7.3
pretty badTypical Repair Cost:
$900.00
Average Mileage:
76,462 miles
Total Complaints:
26 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace dashboard (13 reports)
- not sure (12 reports)
- get a dashboard from online for 260 + shipping then diy (1 reports)
accessories - interior problem
Helpful Websites About 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 dashboard cracked
2009Aug 25
Ram 2500 Laramie 5.7L
- Automatic transmission
- 68,000 miles
Well, Like all the rest of you, I have a 2003 ram 2500 Laramie with a cracked dash.
Today I was sitting in my truck at a stop light when I heard a loud pop. I wasn't sure where it came from until it happened again and I saw my dashboard pop up in front of me. What the Hell is Dodge thinking not recalling this. I worked for GM dealers all my life and had never seen them ignore something so severe. What happens when the cracked dashboard effects the airbag ? This is more than a cosmetic issue, It may also be a safety issue. Dodge had better get off there ass and do something before someone gets hurt.
2009Jul 01
Ram 2500 SLT 5.9L I6
- Automatic transmission
- 127,000 miles
common problem with third gen. dodge trucks. not just an eye sore it could become projectiles in a crash.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Jul 01
Ram 2500
- Automatic transmission
- 63,000 miles
How do i fix this problem? Where can I get a new/used replacement dash, and I don't want one of those old lady carpet dash overlays... HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2008Sep 20
Ram 2500 SLT 5.9L
- Automatic transmission
- 72,125 miles
click to see larger images
Complaint Photos
I am steaming mad about the dash situation. I keep my truck very clean and under cover most of the time. When I say most of the time, I mean that the only time my truck sits out in the sun is when I'm driving it. I noticed one day after cleaning the truck inside and out that there were some small cracks in the dash. Well after a short time they turned in to huge cracks that can be seen in the photos. I take great pride in owning my Dodge, well I did, and I get it very clean and maintained. After the dash went nuts cracking on me I called the dealer and they told me to call Dodge customer service, which I did. I talked to someone there and they told me to go to the dealer, have them look at the damage, and then to call Dodge back with my reference number. Well I got a call from Dodge and they told me that they were willing to pay 70% of the repair costs. I told the Dodge rep that if they were willing to pay 70% that they knew there was a problem and they needed to pay all of it. This is the very same crappy plastic they used in the late 2nd Gen trucks and it cracks just like those did that they are replacing at no cost to the owner of the vehicle. The rep told me that's all Dodge was willing to pay. I asked to speak to a supervisor and he replied "that won't do any good because I am the highest level person you will be able to speak to". I thought that was kinda crappy. I am censoring what I really said. I thought to myself, Dodge and the other car makers wonder why we all go buy foreign cars now. That is one of the worst customer service attitudes I have seen in a long time. If Dodge does not repair these dashes I WILL NEVER, NEVER, EVER buy another Chrysler product. I will ride a bus before I buy a Chrysler product. Ok I have ranted enough. I think you guys can sense my frustration. I hope we all can ban together and get Dodge to replace what they know is a defective and unsafe part that is in another one of their products.
2005Jun 01
Ram 2500 SLT 5.9L I6
- Manual transmission
- 38,000 miles
When this happened I was totally blown off my dealership. I was told that it was from neglect. At that time the truck was being shown at car shows a minimum of once a month. I had just taken a best of show not 2 weeks prior to the first crack. I tried several more times over the next 2 years making complaints to both Dodge and my dealership, being told the entire time that it was not their fault and they were not going to do anything about it. I finally gave up until I read about the news reports that were done in Orlando in 2007. So again last year I called Dodge again hoping that they would fix the issue. I was wrong. They stopped returning my calls and emails. Then they told me that because my vehicle was over 80,000 miles there was nothing they were gonna do about it. I recently moved to TN and decided to talk to the local dealership to see if maybe JUST maybe I could get this fixed once and for all. They had me call Chrysler and they set me up to go to the dealership for an evaluation. The dealership came up with a cost of about $2,200 to fix the dash and they want me to pay half of it. I/we shouldn't have to pay anything to fix an issue with something that was defective from the start. However I have agreed to pay $500.00 and they refuse.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Dec 01
Ram 2500 LAR Hemi
- Automatic transmission
- 50,000 miles
I JUST WANT IT FIXED. I know things happen but when tons of folks have an issue Chrysler should stand behind their product. They give this dashboard business to the lowest bidder an we suffer. If they can not make this right they will lose my wife and I as future customers.
