEELING THE METAL AROUND THE WINDSHIELD FROM INSIDE THE CABIN. THE WINDSHIELD FRAME ON MY 2006 DODGE DAKOTA IS ALL ROTTED OUT. THE TECHNICIAN REFUSED TO REPLACE MY WINDSHIELD DUE TO THE FACT THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REPLACE IT WITHOUT DESTROYING THE ROTTED METAL AROUND THE WINDSHIELD FRAME. HE STATED THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM IN SEVERAL 2006 DODGE DAKOTAS. MY INSURANCE COVERAGE PROVIDES ME WITH 100% FULL GLASS REPLACEMENT. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE WINDOW ROT, I HAVE TO PAY A BODY SHOP TO REPLACE AND FIX THE WINDOW ROT BEFORE THE TECHNICIAN WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. CHRYSLER DODGE SHOULD OWN UP TO THEIR DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND HAVE A RECALL TO FIX THE FAULTY WINDSHIELD SEALS AND DAMAGE CAUSED BY THEM. HAVING SUCH A LARGE CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD IS A DISTRACTION AND IT COULD CAUSE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. A PHOTO OF THIS DAMAGE IS AVAILABLE, BUT NOT POSTED.