2002 Dodge Quad

CRACKED DASHBOARD.... FALLING IN....EXPOSING ELECTRICAL & SAFETY COMPONENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10491793

Incident

Jan 1, 2007

Mileage

75,000 mi

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE TRUCK, THE DASHBOARD DEVELOPED A SMALL CRACK; WITHIN A WEEK, THE DASH BEGAN TO CRACK FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. I INITIALLY TRIED TO PUT A PIECE OF FABRIC TAPE OVER THE LARGER CRACK, BUT THE DASH HAS CONTINUED TO SHATTER INTO SHARP SHARDS, AND PIECES OF THE INSULATION ARE NOW DROPPING OUT IN LARGE CHUNKS. THIS MORNING, WHEN I STARTED THE DEFROSTER, A PIECE OF THE DASHBOARD FLEW OUT & CUT MY FOREHEAD ABOVE THE RIGHT EYE. I HAVE OWNED AT LEAST A DOZEN VEHICLES IN MY LIFE AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS WITH THE DASH. ON ONE OTHER VEHICLE I OWNED, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A SMALL CRACK IN THE DASH, THE PLASTIC WAS SECURED TO A FOAM MATERIAL THAT WAS PART OF THE DASH COMPONENT. WITH THIS TRUCK, THE DASH IS DISINTEGRATING: VENTS ARE DROPPING DOWN THROUGH THE DASH, SHARDS FROM THE SHATTERED DASH ARE FALLING THROUGH & INTO THE FAN, CHUNKS OF BLACK INSULATION ARE FALLING OUT ALMOST DAILY. I BELIEVE THAT DODGE HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE DEFECT FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND HAS FAILED TO ACT IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER TO CORRECT THE KNOWN DEFECT. IN A COLLISION, THE DASHBOARD CAN CAUSE SIGNIFICANT INJURY TO A PERSON BY CAUSING LACERATIONS FROM THE BRITTLE PLASTIC THAT WAS USED TO COVER THE DASHBOARDS. WITH THE RATE OF DETERIORATION, THE INTEGRITY AND STABILITY OF THE DASH & THE COMPONENTS IT HOUSES HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. I FEAR THAT THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY DUE TO THE INSTABILITY OF THE DASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10478915

Incident

Jan 9, 2012

Mileage

118,555 mi

THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2002 DODGE RAM IS ALL CRACKED AND THE VENTS FOR THE AC AND DEFROST ARE ALL LOOSE AND BROKEN. MY A/C MAKES A LOUD RATTLING NOISE WHEN I TURN IT ON FROM THE LOOSE VENTS ON THE DASH. THIS IS MY THIRD NEW DODGE THAT I HAVE BOUGHT AND SINCE CHRYSLER IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO KEEP THEIR CUSTOMERS THE NEXT NEW VEHICLE I BUY WILL NOT BE A DODGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10262452

Incident

Jul 3, 2004

Mileage

40,000 mi

ON THE 2002 DODGE 1500 QUAD CAB THE DASHBOARD HAS SEVERAL CRACKS THAT ARE GROWING. IN 40 YEARS OF CARS NEVER HAD A DASHBOARD CRACK LIKE THIS. SEVERAL LARGE CRACKS IN FRONT DASHBOARD AND NOW SMALLER ONES APPEARING IN BACK DASHBOARD. ASKED DEALER ABOUT REPAIR PARTS WAS TOLD THAT WOULD COST OVER $500 LAST YEAR AND PARTS COUNTER HAD BEEN ORDERING MANY FOR REPAIRS. DIDN'T KNOW CRACKS WOULD GROW, OR THAT IT COULD COLLAPSE. CRACKS STARTED ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, ARE GETTING WORSE , AND LAST YEAR HAD TO REPAIR AIR CONDITIONER BUT OTHER THAN THAT TRUCK HAS BEEN RUNNING GOOD.*AK

NHTSA ID

10191025

Incident

Jun 15, 2004

Mileage

45,000 mi

A FEW DAYS AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE, I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP COMPLAINING ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NORMAL AND BECAUSE I HAD NEVER OWNED A TRUCK BEFORE ,THAT I WAS JUST BEING PARANOID. HE TOLD ME TO GO AND ENJOY MY TRUCK . A FEW WEEKS LATER,I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AFTER PULLING OUT OF THE INTERSECTION, SPEED HADN'T EVEN GOT UP TO 40 MPH YET, WHEN THIS CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME TO MAKE A TURN . I GOT ON MY BRAKES . THE TRUCK ACTED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STOP , THEN SUDDENLY I HEARD A POP OR BREAKING NOISE . THE TRUCK WOULDN'T STOP , SO I TURNED TO TRY AND GO AROUND THE VEHICLE AND MY WHOLE WHEEL CAME OFF CAUSING MY TRUCK TO GO TUMBLING OVER INTO A TRENCH AND LANDING UPSIDE DOWN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10174734

Incident

Oct 15, 2004

I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB. I HAVE A 6 MONTH OLD THAT USES A REAR FACING INFANT CAR SEAT. THERE ARE NO FLOOR OR SEAT ANCHORS OR TETHERS TO HOOK THE CAR SEAT TO. THERE IS TETHERS AT THE HEAD REST, BUT THIS DOES NOT PREVENT THE CAR SEAT FROM MOVING. NO ONE WILL HELP ME. I HAVE CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER OVER & OVER AGAIN, I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO THE LOCAL DEARLERSHIP TO HAVE THEM INSTALL THE CAR SEAT CORRECTLY & THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. THEY BLAME IT ON NOT WANTING TO ALTER THE VEHICLE SINCE THEY WERE ONLY REQUIRED TO PLACE THE CORRECT LATCH ANCHORS OR TETHERS IN 2003 VEHICLES AND ABOVE. IF YOU CAN'T HELP ME, PLEASE GIVE SOME ADVICE ON WHO OR WHAT WILL!!!!*AK

NHTSA ID

10096509

Incident

Oct 25, 2004

WHILE DRIVING UNDER 10 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE POWER STEERING AREA. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAL OF THE RACK PINION ON PASSENGER SIDE FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10074013

WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH SUDDENLY VEHICLE WILL LOSE SPEED POWER. DEALER STATED THAT OVERDRIVE GEAR WAS BURNED OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10026875

Incident

Jul 9, 2003

KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty.

KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty.

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Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts.

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