NHTSA Complaint #10969283 — 2003 DODGE RAM 1500

OVER A PERIOD OF A FEW YEARS THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN CRACKING AND SMALL PIECES BREAKING OFF. RECENTLY THE AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED WORKING SO I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A DEFECTIVE EVAPORATOR COIL WHICH IS UNDER THE DASH. WHEN THEY STARTED TO REMOVE THE DASH IT BROKE INTO SMALL PIECES. I WAS NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED A DASH COVER FROM AN ONLINE COMPANY. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS NOT A COSMETIC PROBLEM, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS SUPPORTED BY THIS DASH AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO A LOT OF EXTRA WORK TO KEEP THE AIRBAG IN POSITION. IT COST ME AN EXTRA $400.00. THE NHTSA IS AWARE THAT THIS IS AN EXTENSIVE PROBLEM YET YOU REFUSE TO CONSIDER A RECALL BECAUSE YOU CONSIDER IT TO BE A COSMETIC ISSUE. ARE YOU AWARE THAT AN AIRBAG IS SUSPENDED FROM THIS DASH AND IF THE DASH CRUMBLES SO DOES THE AIRBAG AND VERY POSSIBLY WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT