10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 3 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 72,651 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Cracked dash 3rd year is still cracking.
- Yakima, WA, USA
I have had a dashmat covering on my dashboard since spring of 2003. I had not taken it off except to clean a couple of times a year. Now I have cracks and pieces that I have had to tape so they don't stick up into my mat. It appears to be a problem common to Dodge trucks. Fyi -- my 1999 Q45 infinity "doesn't" have a dashmat or any cracks.
- Wickenburg, AZ, USA
While cleaning the truck, I noticed a crack had appeared that ran across the dashboard. The dashboard is always shaded by a sunscreen when the truck is parked. I called my local Dodge dealer to ask what could be done to repair the dashboard and they told me to call Chrysler/Dodge customer service and gave me the phone number. I called customer service, explained that the dashboard had unexpectedly cracked and they gave me a case number. They told me to take the truck to my local dealer where digital pictures would be taken and submitted for review. Five days later I received a letter from my local Dodge dealer stating that my claim was denied. I called Chrysler/Dodge customer service to follow up. They said that there is nothing that they can do and confirmed that the claim has been denied. The crack continues to get larger and eventually I expect the dashboard to disintegrate as hundreds if not thousands of other Dodge Ram dashboards are doing. Dodge should recall the faulty dashboards for replacement because there is a great potential for plastic shards and splinters to cause injury during an accident or air bag deployment.
- Bozrah, CT, USA
The dash started cracking in 2011, now it has so many cracks and sharp edges, you can't wipe off the dash without getting a cut on your hand. Very dangerous situation, can only imagine what would happen in an accident. This vehicle has been garage kept, the quality of materials Chrysler used is flawed and now extremely dangerous. My truck has low mileage and Chrysler is playing favorites by replacing some and not others..totally not fair.
- Cordova, TN, USA
My dashboard has been disintegrating rapidly in the last couple years. Started with a large crack, then several cracks, then chunks. I never know when a chunk is going to let loose, I check every time I get into the truck for anything loose, but it never fails to startle me and I even got pulled over once on a suspected dui when a chunk flew off and hit me between the eyes. This has happened a few times to both me and any passenger I might be transporting. Chrysler says its a cosmetic issue, but I am here to tell you that it is a safety issue not only for the truck owner, but anyone else who happens to be on the road with one. Please lean on Chrysler to recall this and make the roads a bit safer for all. Thank you
- Tell City, IN, USA
The two piece dash on my 2003 Ram 3500 truck has cracked in several places. This continues to get worse with additional cracks showing up in several areas. The edges of this dash along the cracks is very sharp and in a crash this would cause a severe safety hazard. Chrysler is not responding well to these defective parts as well even though this problem is happening in several year models as well as other car models.
- Magnolia, TX, USA
Cracked dashboard, my concern is, if and when the airbags deploy, will brittle plastic from the cracked dashboard project into someone eyes/ face? seems that this is an issue with Dodge.
- Fillmore, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the dashboard was fractured, causing small fragments to fall into the vents. Once the ventilation system was activated, the contact stated that those small fragments would fly out of the vents and into her eyes. The dealer did not offer any assistance. The manufacturer failed to offer any assistance either since there were no recalls addressing the failure. No repairs were performed. The failure mileage was 70,000 and the current mileage was 180,000.
- Cantonment, FL, USA
Dash just suddenly started cracking was cleaning dash and a fingers went through it cutting my finger now dash a over 20 cracks and holes in it. If I were to get into an accident I think splinters of dash would impale me.
- Lufkin, TX, USA
Dash board on 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 is cracked in multiple areas. Windshield defroster vent panels have crumbled and fallen into the air handler system causing defroster to stop functioning.
- Pflugerville, TX, USA
The dashboard in my 2003 has alot of cracks and now pieces are falling into the vents. This is a safety hazard to have pieces of the dashboard breaking off, it's just a matter of time before the entire dashboard caves in.
- Fort Worth, TX, USA
Crack in the dash of my 03 Dodge Ram truck. There are two cracks one happened about 3/4 years ago and then the other about 2 years ago. The truck was purchased new in 2003. One crack is about a foot long and the other is a few inches.
- Campobello, SC, USA
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked when he noticed that the dashboard was developing cracks throughout the surface. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. An authorized dealer was notified and informed the contact that this failure was a known issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 276,000.
- Mobile, AL, USA
2003 Dodge 3500 dash cracking severely. You touch it and your finger goes through it. I cut my finger twice passing it over the dash to try to clean it. You guys know there's a problem but you say it is not a safety issue. I disagree cut finger twice and now the wiring is getting so hot being exposed to the sun it is a hazard.
- Lufkin, TX, USA
My 2003 Dodge Ram has a cracked dashboard.
- Greenwood, SC, USA
I have a black 2003 Dodge 3500 Ram. The dash has cracked in 3 places over the past 3 years. I just noticed one day that there was a crack and then several months later another crack split across the dash. Now in the past year another crack has appeared. This dash is cracking and I have used a sunshield to protect it. The sunshield does not seem to help, it just cracks no matter what.
- Duncan, SC, USA
I purchased this truck, dash panel is severely cracked and coming apart in several places, this has been reported as early as June 2006 to the NHTSA, this is a mfg. Defective that has effected many truck of this model, I have always taken care of the interior of the truck, my brother has a 2002 and its the same way. This is a safety issue, can't lay anything on it, have to ware gloves when you clean.
- Conway, SC, USA
Cracked dash.
- Wasilla, AK, USA
The dashboard on my 2003 Dodge 3500 quad cab had developed cracks which has split the dash into pieces directly in front of the passenger seat and directly over the passenger side airbag. The cracks and broken dash pieces will not allow the passenger side airbag to deploy properly in the event of a crash and not only will the airbag harm the passenger, the broken pieces of dash will be dangerous as well. This vehicle has been properly maintained, and is in good condition. The dash cracked and broke as a result of normal driving; the vehicle has never been in an accident. The dealer said that the vehicle is out of warranty and will not pay to replace the dash. Not only will the airbag not deploy properly due to the cracked and broken dash and threaten the passenger, it could also deploy in a manner hazardous to the driver. This is a defect many 2003-2005 Dodge 3500 truck owners have experienced and is widely discussed on internet forums. Dodge 3500 2003 model dashboards should be recalled and replaced by dealers because the defective dashes installed by Dodge are a high safety hazard for passengers and drivers as well due to the fact that they will not allow the passenger side airbag to deploy properly in the event of an accident. While I must include an incident date below this problem occurred and expanded over the course of 2010.
- Dewitt, AR, USA
- Lebanon , TN, USA