Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Dodge 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 56 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 56, in the owner's own words
The headlights no matter what bulbs I buy are extremely dim making it unsafe to drive at night. Now truck will not start for some unknown reason. It tries to turn over but will not crank. The mileage flashes NO BUS. I was literally only getting at best 8 miles per gallon.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED TWICE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 198,000.
SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY OR BUSY ROAD AND THE ENGINE GETS TO NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE, THE ENGINE STALLS AND SHUTS OFF. THEN I HAVE TO MANEUVER IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND LET IT COOL OFF APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES AND THEN IT CRANKS BACK UP AND I CAN DRIVE 5 MINUTES AND IT DOES THE SAME THING AGAIN, VERY DANGEROUS.
I TURNED THE KEY TO START THE ENGINE AND AS IT STARTED CRANKING SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE DEFROSTER AND THEN FIRE STARTED COMING OUT THE ENGINE HOOD. LUCKILY I HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER HANDY AND OPENED THE HOOD AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. WONDERED WHERE THE FIRE STARTED SO TRIED STARTING AGAIN AND FIRE STARTED IMMEDIATELY AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE OR ON TOP OF THE BELL HOUSING. I ALSO SMELLED FUEL. THE TRUCK WAS NEXT TO MY GARAGE AND HAD BEEN DRIVEN A FEW DAYS EARLIER. IF I HAD NOT PUT OUT THE FIRE MY WHOLE HOUSE COULD HAVE BURNED DOWN. I DONATED THE TRUCK TO WHEELS 4 VETS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEATING COIL WAS LEAKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEATER COIL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
WHILE DRIVING DODGE RAM TRUCK JAMMED OPEN THROTTLE BEGAN TO AN UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION THAT CAUSED VEHICLE TO ALMOST CRASH. A CALL WAS MADE TO DODGE DEALERSHIP @ 215 492 8600 HOWEVER I WAS INFORMED THAT MY TRUCK DID NOT FALL UNDER THIS RECALL PROBLEM. *TR
SINCE DEC OF 2004 I HAVE HAD MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED 3 TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE, THE LAST TIME I WAS ON A HIGHWAY WHEN IT "BLEW" AND WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL PPL THAT I WAS VERY "LUCKY" IT DIDN'T CATCH FIRE, L KNOW OF MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE OWNED THESE TRUCKS AND HAVE HAD SIMILAR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS!! I ALSO HAVE HAD MY SPARE TIRE CABLE BREAK WHILE THE TRUCK WAS ON A ROADWAY, AND MY SPARE TIRE WHEN ROLLING DOWN THE ROAD BEHIND ME, BY THE GRACE OF GOD...NO CARS WERE COMING, IN ADDITION, I HAVE A SEVERELY CRACKED DASH, I AM HAVING TO HAVE THE HEATER CORE REPLACED...SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE VENTS...WHEN THE CORE IS REPLACED, THE DASH WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED ALSO, DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE DASH!! DODGE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE VEHICLES! *TR
MY 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 KEEP STALLING WHEN DECELERATING. THE ENGINE WILL START RIGHT UP AGAIN WHEN I TURN THE KEY BUT UNLESS I KEEP MY FOOT ON THE GAS IT DIES AGAIN AND AGAIN. IT'S ALWAYS AT LOW SPEEDS LIKE IN A PARKING LOT OR APPROACHING STOP SIGNS OR RED LIGHTS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD IT TO 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND WE'VE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BATTERY (TWICE ON THE BATTERY) AND IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. SOMETIMES IT RUNS FINE AND THEN IT JUST STARTS QUITTING ON MY. *TR
ENGINE COMPLETED SEIZED, WAS TOLD SLUDGE IN ENGINE. MECHANIC STATED COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND VEHICLE. $5000 TO REPLACE ENGINE. *TR
I HAVE A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 5.2 V-8 ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAS VERY POOR PERFORMANCE DUE TO TAPPING VALVES AND LIFTERS, WHEN TRYING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY THE TRUCK LOSSES POWER SO I'M AFRAID THIS MAY BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BY CAUSING A ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO CHRYSLER DODGE AND THEY DO NOTHING WE AS CONSUMERS REALLY NEED THE HELP. *TR
