2000 Dodge Ram 2500

THE AGENCY OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON 30 COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT THE HOODS ON MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000 AND 2001 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS FLEW UP AND BLOCKED THE DRIVER'S VISION.THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PRIMARY HOOD LATCH AND A SECONDARY (BACKUP) HOOD LATCH.THE SECONDARY LATCH IS DESIGNED TO SECURE THE HOOD IF THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED OR OTHERWISE MALFUNCTIONS.IN THESE COMPLAINTS, THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MALFUNCTIONED, APPARENTLY DUE TO CORROSION, AND DID NOT LATCH.DODGE CONDUCTED RECALL 01V-040 IN 1999 TO ADDRESS SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON MODEL YEAR 1994-1997 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS.THE INFORMATION CHRYSLER PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER INDICATED THAT THE MY 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH SECONDARY HOOD LATCHES WITH STAINLESS STEEL RETURN SPRINGS, AS OPPOSED TO THE EARLIER RECALLED TRUCKS THAT HAD ZINC COATED CARBON STEEL RETURN SPRINGS.THE RECALLED COMPONENTS WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CORROSION-INDUCED FAILURE DUE TO THE TYPE OF MATERIAL USED, WHEREAS THE CORROSION FAILURES IN THE NEWER MODELS APPEAR TO BE DUE TO LUBRICATION LOSS OVER TIME (REGULAR APPLICATION OF GREASE IS ADVISED PER INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OWNERS' MANUAL). ODI'S REVIEW OF CHRYSLER'S WARRANTY, COMPLAINT, AND INJURY DATA FOR THE 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES INDICATES THAT THE RATES FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE LOW AND ARE DECLINING.A POTENTIAL DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 equipped with Mastercraft Tires, Tire Line: Courser AXT, Tire Size:245/75/R16, DOT Number: [XXX] . The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle started shaking abnormally. The contact stated that the abnormal shaking worsened, and the contact pulled over and discovered a bulge in the rear driver’s side tire. The contact replaced the tire with the spare and resumed normal driving. Upon returning to the residence, while inspecting the front passenger’s side tire, the contact cut his index and middle finger on the left hand due to the steel belt protruding from the tire. Upon further inspection, the contact discovered the same failure with the rear driver’s side tire that was replaced. The contact had not sought medical attention for the injuries. The contact attempted to call the manufacturer for assistance but was unable to reach a representative. The tires were not replaced. The tire failure mileage was approximately 3,000. The vehicle failure mileage was approximately 305,000. The VIN was not available. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11608437

Incident

Aug 11, 2024

Mileage

305,000 mi

The dash has completely desegregated exposing all the wires, air conditioning unit, and airbag parts. This is a huge hazard because my headlight switch hangs with nothing to attach to. My airbags are completely visible and could explode at anytime. Everything that was in the dash heated seat, headlight, air system, radio, speedometer, and airbag controls are completely visible and all attachments are completely desegregated I do not know if this also caused the loose steering in my vehicle but I assume it did the steering wheel will turn about a quarter turn before it ever engages the wheels and when driving you must constantly move the wheel back and forth to keep the car in the road I feel as though this is a major issue that has not been recalled in the dodge rams all models of my year truck that has been reported several times and should be fixed there are plenty of these trucks on the road still and all have the same issues I cannot afford another vehicle and would like for mine to be recalled and fixed so I can drive it safely without worrying about the airbags deploying or the steering being so lose it causes me to have a accident. When the plastic degenerates it also leaves extremely sharp edges that will cut you extremely deep I have been cut several times getting things from the dash pad I have lid across it covering the gapping hole. thank you for your time and consideration . Side note I tried to upload pictures of the dash or what's left of it but it would not let me.

NHTSA ID

11508106

Incident

Jun 1, 2020

In Muskogee County.By the grace of God, I finally gain control of my vehicle, after applying the brakes that failed on me, to avoid an accident, I pulled over to inspect my vehicle. I did a walk around inspection and noticed left rear side a puddle of oil on the ground, a oil leaks right next to the fuel tank inside the frame. After getting into my vehicle I noticed, my ABS light come on. So, I had it tow home. Prior to this I did not have an inspection to see it was safe to drive and I did not report this to the police.

