Dodge Ram Owners Report Dashboards Collapsing, Cracking
Several owners of 2001 Dodge Rams
are reporting that the dashboards on
their vehicles are mysteriously collapsing
or cracking, possibly putting their lives in
danger, according to a Local 6 News investigation.
are reporting that the dashboards on
their vehicles are mysteriously collapsing
or cracking, possibly putting their lives in
danger, according to a Local 6 News investigation.
LOCAL6.COM | UPDATED: 12:56 am EDT May 1, 2007 |ORLANDO, Fla. -- Several owners of 2001 Dodge Rams are reporting that the dashboards on their vehicles are mysteriously collapsing or cracking, possibly putting their lives in danger, according to a Local 6 News investigation.Local 6 showed video from the inside three 2001 Dodge Rams belonging to Central Floridians. Two of the vehicles had cracks and the third had a large hole on the dashboard.
"The (dashboard) is practically sunk," Local 6's Steven Cooper said about one of the vehicle's dashboards. "Think of this as a sinkhole on your dashboard."Billi Hilt was the first viewer to report the cracks to Local 6 News.Hilt said she called Local 6 after she called someone at Dodge.
"He told me it wasn't a recall item so there was absolutely nothing they would do about it," Hilt said.Another Dodge Ram owner in Central Florida, Suzanne Hudson, said she got the same response.
"I had gone to the Dodge where I had purchased the truck and had showed that to them and they said they were aware there has been problems like that in the past but (it is) not a recall problem so they would pay for half of it," Hudson said.Hudson said once her dashboard caved in, she started having electrical problems.She said a mirror and front speaker no longer work inside the vehicle.
Hudson said the wiring was either clipped when the dashboard collapsed or started melting when the hole left wiring exposed to the harsh sun.Hudson also said she was traveling down a road at night and tried to turn on her bright lights when her Ram's lights instead shut completely off."It is a safety issue now," Hudson said.
"The (dashboard) is practically sunk," Local 6's Steven Cooper said about one of the vehicle's dashboards. "Think of this as a sinkhole on your dashboard."Billi Hilt was the first viewer to report the cracks to Local 6 News.Hilt said she called Local 6 after she called someone at Dodge.
"He told me it wasn't a recall item so there was absolutely nothing they would do about it," Hilt said.Another Dodge Ram owner in Central Florida, Suzanne Hudson, said she got the same response.
"I had gone to the Dodge where I had purchased the truck and had showed that to them and they said they were aware there has been problems like that in the past but (it is) not a recall problem so they would pay for half of it," Hudson said.Hudson said once her dashboard caved in, she started having electrical problems.She said a mirror and front speaker no longer work inside the vehicle.
Hudson said the wiring was either clipped when the dashboard collapsed or started melting when the hole left wiring exposed to the harsh sun.Hudson also said she was traveling down a road at night and tried to turn on her bright lights when her Ram's lights instead shut completely off."It is a safety issue now," Hudson said.
Dodge Ram owner Scott Whitney said he is convinced the apparent dashboard problem is unique to Dodge."You don't see Chevrolets running around with cracks or Fords running around with their dashboards caving in," Whitney said. "It's definitely a Dodge problem. As a matter of fact, my old Dodge that I drove for 15 years that a friend of mine has the dash is still in tact.
"Whitney told Local 6 News that his truck was bought in Maine.Hilt said she purchased her Dodge in Pensacola and Hudson said her purchased her vehicle in Inverness.
"If the Internet is any indication, the problem is not unique to any zip code," Local 6's Steven Cooper said. "People from all over are reporting the same apparent defect.
""They were going to ask me to pay for half of it and the truck was too new for me to absorb that responsibility and have to pay for it," Hudson said.
"I expect them to step up to the plate I'm not interested in buying a dodge again because they're not backing their product."Dodge owners who would like the government to know about your case, they are urged to click Safercar.gov and file a complaint."As for Dodge, the company will only say that it is reviewing records to identify customer inquiries on the issue," Cooper said.Customers are urged to call 800-992-1997 to report any concerns.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
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