2008 Chevrolet Silverado

I HAVE A 2008 SILVERADO 2500HD WITH 48,000 MILES ON IT AND JUST NOTICED TWO CRACKS HAVE FORMED ABOVE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. EVEN THOUGH THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY CHEVROLET AT NO CHARGE. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN STORED SUN PROTECTED EXCEPT WHEN TRAVELING. AT THAT TIME A DASH SCREEN IS USED FOR SUN PROTECTION. I CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER IMMEDIATELY AND THEY HAD ME TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALER FOR EXAMINATION. I HAD MY VEHICLE EXAMINED AT THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP ON MARCH 21, 2016. THEY EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, TOOK PHOTOS AND TOLD ME THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME WITH THE DECISION. THEY DID SO LATER THAT DAY BUT THE DECISION WAS TO REPLACE THE DASH WHICH WOULD BE $1000.00 OF WHICH GM WOULD BE WILLING TO PICK UP HALF, SO MY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE WOULD BE $500.00. I REFUSED THIS OFFER AND TOLD THE DEALER I WOULD BE CONTACTING THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER TO DISPUTE ME HAVING TO PAY $500.00 OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE TO CORRECT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. I CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER IMMEDIATELY VIA PHONE AND ASKED THAT THE ISSUE BE ELEVATED TO THE APPROPRIATE PERSON. I PROVIDED THE REPRESENTATIVE ALL THE INFORMATION SHE REQUESTED FROM ME AND SHE ASSURED ME THAT SHE WOULD ELEVATE THE ISSUE TO THE SENIOR MANAGER IN MY AREA AND THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME WITHIN 48 HOURS WITH A DECISION. AS OF THIS WRITING I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM ANYONE.

THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED IN THREE DIFFERENT PLACES. ONE NEAR THE STEERING WHEEL, THE OTHER ONE IS MID DASH AND THE LAST ONE IS NEAR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. I NOTICED THIS FIRST AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND LATER IT HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I WOULD HATE TO KNOW THAT IF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WHERE TO GO OFF THAT CHUNKS OF THE DASHBOARD MIGHT GO FLYING AND INJURE ANYONE IN THE VEHICLE.

THE DASHBOARD IN THE VEHICLE IS CRACKING NEXT TO MY AIRBAG. IF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS IT IS GOING TO SEND DEBRIS FLYING. THE DASHBOARD IS EXTREMELY WEAK IN THESE TRUCKS AND CHEVROLET SAYS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. THE CURRENT CRACK IN MY DASH IS APPROXIMATELY 1/8 TO 1/4 OF AN INCH DEPENDING ON TEMPERATURE. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE DASHBOARDS AND FROM WHAT I'VE READ IF YOU PAY THE BIG BUCKS FOR THE FIX IT WILL CRACK AGAIN EVENTUALLY. IT WOULD BE ONE THING IF IT WAS CRACKED IN A PLACE OTHER THAN NEXT TO THE AIRBAG. I HOPE CHEVROLET IS FORCED TO TAKE ACTION BEFORE AN AIRBAG DEPLOYS AND PIECES OF DASH GO FLYING THROUGH THE CABIN OF THE TRUCK.