Hi y'all! New to this forum. Anywho, I have a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 with 57K miles, purchased used (milage was 46K miles) in '05. Dash started to crack, I called Chrysler Automotive Group
@ 1-800-992-1997 on 24thSept '07. Spoke with a cat named Bernard (ext: 69424) <<<<<<that ext. is just voicemail for NO ONE and I NEVER spoke with "Bernard" again! Anyway, got a Reference #xxxxxx24. Was told to take my Dodge to the dealership and have it looked at. I did. Justin said he'd contact Dodge/Chrysler.
NOTE: I gave Justin a folder with 2 documents in it. One was my complaint to the NTSB
(ODI # xxxxx001) and the other listed everything about my vehicle, to include the Ref.# and what I wanted to happen.
Justin also stated that the part ran approx. $1,2000.00US JUST FOR THE PART! Labor would be more.
So, I have been playing phone take with the local dealership and Justin since the 2nd of this month. Today is the 17th and I still haven't heard back from Justin. So, I called Chrysler. 20 minutes of holding got me this:
Chrysler has AUTHORIZED Justin (at the local dealership) to REPLACE the dash, with ME paying LABOR CHARGES. Justin couldn't give a straight answer for that - thru the call rep I was talking to. "Sherry" was her name and when I asked what the cost to me was going to be, she put me on hold. Low and behold, she called Justin - DUH! I could have done that! And, "Sherry" said Justin stated that it would be "in the neighborhood of $500.00US, but possibly more, because he won't know until the work is complete". [:@][:@][>:][:'(]
Um, DUH! Ok, it's cool that they are willing to cover the cost of the dash (NOT sure what that entails, but hoping the WHOLE thing). But it's not cool that it's gonna cost $500 & ^ for labor!!!
Just wanted to share my information.
I will get pics as soon as is possible, of the look of the dash right now and when i get it fixed. I'd leave the darn thing if I wasn't so concerned that the dash could cause even MORE damage, if not injure me or another!!!
EDIT: On the phone now with local dealership and Justin. He said the parts cost "right at $900.00US". THAT's a bit less than the $1,200.00US he originally quoted me. I told him that too. [:'(]Asked about the labor cost - said it wouldn't be more than $520.00US. [:@][:'(]But this has to be done for safety purposes!!!. I think we should ban together and get Mike Wallace & "60 Minutes" involved. I will say that CHRYSLER should be paying for ALL of it, parts and labor, because it is THEIR fault for putting out a faulty product (well, maybe they didn't know when they made the vehicles, but they darn well know now. And, it IS a safety issue, what with the AIRBAGS and the DAGGERS of plastic that are forming when pieces of the dash FALL INTO / UNDER / on the WIRES!!!!! HELLO! CHRYSLER needs to do the right thing!!!! ----But, when does that ever happen with any HUGE company?!? Don't know if I will own another Dodge.
AND, I had to have the trany rebuilt and the torque converter replaced already, to the tune of $4,200.00US!!!! Paid $12,000.00US for it used, add the work, plus a Rhino Liner, underbody undercoating and now the dash....(shall I mention that I need a new a/c compressor too[:@][:@]) I darn-well need to keep this thing for, like, ever!
Guess what? The dash is on BACKORDER! go figure!!! Don't know when it will be in, but Justin said he'd call me. JOY!!![:@][:'(][sm=boosign.gif]
Who would y'all call at the paper to get something in the paper?
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[align=left]Hey all..just wanted to add my 2cents...my 2001 Dodge 1500 had a rattle in the dash a week or so ago. The next day I noticed that a big crack had appeared about where the defrost vent was and came all the way to the front...today the cracks are spreading and another one is starting above the glove box. The old ones are beginning to crack apart and I believe it will not be long before they begin to fall off (oh yeah - I stuffed a kleenex in the biggest crack to keep it from rattling so much , ((this is probably the dealers answer to the problem)). I bought the truck new and have never used Armorall on the dash. I checked the site on automotive complains (NHTSA) but saw nothing on our Dodge truck dash problem. What seems to be the collective forums plan to attack this problem? Even more - what should I do next?
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Call Chrysler's customer assistance and see if they will help with some part of the cost. If you haven't had it diagnosed at a dealer yet, they will tell you to go get that done and call back if they are considering assistance. Chances are good you will get some kind of assistance unless you have some insane mileage.
Well looks like I have been DENIED!!!!! Called the 800 # and was told that my truck being 6years old and 150k miles made me ineligible for any warranty and assistance. They would tell me nothing else. I referred to the news stations and other cases and his response was the exact same canned BS each time. He would not even answer a question refering to the dash. He made his decision and that was that. My dash is not just cracked...its gone! The entire top of the dash has collapsed and fragmented. There is barely anything there to lay a cover on. I think there should be some other course we can take rather then a case by case denial! Class Action maybe? Dodge could a the very least assist in the cost.
