Park outside in Australia for a few summers and the dash is usually the first thing to go. It fades, goes chalky, then splits, often right across the top where the sun hits hardest. Here's why it happens, what you can do about it, and what to do if it's already cracked.
Why dashboards crack
Most dash tops are moulded plastic or a vinyl skin over foam. UV breaks down the plasticisers that keep that material flexible, and heat speeds it up. Behind a windscreen on a summer afternoon, the dash top can get far hotter than the air outside. Every day it heats up and cools down, and once the surface has gone brittle, that movement opens up cracks.
Dashes most at risk are dark ones, older ones, and any car that lives outside without shade.
Five ways to slow it down
- Cover the dash top. A dash mat takes the sun instead of the dash. It's the only option that works every hour the car is parked or driven.
- Park in shade or under cover whenever you can, nose away from the afternoon sun.
- Use a windscreen sun shade when you park, to keep the cabin and dash cooler.
- Clean it gently. A damp microfibre cloth is enough. Harsh cleaners can strip the surface.
- Go easy on shiny dressings. Glossy silicone sprays add glare and can leave the surface slippery and greasy.
My dash is already cracked. Now what?
You have three options:
- Replace the dash. The most expensive fix, and often a big job that means pulling the dash out.
- Repair the cracks. Filler kits can work on small cracks, but they rarely match the original texture and colour, and the cracks tend to come back.
- Cover it with a dash mat. A mat cut for your dash hides the cracks completely and stops them getting worse. It's the quickest and cheapest way to make a cracked dash look tidy again.
Glare is a safety issue too
A bare dash reflects into the windscreen, especially a lighter-coloured one. On a bright afternoon that reflection can make it hard to see the road. A dark, matte dash mat soaks up the reflection, which is why plenty of people fit one to a brand-new car.
Choosing a dash mat that lasts
Look for a mat that's cut for your exact dash, with openings for the vents, speakers and sensors, and that's made not to shrink or fade in the sun. Sungrabba dash mats are handcrafted in Brisbane, cut for each vehicle's dash, engineered to allow airbags to deploy safely, and backed by a 10 year warranty against manufacturing defects. They're in stock and ship free.
Read more in our guide to custom-fit vs universal dash mats. For the windscreen, see Snap Shades windscreen sun shades.
Protect yours now: find your vehicle and see the Sungrabba dash mat made for it.
