2003 DODGE RAM 1500 Structure Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V312000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER,T THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

2 LARGE CRACKS IN DASH, IN FRONT OF STEERING WHEEL AND PASSENGER SIDE, I HAVE BIG CONCERN THAT IN AN ACCIDENT WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT DASH DISINTEGRATION WILL OCCUR, RESULTING IN INJURY TO OCCUPANTS. VARIOUS REPORTS ONLINE WHERE DODGE IS NOT WARRANTING DASHBOARDS AND DEALERS ARE NOT DOING AIRBAG RECALL WORK BECAUSE DASHBOARDS ARE FALLING APART DURING WORK. *TR

THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED AND BROKEN IN MULTIPLE PLACES. IT CLEARLY WILL AFFECT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. *TR

THE TOP DASH BOARD IS A TWO PART PLASTIC COVER. IT IS SPLITTING AND CRACKING IN MANY PLACES. I SPOKE WITH A SERVICE WRITER AT THE DEALERSHIP AND CALLED DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE. NO HELP. *TR

THE DASH ON MY 2003 DODGE RAM HAS CRACKED, FULL DEPTH, ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. THE CRACKS KEEP GETTING BIGGER AND DEEPER. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH SOON PARTS OF THE DASH WILL BEGIN TO BECOME SEPARATED AND CREATE A MISSILE HAZARD. *TR

DASHBOARD CRACKED AND HAS CONTINUED TO CRACK ACROSS THE ENTIRE LENGTH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKING AND DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASHBOARD IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND IS CRACKING AND FALLING APART. UPDATED 06/11/12*JB

THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS A CRACK ON THE TOP, JUST TO THE LEFT OF THE GLOVE BOS. IT STARTED OUT AS ONLY A SMALL CRACK BUT IS OPENING UP. THE ENTIRE AREA FEELS VERY SOFT WHEN CLEANING IT, SO I ASSUME WITH MOST OF THE OTHER COMMENTS, ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL IT COMPLETELY FALLS APART. ALSO WHY HAS THERE BEEN NOTHING DONE WITH THE REAR FENDERS ON THE DODGE RAM 1500 P.U. THE FENDERS ON JUST ABOUT EVERY ONE I SEE ARE RUSTED OUT, WAS TOLD THEY USED A CHEAPER METAL FOR THOSE FENDERS. GLAD THEY USED JUNK, BIT DIDN'T CHARGE YOU THAT WAY. YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD TAKE PRIDE IN THE VEHICLES. BOTH OF THESE ARE SAFETY ISSUES AS, PARTS BREAK AND FLY DURING ACCIDENTS. *TR

DASH BOARD IS SEVERELY DAMAGED/CRACKED IN AT LEAST 9 OR 10 DIFFERENT AREAS RUNNING THE LENGTH OF THE DASH IN SOME PLACES. IN OTHER PLACES THE CRACKS RUN UP AND DOWN. THE DASH IS IN DANGER OF COMING COMPLETELY OFF. *TR

DASHBOARD COMPLETELY CRACKED DUE TO DEFECTIVE PLASTIC MATERIALS. *TR

MY DASHBOARD IS FALLING APART, SOMETIMES BITS OF PLASTIC COME OUT OF THE VENTS,IM NOT SURE IF THIS CAN DAMAGE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ,BUT MY HVAC IS ALREADY ACTING UP ,I'VE CALLED DODGE AND THEY SAY ITS COSMETIC , BUT IF IGET HIT WITH PLASTIC WILE IM DRIVING IT COULD BE INTERESTING TO SAY THE LEAST. *TR

THE DASHBOARD IS FALLING APART IN THIS TRUCK. HAVE DONE ONLINE RESEARCH AND IN DODGE RAM TRUCKS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. HAVE READ WHERE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS HAVE FAILED DUE TO THESE DASHBOARDS CRACKING AND FALLING APART AND ON OCCASION WHILE DRIVING THESE TRUCKS. THESE TRUCKS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE RECALLED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR

THE DASH BOARD HAS FINALLY FALLEN APART AFTER YEARS OF TRYING TO KEEP IT TOGETHER. THE OBD CONNECTION HAS NEVER WORKED FUSE IS GOOD AND SEVERAL DIFFERENT SCANNERS BUT NO COMMUNICATION. *TR

THE DASH BOARD IS CRACKING BAD. I AM SCARED TO RIDE ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE BECAUSE IT CRACKING WORST AROUND THE DASH BY THE AIRBAG. DODGE NEEDS A RECALL ON THIS MATTER. THEY USED CHEAP PARTS IN THIS TRUCK DASH BOARD. *TR

DASH IS CRACKING AND FALLING APART. *TR

THE DASH IS JUST ABOUT READY TO FALL OUT, CRACKED IN HALF,PASS SIDE DEFROST GRID IS GONE,VERY POOR MATERIAL. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN STATE HIGHWAY I LOWERED THE FRONT WINDOWS AND A PIECE OF THE DASHBOARD (THAT IS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES) BROKE OFF, FLEW AROUND IN FRONT OF ME, AND THEN HIT ME IN THE LEFT EYE CAUSING ME TO COMPLETELY LOOSE SITE OF THE ROAD AND THE OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME ALL WHILE DOING 60 MILES PER HOUR ON A 4 LANE ROAD. *TR

THE REAR SEAT IN THE 2003 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB DOES NOT HAVE HEAD RESTRAINTS. I'M CONCERNED THAT IN AN ACCIDENT MY CHILDREN THAT SIT BACK THERE CAN BE INJURED. THE BACK GLASS IS RIGHT BEHIND THE SEAT AND THEIR HEADS WORLD HIT THE GLASS CAUSING BRAIN DAMAGE, SPINAL CORD INJURIES AND POSSIBLY DEATH. I'VE CALLED DODGE AND THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL. THE 2004 MODELS HAVE REAR HEAD RESTRAINTS. *TR

THE DASH STARTED TO CRACK ON MY 2003 RAM 1500 PICKUP, THE CRACKS JUST GET WORSE,AND A PIEACE FLEW OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AND HIT ME IN THE EYE, ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY TRUCK, DODGE NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX THESE DASHBOARDS BEFORE SOME ONE IS HURT OR KILLED, AFRAID TO LET ANY ONE RIDE IN THE FRONT SEAT. *TR

DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED IN MULTIPLE PLACES. CRACKS BEGAN APPEARING MANY YEARS AGO. *TR

I HAVE OWNED MY DODGE RAM FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND NOTICED EARLY ON THAT I HAD A CRACK IN MY DASH BOARD DEALERSHIP STATED THEY COULD DO NOTHING FORM ME. SO I CHALKED IT UP TO ADDS CHARACTER TO MY TRUCK. HOWEVER, I TURNED THE A/C ON HIGH AND PROCEEDED TO GET HIT WITH A PIECE OF PLASTIC FROM MY DASH BOARD. AS OF THIS WRITING I EXPECT MY WHOLE DASH TO CAVE IN. I HAVE MULTIPLE CRACKS THAT RUN THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE DASHBOARD. 3 OF THE 4 VENT HOLES HAVE COMPLETELY FALLEN APART. *TR

DASHBOARD AND DASH PANELS ARE SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKING. PIECES OF VINYL ARE FALLING APART POSSIBLY AFFECTING THE PROPER FUNCTION OF AIR BAGS. HOT ENGINE AIR IS LEAKING INSIDE THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE CRACKED BOARD AFFECTING THE PROPER COOLING A/C SYSTEM; DRIVER AND PASSENGERS ARE BREATHING ENGINE FUMES THAT ARE ENTERING THE CABIN THROUGH THE OPENINGS/CRACKS. *TR

DASHBOARD HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS ABOVE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. CRACKS CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN SIZE AND SEVERITY. ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF PASSENGER AIR BAG COMPARTMENT ARE EXPOSED TO DUST AND DIRT. I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT FRAGMENTATION OF THE BRITTLE DASHBOARD IN THE CASE OF A CRASH AND OR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR

THE DASH IS CRACKING AND FALLING APART. *TR

I HAVE HAD TWO DIFFERENT PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE. ON OR ABOUT 19 APR 2006 MY DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING, AND A YEARS LATER THERE IS A SHORT SOMEWHERE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BECAUSE MY WINDOWS AND DOOR LOCKS ONLY WORK WHEN THEY WON'T TO, AND MY RADIO VOLUME CHANGES WHENEVER IT WANTS TO. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE JAN 2006 WITH ONLY 34,000 MILES. I HAVE SEARCHED SEVERAL WEBSITES TO FIND OUR INDIVIDUALS WITH THE SAME ISSUES, AND LOW AND BEHOLD THERE ARE SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT WEBSITES WITH THE SAME ISSUES. HOWEVER, SURPRISINGLY THERE STILL AREN'T ANY INVESTIGATIONS OR RECALLS STARTED. *TR

THE DASH BOARD IS ALL CRACKED UP NOW DO TO DODGE USING CHEAP MATERIALS. I HAVE ALWAYS PUT UP A SUN SHADE NO MATTER WHERE I PARK MY TRUCK AND IT IS ALWAYS IN MY GARAGE WHEN NOT BEING DRIVEN. SHAME ON DODGE CHRYSLER PRODUCTS FOR MAKING SUCH A GARBAGE TRUCK. AND THE RACK & PINION STEERING SHOULD LAST ALOT LONGER THAN IT HAS. NO WONDER PEOPLE BUY FOREIGN AUTOS. THEY ARE FAR SUPERIOR. *TR

THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2003 DODGE RAM TRUCK IS COMPLETELY CRACKING CAUSING PIECES TO FALL IN THE DASH AREA BELOW. THE DASH STARTED OUT WITH SEVERAL SMALL CRACKS, AND QUICKLY GOT WORSE OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. NOW, I HAVE LARGE HOLES IN THE DASH ALL THE WAY ACROSS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE PASSENGERS SIDE. *TR

DASH IS CRACKING IN NUMEROUS PLACE AND FALLING IN. THIS IS CAUSING WIRING HARNESS TO BE EXPOSED TO SUNLIGHT AND TO BREAK DOWN. THE VEHICLE HAS SINCE DEVELOPED ELECTRICAL ISSUES DUE TO THE INSULATION ON THE WIRES BREAKING DOWN. *TR

DASHBOARD DEVELOPED LARGE CRACK THAT CAN INTERFERE WITH OPERATION OF THE AIR BAG OR CAUSE PLASTIC SHARDS TO HIT THE PASSENGER. PER REVIEW OF SEVERAL WEBSITES, AS WELL AS COMPLAINTS PER THE NHTSA WEBSITE, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONGST THESE TRUCKS AND THE CAR MANUFACTURER WILL NOT TAKE ACTION. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE DASHES. *TR

THE DASH HAS STARTED TO CRACK, AND THE LATEST ONE IS RIGHT ABOVE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. MY CONCERN IS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE EVENT OF A AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IF A BIG SHARD OF PLASTIC FROM THE DASH WERE TO FALL IN FRONT OF THE AIR BAG DURING DEPLOYMENT. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE FRONT PASSENGER, OR MY YOUNG KIDS SITTING IN THE BACK SEAT? I HAVE ALSO FOUND REPORTS OF OWNERS REPORTING WIRING PROBLEMS DUE TO PARTS OF THE DASH FALLING DOWN. *TR

CRACKED DASH. ITS TERRIBLE. COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

CRACKED DASH I OPENED THE DOOR TO MY TRUCK ONE MORNING AND LOOKED UP AT MY DASHBOARD AND THERE WAS A CRACK ALL THE WAY ACROSS IT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND ALMOST ALL DODGE RAM TRUCKS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

CUT MY HAND ON A CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD. DODGE IS NOT STANDING BEHIND ITS PRODUCT, THEY HAVE DEFECTIVE DASHBOARDS AND WILL NOT REPLACE THEM. *TT

DASH CRACKING. *TR

DASHBOARD CRACKED AND HVAC AIR FLOW RECIRCULATOR VENT BROKEN AS WITH MANY OTHER RAM 1500S FROM VARIOUS MODEL YEARS. CUSTOMER CARE ONLY OFFERS TO REMOVE THE LABOR COSTS FOR REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED AREAS. OWNER IS MADE TO PAY FOR MATERIALS AT FULL RETAIL COST. WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT AGAIN! *TR