2008Feb 29
Ram 2500
- Automatic transmission
- 78,000 miles
I love my Dodge Ram and plan on it being my last vehicle ever! However, that is if it doesn't fall apart!! Like others, my dashboard crack from windshield to radio. This is embarrassing, annoying and irritating. Like others, I was told "oh they just do that" by my dealership. Dodge big office said take it to another dealership. As extensive as the problem seems to be, I don't think its our (the owner's) problem. Does anyone know where the "complaint" status stands? Is there a chance that the company will do a recall on the defective plastic dash? How do we make this happen?
2004Aug 01
Ram 2500 HD Diesel
- Automatic transmission
- 36,000 miles
bought the truck because of the Cummins engine; the truck has been great drive train wise, (i am getting 23-25 miles/gallon!); BUT since the second year of ownership, the dashboard has been cracking into pieces which are now starting to break off. a dashboard with a single crack are kind of the norm here in Texas, but i have have never seen a dashboard literally break up into pieces; I even keep the vehicle in a garage and have never used Armoral on it. whats to say the airbag will be exposed?
2008Sep 01
Ram 2500 LST 5.9L, Diesel
- Automatic transmission
- 95,000 miles
We find that this is a real problem, because it's unsightly and a resale problem.
Didn't know that this was a problem until I started looking for a replacement and found AutoBeef. Because of an electrical problem in late 2004 the dashboard had to be removed to replace the complete wiring harness.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008May 08
Ram 2500 2500 Cummins Diesel
- Automatic transmission
- 35,000 miles
As many other SUCKERS like myself have found out dodge made the dashboard with inferior products the dash on my truck has crumbled bo bits and needs to be replaced. upon contacting dodge they said its not our problem you need to fix it, I contacted dodge to find out that the dash would cost several hundred dollars and was told off the record it would be a waste of my time and money due to the fact Dodge never corrected the problem the pads are produced with the same CRAP plastic. Maybe we should all join together as dodge owners and put a class action lawsuit on them
2006May 22
Ram 2500 SLT Cummins Diesel
- Automatic transmission
- 76,000 miles
The jerks at my local Dodge dealership said that with proper maintenance, I could get
300 to 400 thousand miles out of this truck easily. Just after the truck goes out of warranty, my dashboard starts cracking (to date there are 5 cracks that run from the windshield towards the front seats. I asked if this was an isolated incident, the service manager said it was the first one he'd ever seen crack. I asked him to follow me to another truck similar to mine in the service line. It had worse cracks than mine and had an entire section ( approximately 1 sq. ft.) that fell though. I told him now you have seen
2 in 5 minutes.
I asked him what good is an engine and transmission lasting 400,000 miles if the rest of the truck is going to fall apart? After allegedly making a call to the factory, he said that I could put up $100.00 and the factory would foot the bill for the rest, at that time about $1,100.00. It's 2 years later and I still don't have a dashboard.
I sent a letter to the Corporate Headquarters, venting my frustration. I actually got a reply. They said to work it out with my dealer and they were sorry for the dissatisfaction I was experiencing.
I'm not ready to buy another truck, but we did buy my wife a new Buick Lucerne since and my next truck WILL NOT be a Dodge.
2004May 01
Ram 2500 Lamarie Hemi
- Automatic transmission
- 80,000 miles
My dashboard cracked within the year of purchase now the air conditioner vents are cracking with minimum use. Now I have at least 7 or more severe cracks. When asked if Dodge will replace under a recall they stated there is no recall. For the money I paid for this truck (which I purchased new) seems as if the problem could be corrected initially with the first complaint. Very unsatisfied with their service.
2006Nov 06
Ram 2500 SLX V8
- Automatic transmission
- 56,000 miles
Dashboard has 6 different cracks. that run the width of the dash. Obviously a plastics supplier did not use the correct plastic or UV additive.
