10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
57,863 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #64

Oct 172020

Ram 1500

  • 122,000 miles
We were driving down the highway and smelt smoke. We pulled over, I looked under the vehical and there was a fire near the gas tank. I tried to splash water on it but had no luck. Knowing the fire was near the gas tank we got away from the truck and called 911.

- Durand, MI, USA

problem #63

Aug 012019

Ram 1500

  • 130,000 miles
The drivers door will not open

- Sonora, KY, USA

problem #62

Feb 102013

Ram 1500

  • 154,000 miles
1999 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup, while driving around 35-45 mph usually on a downhill grade the entire vehicle will begin to shake, the only word to describe it is violently and will not subside until you can get the speed below 20mph but you can not just apply the breaks or the shaking become uncontrollable, I have replace most of the suspension(control arms, ball joints ect.)nothing works.this has happened multiple times! I've talked to others and there is a name for it, Dodge death wobble. Also I am another victim of the Dodge dash cancer, in the last couple of years my dash has basically disintegrated....considering bringing a class action lawsuit

- Morganton, NC, USA

problem #61

Sep 152015

Ram 1500

  • 110,000 miles
I have purchased a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 sport. The dash has had a problem in the past and cracked and split. I have replaced it but expect that it will happen again. The problem is when this occurs during an accident, there is the potential for the broken pieces of the brittle plastic to become shrapnel and puncture or become a flying projectile in the cab of the vehicle. If it is caught by the airbag, the speed can be accelerated when the airbag deploys. When will NHTSA issue a recall on the dashboard of these trucks. The bezel and the glovebox's are also splitting as well. When can the recall be expected. I have noted before that this problem exist on NHTSA's website under several categories.. it is a safety issue if the dash cracks or breaks off during an accident. Owners are waiting for a recall so that they do not continue to have to pull money out of there pocket to fix repairs on items that should not have a problem.

- Aulander, NC, USA

problem #60

Jun 012010

Ram 1500

  • 42,000 miles
My truck just cut off wouldnt start back run straight wire from ignition changed ignition relay nothing next run straight wire from relay to battery it started up I have no O/D and have to shift by hand sometimes truck stalls but starts right back up been this way since 2010 truck has 55000 miles on it.

- Anderson, SC, USA

problem #59

Oct 052016

Ram 1500

  • 140,000 miles
Takata recall 1999 Dodge Ram (death wobble) the left front of the truck feels like it going to fall apart this truck is in good condition other then the only thing I can find is a random starting death wobble and of course nobody own up to there mistake as normal and its sad you make all that money and it comes with innocent blood on your hands Dodge you made a mistake fix it before its to late and you in up killing people I'm a vet with a child if something happens to my child because he loves riding in daddy's truck I will tell you one thing there will be no law suit on my hands they will make a movie of the hell I bring down those.... lets just leave it at that and fix the problem I'm not one to be the guy that tells the spoiler plus its not going to come to that because you all are good people and your going to do the right thing and not have family's out there in death traps

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #58

Jan 012001

Ram 1500

  • miles
Dashboard has broken into 30 pieces

- Arlington, TX, USA

problem #57

Apr 132016

Ram 1500

  • 139,000 miles
Driving 30 mph sudden strong smell of gasoline then visible white fog of vapor rose from defrost vents (defroster/fan not on) pulled over immediately but brake pedal went to floor with no activation of brakes. All this happened quickly, within 10 seconds used emergency brake to stop vehicle to evacuate 10 year old daughter and self barely in time. Bystander shouting that it was on fire. Fire erupted from under hood and spread into cab. Fire dept. Called by bystander as we used fire extinguishers unsuccessfully. Truck was engulfed and destroyed. Recalls were addressed spring of 2003. A later recall not realized by us includes fix for antilock brake controller corrosion that could cause fire. Geico claim # 0480694490101028 but no compensation, as not covered for fire. Fire dept. Took a report, police said no collision so they didn't. I don't currently have the fire dept. Report but may be able to obtain it.

- Harpers Ferry, WV, USA

problem #56

Apr 042016

Ram 1500

  • 98,000 miles
Entire dash is cracking and falling apart. Chunks are getting into electrical wiring harness and may cause safety malfunction. Front window defroster not able to work correctly causing visual impairment. I am a ph.D. polymer chemist and this is obvious safety - manufacturing defect

- Redwood City, CA, USA

problem #55

Dec 022010

Ram 1500

  • miles
Dashboard falling apart very dangerous could cause serious injury or death big cracks starting to fall in could cause electrcal problems if in an accident could get shards of plastic in eyes and face

- Wheeling, IL, USA

problem #54

Jan 012007

Ram 1500

  • 50,000 miles
Dashboard first cracked then totally disintegrated and collapsed inside the dash

- Apopka, FL, USA

problem #53

Jun 012005

Ram 1500

  • 92,000 miles
The dashboard started with a small crack on the passenger side and it has expanded to many cracks, with pieces falling into the dash itself. I am afraid that these pieces will cause a malfunction of lights or whatever is down there, while I'm driving. My truck isn't the only one with this problem. From what I understand, most 1999 Dodge Ram have this problem. I don't see why the company is not obligated to fix this.