DASHBOARD CRACKED BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE PLASTIC NEAR PASSENGER AIR BAG. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 NEW FROM THE DEALER..WITHIN THE LAST YEAR AND HALF...SEVERAL PARTS OF THE TRUCK THAT ARE PLASTIC MOLDS HAVE BEGUN TO BREAK..THE DASH (BOTH PARTS), LOCK SWITCH BEZELS, HOOD SCOOP INSERT, AND A FEW OTHER PIECES. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE TYPE OF PLASTIC OR QUALITY THAT DODGE USED IN MANUFACTURING THESE PARTS HAS LED TO NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF PARTS BREAKING WHERE IN MOST CASES THE PARTS SHOULD HOLD UP TO THE LIFE THE OF VEHICLE. I FEEL LIKE A RE-CALL, ESPECIALLY ON THE DASHBOARDS OF THE RAM TRUCKS, SHOULD BE ISSUED SO THAT DODGE CAN CORRECT A PROBLEM FROM A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME AND CONSIDERATION INTO THIS MATTER. *TR

DASHBOARD HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS AND THE A/C VENTHOLE COVERS HAVE COMPLETELY COLLAPSED INTO THE A/C UNIT. *TR

DASHBOARD CRACKING AND FALLS APART AT THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH. CANNOT ORDER REPLACEMENT PARTS DUE TO DODGE CLOSING. CHRYSLER ADVISED IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CHEAP DASH. *JS

DASH BOARD CRACKED WHICH HAS CAUSED VERY SHARP EDGES AND EXPOSES THE AIRBAG. *TR

VERY LARGE AND SHARP JAGGED EDGES COMING UP FROM A VERY BADLY CRACKED DASHBOARD. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON 02-09 DODGE RAM TRUCKS. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. ESPECIALLY IF THAT VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *JS

DASH BOARD/PANEL, CRUMBLED AND CRACKED. LITERALLY DISINTEGRATED WITH VENT GUARDS FALLING INTO VENTS AND THEN PIECES BLOWING OUT WHEN DEFROSTER COMES ON. DEALER SAID NO WARRANTIES ON DASH,DUE IT BEING COSMETIC, OFFERED TO SELL A DASH COVER FOR $200. *TR

DASH STARTED TO CRACK SLIGHTLY A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WITHIN A FEW DAYS IT WAS ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE FORWARD PANEL IN THE CENTER. I HAVE NOTICED RECENTLY THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER CRACKS THAT HAVE DEVELOPED IN BOTH THE FORWARD AND REAR PORTIONS OF THIS DASH. THERE ARE PLACES THAT I CAN LITERALLY PULL PIECES OUT OUT THE DASH, ALL OF THE GRIDS OVER THE VENTS ARE SO BRITTLE THAT WHEN I PUT MY SUN SHIELD IN THE FRONT WINDOW 3 OF THEM BUSTED OUT JUST BY TOUCHING THEM WITH THE SHIELD. THE CONDITION OF THIS DASH IS SO BAD THAT I FEAR IF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WERE TO INFLATE IT COULD POSSIBLY THROW PIECES OF THE DASH PLASTIC AT THE PASSENGER AND SEVERELY INJURE THEM. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A PARTS MANAGER AT A DODGE DEALERSHIP AND HE SAID THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE...

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I PURCHASED A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 FROM A LOCAL CAR SALESMAN. THE FIRST FEW MONTHS WERE PERFECTLY FINE, HOWEVER, THAT DID NOT LAST FOR LONG. ONE DAY, I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK ABOVE MY STEERING WHEEL. I FIGURED IT WAS NOTHING AND BEGAN CLEANING THE INTERIOR OF MY TRUCK. HOWEVER, WHEN I STARTED WIPING DOWN THE DASHBOARD, THAT CRACK SPREAD AT LEAST FIVE OR SIX INCHES. BY THE END OF THE MONTH, THERE WERE SEVERAL CRACKS THROUGHOUT MY DASHBOARD, SOME LEAVING PIECES COMPLETELY REMOVABLE. SEVERAL THE PIECES HAVE FELL INTO MY DEFROSTING VENTS, LEAVING ME TO REMOVE THEM. I QUICKLY STARTED LOOKING ONLINE FOR REPLACEMENT DASHBOARDS, AND I NOTICED THAT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS, SOME EVEN BECOMING CUT WHILE TRYING TO CLEAN THE INTERIOR. THIS POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. IF A PERSON WERE TO HAVE A COLLISION, THAT INDIVIDUAL WOULD MOST...