2001 DODGE QUAD CAB PICKUP HAS FAILING WIRING IN STEERING COLUMN WHICH MAKES TRUCK DIE WHILE DRIVING . WHICH IN TURN THERE IS NO POWER BRAKES OR STEERING AND NO ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS THAT MAKES THE TRUCK RUN . DEAD ON THE ROAD LITERALLY. WHO KNOWS AT WHAT SPEEDS THIS PROBLEM MAY OCCUR. LUCKILY, IT HAPPENED TO ME WHILE GOING SLOW AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE TRUCK. NO KNOWN HUMAN DEATHS YET THAT I HAVE HEARD OF FROM THIS. IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED WITH WIRING HARNESS THERE WILL BE DEATHS, I'M PRETTY SURE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO DO MY BEST TO KEEP MY FAMILY AND OTHER FAMILIES SAFE. THIS NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH BEFORE SOMEONE DOES DIE UNNECESSARILY IN AN ACCIDENT THAT CAN BE AVOIDED BY REPLACING THE PROBLEM PART OF THE PICKUP. *TR THE BEARING CLUTCH, REAR CARRIER BEARING, AXLE SEALS, ROTORS, POWER STEERING PUMP, PINION CARRIER BEARINGS WERE ALL REPLACED. ALSO, THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL AND HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CENTER SEAT CONSOLE BOLTING SYSTEM FELL OUT OF THE TRUCK, THE PLASTIC DASHBOARD PANEL AND HOUSING AROUND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS CRACKED IN FOUR PLACES. THE GASKET ON THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING. THE GASKET, WATER AND TIMING CHAIN WERE REPLACED. THE CLUTCH FAILED, DUE TO THE WRONG YEAR TRANSMISSION BEING INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. A 2000 TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, INSTEAD OF A 2001. UPDATED 10/15/14
LIKE EVERYONE'S ELSE'S 2001 RAM 1500 THE DASH BOARD CRACKED ALL OVER THE PLACE, BIG PIECES FALLING DOWN INSIDE THE DASH AND VENTS, AND ALSO THE HEADS CRACKED AT 75,000 MILES OR SO. *TR
PURCHASED NEW 2001 DODGE RAM PAID CASH PMT FOR IT 28,000 ALSO A CHEVY TRUCK MIND YOU NEVER NO BIG ISSUES WITH THE CHEVY ON THE OTHER HAND THE DODGE ISSUE AFTER ISSUE NOW THE SERIOUS PROBLEM CRACKED COLLAPSING DASHBOARD I USE ONLY MEGUIRE PRODUCTS O THE DODGE TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF IT I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT DAIMLER CHRYSLER IS NOT FIXING THESE PROBLEMS THERE IS A BIG HISTORY OF THIS ISSUE WITH THE 01 I SEE THEY DO NOT BACK UP THE NAME DODGE WHEN I AM READY FOR A NEW TRUCK AGAIN I HIGHLY DOUBT LOOK AT ANOTHER DODGE TRUCK EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE PRETTY TRUCKS BUT LIKE I SAID I HAVE HAD A BIG HISTORY OF ISSUES ON MY RAM FOR IT BEING BOUGHT NEW DISAPPOINTED DODGE RAM OWNER AND THIS RAM HAS BEEN TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF. *TR THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING AND THE ENGINE CONSUMED EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL AND THERE WAS NO WARNING TO INDICATE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. UPDATED IVOQ 03/11/11
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPED, SHUTTERED AND MADE WHINNING NOISES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE ENGINE HAS ALSO BEEN MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR THE ENGINE PROBLEM. UPDATED 12/26/2006 - *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED THREE TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OF 10-35 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE CONTACT TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION UP TO THREE TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DODGE SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY CONCLUDED THE PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. *AK
I HAVE A 2001 DODGE INTREPID WITH APPROX 70K MILES. I HAD NO WARNING ANYTHING WAS WRONG AND WHEN I STOPPED TO PICK UP MY 6 YEAR OLD CHILD THE CAR NEVER STARTED AGAIN. I BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL (TRUSTWORTHY) MECHANIC AND AFTER A 215.10 BILL I WAS TOLD MY ENGINE FAILED AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY APPROX 5K TO REPAIR IT. MY MECHANIC ASKED IF I KEPT UP ON THE OIL CHANGES AND I STATED THAT I DID. AFTER RESEARCH HIMSELF HE INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE 2.7 ENGINES. I STILL OWE ON THE VEHICLE 5K AND I AM A SINGLE PARENT AND NOW HAVE NO CAR AND STILL PAYING ON IT. *NM
THE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY, CONTROL ARMS, AND WHEEL HUBS HAD TO BE REPLACED BY LOCAL DEALER. I WAS TOLD BY A TRAINED TECHNICIAN THAT THE WHEEL'S COULD HAVE BROKEN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE HEATER CORE AND AIR CONDITIONING MAIN ELEMENT STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED BY LOCAL DEALER. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL, PINION BEARINGS AND CUPS STOPPED WORKING AT 77,400 MILES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED BY LOCAL DEALER. THIS WAS JUST 2,000 MILES AFTER THE PREVIOUS STATED PARTS HAD MALFUNCTIONED. OLD PARTS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL, BUT INVOICES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL WORK PERFORMED. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT AN IDLE THE ENGINE STALLS AND SUDDENLY DIES. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT IN NATURE AND IS MOST COMMON IN COLD TEMPERATURES. HE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE PROBLEM. HE HAS CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND REPLACED THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR. THESE REPAIRS HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. NO FURTHER REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