- Westland, MI, USA

problem #52

Aug 062010

Ram 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 98,390 miles
Dash had two small cracks in dash when purchased used in 2010. Since then, these cracks have multiplied and have become larger, with pieces breaking out, leaving sharp edges. Some pieces are falling into area of passenger air bag, possibly causing a cut in components. This is a very common problem with the Ram pickup trucks during several years. I had same problem with my 2002 Ram, on which Chrysler Corp. Paid partially for dash replacement. This situation could very well be considered a safety issue.

- Lafayette, IN, USA

problem #51

Mar 032003

Ram 1500

  • 40,000 miles
In March of 2003 I noticed that the dashboard of my Dodge Ram truck was beginning to crack. Within a few more months, the cracks had spread over the entire surface so the pieces could easily be removed.

- Anderson, SC, USA

problem #50

Jun 012003

Ram 1500

  • 50,000 miles
The dashboard started cracking near the center of dash and going down to where the dash meets the windshield. Over the next couple of years, the dash continued to crack in the shape of a spider web until pieces started falling down inside the dash. Now there's a large hole in the dash in front of the driver's seat/steering wheel approximately 14" long and 8" wide and it's continuing to crack and disintegrate; all the mechanics inside the dash are now exposed. It is my belief this is a manufacturer defect since there are hundreds of other owners with the same situation in their Dodge vehicles.

- Woodruff, SC, USA

problem #49

Aug 012011

Ram 1500

  • 150,000 miles
I have a 99 Dodge Ram 1500. The dash is broken in so many different pieces. I looked down in one of the holes that are now in my dash and saw a piece resting on some wires. If left there I could see how after time it could wear through the insulation on multiple wires and cause them to arc or get hot and possibly cause a fire. Is this right that Dodge has done nothing about it and will not do anything for the consumer when contacted ? there should be a recall on the dash, but thats my 2 cents I guess.

- Charleston, IL, USA

problem #48

Dec 012007

Ram 1500

  • 50,000 miles
My truck dash on my 1999 Dodge Ram is cracked in about 20 different pieces. This started about 4 years ago and I brought it to the attention of my local Dodge dealer and they said it was a common problem, but was not recalled. It has gotten worse over the years. Chrysler/Dodge says this is an isolated problem in a press release, but it is not. I am a police officer and have stopped an estimated 50-75 Dodge Ram trucks from around this year and have yet to see a single one that does not have a cracked dash. I have seen a recent news story about this on my local news and have seen thousands of complaints on the internet.

- Easley, SC, USA

problem #47

Feb 012002

Ram 1500

  • 50,000 miles
Dashboard cracking issue. I have a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 sport. Two years after purchasing the vehicle I noticed a crack in my dashboard. I took it to Dodge and they said that I broke it and there was nothing they could do. Over time since the dash has cracked it has gotten worse. There are several large cracks in the dash as well as a huge chunk missing right above the instrument cluster. This causes a glare in the windshield that is dangerous and may cause a wreck. There is exposed wiring in the dash that may short out, due to parts of the dash falling on it or the heat of the sun. This may cause either the air bag to deploy, wipers not to function properly during use in rainy conditions, or the headlights not working during the night that could result in a crash injuring an occupant. I have already noticed sun fading on the wiring. I keep it covered with a towel to reduce the risk of sun exposure. The vehicle has been keep in my garage most of its life. There are 5 Dodge Ram's in my family and they all have this issue. This is not a isolated incident with these trucks and is not my fault. I paid over 22,000 dollars for this truck in 2000 and it only has 135,000 miles on it. I keep my vehicle very well maintained and clean. Every Dodge Ram on the road that I see has this issue. So there are thousands of trucks out there with this issue. They are all hazardous to operate in the present condition. I hope that it does not take someone getting hurt by this issue for it to get resolved. The resolution: It is my opinion that the ntsb make Dodge issue a recall for the dashboard problem. The consumer should be able to make an appointment with their local dealer. The part should be replaced with not cost to the owner of the vehicle. This is a very dangerous situation for the driver/passenger of the vehicle as well as other motorist around the subject vehicle.

- Pelham, AL, USA

problem #46

Sep 012005

Ram 1500

  • miles
1. no specific even lead up to the failure. The item in question has broken on it's own. 2. the dashboard has broken in two different places. One of the large cracks is directly over the passenger airbag which is concerning as airbag deployment could cause the entire dashboard to shatter resulting in a higher injury rate to the front passenger. 3. after doing research and determining that numerous owners of the Dodge Ram pick-up are having the same exact issue I contacted Chrysler to look into replacing the dashboard. Currently waiting for their response.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #45

Sep 092008

Ram 1500

  • 180,000 miles
At about 180,000 miles the dash cracked and within 3,000 miles the center of the dash completely fell in and keeps breaking more.

- Moundville, AL, USA

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