8.2
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $880
- Average Mileage:
- 84,050 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 522 complaints
Most common solutions:
- Dodge should recall the dashboard (safety issue) (281 reports)
- not sure (115 reports)
- replace dashboard (105 reports)
- class action lawsuit against Dodge for inferior dashboards (16 reports)
- bought an aftermarket dash replacement (3 reports)
- dashboard, vents, radio replacement (1 reports)
« Read the previous 20 complaints
I'm not the original owner. The problem was first noticed by the original owner when the truck was approximately 5 years old. The top dash is literally falling to pieces. Plastic chunks have been falling down into the vents, then flying out when the defrost blows. I'm always in fear of being hit in the eye by a flying shard of plastic! My mother's Toyota Avalon had a much less severely cracked dash, and Toyota recalled and replaced it. When will Dodge step up and do the right thing for its customers?
- Michelle J., Highlands, US
It is absolutely ridiculous that the dash would have to be replaced just to repair the evaporator! Why would any company install anything made of plastic that would disintegrate from exposure to the Sun? Talk about not having any foresight?! I haven't even mentioned the potential safety issues of broken plastic flying around the cab causing human damage in an accident. Someone could lose an eye, or worse!
This sight should remove all the foul language! Don't you have a better command of the English language than that? Your point can be made much better if you use language correctly. It shows a real level of immaturity.
- James F., West Milton, US
I'm hoping if this truck is ever in a crash the air bag does not turn the dash into plastic death stars like it think it would.
Update from Jul 5, 2017: Cost was 500.00 not including labor
- Edwardrhodes1 .., Corona, CA, US
My dashboard is falling apart! It's literally crumbling and cracking. The "vented" openings for in dash speakers are GONE, the dash is in two parts and it has cracks from the windshield to the top edge of the horizontal surface nearest the seats. The materials (plastic) used for the dash in Dodge trucks is substandard, this is not an isolated case. Look at the number of complaints. It's ridiculous for customers to pay to fix a problem caused by Dodge using poor materials for the dash, especially trucks manufactured between 2001-2003.
- John W., Colorado Springs, CO, US
The dash on my truck is in pieces. I am not happy about it, this is a problem that needs to be taken care of for safety reasons and it looks real bad. I called dodge for price to repair it, they told me it would be around 2500 dollars. I am very unhappy. I will never buy a dodge ram truck again.
- joserivera, Tampa, FL, US
My 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 truck, developed several cracks on both the upper and lower dash panels. Now concerned the cracks will intersect and allow for large pieces to break off as reported by thousands of other owners. The cracks are unsightly and will eventually become a safety concern.
I am very disappointed in Dodge not taking ownership and responsibility for what is 100% their poorly engineered product. The fact that the cracks are due to age and heat sun exposure is the reason for the cracks as claimed by Dodge is disgraceful. I have a 2001 Toyota Avalon with 215,000 miles on it and the dash is in perfect condition. The Avalon had the same amount of heat and sun exposure as the Dodge Truck.
Shame on Dodge for turning their backs on their customers and waiting for a fatality to take place before they act is shameful. Hey Dodge! Didn't the tax payers give you millions of dollars to bail you out of a financial crises? How about showing your appreciation and now help out your customers that have defective products before someone is killed or seriously injured.
Update from Sep 24, 2017: Update: I wanted to let Dodge know, my complaint did not fall on deft ears. No not because of my posting but because of word of mouth. I have been told by many friends that they will never buy a dodge Chrysler product because of what they have learned about my experience and witnessed with my dash cracking and the fact that Dodge would not back up their product knowing they have thousands of people that own the Dodge Chrystler vehicles with the known defective dashboards. I didnt realize how many people i had touched with my story. I had also told them to watch the YouTube vieos of people who have tried to get help from C/D and were ignored.
- clay1ng, Collierville, US
i DON'T understand why Dodge hasn't replaced the dashboards or done a recall on this.