Great truck otherwise
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Sep 01
Ram 2500 2500 Heavy Duty 5.7L
- Automatic transmission
- 67,500 miles
My problem is that I have owned two Dodge trucks, a 1996 and 2003. The 1996 model did not have this problem of cracked dash boards. The 2003 (with 69,000 miles) model has three cracks that are very annoying just to have. I have always taken very good of my vehicles to have this problem. I would like to know if Dodge or someone else have a recall on an item like this
2007May 01
Ram 2500 SLT 5.7L Hemi
- Automatic transmission
- 47,000 miles
This is unbelievable,a grand to fix a damn piece of plastic. The worst part is the new one
will more than likely crack too. Thought I was getting a decent truck, I guess I thought
wrong. Last Chrysler product I'll ever buy!! I should have learned my lesson with 1989
Jeep I bought with the crap paint job. These idiots in the big three wonder why they are
going under and everyone is buying a Toyota. Keep selling crap guys and don't back
your products and you will go under. The gas prices did not do you in your poor excuse
for a product did. . Overpriced and worthless after it's paid for, what a deal. Buddy of mine has a 2002 ram same problem same location. What happens to the passenger
air bag when it deploys with this cracked dash. Sounds like a lawsuit to me.
To err is human, to really screw things up become an american auto manufacturer.
2007Oct 24
Ram 2500 SLT 5.9L Cummins Diesel
- Automatic transmission
- 70,000 miles
Like everyone else, the dash is cracked, and over time it continues to get worse. Planned on keeping my truck another 3-5 years. I hate to think about what it's going to look like then.
2008Sep 14
Ram 2500 Larmie 5.7L
- Automatic transmission
- 69,000 miles
Walked out to my car this evening after leaving it for about 1 hour in 89 degree weather with overcast only to find a large crack from front to back in the middle of the dash.
2008May 01
Ram 2500 SLT 5.7L
- Automatic transmission
- 115,000 miles
Well folks here is another one. Cracked Dash before 100,000 miles.
I really don't know what to say. My baby has 115,000 on her now and with cracked dash, she looks like crap. I have never used Armor-all or any other aftermarket stuff on the dash. Yet, at 90,000 miles I noticed a small cracked around the center defroster vent. Here we are at 115,000 miles and there are 5 cracks in the front dash, and one HUGE one in the center above the radio. I am not pointing fingers, but DAMN. If you guys screwed up, just say so and make things right with your loyal customers.
2008Jul 10
Ram 2500 SLT 5.7L Hemi
- Automatic transmission
- 48,000 miles
Dodge going to fix older dashes that are cracking but they are not going to fix a newer 2002 up. Out of warranty. An 99 and older is out of warranty.
2008Mar 12
Ram 2500 SLT 5.9L Cummins Diesel
- Automatic transmission
- 110,000 miles
I noticed this was such a big issue with Dodge (cracked dash) while I was researching removing the dash to fix a recirculating door issue with my HVAC system. It won't divert the air to the defrost and/or floor. I was also researching recharging my AC since the passenger vents are producing 15 to 25 degree less than the drivers. Anyway, my truck's dash lasted until 110K miles before cracking, but based on all the complaints I've read I will call Dodge and complain (its my 3rd Dodge in 10 years). They should recall these cheap dash boards. Mine's a 2003 2500 Cummins.
2008Apr 01
Ram 2500 Laramie 359 I6 Diesel
- Automatic transmission
- 79,000 miles
When one of the lights underneath my display went out, (it was the oil pressure gauge) I sent it in to the local dodge dealership to have replaced along with the other things that went out under warranty, driver side lumbar going out front bench loosening, rear seatbelt would not close properly.
Anyway, so I sent the truck in without a problem. When I got the thing back though there were 2 cracks in the dashboard, running directly under the rear view mirrior, and then another to the right where the glove box is. When I went back to the dealership to tell them they were going to fix this, the service rep had the audacity to tell me that "in order to access the display lights, we do not need to remove ANY part of the dashboard." I told him to get his manager, the manager said the same thing, when I replied back "so why did I send this in without a problem, if there was a crack in the dash I would have wanted you guys to fix it correct? Since now it is cracked and previously it wasn't your dealership should be backing up their work and replacing this." I was shortly asked to leave thereafter. I told the Manager to F off, and went online ordered a NON DODGE brand dash, this one is thicker than the other, and I did the work myself.
For those of you who don't know, filters from dodge are roughly 2~4x the price of one you can pick up from Walmart.
