I will not purchase another Dodge. I have been a Dodge person for a very long time and am extremely disappointed with the appearance of the dash. I take extremely good care of my truck and really like it but the dash makes it look trashy.

Update from Aug 16, 2013: Now the dash has completely fallen apart. This will be the last Dodge that I purchase this dash issue is a large one and I feel that Dodge should have recalled these trucks and fixed the problem. Once again, I am very disappointed and although I have been a die hard Dodge person, I now refer folks to a competitor.

I bought this 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 with the 5.9L V8 BRAND NEW to pull a camper and for hauling "stuff". I purchased an extended warranty (7 yrs./70,000 miles). In June of 2006, with only 36,000 miles on it, I had to have the transmission replaced. When I took it to the dealer I noticed a small hairline crack in the dash. I didn't think it was worth mentioning at the time and that the dealer would just tell me it was usual wear. Here it is only three years later (55,000 miles) and now the dash has six large cracks from the passenger side airbag to the driver's side, where the cracks are connected. It appears I am about to have a large hole in the dash above the instrument panel. I am just now finding out this is not an isolated incident. I got on the net to look for a replacement dash and BOOM!! I find hundreds of other complaints from Dodge Ram owners who are experiencing the exact same thing. How in the world can the Chrysler Corporation see all of these complaints about the same defective part and NOT admit they have a problem? How can the Chrysler Corporation NOT do the right thing and pay to have these dashes replaced? How can the Chrysler Corporation NOT take care of their customers? Well, a big time rv manufacturer recently went belly-up siting the tough economic conditions. However, their demise is more likely the result of pushing out a piss poor product for the last ten years. I know this first hand as I was one of their victims. Man, I guess I'm going to start spending a little more money to get a quality product that will last and the company will stand behind. Today's Chrysler Corporation obviously does not fit into that category. It is a shame because I have been a mopar man since buying a 1972 Plymouth Roadrunner when I was 17. Wish I still had it!!

Update from Oct 13, 2009: Ok, I called Chrysler Customer Care and the lady was very nice. She had me take my truck to a local authorized service department to get "diagnosed". When the service manager saw the six large cracks (about 10-12 total cracks), she said there was definitely a problem and would call Chrysler back. She also warned me and said she didn't think Chrylser would do anything due to the age of my truck. A few days later, the nice lady from Chrysler called me and advised they would replace the dash BUT I would have to pay a $265 "co-pay". Rather than argue and risk getting nothing at all, I accepted the offer. I figure this is probably half off their price and would be more if I was to go and have it repalced on my own. I really didn't expect them to do it for free anyway. Now my truck will look practically new again. The real bummer is I could have had it done for free under the extended warranty I purchased when I bought the truck. However, I was misinformed by the dealer that this was not covered and the warranty expired just last year. This dealer is no longer in business either.

The top of my dashboard is

gone!!! It completely fell in pieces and chunks. Thought the first crack was a minor problem.....but he_ _ dodge you really screwed up this time, and big time!!!! You fly to Washington and cry and beg for a bailout so you can make more s_ _ _ like this!!! I think the gov. should have bought us all a new dashboard and told you to go take a flying leap!!!! I'll never buy another Dodge product again. Congress should have given your bail out money to Ford and GM and let you go sell pencils on the corner.

This truck was for sale with a used car dealer. It has a hairline crack on the dashboard. Before I buy it, I wanted to know what Dodge was doing about the problem. The Dodge representative at 800-992-1997 said "take it to a dealorship for diagnosis" and there was a possibility that I could get some help with the dashboard. When I said that I had not purchased it yet & it had a crack, the response was " If you have bought it used with the problem, Dodge won't help with it since you knew about the problem at purchase time."

Humm. I called the used car dealor. He said he would glue the crack. Humm. Not good enough, if the complaints are any indication. The glue fix does not fix it, right?

I have not purchased the truck. I don't have money to pay for a vehicle that will fall apart in the plastic parts. Am I right?

I feel that this is a flaw by dodge manufacturers. I am very displeased at how fast one tiny crack spread into chaos! no ones' dash should fall in on it's self like this. i put a dash cover on it at the first sign of the crack, and it seemed to worsen over the years under that matt. one day i just pulled the mat off, and to my surprise, there was gaping holes! i think the dealership should have to pay for this sort of thing, as well as the cup holder problems.

Update from Aug 13, 2009: the disassembley of this dash is absolutely ridiculous! and i am NOT looking forward to putting it all back together. i am so sad at the crack that is in the actual dash interior, as it is not so easily fixed with a new dash top.