54 of the
422 complaints about the 1999 Dodge RAM 2500 are about the
body and structure — 13% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
96,500 miles.
THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT REGARDING DASH BOARD. THE DASH STARTED CRACKING WITH JUST 30,000 MILES ON TRUCK, WHEN I PUT IN COMPLIANT TO NHTSA. NOW 109,000 THE ELECTRICAL, AIR BAGS, COMPUTER HARNESS WIRING ARE EXPOSED WITH A INTERMITTENT STALLING AND A GUESSING GAME FROM AUTHORIZED DODGE DEALERS AS TO WHAT MIGHT BE THE ISSUES. "UNDETERMINED ELECTRICAL SHORTS FROM CRACKED DASH A POSSIBILITY" "ABS SERVICE LIGHT STAYS ON, ALSO "UNDETERMINED BY DEALER", "CAN'T TRACK CODE" "DON'T DRIVE AS AIRBAG MIGHT DEPLOY BECAUSE DASH HAS DASH DEBRIS FROM CRACKS" PLUS HEARING "REFUSE TO SERVICE UNLESS REPLACE THE DASHBOARD" ALL THESE QUOTES WHEN TRYING TO TAKE TO GET THE TRUCK FIXED. MAIN COMPUTER HARNESS INTERMITTENT "NO BUS" CAN'T FIND SHORTS! STALLS OUT ON FREEWAY. THE GLOVE BOX EVEN HANGS ON ONLY ONE SIDE. UNSAFE IF AIRBAGS DEPLOY. SPLINTERING OF REMAINS CHARDS OF FAULTY DASHBOARD PLASTIC, STALL ON FAST LANE OF 14 FREEWAY IN CA HAD TO COAST TO RIGHT SIDE WITH NO POWER STEERING LUCKY THE BRAKES WORKED AND THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT. SHORT IN WIRE DUE TO EXPOSED DASH BOARD.
NHTSA complaint #11058145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakdale, NY
STRUCTURE
DASH CRACKING. DASH IS IN PIECES AND MAY AFFECT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10610148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 165,000 milesChandler, AZ
STRUCTURE
DASH COVER AND PLASTIC SUBSTRUCTURE CRACKED AND SHARP PIECES FALLING OFF INTO THE DASH. DASH PULLING AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. HEADLIGHT AND HVAC CONTROL MOUNTING POINTS BROKEN LOSE AND FALLING INTO THE DASH. CONCERNED ABOUT PROPER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IN EVENT OF A CRASH WITH LOSE DASH FRAGMENTS AND THE DASH DETACHING FURTHER FROM THE FIREWALL AND BECOMING A PROJECTILE CAUSING ADDITIONAL INJURY TO OCCUPANTS.
NHTSA complaint #10585357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesGilbert, AZ
STRUCTURE
MY 1999 DODGE RAM 2500 DASH IS FALLING APART. IT IS STARTING TO "CHUNK" MEANING PIECES ARE COMING OUT OF IT IN WHAT I WOULD DESCRIBE AS SHARP JAGGED "SHARDS" WITH POINTY EDGES. NOTICED IT BEGINNING OF LAST YEAR AS A SINGLE CRACK, NOT IT IS EXTENSIVE AN SPREADING ACROSS MY ENTIRE DASH. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE NOW WIRING IS EXPOSED WHICH COULD SHORT LIGHTS ETC. THE CHUNKS COULD FLY OUT AT HIGH SPEEDS INTO MY EYES BLINDING MY VISION. IN A WRECK WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.
NHTSA complaint #10577151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesBloomington, IL1 injured
STRUCTURE
CRACKED DASHBOARD. I CUT MY FINGER ON THE SHARP EDGE OF THE CRACKED DASHBOARD. I STARTED DOING RESEARCH ON REPAIRING OR REPLACING THE DASHBOARD SO NONE OF MY CHILDREN WOULD INJURE THEMSELVES LIKE I DID. MY RESEARCH FOUND THAT THERE IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH DODGE RAM DASHBOARDS CRACKING,SO I DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT.
