Do you know anything about electronic's ? Automotive electronic's take more of a beating , hitting bump's , pot holes ,curbs etc. Enough to jar even the best built electronic componets . Chrysler products have had solder joint's crack , causing intermittent connection problems , could be loose fitting electrical connection's etc.... There is a microprocessor with logic programmed into it , inside the instrument cluster , the gauges ,warning light's are all controlled by modules . The gauges get their info from the PCM/ECM - engine computer over what is called a serial data network , are you familiar with these . The PCI data bus is what it is called .
NO Communication issues on 2003 Dodge 1500 trucks is best fixed using...
Probably the best thing to do would be to have the whole vehicle scanned for DTC'S - diagnostic trouble code's . Not at a part's store , they can not read codes in the instrument cluster , BCM - body control module etc.
You could probably check power an ground connections for the IPC , Looking at a wiring diagram so you know which wire's to check . Free wiring diagrams here
http://www.bbbind.com/free_tsb.html Enter vehicle info. year,make ,model an engine size . Under system click on body & accessories ,then under subsystem click instrumentation .Click search button ,then the blue link. To find ground location's on the vehicle you real need some kind of factory service info. or repair manual .