1997 Dodge 1500 Body & structure Problems

WHEN DRIVING OUT OF A HOSPITAL PARKING STRUCTURE, WHEN COMING TO THE EXIT ON THE LOWEST LEVEL YOU MUST MAKE A SHARP RIGHT TURN INTO THE EXIT BOOTH LANE. WHEN TURNING RIGHT, IT WAS AS IF A "TOOTH" INSIDE THE STEERING GEAR BROKE OFF CAUSING A COLLISION WITH THE RAIL WHILE EXITING THE PARKING STRUCTURE. NOW THE STEERING HAS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF PLAY AND WHILE IN THE CENTER OF THE (STEERING PLAY) IT IS AS IT BINDS OR STICKS AT TIMES WHERE THE "TOOTH" USED TO BE ON THE STEERING GEAR. IT HAS BECOME QUITE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEEDS OR ON THE INTERSTATE AS THE VEHICLE TENDS TO WANDER NOW AND FOLLOW THE CRACKS IN THE ROAD. I HAVE OWNED DODGE RAM PICKUPS FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS SINCE I BOUGHT MY FIRST BRAND NEW RAM PICKUP AND LET ME TELL YOU, THEY HAVE ALL HAD ISSUES WITH LOOSE STEERING BOXES, EVEN THE NEW ONE. BUT WHEN THEY BREAK, THAT IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT PEOPLE CANNOT SEE COMING WITH A NORMAL INSPECTION AS ON THE OUTSIDE, WEAR IS UNDETECTABLE. I HAVE BEEN AN ASE CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN THE BETTER PART OF MY ADULT LIFE AND THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I AM SURE CHRYSLER HAS INVESTIGATED THIS ISSUE ALREADY AND FOUND THAT IT WOULD JUST COST TOO MUCH TO RECALL ALL THESE VEHICLES TO REPAIR THEM BUT THE LEAST THEY COULD DO IS SELL A PART PRICED AT COST TO SHARE THE BURDEN WITH THE CONSUMER. IT MAY SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE

NHTSA ID

10761814

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

Mileage

174,387 mi

DASH BOARD IS ALL CRACKED AND BROKEN APART. WITH EVERY BUMP IN THE ROAD THE DASH SHAKES BAD AND WORSENS FROM THE LACK OF NO SUPPORT HOLDING IT IN PLACE. WITH THE A/C, HEAT, OR DEFROSTER BLOWING OUT THE VENTS PLASTIC ALSO BLOWS OUT. TRYING TO CLEAN OUT MY EYE WHEN DRIVING IS TOUGH. JUST WAITING FOR THE DAY I HIT A BUMP AND THE DASH FALLS TO MY FEET. BODY WOULD BE THE PAINT ON ROOF AND HOOD, DISCOLORING AND PEELING OFF

NHTSA ID

10759349

Incident

Aug 1, 2008

Mileage

85,000 mi

BARE BONES OF DASH CRACKING/SHATTERING COUSINS BUTTONS/ INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/ SWITCHES TO FALL AROUND AND ON ME WHILE DRIVING. CANNOT SECURE ANY THING IN DASH DUE TO THE CRACKING/ SHATTERING OF INTERNAL DASH. CANNOT SECURE BOLTS OR CLIPS TO BARE BONES OF DASH . CRACKING/ SHATTERING HAS CAUSE THERE TO BE NO WERE TO ATTACH PARTS TO.ALL OF DASH IS AFFECTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10654108

Incident

Nov 9, 2014

Mileage

167,000 mi

ALRIGHT SO AS I BOUGHT MY TRUCK AND HAVE ASKED AROUND MANY PLACES AND ALL HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF RUST AND MOST OF IT IS WHERE THE IDLER ARM BRACKET MEETS THE FRAME AT THE FRONT FRAME RAIL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ONLY AND ALSO THE FRAME HAS BEEN WELL TAKING CARE OF YOU CAN LOOK DOWN THE REST OF THE WHOLE FRAME AND ITS BARELY TOUCHED BY ROT AND WHAT HAPPENS IS IT TENDS TO RUST OUT AND THEN BREAKS AND CAN CAUSE A ACCIDENT MANY PEOPLE CONSIDER PATCHING IF ITS NOT TOO BAD AND MANY HAVE JUNKED IT DUE TO IT BEING NOT REPLACE ABLE DODGE HAS BEEN CONTACTED MANY TIMES ALSO AND REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT SOMETHING NEEDS DONE ABOUT THESE CHEAPLY MADE FRAMES I'VE OWNED VEHICLES 9 YEARS OLDER AND THE FRAMES WHERE NO WHERE NEAR ROTTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10648526