NHTSA complaint #10509832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 160,000 milesCanaan, NY
STRUCTURE
THE VEHICLE HAS A CRACKED DASHBOARD. SEEMS COMMON FOR SOME MODEL YEAR DODGE RAM PICKUPS. I AM CONCERNED THAT CHUNKS OF THE DASH COULD COME OFF AND BLOW INTO MY FACE WHILE DRIVING WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS WHO HAVE A DODGE RAM WITH A CRACKED DASHBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #10503428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodland Hills, CA
STRUCTURE
I HAVE A 1999 DODGE RAM 2500 THAT I PURCHASED NEW. IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY COLLISION NOR SUSTAINED ANY DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE IS NORMALLY PARKED IN A COVERED LOCATION OUT OF THE SUN AND IS WELL MAINTAINED. IN LATE 2009 A SHORT CRACK APPEARED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE DASH EXTENDING FROM THE WINDSHIELD TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SEAT. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER SEVERAL OTHER CRACKS APPEARED. AS OF FALL 2012 SEVERAL MAJOR CRACKS APPEARED IN FRONT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CRACKS ARE JAGGED AND SHARP EXPOSING OCCUPANTS TO BEING CUT. THE DASH APPEARS TO BE RAPIDLY DETERIORATING AND DEFECTIVE AND CONTINUES TO SPALL. ALSO THIS CRACKED DASH APPEARS TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION OR AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10485332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 163,000 milesFriendship, AR
STRUCTURE
THIS VEHICLE IS VERY SELDOM DRIVEN, ONCE A WEEK 1/4 MILE. IT IS PARKED WITH A WINDSHIELD COVER ACROSS WINDSHIELD TO PROTECT DASH. THE DASH IS COMPLETELY FALLING APART IN PIECES. IT BEGAN WITH SMALL HAIRLINE CRACKS, THEN PIECES BEGAN TO FALL IN. IT APPEARS THAT A DEFECTIVE MATERIAL WAS USED TO MAKE THE DASHBOARD. THE PLASTIC HAS TURNED INTO A CERAMIC TYPE MATERIAL. NOW HUGE PIECES ARE FALLING IN. I ORDERED A DASHBOARD COVER WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST BEGAN BUT BEFORE IT HAS EVEN ARRIVED I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE WON'T BE ANYTHING LEFT TO PLACE THE COVER ON.
NHTSA complaint #10474536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Novato, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD CRACKED INTO PIECES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE DASHBOARD EVEN THOUGH THE AIR BAGS WERE SHOWING. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10454967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesCampbell, CA
STRUCTURE
THE DASH HAS BROKEN INTO SEVERAL PIECES (THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE) AND IS NO LONGER INTACT OR ATTACHED TO THE MOUNTING AREAS. IT STARTED WITH ONE LITTLE CRACK AND THEN LARGER PIECES BEGAN BREAKING FREE. THE EDGES ARE VERY SHARP AND WILL CUT YOU. UPON ANY KIND OF IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE, PIECES WILL FLY INTO THE EYES, FACE, BODY AND THE DRIVER OR OCCUPANTS WILL BE INJURED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE TRUCK IS NOT SAFE TO OPERATE/DRIVE WITH THE DASH IN THIS CONDITION.
NHTSA complaint #10427034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gaffney, SC
STRUCTURE
1999 DODGE RAM 2500 PICK-UP. IN 2004 I NOTICED SOME CRACKS IN THE DASH BOARD, WITHIN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS IT WAS SO BAD THAT PIECES OF THE DASH BEGAN TO FALL INSIDE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS PARTIALLY EXPOSED WHICH IS MY PRIMARY CONCERN. MY WIFE ALSO RECEIVED A CUT ON HER HAND TRYING TO REMOVE A PIECE OF THE DASH FROM INSIDE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
NHTSA complaint #10422609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodruff, SC
STRUCTURE
I HAVE A 1999 2500 DODGE AND THE DASH IS COMING APART I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK USED 3 YEARS AGO.
NHTSA complaint #10421509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 95,000 milesCottonwood, AZ
STRUCTURE
1999 DODGE 2500 DASHBOARD FALLING APART BIG CRACKS AND PIECES FALLING IN.
NHTSA complaint #10404462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 116,225 milesHolland, MI
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD RATTLING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,225.