- David T., Gainesville, US
The problem once it started only took a few months to completely break apart. The dash is defective and Dodge has a responsibility to fix and replace the dash.
- Michael T., Bronson, FL, US
The dash falling apart is a common problem with these vehicles, especially in the early 2000 models. This causes multiple problems, including where the defroster no longer blows correctly to defog the windshield. This is a driving safety issue.
- David R., Lewisville, TX, US
click to see larger images
The dashboard on my 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 is getting worse and worse by the day. The plastic is so brittle and fragile, that it is impossible to try to fix. Touching the dash only causes it to crack more. This has been developing over the past year but is suddenly getting much worse. Dodge should offer a replacement dash.
- Matthew E., Torrance, US
Dodge should have to fix the dash. Parts of the dash have fallen into the fan vents. pieces have fallen off when ive hit potholes
- modiverusa, Rockwall, US
What is the deal with cracking dashboards? After this many years you would think they could figure this out.
- David D., Keller, TX, US
Just wish they would stand behind their product. It's a safety hazard and look horrible. I have 3 cracks through the vent piece. 2 cracks in the larger piece above my radio. The cracks are all the way through. i can't touch until i buy a new 2 part upper dash otherwise i will have more pieces to deal with. parts to replace range from aftermarket to OEM $600-1000.Dodge just needs to step-up and Make it right!
- Ryan S., Moun, WA, US
Dodge should be ashamed of the product they are turning out. They might only say it's a dashboard and it cosmetic. It ruined the hole look of the truck and is a safety issue with pieces of plastic dropping down in the vent. It's no wonder people are buying foreign cars and trucks no a days. They are the only ones made worth a crap anymore.
- eastridge, Knoxville, TN, US
All these trucks need to be recalled the dash is a can be dangerous it looks very bad
- jimm62y, Sevierville, TN, US
The truck was a city work truck i bought in Aug 2015. . Has a dashboard cover so broken dash was not noticed, but it had begun to CRUMBLE. . NOT A REPAIRABLE BREAK.
NOW ON NOVEMBER 7, 2016 the front piece with the vents and radio has broken in several places though ZERO STRESS HAS BEEN INFLICTED ON EITHER.other than the weight of the cover.
Got on the internet to look for another one and freaked out at the price.. Glad I found this site cause that is unacceptable, and even if I bought one it would probably be also defective and unable to take the Texas heat if Dodge did not make sure to buy better ones for replacement ..
- davisraley52, Lampasas, TX, US
The dashboard has broken and is falling into the vents and every time I turn the air conditioning on I get plastic blowing all over the windshield.
- earlie65, Terrell, TX, US
click to see larger images
Bad car. Don't buy it because I bought the Ram 1500 slt but dashboard is bad, so don't buy it. The dashboard will crack after a few years. I traded it at Dodge dealer and bought a Toyota tundra because Tundras don't crack.
- Test I., Nyc, US
I never realized how bad the dash was until this morning when I was doing a through detailing of my truck. I had seen one small crack a few years ago but didn't consider it a big deal at the time. But now there are several cracks running from the windshield to the front of the dash. Any pressure at all on the dash makes them spread open. I've had many vehicles over the years and have never had any of them with cracks in the dash. Even my old Rambler never had any cracks in the dash. From all of the complaints I see on line, there apparently is a problem with the material that Chrysler used in the production of these dash boards. I've been considering getting a new truck but now I have to repair the dash first and then rethink if I will get another Dodge/Ram truck. Considering my truck only has 54,000 miles on it, even though it is 14 years old, I think its pretty piss poor I have to worry about the condition of the dash before I can think about replacing the vehicle.
- Rich M., Willow Grove, PA, US
2002 Dodge Ram with a dash falling apart. Come on Dodge, own up to this. There are to0 many of these out there to shrug off. It is pitiful the amount of these trucks that have this problem. I run a garage and I have seen plenty. Shameful.
- Ronald K., Fayetteville, US