2001 Dodge RAM 1500

DASH OF TRUCK HAS HAD MULTIPLE CRACKS FOR THE LAST YEAR; NOW, LARGE CHUNKS ARE BREAKING APART AND FALLING IN/OUT - NOW DASHBOARD COMPONENTS ARE EXPOSED TO THE SUN & FRONT PORTION OF DASH IS LOOSE AND READY TO BREAK OFF ALSO. DEALER SAYS LOTS OF TRUCKS HAVE THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY'RE NOT OBLIGATED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY RECOMMEND PAYING TO REPLACE W/LARGE LABOR COSTS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PRESENTED ON GOING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. PRIOR TO STEERING FAILURES, THE WARNING WAS UNCONTROLLABLE STEERING AND PULLING ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERS TWICE FOR ALIGNMENT READJUSTMENTS. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A PEDESTRIAN. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO OBSERVED A GROVE NEAR THE TIRE. THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE GRADUALLY BECAME WORSE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE BOLT IN THE FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS EXTEND OVER WITHOUT SAFETY STOP AND CUTS INTO THE BEAD OF THE TIRE RIGHT ABOVE THE RIM ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO REPLACE TIRES AND REPAIR THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURERS WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PROBLEMS WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT OTHER COMPLAINTS WERE MADE ABOUT THE SUSPENSION AS WELL ONLINE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY BEAR THE COST OF REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE AND HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANICS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY ALSO PAID FOR ANOTHER MANUFACTURER DEFECT CONCERNING THE STEERING, WHICH THE MANUFACTURER ALSO REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR REPAIR. THE PROBLEM WITH THE BOLT CUTTING INTO THE BEAD OF THE TIRE ABOVE THE RIM STILL PERSISTS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONTAL SIDE AIRBAG EXPLODED INSIDE THE DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THERE WAS NOT AN IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE TO CAUSE DEPLOYMENT. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THE LOCAL DEALERS REFUSED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE AFTER A BRIEF INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED BUT ALSO OFFERED NO RESOLUTION TO THE CONTACT IN REGARDS TO SERVICING ON THE VEHICLE.

EXTREMELY SEVERE DAMAGE TO DASH, THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE OF THE DASH IN MY VEHICLE IS IN JEOPARDY OF COLLAPSE. I CONTACTED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER ON TWO OCCASIONS TO WHICH THEIR REPLY WAS THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. THE DAMAGE HAS CONTINUED FORWARD FROM THE TOP OF THE DASH IN OVER SIX POINTS AND INCLUDES THE BLACK TRIM AROUND THE DASH ITSELF. I HAVE FOUND OTHERS WITH THE SAME SITUATION AND FEEL THAT A RECALL IS NECESSARY. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WAS VERY LOOSE AND THERE WAS DIFFICULTY IN KEEPING THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. THERE WAS A DISTINCT PULL TO THE RIGHT. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR REALIGNMENT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE REPAIR SHOP REALIGNED THE VEHICLE AGAIN, AND DETERMINED EVERYTHING WAS ALIGNED TO SPECIFICATIONS. WHILE AT ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE BRAKE ROTOR AND ALIGNMENT WERE CHECKED, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE CASTOR WAS OFF AND ALIGNED THE CASTOR. AFTER THIS SERVICE, THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE HOW TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE'S TIRES AND FOUND THAT THE TIRES WERE GETTING CHEWED UP ON THE INSIDE RIGHT ABOVE THE RIM. THE INSURANCE AGENCY DETERMINED THAT THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE OVERSIZED AND RECOMMENDED THAT THEY BE REPLACED. IF THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED AFTER REPLACEMENT, THE AGENCY ADVISED THE VEHICLE TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT SPECIALIZES IN TROUBLESHOOTING DEFECTS.