NHTSA complaint #10372654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesGoodlettsville, TN
STRUCTURE
1999 DODGE DASH FALLING APART.
NHTSA complaint #10358471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
N.chas, SC
STRUCTURE
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 99 DODGE RAM P/U HAS HUGE CRACKS AND IT LEAVES SPLINTERS OF PLASTIC THAT HAS BROKEN OFF. THERE IS NO EVENT THAT HAS CAUSED THIS. I JUST NOTICED A SMALL CRACK THEN IT TURNED INTO A LARGER ONE. MY VIN PLATE HAS BEEN MISSING FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS ALSO. I FELL INTO THE DASHBOARD WORKINGS. I AM DREADING THE DAY OF A COLLISION BECAUSE THE DASH IS GOING TO BECOME SHRAPNAL AND INJURE SOMEONE...COULD BE MY WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS. HOW WOULD THEY LIKE TO SEE THEIR LOVED ONE WITH A PIECE OF PLASTIC HANGING OUT OF THEIR EYE OR NECK.
NHTSA complaint #10357364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,000 milesKansas City, MO
STRUCTURE
DASH IS CRACKING IN FOUR DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND PIECES ARE BEGINNING TO FALL INSIDE. I'M AFRAID THAT THIS WILL LEAD TO ELECTRICAL SHORTS OR INTERFER WITH THE AIRBAG OPERATION. DODGE WILL DO NOTHING EXCEPT INSTALL NEW DASH FOR $900.
NHTSA complaint #10355463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 milesAustin, TX
STRUCTURE
1999 DODGE TRUCK DASHBOARD IS CRACKING, AND CAVING IN. LEAVING LARGE SHARP EDGES.
NHTSA complaint #10353707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 115,000 milesMerced, CA
STRUCTURE
1999 DODGE RAM 2500 4X4 SLT LARAMIE, THE DASH BOARD IS CRACKED AND FALLING IN. I AM AFRAID IF I GET IN AN ACCIDENT THE CRACKED DASH WILL CAUSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, OR A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAGS TO TEAR AND POSSIBLY HURT OR KILL SOMEONE. I BELIEVE IT IS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM AND NOT THE OWNERS PROBLEM LIKE CHRYSLER CLAIMS WHEN YOU CONTACT THEM. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT FOR THE LAST 7 YRS AND IT IS STILL CRACKING. CHRYSLER CLAIMS THAT IF THERE WERE A COVER ON IT, IT WOULDN'T CRACK. I DIDN'T HEAR OF CHRYSLER GIVING OUT DASH COVERS TO OWNERS WHO REQUESTED THEM. I BELIEVE THE COMPANY SHOULD ATLEAST REPLACE CRACKED DASHES WITH SOMETHING SAFER!
NHTSA complaint #10351195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washoe Valley, NV
STRUCTURE
I OWN A 1999 DODGE RAM. AS I UNDERSTAND, YOU HAVE RECEIVED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE DASH PLASTIC FAILURE. AS I READ THE POSTS, I SEE THAT AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THESE VEHICLES (DODGE RAM) ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ENTIRE PLASTIC DASH SPLINTERS INTO SHARDS, REGARDLESS OF TIME OR CARE AND UPKEEP. SO HAS MINE. I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHATICALLY ADD MY NAME TO THE GROWING LIST OF DISGUSTED OWNERS. I AM MORE THAN CONCERNED ABOUT THE SHARDS OF PLASTIC AROUND THE AIRBAG. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY PASSENGER(S) IF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYS? I WORK AS A FIREFIGHTER, AND HAVE SEEN FIRST-HAND THE RESULTS OF THE VIOLENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. I CAN'T IMAGINE THE EXTENT OF THE ADDITIONAL INJURIES IF SHARP PIECES OF PLASTIC ARE ADDED TO THE BLAST OF THE AIRBAG. THIS IS NOT MERELY AN ISSUE OF AESTHETICS OR POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP. IT IS A MONUMENTAL SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE HELP. SENT RESPECTFULLY
NHTSA complaint #10347951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 108,000 milesGreensboro, NC
STRUCTURE
