Dashboard Crack problems of the 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 - part 1

The air bag warning light stays on all the time. The dash cracked and pieces fell into the electrical systems. The ball joints failed. All around 120,000 to 130,000 miles. The fuel injectors began to fail at 120,000 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.

A part of the dash of my 1999 Dodge ram , dislodged from its position atop of my dash. The dash of the vehicle is cracked and caving in like all Dodge dashes this year and model. I was accelerating from a stop on a hill, when a piece dislodged from it position on my dash, and cut me in the left side of my face below my left eye, this could have blinded me, and I know the NHTSA, would never allow a vehicle with large sharp abs plastic pieces flying around the cabin. The abs plastic dash is in horrible condition, it is cracked and fallen in and pieces fly out all the time. I am prepared to sue Chrysler corp. If this is not addressed by the NHTSA, thank you.

The dashboard is cracking and it is a safety hazard.

The dash started cracking more and more for no reason at all. Now there are chunks of the dash that have fallen behind the dash. This could damage the wiring or circuitry or air bags behind the dash because the pieces that have fallen have very sharp edges.

1999 Dodge Ram 1500 quad pick-up. Cracking-fractured dashboard and bezel. The dashboard panel has had several long cracks completely transversing and transecting the deck in many areas and many newer ones. What started as a few thin cracks have continued to multiply and widen. Now, the entire dash has fractures. Pieces have fallen into the interior of the dash among the wiring and ducts leaving large holes on top. The brittle plastic edges are very sharp and leave the surface uneven and weakened. An aftermarket fabric overlay was applied about two years ago at first to conceal cracks, but recent inspection revealed current structural failure condition. The instrument bezel is also cracked in similar area to dash cracks. These weakened components and the state of fracture progressing throughout panel concerns me as to the safety and function of this vehicle in the event of a collision. What affect could it have on the airbag deploying or the structural integrity and function of components attached to the dash panel? loose plastic pieces could become dangerous to occupants and safety equipment or become lodged functionally impairing driveability. Internet research has informed me that this in not an isolated case. Aftermarket vendors have full dashboard replacement part for ~$400. , presumably better abs quality than oem part. The Dodge dealer quoted about $900. For labor only! these vendors also carry a moulded abs plastic "dash cap and bezel" overlays to be glued over damaged dashes to "improve appearance", (~$300. ), a quick dyi job, but will not solve structural weakness nor continued breakage of original dash from below cap, additionally these overlay "caps" do not have the attachment tabs for airbag or instrument cluster, etc. , so the original tabs would have to do the job but may be structurally compromised from cracking also. I have yet to decide which is the best option to take. In any case, the old part is still available for the time being.

Dashboard cracked and fell apart, putting pieces of plastic into the vents. This a dangerous when putting on the vent and having plastic blowing all over. Chrysler knows about this defect and has done nothing'.

I am the owner of a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500. I am having an issue with the dash having multiple severe cracks and breaks. I am afraid that this will affect the air bag development if ever needed. I have done research and have found that this is a very common compliant in these vehicle's and similar models. Help is needed!.

Dashboard is severely cracked and falling apart on my 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 truck with over 160,000 miles. Pieces of the dash are jagged and can be dangerous.

My 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 dash is weathered and cracked badly. This seems to be a very common thing among Dodge rams of this age. I fear that in a crash situation the dash could be very harmful when dislodged. The edges of the cracks are very sharp and would become airborn very easily in an impact.

1999 Dodge ram with major cracks on dashboard and anything that mounts to it. Glove box snaps off because it is also mounted and made of the defective plastic. Very unsafe if an accident were to occur with jagged sharp plastic pieces. Electrical system defects due to the sun beating down on exposed wiring because there is no dashboard to cover it. Dodge will not admit to it being a problem that they will recall. It will have to take someone getting severely injured for Dodge to maybe reconsider there decision of recalling the dashboard.

I have a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 with a severely cracked dash and recently my daughter cut her hand on it. How the ntsb can say that this widespread problem is not a vehicle occupant hazard is beyond me. Someone needs to force Chrysler corp to fix / replace these dash skins before someone gets seriously hurt. .

1999 Dodge dashboard cracked sitting in parking lot on sunny day.

My husband and I both have Dodge Ram 1500 trucks and both dashboards are cracking my husbands is worse and has a hole that is large enough to put your head into. I was driving home from work a few nights ago when mine "exploded" or what sounded like someone fired a gun in the cab of my truck this is very dangerous and there are alot of complaints when is someone going to get off their rearends and do something about this or is it going to take someone wrecking and possibly dying to get chryslers attention and let me just say they are dang lucky that I was stopped when it happened cause if I had wrecked my truck I would have thrown a massive lawsuits on these people and I don't care who it would of hurt this is insane. My best friends son cut his hand open on his dash because of it there is no need this needs to be fixed it is a hazard. Hello fix it!.

1999 Dodge Ram 1500 dash is cracking. The cracking started with no action to cause such cracking. The cracking is spreading to a point the entire center section of the dash will soon cave in leaving all wiring behind the dash exposed. This is a known problem with Dodge trucks. When are you going to do something about it!!!.

