Dodge Ram Owners Report Dashboards Collapsing, Cracking

Wow, dodge is heading down the drain, and don't need something like this when the company is already falling apart.  
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I was in the same boat as the rest of you. Don't Quit. Contact Dodge. I have a 1999 1500 with 88,000 miles at the time. I contacted Dodge and filed my claim. I continued to follow up with them on regular basis. It took me a number of calls asking them what the status was but they did come around. They did not cover the whole expense but they covered most. The cost of the dash was $1,099.00 not including installation and tax. It cost me $430.00 for the dash, installation, and tax.
Don't give up.  

Yea my 1997 dodge the same thing no problems with the truck except the dash. It seems to me that its an engineering flaw there is not enuff support undreneath it and the plastic is to hard and not flexible enuff. We made a metal dash and covered it in a heavy black materiel that looks pretty good but I would like to have the correct replacement. I have had chevy's with simmilar problems I wonder if they use the same dash manufacture. The only thing with the dodge it still runs the chevy's would never hold up the dodge has never quit the dash is the only problem. I think the they should fire the designer or manufacture for the dash design  

I have a 2002 2500, it has 63,000 miles and has had a easy life. I have a company truck and it only gets driven on the weekend. It is parked under a carport. The dash is busted and cracked all the way across. the trim around the gauges is all cracked also.I bought it in Marshall,Texas.The dealer said they would not cover any of it. The dash ($800) and the trim peice($300)Is way to expensive!!This is my last dodge! The only reason I bought it is the cummings deisel!The truck will never last as long as the engine!  

I have a 03 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4 with 31,000 on it ,the dash top has 6 cracks, the truck is under warranty , But Dodge/Chrysler want help; I know theirs a danger of the passenger side air bag deploying because of the broken dash top injuring my passenger. So I have order a dash top overlay, I found two companies that make dash tops that I think will hold my dash together.
1.www.coverlaymfg.com
2.www.dashtop.com

file a complaint at www.safecar.gov  

I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS. MY 2002 DODGE RAM DASHBOARD STARTED WITH A CRACK IN THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD, THEN CRACKS STARTED TO APPEAR MORE AND MORE, EVERYDAY, I HAVE HOLES IN MY DASHBOARD!!  

2000 Ram 1500 same problem here. Dash started cracking last year. I need to replace my a/c but don't want the dash to fall apart for the repair. covered it up with a dash cover. A co worker of mine has a 98, same thing, dash is just falling apart. I have turned off my passenger airbag for the simple reason that if I hit something, I'm afraid the whole dash will literally explode into shreds if it goes off.   Noooo this doesn't need to be a recall or safety issue Dodge.....yeah right!  

I have a 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 with 98,000 miles and about 6 month ago my dash started to crack and now I have lots of cracks.  Will be contacting Chrysler.  

I have a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 and have the same problem.  I got in my truch today and found a crack running from the windsheild to the lower dashboard.  It is almost an exact straight line and running right where the two lower sections of the dashboard come together.  You are right, this is BS....  

My 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 dash fell apart as well.  I called the number and opened a case.  You have to go through an India call center first, but then they'll send you to a local rep at a "Senior Staff Office" who reviews the case.  Once you get through, they will ask why you didn't go through the dealer, then they will tell you that they only deal with the dealership and they WILL NOT send a new dash to you.  They only take requests from dealerships who "diagnose" the issue and then they will "assist" by paying part of the cost to replace the dash.  They also stated that since the vehicle is out of warranty, they do not have to do anything, regardless if it's a part that should otherwise remain intact for the life of the vehicle.  They will also refuse to transfer the call to speak to anyone above them.  Actually it's not a "them", his name is Don.

So, in summary:
1.  No dashboards are being sent out
2.  You have to pay out of pocket to fix their factory defect.

This will be the last Dodge I own.  

I first noticed the crack about 2 years ago and took it to the dealer.  They accused me having a passenger putting their foot on the dash.  So I call Chrylser and the responds was it is out of warranty and sorry.  Now 2 year later the dash is just about to fall apart and I found the number to call so I did and I got the same responds as the last posting.  I pay 360.00 and they pick up the rest of the tab.  I also ask if they would just send me the dash and I put it in.  No sorry it has to be done at the dealer because it would include  12 warranty.

I call to other Dodge dealers to find out the cost of just the dash.  The cost was between $404.00 and $435.00.  Now we know that the price that was given to me was the retail price so I figure they were making at least $100.00 profit on the dash.

Now lets do some basic math here.  I go in and pay them $360.00 to have them replace their problem part.  It only cost them maybe $300.00 for the part and a few hours labor, the way I see it is I'm paying for the dash and one hour of their labor cost and they will pick up the rest for labor.  What a deal?  I feel they should replace every problem dash out their.  And them fire the vendor that make them, wait fire the vendor now and get a new supplier to fix all the dashes that are breaking.

I'm going to call them and and see where I get today.

Joe  

well  allow me to start with thanking you all for your post. having read all of'em i at this moment am using some pretty (NOT) so nice words.3/28/09 driving home from my brothers tattoo shop my dask starts sounding like it's about to fall apart. cant see anything cuz 5 yrs ago i thought a cover would pro-long the life and keep it looking good.GRRRRRRRRR did i ever get that one wrong.. i now have a BIG BIG HOLE in the center of my dashboard. so guess i'll buy another dask and sell the truck. she has been a good woman to me but once they get old time to trade'em in i guess. WONT BE FOR ANOTHER DODGE.......  

I own a 1997 F-150, bought it in Houston (hot, humid) drove it there for 4 years, now live in Western Maryland (cold, snow) and the truck still going strong....with no problems. A friend of mine just bought a Caliber, against my advice, because it was dirt cheap........he's had it back to the dealer for a new radio & the heater never worked. I'm not happy about Dodge's problems, I'm just saying.....  
...zy

Wow..not sure if I'm happy I'm not alone in this problem or just angry that this is such a defect that Dodge doesn't fix! Noticed a few cracks in the dash, no big deal...then it spread until its all cracks. My husband took it to the dealership, was told that they had heard of the problem but he'd have to pay for it. I say Dodge should pay.  

i have a 1998 dodge ram 1500. 5.9L my dash was cracked when i got it and i figured that the price was right, the truck was mechanically sound, why not. then it started caving in and i got to see underneath it. the main reason that i think the dashes are doing this is that the dash a)does not have enough support/is not thick enough (simple statics/strength of materials doge engineers come on!) and b)the dash's are too close to the frame of the truck, therefore subjecting it to the natural twisting of an engine with high natural torque. if there was even just another layer about .05" thick then it would be fine. I'm only in my 3 year of a bachelor's degree for engineering and i could figure that out...they have had ..idk almost 15 years or so. i must say though, with how the truck runs, and for the engine being as big as it is and still getting 15mpg city, i'm impressed with the towing/performace i am getting out of my truck. They got it right there!