general problems of the 2001 Dodge Ram 2500

I have a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500. In 2003, I noticed parts of the dash, starting to break apart. In 2004, I had a major head on collision, and the airbag, did not deploy. The damage was extensive, with bent frame. The damage was $17,000 in 2004. I was told by the Chrysler dealership, that did the repairs, that they could not check the condition of the airbag wiring, because the dashboard was broken. I wonder how many others out there, that have the same issue, with the dashboard, and don't have a working airbag. The other issue I have, is the seatbelt tensioner, has caused the seatbelt, to get chewed up. The belt, is now, no more than an inch wide.

While driving my truck as I pulled into my driveway and stopped the vehicle the truck shut down. No power to the engine, lights etc. I researched the problem online and found mention of a wire in the steering column that after a few years of tilting the steering wheel up and down the wire will break. I removed the access cover to the steering column and found the red main power wire had broken off. I was lucky this happened as I stopped my vehicle. My concern is if I or someone else is traveling down the road and this wire breaks all power to the steering, brakes, etc. Is lost. I have temporarily repaired the wire in my truck but I will no longer tilt the steering wheel for fear of this wire breaking again. This is a very serious issue and I am amazed there has not been a recall.

Dash board totally destroyed lights and a/c switch won;t work properly radio is attached only by 2 screws I am afraid that the lights will not operate at nite anymore and became unsafe to drive. Contacted local Dodge dealers, indicating they don"t have any recalls on this item and there is nothing they can do to help. This is a serious problem with defective material, but Chrysler refused to knowledge the problem.

The dashboard started to disintegrate almost immediately after purchase. At 70,000 miles it had opened up a giant sinkhole and started causing electrical shortages, like headlights going out occasionally while driving. Now every time the fan is run, small pieces fly around the cab. A piece got into my eye while driving, it was a bad situation. I had to be treated with antibiotics in eye for a cut. Now I am seriously concerned for my safety in the event the airbags deploy. Sharp shards of shrapnel could be forced into my body by the airbag deploying. It is a very unsafe situation for driver and passenger. I am having the whole dash replaced at my own cost because of this. Dodge refuses to help. Unfortunately my mechanic says he replaces these all the time because of this issue, but in two years new dash is disintegrating again. This is clearly an unsafe situation that needs to be dealt with, before fatalities occur.

I have a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 p/u quad cab that caught on fire after I turned the truck off. There was a safety recall in 2002, but I was never notified. Chrysler sent out an inspector and they denied the claim. I was under the impression that safety recalls had to be listed on registration so as to be done before you can re-register. I received a letter stating that they denied the claim but not told the facts of the investigation or why it was denied. The recall stated that this could cause a fire.