Sigh!
Troy
Question - why would high milage be an issue? Seems to me that the milage shouldn't even come in to play - unless you have modified your vehicle for serious off-road use. Perhaps you can PM Parts/Service - I've seen him on here and he is a Manager of the Service Department of a Dodge Dealership - and see what he has to say. Again, I don't see how milage plays a part....as this is obviously turning into a structural/single product issue (meaning the dash is the issue, not the miliage or aftermarket dash cleaner/protectant. If it is anything to ya, when I purchased my truck used, I used a sun shade any time I was not in the vehicle, along with keeping my windows rolled down just enough to let the AZ heat escape. Can I prove this? Sure, as my family and friends. Would it stand up in court, I don't know.....good luck!
For those that have been turned down.... I'd try again. What verbage was used? PM me if you have specific questions.
And, just to clairify, in my folder that I gave to the Dodge service guy - it wasn't a list of complaints. It was the NTSB complaint ( to the office of defects investigation) that I filed about a possible defective product (I wanted Dodge to see that I was serious and that I wasn't just trying to get something for nothing) and the other sheet in the folder I gave my service rep. was a vehicle info sheet - date of complaint, time, make/model/year/color/purchase date/milage at purchase/VIN/Style/Engine/current milage....My complaint, the Chrysler AG phone#, my ref. # given to me when I called CAG, My name and info, the Dealership where I purchased it (used), the Dealership I was taking the Dodge to, the Service manager's name. And my requested restitution: I want Dodge to replace my dashboard at no cost to me. Then I explained why.
" This is neither an isolated event nor a unique problem. It is an apparent defect most likely within the process of molding the dash. In the molding process, if the molten plastic is not the proper temperature, or formulated properly, then the dash will develop "stress cracks", which are straight lines, not webbing. Additionally, these cracks are neither caused by sun or protectorant nor heavy use or environment. MAIN CONCERN: Further cracking can and will lead to the dashboard failing and falling into the wiring, possibly causing a short or fire. Electrical failure could cause a fatality due to the deploying of the air bags in a manner not related to an automobile accident via a short (two wires touching), or the failure of the headlamps during darkness, or the failure of the windshield wipers at speed during heavy rain."
Evidently Dodge has a problem continuing on into 2003. My garage kept, no armor all used 2003 1500 Quad Cab has just developed 2 cracks in the dash. One just above the left hand side of the passenger side airbag and one on the center at the windshield. I went to the local Dodge dealer and was told that there were 187 replacement dash pads backordered and that's just in the Atlanta region. I looked at coverlay but the colors don't match close enough to suit me. I did find a replacement but the $800. cost (Parts and labor) to replace seems inflated. The Flat Rate manual lists 8 hours labor for the replacement. It will probably take me twice as long but to save $500. in labor costs I'm inclined to give it a try. My only concern is Will the replacement OEM part crack in 4 years or has the manufacturing defect been corrected? It will be an expensive lesson if it has not been corrected.
ORIGINAL: Autumngrey
Question - why would high milage be an issue?
Mileage means nothing in this situation. For any declined out of warranty assistance, Chrysler uses the blanket statement "no assistance can be provided since the warranty has expired" (whether it be by time, mileage, or both), as that is all that is required. They don't go into detail with customers on why anything gets declined. What they mainly look at is whether the vehicle is new or used, how many owners its had, and how many new vehicles you own.
Quote:
ORIGINAL: Autumngrey
For those that have been turned down.... I'd try again. What verbage was used? PM me if you have specific questions.
If anyone has already been declined by calling Chrysler, it is pointless to try again.
Quote:
ORIGINAL: Autumngrey
Guess what? The dash is on BACKORDER! go figure!!! Don't know when it will be in, but Justin said he'd call me. JOY!!!
Who would y'all call at the paper to get something in the paper?
Have you got your dash yet? If it's still backordered, call your dealer and make sure its on special handling. I'd also call Chrysler to see if they can expedite the dash.
got a 99 1500 sport. i have a hole in the dash the size of a football, another one the size of a baseball, and pretty soon im goina lose a 1 foot section over my instrument panel. my question is will this cause an damage to my instrument panel,or what im worried about the airbag.
__________________
1999 Ram 1500 Sport
112,600 miles
2WD
Black Truck Member# 26
I went to the local Dodge dealer after talking to Chrysler Customer Assistance. I gave the Complaint # to the Service Manager, he looked at my dash, made a phone call and said they would replace my out-of-warranty at a cost to me of $200. That includes parts and labor. Since it was going to cost me more than this to get a Coverlay(and it did not match my interior) and I was going to have to install it, I jumped on the offer. The replacements are on backorder with no anticipated shipping date. I was however able to locate one at a dealer about 100 miles away and my dealer called and secured it for me. I have an appointment next week to get my dash replaced.
RE: 2001 Dashboard Cracks
good luck!