NHTSA ID

11465307

Incident

May 18, 2022

They Did Not INCLUDE THE 2000 Dodge Ram 2500 Yet I have had the same experience several times.When travelling at highway speeds and hitting a bump or pot-hole in the road, the front end begins to shake violently and does not stop until the driver jams on the brakes and brings the truck back down to below highway speeds. Some people contribute this phenomenon to the worst possible downside of having a coil-sprung front suspension on a truck with a track bar. Unlike a typical suspension set up, Dodge Ram trucks will continue to shake long after hitting the bump to the point that controlling the vehicle is nearly impossible until the driver slows down. The current lawsuit alleges that Chrysler learned about the death wobble defect with Dodge Ram trucks in the mid-2000s but waited four years before conducting a series of recalls from 2009 through 2013. Chrysler classified the recalls as Safety Recalls, H36, H46, K28, L16, N62, N49, and N63. The recalls addressed various parts of 2009-2012 Dodge Ram trucks’ steering linkage system, including its tie rod assemblies. The complaint alleges that the recalls excluded many affected vehicles and that Chrysler provided replacement parts that were also defective, forcing Chrysler to make additional recalls to remedy prior recalls. Consumers have reported that Chrysler does not have enough replacement parts to repair all the vehicles for which it has submitted recall notices and that drivers have been put on long waiting lists for repairs. Chrysler’s steering linkage defect and redesign. Allegedly, the ball stud is defective in the Chrysler Suspension design. The driver’s side tie-rod ball stud that Chrysler used is too weak to and is known to fracture under normal driving conditions. The tie rod is a “crucial link” in the vehicle’s steering system. A loose tie rod can cause any vehicle to have an excess shimmy or the dreaded death wobble. The tie rod can affect front-end alignment. This happen several times in the last 15 years

NHTSA ID

11421800

Incident

Jun 18, 2021

DASH CRACKED AND SHATTERED TO PIECES, WITH NO REASON APPARENT REASON AND/OR WITHOUT OPERATOR'S CONTROL. PART OF IT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11061455

Incident

Dec 20, 2017

Mileage

173,190 mi

VAN FRAME IS RUSTING OUT, STEERING BOX THAT IS MOUNTED TO FRAME IS LIKELY TO FALL OFF SOON. TIE ROD TO FRAME CONNECTION ALSO IS RUSTING OUT. TO MY KNOWLEDGE AND AFTER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, THERE IS NO REASONABLE FIX.

NHTSA ID

10992036

Incident

May 19, 2017

Mileage

116,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS FRACTURED. THE DASHBOARD WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED TWICE FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AFRAID THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10898072

Incident

Aug 1, 2011

Mileage

90,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD AROUND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, RADIO, AND HEAT/AC CONTROLS IS BREAKING INTO PIECES. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL BE A SAFETY ISSUE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE SHARP AND JAGGED EDGES AND LOOSE MATERIAL ALL THROUGHOUT THE DASH AREA. CURRENTLY I HAVE ZIP TIES HOLDING MY HEAT/AC CONTROLS IN PLACE AND 2 REMAINING FACTORY SCREWS HOLDING MY RADIO IN PLACE. THE TOP PORTION OF THE DASH ALSO HAS FAILED AND FALLEN APART OVER THE YEARS AND DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS, I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED IT. I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN FINDING A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT LOWER DASH ASSEMBLY TO REPLACE MINE WITH.

NHTSA ID

10897050

Incident

Aug 19, 2016

Mileage

96,000 mi

KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty.

KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty.

Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging systems, and also warranty reimbursement when battery replacements are necessary.

This SKU is a Clock Spring. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect the internal spring. If the internal spring is not seated, the electrical circuit for the horn is disconnected and the horn will not function. The horn electrical circuit does not affect the airbag circuit.

Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.

Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.