DT: 2001, DODGE, RAM, CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND TOLD THEM THAT VEHICLE WAS USING ABOUT 2-3 QUARTS OF OIL WEEKLY. MANUFACTURER CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND INDICATED THERE WERE NO RECORDS OF ANYONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO LAUREL VALLEY DODGE IN LATROBE, PA. THEY HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT A PAPER GASKET BETWEEN THE MANIFOLD AND THE HEADS LEFT A HOLE THERE, AND IT WAS DUMPING OIL INTO THE MANIFOLD, AND BURNING THE OIL. DEALER SAID THEY COULD TAKE THE PAPER GASKET OUT AND PUT A METAL GASKET AT THE COST OF $600.00. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND HAD NOT SEIZED AS OF YET.*AK
I PURCHASED A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB, VIN [XXX], FROM FOWLER DODGE IN OKLAHOMA CITY. THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD AS IS WITH ENGINE PROBLEMS. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WILL NEED OVER $2000 IN REPAIRS IN ORDER TO BE SAFE AND RELIABLE. THE PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWS: #1 ENGINE CYLINDER HAS BURNT VALVE, NOT CREATING ADEQUATE CYLINDER PRESSURE #5 CYLINDER HAS BURNT VALVE, NOT CREATING ADEQUATE PRESSURE #8 CYLINDER HAS BURNT VALVE, NOT CREATING ANY PRESSURE BRAKES ROTORS REQUIRE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR HEADLIGHTS OPERATE IN FULL HIGH BEAM ONLY, ALL THE TIME. FAULTY HEADLGHT SWITCH THE MECHANIC I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAS RECCOMMENDED THAT I GET A LAWYER, WRITE TO YOU AND CHRYSLER AND GIVE FOWLER DODGE A CHANCE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS UNDER GOOD FAITH. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT ON NUMEROUS DODGE RAM MAINTENANCE FORUMS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN THESE FIRST HAND AND IT IS TRUE. I HAVE SEEN POSTS WITH PEOPLE STATING THAT THEIR DEALER TOLD THEM THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CYLINDER HEADS WHICH LEAD TO BURNT VALVES, REQUIRING CYLINDER HEAD REPLACEMENT. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
DT: DODGE RAM 2001 318. WHILE DRIVING NOTICED VAPOR COMING OUT OF TAIL PIPE. CHECKED ALL FLUIDS AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, RAN A PRESSURE TEST, AND FOUND A LEAK,. HE SENT BOTH HEADS TO MACHINE AND BOTH HEADS WERE CRACKED. MECHANIC SAD IF THE TEMPERATURE GOES UP THE LEAST BIT THE HEAD WILL BLOW. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER GOT ABOVE NORMAL. *AK
DODGE (2001) 1500 RAM PICKUP (4X2) --- 1- MAJOR LOWER ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LAMP ACTIVATED FOLLOWED BY ENGINE MAKING "TICKING" NOISE. IN DOING RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS "OIL PRESSURE / MAJOR ENGINE ISSUES" IS COMMON FOR THE DODGE RAM. 2- SECOND MAJOR DODGE ISSUE--- TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE TOTALLY REPLACED. AGAIN, IN DOING RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS DOCUMENTED ISSUES WITH THE 2001 DODGE RAM TRANSMISSION FAILURES..
I OWN A DODGE RAM 1500 SPORT 4X4 WHICH HAS 6700 MILES ON IT. AT 3800 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. MARK THOMAS MOTORS IN ALBANY SAID THEY WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THERE ISN'T A REASON FOR IT TO HAVE GONE OUT, AT NO COST TO ME. AT 67K MILES BOTH THE ENGINE HEADS WERE CRACKED FROM RUNNING TO LEAN AND ADVANCED TIMING. THAT COST ME $1000 AND MARK THOMAS MOTORS AGAIN ADJUSTED THE COST. ALTHOUGHT I HAVE BEEN TREATED EXTREMELY WELL FROM THIS DEALERSHIP I SHOULD NOT HAVE EXPERIENCED THESE PROBLEMS THIS SOON. VARIOUS FORUMS DISCUSS THESE TOPICS IN GREAT DETAIL. DODGE HAS KNOWN OF THESE ISSUES AND HAS NEVER ADDRESSED THE PROBLEMS. I'M NOW WAITING FOR MY F250 TO BE DELIVERED, I'M DONE WITH DODGE FOR NOW.*AK
OIL PUMP FAILURE. DODGE WILL NOT HONOR OEM WARRANTY (VEHICLE AT 29 MONTHS/29K MILES), OR EXTENDED WARRANTY(7 YEAR/100K MILE); CLAIMING NEGLECT OF MAINTENANCE - SLUDGE IN OIL. OIL CHANGES DONE REGULARLY AT 3-5K MILES. MOST RECENT OIL CHANGE DONE 3 DAYS/200 MILES BEFORE OIL PUMP FAILURE, AND OIL WAS CLAIMED TO BE "SLUDGE". *JB
VEHICLE JUST DIED NO WARNING NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS OIL PRESSURE GAUGE NORMAL, AND NOW I HAVE A BLOWN ENGINE. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS SOME SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE DUE TO LACK OF REGULAR OIL CHANGES. THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY THREE TO FIVE THOUSND MILES. STILL HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE THAT THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS TOWED TO WILL NOT HONOR. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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