Incident

Oct 15, 2014

Mileage

217,000 mi

DASH STARTED WITH SMALL CRACKS, NOW HUGE HOLES AND NOTHING REALLY HOLDING THE DASH UP NOW!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10637415

Incident

Dec 2, 2011

MY REPORT IS NOT NECESSARILY CONCERNING A SPECIFIC INCIDENT. APPROXIMATELY THE DATE AND TIME SPECIFIED ABOVE I NOTICED MY DASH CRACKING, SINCE THAT TIME THE ENTIRE DASH OF MY TRUCK HAS CRACKED AND BROKEN. I HAVE HAD THE CUPHOLDERS BREAK AND SPILL ON ME AND NOW MY DASH BACKLIGHT HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL IT COMPLETELY FALLS APART. I HAVE APPLIED ADHESIVE TO A DASH COVER TO PREVENT FURTHER DEGRADATION OF THE PLASTIC. FROM WHAT I SEE ON MY TRUCK AND MY FATHER-IN-LAWS 2003 DODGE RAM IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL FLAW IN THE MATERIAL THE DASH COMPONENTS ARE MADE FROM. I FEAR IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE SINCE I DON'T KNOW WHEN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WILL OCCUR. NUMEROUS OTHER DODGE TRUCKS THAT BELONG TO FRIENDS AND COWORKERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. ANY ATTENTION YOU CAN GIVE TO THIS ISSUE WILL BE APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10566561

Incident

May 27, 2009

Mileage

98,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS SEVERELY CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10526129

Incident

Jul 15, 2013

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE ENTIRE DASH PANEL HAS CRACKED AND SHATTERED. THE ENTIRE TOP PORTION OF THE DASH PANEL IS MISSING, EXPOSING THE GAUGES AND WIRES. THE BEZEL AROUND THE GAUGES AND CUP HOLDER IS CRACKED. THE REMAINING PART OF THE DASH PANEL IS LOOSE AND VIBRATES, MAKING NOISES DURING TRAVEL. DASH CONTINUES TO CRACK AND FALL APART DURING TRAVEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10490448

Incident

Aug 1, 2009

Mileage

190,000 mi

MY DASH IS LITERALLY FALLING APART. I BOUGHT IT IN FEBRUARY WITH 0 CRACKS AND NOW IT LOOKS LIKE A PIECE OF PEANUT BRITTLE. I SEARCHED AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM. I JUST WANT IT FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10475042

Incident

Jul 1, 2012

Mileage

131,000 mi

DASH HAS CAVED IN AND CRACKED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10461659

Incident

Apr 21, 1999

THE PLASTIC DASHBOARD TOP SUDDENLY BEGAN BREAKING INTO LARGE, SHARP SHARDS AND FALLING APART. ONCE THIS BEGAN, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INSIDE THE DASH BEGAN, INCLUDING RADIO FEATURE FAILURES, HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING, ETC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10444805

Incident

May 13, 2008

Mileage

139,550 mi

DASH TOP BROKEN INTO MULTIPLE PIECES. LOOSE PIECES DO NOT STAY IN PLACE WHILE DRIVING. *TT

NHTSA ID

10425832

Incident

Aug 4, 1999

Mileage

20,000 mi

THE DASH BOARD ON MY 97 DODGE RAM HAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. ONE MAJOR CONCERN IS THE DASH CRACKED OVER THE AIR BAG, I CAN SEE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS INSIDE THE DASH AREA. THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPAIR THE DAMAGED DASH BOARD. CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW THE OUTCOME TO THE MANY COMPLAINTS INVOLVING THE CRACKING OF THE DASHBOARD. UPDATED 11/01/11. *KB