I will not be getting another dodge EVER.
2008Jan 27
(reported on)Ram 2500 2500 SLT 24v Cummins
- Manual transmission
- 120,000 miles
I bought this truck in Oct 07 used because I had a Ford with turbo problems and I pull a 15K camper. I thought this truck was the sh*t when i first got it, it has all the Banks goodies on it and it gets dam good fuel mileage 20+. but now I have some huge concerns.
It bounces real bad on bumps to the point that there are wear marks in the lower A arms and it had limited passing power 6speed manual with 4:10 gearing. I am looking into putting a programmer on it but whats the point it is a stick i should not need this right?
I miss my leather seats too this truck sucks for driving long distance, no was to adjust the seat to support behind the knees feels like I am falling under the steering wheel. This truck has 5K worth of Banks sh*t on it and my Chevy kicks it ass I miss my Chevy.. but that is another story. anyone want to trade. and the dash is starting to crack now too. I think the Cummins is a grate motor but to bad Dodge wrapped a pop can around it and called it a truck. 47k is what this thing goes for new I need a second job just to keep up the repairs that just pop up.
2006Jan 23
Ram 2500 2500 Cummins 5.9L
- Automatic transmission
- 70,000 miles
The truck over all has been great, but I have had a problem recently with the dash cracking. It seems when you spend this much for a new truck that parts like that should last longer.
2006Nov 14
Ram 2500 2500 HD 5.9L Diesel
- Automatic transmission
- 93,400 miles
After doing some research I found that there are many more people in the same situation as me. I have been a loyal Dodge owner for over 12 years. This is my second Dodge truck. The first truck, a 1998 Ram 1500 did not have this problem the entire 3 years I owned the truck. In 2003 I purchased a new 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel. Everything was fine until the end of 2006. I noticed cracks began appearing on my dashboard. As of 2007 I have over 15 cracks, some so severe there are pieces that have broken free.
In September, 2007 I first began working with the Dodge Customer Service Assistance group, At first they were very helpful. I complained enough that, they worked with the local dealer I have been getting my truck serviced at. They actually agreed to replace the Dodge if wouild agree to make a $150 Co-pay. I readily agreed as the dealer said it would take over $1,200 to completely replace the entire Dashboard.
In November, 2007, I called to complain that I had not heard from either Dodge or the local dealer, Tim Marburger Dodge in Concord, NC. I was told that the part had to be ordered and would probably be after the first of the year.
In January, 2008, after over 5 months of waiting, I finally had reached my breaking point. I spoke with the Dodge Customer Assistance group again. Unfortunately I was very angry and did not deal with the girl very professionally. She was not very helpful and all she said was that the part was on backorder and that was all of the information she could provide. I hung up with her and spoke with the Parts Manager at Tim Marburger Dodge, who was even less helpful. He didn't even pretend to have any Customer Service experience. He gave me the same line about the part being back ordered.
I have finally decided that I will pursue replacing the dashboard myself. The only recourse that any of us have is to not only not buy another Dodge but not send any Service/Repair business their way. There are plenty of businesses that can do the same work.
I wish this story had a happy ending but I believe Dodge does not really want to replace the dashboard. I can only assume that if I had agreed to pay for the dashboard replacement they would have found one in a week.
If anyone has any good places to buy any OEM Dashboards from anyone except Dodge, I would appreciate your help.
Thanks.
2007Aug 16
(reported on)Ram 2500 SLT DIESEL
- Automatic transmission
- 65,000 miles
The dash cracked in multiple spots. The dealership would not do anything, but sell me a new one for $1,500. $1,500 for a new dashboard? What are they thinking? With this many problems they should recall. If I spend that much, who is to say it will not happen in another two years. If I do get dumb enough to spend that much, I am piecing the old one back together and sending it back to dodge. I did have a 1990 model for 13 years and the dash never cracked. So, I can't help but think they are making truck cheaper then they have
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2007Feb 01
Ram 2500 SLT I-6 Diesel
I AM VERY GOOD TO ALL MY VEHICLES AND CRACKED DASHES SUCK, HOW CAN I EVEN CHANGE THIS? HAS ANYONE DONE THE SWAP?? COME ON DODGE YOU ALMOST HAVE A PERFECT TRUCK.
sopootto
Jamestown, CA, USA
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