My ac evaporator core had gone out years ago and I needed to replace it but due to the dashboard cracking problem I didn't want to chance pulling the dash. I have the replacement evaporator core and heater core waiting for when the inevitable happened.

It should be mentioned that the only time the truck is in direct sunlight is when I at work (about 7 days a month on day shift). Possibly this is how it made it so long.

Anyway, the dash finally cracked and I decided to go ahead with the ac repair. The second I started trying to get the anels off, not only did the front part of the dash start crumbling but the rest of the dash started popping and cracking. That's with only removing the 2 side covers which pop in and the front cowl which also pops in. There's no telling what's going to happen when I start taking the bolts that hold the dash to the body loose.

I HAVE A 2012 RAM 1500. AFTER THREE YEARS I NOTICED THAT DASH BOARD WAS CRACKING. I WENT TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT MY TRUCK AND SPOKE TO THE GENERAL MANAGER. HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO ABOUT IT, SINCE THE CAR WAS ALREADY OUT OF WARRANTY. I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD PAID LOTS OF MONEY FOR THE CAR AND I WAS EXPECTING A BETTER QUALITY ON THIS CAR. SURE ENOUGH I HAD TO STEP OUT OF THE PLACE WITH EMPTY HANDS. TIME HAS PASSED BY AND TODAY I HAVE NO DASH BOARD ANY MORE.. I SPOKE TO A LOCAL DASHBOARD DEALER THAT SELLS PARTS AND TOLD ME THAT DODGES FROM THOSE YEARS HAVE THAT PROBLEM. I DECIDED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH DODGE. THEY SENT AN E MAIL WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE SORRY THAT THEY CANNOT HELP ME WITH MY PROBLEM, SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. IT IS REALLY FRUSTRATING AFTER YOU SO MUCH MONEY FOR A CAR THAT IT IS FALLING OFF IN PIECES.

Really disappointed in dodge for dodging the bullet on fixing the dash board issues, it's an older car ok then I say don't buy a dodge ever because it will become an older model, it's evident and clear that dodge has an issue with their dashboards and even other components, so why try to deny it.

I have a real predicament, don't have A/C because the evaporator core(another known problem on these) therefore need to drive with the windows down at the risk of catching a flying piece of sharp dashboard and potentially endangering other drivers or really anyone on the street for that matter.

always owned Honda and have never had an issue of this sort, what a shame on an "north american" car company like dodge knowing foreign cars are better, safer and have better longevity!!

theres no point in "making" a vehicle safer with air bags and expensive equipment if this same equipment can create a hazardous scenario, clearly a manufacturers malfunction and dodge should accept full resposability.

what would the dodge brothers do!?!?!?!

Small crack on dash appeared around May of 2012, since then it has continued to crack all over . Looks like someone took a knife to it. I think Dodge should recall this and repair it. Headlights look awful too. Truck were made cheap as heck this year and for 2003 but hte prices certainly didn't go down.

You pay good money for these vehicles and the companies do not back their products. No one is going to want to buy this used vehicle. Also had trouble with the heater and A/C unit.

I know better than to but a Dodge next time. NEVER

My wife got this truck used for Christmas of 2012. My son got it for my wife and I at an auction. Then it has a small hole in the driver's side dash about 3 or 4 inches in diameter. I tried to get the broken piece out and another piece broke out.

I was scraping off my old registration sticker and dropped the scraper which broke out another piece. Trying to get that piece out I cut the back side of my hand on the broken pieces still on the dash. No stitches but just bandages. Set my phone up there and another piece broke out. That piece just crumbled in my hand.Since the dash is part of the crumple zone I hate to think of what would happen in an accident.

I will try to cover it with a piece of rug but the sturdiness of the dash is still compromised.

I bought this truck used in 2009 with 54k miles on it. When I bought it, it already had a cracked dash, both myself and the dealer accused the original owner of being negligent and the purchase agreement consisted of them replacing the dashboard. While this truck was in the dealer shop getting a new dash I discovered that prior generations also had this issue so I purchased a nice tan cover. I have left that cover in place for 5 long years and only removed it for the occasional cleaning and plastic protect spray session.

I walked out to my truck to clean the dash as I have several times before and as soon as I start wiping my hand falls into a hole in the dash and I sliced my finger almost to the bone. I had to get 5 stitches because I did not expect the dash to be broken and was wiping pretty quickly. After I get my stitches and return to the vehicle to inspect my dash, it has two large holes and cracks EVERYWHERE! this is insanity.... if I were to take my 4x4 truck off road I might get sliced to ribbons. Imagine if I were ever in an accident? God forbid that in the first place but if your hands hit the dashboard in my truck you might become an amputee. This stuff breaks like glass. Now the dealership wants almost $2000.00 for a new dashboard on top of the $2000.00 I had to pay for my own stitches that they won't cover......

I was a loyal follower of Dodge and Jeeps almost my whole life, I was just looking into purchasing a new 2014 2500 Cummins Mega Cab.. THERE IS NOT A SNOWBALL'S CHANCE IN HELL I WILL EVER SPEND ANOTHER PENNY ON CHRYSLER UNLESS THEY FIX THIS AND PAY FOR MY STITCHES. PERIOD.

I do plan on seeking legal counsel as soon as possible since this resulted in a serious injury and great financial burden. Dodge might have just lost one of it's last true followers as I did everything imaginable to prevent this dashboard from meeting the same fate as the previous one but it appears to be something that will happen until they recall these dashes and replaces them with a softer more reliable material.

I thought I was the only one with this problem, especially since I am not one to spend a lot of time maintaining the dashboard, at one time I figured it was Mienekie personnel that had cracked my dashboard after it worked on my ac but from all the complaints posted on this problem I now believe that it is just Dodge's way of saving money and putting peoples lives at risk.

It never crossed my mind that my family's lives could be in danger because of this cracked dashboard if involved in an accident although I did worry about the airbag. All I can say is that like always it will take someone's loss of life for these greedy companies to do anything about it. Unfortunately I will probably have to replace it at such a great expense if I can not find another alternative.

I read the NY Times article and found this website. I was really bothered by the comments from the Dodge representative. I bought my truck from an aftermarket Dodge dealer. It was a 2002 rental truck and had 9800 miles. Within the year my first crack appeared. I took it to Dodge in 2003 and they told me the dash would not be replaced under warranty or due to defect. I was extremely surprised due to the age of the vehicle and the size of the crack.

At the time of the first crack, the Internet was still relatively slow (due to dial up speeds) and I really didn't use it very often. But I'm sure Dodge was very aware of the problem with their dashboards. I was unaware that so many other people had this issue until several years later when I searched the Internet after several more cracks appeared. My truck now has 117,000 lightly used miles. I've always parked it in our garage. I take excellent care of my truck. This is a problem that was not caused by my actions and I'm disappointed with Dodge's customer service.

Because of the dash, and some electrical issues, I've never recommended a Dodge to people. I would not purchase another because they don't stand by their product. It's too bad, because I love so many things about my truck, and I would like to tell everyone what a great experience I've had.