Cracked Dashboard - Dodge Rams

Cracked dashboards in Dodge Ram trucks have become a widespread problem - you can usually find it listed on Car Complaints.com's Problem Trends.

By all accounts, the dashboard is made of defective plastic that doesn't stand up to even just a few short years of regular use. Up until recently, most Ram owners reported back that Dodge refused to acknowledge this defect or offer any help or assistance. Then in 2007, a Florida TV station ran a report about the cracked dashboards (see below). Soon after, Dodge announced a preliminary plan to handle owner complaints.

The defect appears to have been introduced with the 1998 Dodge Ram model year, & continues to be a problem through the 2006 model year. A wide range of Dodge Ram trucks are affected including the Ram 1500, Ram 2500 & Ram 3500. Other Chrysler/Dodge models are affected as well.

So far this issue is not covered by a recall because the NHTSA has not determined it to be a safety defect. However it's obvious (to us) that someone could be seriously hurt by the sharp edges of the exposed broken dashboards. For now the best thing you can do is report this issue to Dodge at (800) 992-1997 and sites like Car Complaints.com and SaferCar.gov.

The best way to fix this appears to be installing an aftermarket dashboard cover. Simply replacing the dashboard isn't recommended because as far as we know, Dodge hasn't fixed the defective plastic in the replacement parts, so it will just crack again in a few years - you'll be out $800 & back where you started.

Below are the Dodge Ram models with the most cracked dashboard complaints:

Also here are links to Local6.com, a Florida TV station that ran an investigative story in 2007:

Problem data is taken from CarComplaints.com & is based solely on reports received from vehicle owners.
Any advice is drawn from what we hear back from our site visitors. It's always best to seek help from a qualified professional mechanic.