ON 1/9/2012 AS I WAS GETTING SOMETHING OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAB, I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD. THIS CRACK WAS NOT THERE THE DAY BEFORE. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 6" LONG, JUST TO THE LEFT OF THE GLOVE BOX ON THE TOP OF THE DASH. *TR

HORRIBLE CRACKS ALL OVER DASHBOARD. PLASTIC IS CRUMBLING. SOME PARTS ARE VERY SHARP. *TR

DASHBOARD CRACKED AROUND SPEAKER GRILL. THEN ANOTHER, NOW 5 CRACKS ONE BY GLOVE BOX THAT IS SHARP AND HAS CUT ME TWICE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH DODGE TRUCKS FROM MODEL YEARS 1998-2006. SHAMEFUL!!!!!! *TR

MY 2003 DODGE RAM 1500'S DASHBOARD IS COMPLETELY SHATTERED WITHOUT AND FORCE TO IT. IT STARTED CRACKING BACK IN 09 AND IS NOW BECOMING SHARP EDGED PIECES ALL OVER MY CAR. IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT THESE SHARP PIECES COULD EASILY DO SOME DAMAGE TO A SENSITIVE PART, SUCH AS A PERSONS EYE. IF THIS IS TO HAPPEN TO ME, OR ANY OF THE OTHER OF 1000'S OF PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE, THERE WILL BE LAWSUITS OUT THE ASS FOR LACK OF RECALL. THERE IS SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE DASHBOARD IN THESE TRUCKS, AND THEY NEED TO BE FIXED. *KB

THE GRIP HANDLES AND DASHBOARD HAVE DEGRADED FROM HEAT AND UV RADIATION AND CRACKED INTO MANY SHARP PIECES. I CUT MY HAND WHILE WIPING THE INSIDE OF MY WINDSHIELD. I TAKE BLOOD THINNERS AND THIS CAUSED ME TO BLEED FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I DID NOT REALIZE HOW RAZOR SHARP THE EDGES OF THE BROKEN PIECES ARE. THESE WOULD LIKELY SLICE THE AIR BAG & DRIVER/PASSENGERS FACES & ARMS IN A CRASH. THE PLASTIC SELECTED BY DODGE IS NOT SUITABLE FOR THE PURPOSE INTENDED AND PRESENTS A HAZARD. AN ADDITIONAL HAZARD IS THE EXPOSURE OF WIRE HARNESSES EXPOSED TO THE DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND EXTREME HEAT. CRACKED INSULATION WILL LEAD TO ELECTRICAL FIRES & FAILED OPERATOR CONTROLS. THE FAILURE IS MOST PREVALENT IN TROPICAL AND SUB-TROPICAL CLIMATES. THE PLASTIC USED BY DODGE NEEDS TO BE REFORMULATED, AND SALE OF THE FAULTY FORMULATION HALTED IMMEDIATELY. *KB

2003 DODGE RAM 1500 DASHBOARD CRACKED IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS OF BUYING IT NEW. ACCORDING TO DODGE ITS COSMETIC BUT THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN I DRIVE. THE DASH HAS SO MANY CRACKS AND SHARP JAGGED EDGES THAN CAN SEVERELY HURT SOMEONE. OBVIOUSLY DODGE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ITS CUSTOMERS ONCE THEY HAVE BOUGHT ONE OF THEIR VEHICLES. ITS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT YET DODGE SOMEHOW MANAGES TO GET AWAY WITH POOR QUALITY AT THE CUSTOMERS EXPENSE. *TR