NHTSA ID

10425471

Incident

May 4, 2009

Mileage

98,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE HOOD LATCH SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FLEW OVER THE VEHICLE, FRACTURING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CONCLUDED THAT THE CONTACT WAS NO LONGER QUALIFIED FOR REPAIRS UNDER A SILENT RECALL, DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE INCIDENT AND DENIED ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID

10424143

Incident

Sep 6, 2011

Mileage

180,000 mi

97 DODGE RAM 1500 CRACKED DASH IN MANY PLACES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10422836

Incident

May 10, 2005

Mileage

120,120 mi

DASHBOARD CRACKED IN TWO PLACES. THIS CRACKING WAS APPARENTLY SPONTANEOUS. *KB

NHTSA ID

10413380

Incident

Jul 5, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE DASH IN MY 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 IS COMPLETELY CAVED IN AND IN THOUSANDS OF PIECES. THIS DASH PIECE IS WHAT HOLDS THE VIN IN PLACE, I NOW HAVE IT STORED IN THE VEHICLES GLOVE COMPARTMENT. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MANY DODGE OWNERS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT JUST MINE BUT MANY OF THEIR PRODUCTS. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT CONTACTING DODGE DIRECTLY WOULD GET ME NOWHERE. IM HERE ASKING FOR HELP IN RIGHTING THIS SITUATION, IM A DISABLED VETERAN AND CANT AFFORD TO BUY A DASH FOR MY TRUCK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH *TR

NHTSA ID

10399494

Incident

May 1, 2011

1997 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCK DASH BOARD IS CRACKING AND FALLING APART. STARTED SUMMER OF 2010. NOW WHOLE SECTION HAS CAVED IN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10399253

Incident

Jun 7, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE DASH IN MY 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 IS DISINTEGRATING. IT'S JUST FALLING TO PIECES WITH SHARP JAGGED EDGES EVERYWHERE....... *TR

NHTSA ID

10349730

Incident

Aug 16, 2010

THE DASHBOARD ON MY 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 HAS NOT JUST CRACKED, BUT BROKEN INTO JAGGED PIECES. I HAVE NEVER USED ANY TYPE OF CHEMICALS OR POLISHES ON THE DASHBOARD, AND IT STILL JUST CRACKED INTO PIECES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10348349

Incident

Jun 20, 2010

Mileage

61,589 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING WITH THE WINDOWS OPENED, THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD SUDDENLY FLEW UP AND INTO THE CONTACT'S FACE, OBSTRUCTING HIS VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS VIA INTERNET FOR THE EXACT FAILURE IN HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10346117

Incident

Jul 26, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

I HAVE A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 AND THE DASH IS CRACKED SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF DODGE I LIVE IN TEXAS DODGE WONT REPLACE THE BROKEN PART ITS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10340420

Incident

Feb 10, 1999

I PURCHASED A 1997 DODGE RAM NEW IN 97. PAINT DEFECT STARTED OVER LAST 7 YEARS. CLEAR COAT BEGAN PEELING OFF ON TOP OF CAB. PAINT IS PEELING OFF IN SHEETS ON BED SIDES AND TAIL GATE. PAINT HAS ALSO FAILED ON LOWER SIDE PANELS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANY RECOURSE TO GET FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10330598

Incident

Mar 15, 2003

1997 DODGE RAM 1500 DASHBOARD SHATTERED UNDER CONSUMERS HAND.*CW THE CONSUMER ALSO WANTED TO ADD THAT CHRYSLER PT CRUISER HAS THE SAME DASH PROBLEM. UPDATED 03/08/10

NHTSA ID

10317553

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

I OWN A 1997 DODGE 1500 PICKUP TRUCK AND THE DASHBOARD IS LITERALLY FALLING IN PIECES. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN TREATED WITH A LOT OF CARE AND HAS BEEN DETAILED FREQUENTLY TO KEEP ITS APPEARANCE LIKE NEW. IT SURPRISED ME TO SEE A SMALL CRACK AND I IMMEDIATELY SEALED THE CRACK TO AVOID IT GETTING LARGER. I WAS AMAZED THAT LARGER CRACKS STARTED APPEARING IN VARIOUS AREAS OF THE DASHBOARD AND SOON IT STARTED TO FALL IN PIECES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10315006

Incident

Jun 1, 2008

Mileage

150,000 mi