1998 Dodge RAM 1500

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE DASH CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ALONG WITH THE BEZEL. ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HORN, IT IS VERY HARD TO ACTIVATE WHEN PUSHED. THESE ITEMS ARE A CONCERN BEING NEAR OR PART OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IF IN A CRASH. I BELIEVE THE DASH AND BEZEL ARE CHEAPLY MADE AND DODGE NEEDS TO REPLACE THESE AT WHAT EVER COST TO PREVENT POSSIBLE INJURY IF PERSONS ARE IN A CRASH WHILE OPERATING OR RIDING IN THEIR VEHICLES. *NM

I PURCHASED MY 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 IN THE SPRING OF 1998 AND HAVE BEEN TH ONLY OWNER. CURRENTLY, THE PAINT IS COMING OFF THE METAL ON THE HOOD AND ROOF OF THE TRUCK. THE DODGE REP IN THE AREA HAS INDICATED THAT DODGE WOULD PAY 1/3 OF THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM AND DO NOT BELIEVE DODGE IS STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT.*AK

I HAD MY DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 FOR ONLY 2 YEARS BEFORE THE PAINT STARTED FADING ON THE HOOD, TOP OF CAB & TOP OF BED. NOW IT IS 2004 AND THE TRUCKS LOOKS TERRIABLE . EMBARRASSING TO DRIVE. DEALERSHIP SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO, NO RECALLS ON PAINT FOR 1998 TRUCK AND NO WARRANTY. AFTER YOU PAY ALL THAT MONEY FOR A TRUCK AND EXPECTED THE BEST QUALITY DUE TO THE PRICE. I HAVE SPOKE WITH SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT PAINTED, CONSIDERING HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO REPLACE THE EMBLEMS AND PURCHASE THE PAINT. IS THERE ANY THING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS? PLEASE HELP! *AK

FROM THE DAY I SAW THAT 96 DODGE TRUCK ROLLING DOWN THE STREET I FELL IN LOVE. I SAVED EVERY WAY POSSIBLE TO PURCHASE THE BIG BAD 1500 4X4 5.9(98)WITH EVERY OPTION AVAIL. HAD EVERYTHING AND FROM WEEK 1 HAD PROBLEMS. FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING "DUE TO FRAME STRESS" IT ABOUT 2 WEEKS INTO IT. BRAKE FAILURE CAUSE SERIOUS ASSAULT ON GUARD RAIL, AND DODGE SAID I MUST HAVE BEEN DRIVING TO FAST (@ 30 MPH). THEY REFUSED ANY WARRANTY BECAUSE "NOTHING CAN TOUCH THE WHEEL" AND SINCE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER 93 DAYS LEMON LAWS DID NOT APPLY SO AFTER (2) $900 BRAKE JOBS TWO WEEKS APART EVERYTHING WAS FINE. NOT TO MENTION DAMAGE TO BODY I PAID FOR OUT OF POCKET. NOW I JUST GO THROUGH AN ENTIRE SET OF BRAKES EVERY 6 MONTHS. BUT I STOP UNTIL THEN.. I REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT 38 K MILES, NOTE THE WARRANTY ON THAT IS 36 K MILES. I HAVE HAD STEERING LINKAGE BECOME SO LOOSE INSTANTANEOUSLY (OR 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS) THAT IT FELT LIKE I WAS RUNNING OVER MY OWN AXLE, WHICH IS ANOTHER $1000 EACH TIME. FOR THE PAST THREE EMISSIONS INSPECTIONS THE ON BOARD COMPUTER FAILS SO I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER WHILE THEY CHARGE $200 TO FIX IT, BUT WILL NOT GIVE STRAIGHT ANSWER TO WHAT IS PROBLEM. AND TO NIGHT AS I TYPE, I SPREAD THE GRIME OF ENGINE CRUD ACROSS MY KEYBOARD AS I TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE FUEL FILTER SUDDENLY STOPPED. AMAZINGLY I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK FOR 5 YEARS BECAUSE IT HAS KEPT ME TOO BROKE TO BUY SOMETHING ELSE. ANY "LEGAL" SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT CAN BE DONE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. I RECOGNIZE I HAVE SPENT MORE THAN $15,000 TRYING TO KEEP THIS THING RUNNING RIGHT, AND THAT IS TOO MUCH FOR A "LATE MODEL" TRUCK. I WOULD LOVE TO BLAME A DEALER BUT I HAVE BEEN TO JUST ABOUT ALL OF THEM AROUND HERE AND WITH THE SMILES ON THERE FACES I HEAR "THAT WILL BE ANOTHER $950 SIR".. GOOD GRIEF. *NLM