1999 DODGE RAM 2500: THE COMPLETE DASH ASSEMBLY IS CRACKING AND FLAKING INTO PIECES ALONG THE TOP COVER FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND FROM THE CLUSTER TO THE WINDSHIELD. FEATURES ARE CRACKING ALONG THE LOWER SECTION OF DASH, ALSO, FROM THE LEFT TO THE RIGHT SIDE. THIS WILL SOON EFFECT THE STRUCTURAL HOUSING AREA AROUND THE RIGHT SIDE SRS AIRBAG MOUNTING. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE STABILITY OF THE SRS AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF DEPLOYMENT. THERE IS ALSO THE POSSIBILITY OF THE WIRING HARNESS BEING DAMAGED OR FAILING DUE TO SHARP EDGES OF THE PLASTIC IN THE DASH ASSEMBLY. IF THE SHARP EDGES CUT THE WIRING AND THE CUT WIRE EDGES RUB TOGETHER, THIS WILL CAUSE A PREMATURE DEPLOYMENT OF THE SRS AIRBAG. THERE IS ALSO A CONCERN OF THE MAIN DASH HARNESS BEING DAMAGED FROM SHARP EDGES AND CAUSING THE POSSIBILITY OF A SHORT BETWEEN VOLTAGE AND GROUND CIRCUITS TOUCHING CAUSING EXCESSIVE HEATING OF SHORTED CIRCUITS AND CAUSING FIRE IN THE BRITTLE PLASTIC AREAS.
NHTSA complaint #10345731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 125,000 milesBrenham, TX
STRUCTURE
THE DASH IN MY 1999 IS FALLING APART. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE AIR BAGS AND WIRING BEING EXPOSED. I KNOW THIS IS A VERY PROBLEM WITH DODGES.
NHTSA complaint #10324958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,100 milesLaporte, CO
STRUCTURE
MULTIPLE FISSURES ARE DEVELOPING IN THE DASH AND THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE ENTIRE CONSOLE IS QUESTIONABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10324522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesChowchilla, CA
STRUCTURE
DASH CRACKS WHICH MAY LEAD TO RIPPED AIRBAGS ON DEPLOYMENT. MAY ALSO CUT ELECTRICAL WIRES CAUSING SPARKS OR FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10298538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NHTSA complaint #10284651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,000 milesWallington, NJ
STRUCTURE
MY 1999 DODGE DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING AND MONTHS LATER PIECES ARE BREAKING AWAY AS I CLEAN IT. IT IS SO BRITTLE I CAN'T TOUCH IT ANY MORE. I ALWAYS USE A SUN SHIELD AND ALWAYS LEAVE MY WINDOWS CRACKED OPEN TO ALLOW PROPER AIR FLOW TO PREVENT ISSUES FROM HAPPENING. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. "COME ON DODGE" WHAT KIND OF GARBAGE IS THIS. I'VE HAD MANY OTHER TRUCKS WITH WAY MORE MILES THAN THIS AND HAD NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR. THIS IS THE SIGN OF POOR QUALITY!!! DO TO THE FACT THAT DODGE IS TURNING A BLIND EYE ON THIS PROBLEM I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER DODGE AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10281387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesBoswell, OK
STRUCTURE
I OWN A 1999 RAM 2500 AND MY DASHBOARD IS ALSO FALLING APART. OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS THE DASH IS BUSTED AND CRACKED ALL THE WAY ACROSS. THE TRIM AROUND THE GAUGES IS ALL CRACKED. *1
NHTSA complaint #10268284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 152,000 milesGoodlettsville, TN
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DASH PAD CRACKED.
NHTSA complaint #10267496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Paso Robles, CA
STRUCTURE
OVER TIME THE DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING IN MULTIPLE PLACES. PIECES HAVE BROKEN OFF. NO EXCESSIVE WEAR WAS PLACED ON THE DASH. HAVE NOT REPLACED THE DASH DUE TO COST.
NHTSA complaint #10258296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesBuffalo, WV
STRUCTURE
DASH IN 1999 DODGE RAM CRACKING AND FALLING APART.
NHTSA complaint #10254803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.