2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Cracked Dashes?

[dsherman]

Guess I have a "rare" one then - no cracks! But I prefer the appearance of the Dash Mats over the hard plastic OEM, so installed the mat for appearance, long before I was aware of any cracking issues...

I must have the same "rare" one then - no cracks! Also

 

[JBain]

I thought mine did pretty good it lasted 12 years and like I said I glued it up and will through a dash cover on it and go for the million mile mark. Oo.

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

I would like to hear from some more of you who have bought the molded dash cover from Genos or from e-bay. Do they really fit flawlessly? i have a dash mat now but I really don't like it. I know a factory replacement dash is too expensive and difficult so the molded cover sounds great... . if it looks good.

Pics would be awesome if you could post em too!

Thanks guys

 

[Dave M]

Well... enough is enough... dammit. I went and got a can of grey paint and the molded black plastic dash cover from Genos:



DASHTOP - BLACK ('94 - '97 DODGE)-Dodge Cummins and Ford Power Stroke Diesel Truck Accessories - Geno's Garage



My 97 dash started to crack last year and boy it didn't take long to crack down the center... looks real cheesy. I was tired of trying to decide what way to go so I plopped down $139. 95. . ouch! I'm anxious to see how it looks.



I also got the Slide-N-Lock 68" bed rail system for $118. 95.

 

[6naline01]

Cracked Dashes

I cannot remember the site I saw it on but someone their posted something regarding filing class a action law suit because the owners with damaged dashes greatly out number the one's without. Has anyone heard this?#@$%!

 

[JoeCanuck]

I've just been noticing the threads about cracked dashes so I had a good look at my '00; it has the molded dash cover. Until I looked for the edges, I never even noticed. It looks totally stock, a good enough, but not quite perfect fit.

I'm not even curious what the dash looks like under that... it was an Arizona truck... yikes.

 

[SDancy]

Video This is one of the videos I remember seeing. And yes, I have a cracked dash also!#@$%! Stephen

 

[JoeCanuck]

I don't know when that video was done but having some media interested in the issue can be a great asset in getting some satisfaction.

I think most in here are like that lady in the video; we love our trucks... we just want them running and looking like they should.

In my opinion, it might be a good idea for everyone on this site with the cracked dash problem to send that dude info on their problem... it could potentially add hundreds of owners to his list... then we could be getting somewhere.

This, as with most stories, has a finite shelf life. There's not a huge chance that flooding Dodge with complaints via a news station will do anything, but it's still a chance.

I think it's worth a go.

What do you think... ?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

WELL, back in about 2000-2002, Bosh, in their infinite wisdom, decided to start using a brass cylinder liner in the advance section of their VP-44 as used in the 24 valve trucks. That unfortunate decision caused literally THOUSANDS of VP-44's to face an early grave - many didn't make it to even 40K miles before failure.



That was a purely FLAWED design/engineering error that caused both DC and individual owner many thousands of $$$ in repair and replacement costs - and so far, absolutely NO effort by Bosch or DC to correct that error in design, or return $$$ spent on premature repair costs to owners of affected VP-44's.



SO, do any here REALLY expect help on busted dashes? :-laf

 

[JoeCanuck]

Nope but one thing these guys hate more than anything is bad PR. Competition and fuel prices are killing sales. Dodge, since the Kcar days, has a lingering odor of crap quality.

Until now, news of the cracked dashes, s**t vp`s and the plethora of examples of insulting, at best, customer service, has stayed within the Ram community.

Having hundreds of owners of vehicles that cost, when new, the same price as a luxury car displaying their flawed-from-the-factory dashes, might at least elicit a comment or two, if not a solution.

Cracked dashes make awesome video... that`s why that station ran it. What I`m saying is to strike while the iron is hot. It`s a sensationalist story that will be forgotten tomorrow. While nothing might be resolved, there is absolutely nothing to lose, right?

I don't expect anything to be resolved... while media has much less power than they like to believe, but they do have some teeth.

For now, 3 cracked dashes are a local story. 50 or 100 would go national. Knocking a multinational company is what these newsies live for. Why not give them the chance... ? If nothing else, might be worth a laugh, eh... ?

 

[Dave M]

I trid contacting the guy from the TV station last summer when I seen this video. They directed me to the 800 Dodge number, which tells me they had given up on the issue. I got thru to Dodge and they told me to contact a dealer to have the damage "Assessed". I had a complaint response from Dodge with me but the dealer wanted $85 to check it out. I said no thanks. I asked what the dash top would cost and it was $1000... . no thanks. They said they could not get just the top... . Right!.



Called back to Dodge and after they put me on hold checking with someone for a few minutes they said... Not Covered... Out of Warrenty.



Good Luck. It seems from responses from other TDR members that some dealers help you out and some don't. Dodge was no help to me.

 

[JoeCanuck]

Damn... I thought the story was more recent... it's hard to keep cracked dashes on old dodges exciting enough to keep fresh in the news. Such is life, I guess.

I really don't get it... even from a business standpoint. The number one product of any business is service. There are dozens of cars and trucks that will do basically the same job as any other. Why alienate people and chance sending them, and everyone with whom they speak, to the competition?

There's one main reason why Toyota is the most profitable auto company on the planet; quality... and the perception of quality.

How many billions did Chrysler lose last year... ? Maybe the only way to get a quality made Dodge, is to wait for another year and buy a Nissan.

 

[Cummins Thunder]

Ill try the 800 number. The 01 and 02 are cracked#@$%!

 

[Dave M]

Ill try the 800 number. The 01 and 02 are cracked#@$%!

Have your VIN number ready because they will want that. Alot of this has to do with what your dealer will do for you.

 

[hdtrukn]

FYI

Just had a new dash installed by Dodge,

almost $400. They called and said it was a shade different ordered 3 different ones all did not match original.

I said to go ahead put it in as I was 45 miles from dealer to look at it.

Went to pick it up not only is it about 4 shades off but its flat instead of satin.

Dealer said thats all that available and its already been put in. To bad.

REALLY tired of Dodge's attitude.

Oh ya, I had just spent $3100 in repairs at the same time. Plus the dash.