1999 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 quad cab. Dash has 2 holes where the dash has cracked and fallen thru. I researched this problem and found hundreds of claims on message boards with some people saying that the plastic falling on wires caused shorting out electronics.

1999 Ram 1500 dashboard cracked front to back near pass. Side airbag. Vehicle and interior kept in immaculate condition with only 66k miles and crack appeared without any occurrence. Cost of dash replacement prohibitive.

1999 Dodge ram dashboard cracking all over most of cracks around passenger air bag . Incase of accident afraid strong impact will send lose sharp dash pieces onto person inside vehicle. Air bag deployment might cause dashboard objects to impale person inside. Unknown if water could cause a short in the wiring system to exposed dash causing vehicle to shut off while on highway at speeds of 60mph. Very concerned with this defect and afraid to put anyone in vehicle.

Defect in 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup dashboard dashboard has cracks and is crumbling apart. . . !!!! I used armor all to protect dashboard but it keeps falling apart and is risk for injury/death if air bag is deployed. . I have read other complaints online cause of Dodge skimping on materials. . I want Dodge to replace this at no cost to me. .

I have a 1999 Dodge ram with 88,000 miles on it. The truck is always kept in the garage and in perfect condition except the !@#$% dash board. On Aug 11 2009 I was driving down the block and a pc of the dash cracked of hitting me in the eye!!!!!!!! I lost control for a second and ended up on the parkway grass! thank god no one was playing in there yard cause for a moment I was unable to see! I didn't know I needed to wear safety glasses while driving a Chrysler made product!! I took the truck to the dealer I bought it from and he said"ill give you a good deal on a new one! why do I want another pc of !@#$% from them? start standing behind your product and maybe I would buy another ! I cant let anyone else drive this and im afraid to as well, fearing what other part of the dash is going to fly off next! there are cracks all over it from the windshield to the gauges from side window to side window! this must be replaced!!!.

My 1999 Dodge ram truck dash assembly is falling apart. The upper pad started by cracking and finally falling into the main dash area about 70% of the dash pad is broken off. Now the main dash assembly is cracking and unable to hold the accessories attached to it on its own. I am asking Dodge to replace the dash assembly at their cost with no luck.

The dash in this vehicle is cracking and falling apart apparently from exposure to sunlight. This could result in serious injury from exposure to sharp objects located under the dash and could cause plastic shards to be embedded in ones face and eyes should the airbags deploy in an accident. I have been told that a replacement from Dodge will do the same thing and will cost me about $1200 to replace. I have also found out that almost all 1999 Dodge ram's have this same problem as do other year ram's.

Dashboard cracked in 2 different areas. One crack is inline with the steering wheel. The other is inline with the passenger air bag. Both run from the windshield back towards the seat.

Dashboard is badly cracked.

The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500. While the contact was examining his vehicle he noticed that the entire dashboard began to wear and crack. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that the entire dashboard needed to be replaced. The contact noticed prior that there were small cracks forming on the dashboard. The current and failure mileages were 152000.

Dash is cracking and collapsing inside of vehicle. Small electrical fire that I caught early enough for either the dash cutting wires, or from them baking in the sun.

My dash has a hole around foot long and more then 6inch wide do to the sun drying out its very then and cheap plastic the cup holders are broke to I have had older cars and truck were the dash cracks but I've never had one with a hole in it and my dash keeps cracking and falling a part im happy with my truck but fill Dodge needs fix these problems I plan to drive my truck for many more years to come and would like to see these problems solved and not at the owners expense.

My dash board is cracking day after day and it keeps getting worse. It started above the air bag section and I'm worried after some time if this may have some safety issue problems. The quality of the dash board is cheaply made.

Cracking and broken dash. The dash around the air vents and pillars are broken away in large chunks with cracks extending from around 3" around the perimeter of the dash. Dash is loose as a result of the cracking and broken pieces that have fallen out. This is a "common problem" to Dodge rams. Dodge should take responsibility and replace the dashboards with decent ones instead of expecting customers to pay $800 for the same inferior and faulty part. These dashboards should be replaced due to an obvious manufacturing flaw/problem.

Dash cracking and breaking up. Caving in, big hole in dash. Unsafe now. Happened over summers, made too thin. One crack when I bought it. All broke up now. '04-'08.

Cracked dashes may lead to ripped airbags on deployment(safety issue).

1999 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck. Dashboard cracked extensively. Needs investigation.

I currently own a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup and mechanically it has been a pretty good car. However, about a year ago, my dash started cracking and has since developed multiple cracks that run from the front of the dash to the windshield!! I've witnessed many other Dodge pick-up trucks with the same issue and some have big chunks of plastic that have broken out of the dash. I'm concerned that wiring will be exposed, the plastic as it breaks off in chunks will fall down into the dash and cause problems! I really believe that Dodge had a problem with the plastic used in the dashes of their pickup trucks during this time period. They should pay to have these dashes replaced!! thanks!.

1999 Dodge truck 1500 dashboard cracking driving along and a piece of the dashboard flew off the dashboard and hit me right between the eyes is the government waiting till someone gets killed or maimed before they make Chrysler do something about this problem now now now and now read the internet.

Dash cracked ,getting worse,pointy pieces of hard plastic that could be dangerous in an accident,and also exposing wiring and air bag to sun damage.