RoadVitals

2000 Dodge Ram 2500 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Jun 19, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 211 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

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 2000 Dodge Ram 2500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 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.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 19, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE MANEUVER THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ID
10726161
Incident
Jun 17, 2015
Mileage
68,000 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Dec 19, 2014

ALERT: DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM --- ON JULY 11, 2014, WHILE DRIVING ON U.S. ROUTE 77 IN NORTH CAROLINA I PASSED AN 18 WHEELER AT 70 MPH AND PULLED BACK INTO THE RIGHT LANE IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK WHEN, WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHATSOEVER, THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED. THE TRUCK I HAD JUST PASSED NEARLY JACKKNIFED AS THE TRUCKER APPLIED HIS BRAKES IN A PANIC MANEUVER TO AVOID ROLLING OVER ME FROM BEHIND. LUCKILY, HE MAINTAINED CONTROL, GOT AROUND ME, AND CONTINUED ON HIS WAY. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT, ALTHOUGH IT WOULD CRANK, IT WOULD NOT START. I WAS FORCED TO WAIT AND THEN, AFTER A TIME, TRIED STARTING IT AGAIN. IT DID. I SLOWLY DROVE TO THE NEXT EXIT BUT NOT WITHOUT INCIDENT. AFTER GOING ONLY A FEW HUNDRED YARDS THE TRUCK BUCKED, HESITATED AND STOPPED AGAIN. AGAIN, I WAITED. THIS SCENARIO REPEATED ITSELF UNTIL I GOT TO SAFETY. COINCIDENT WITH THE ENGINE STOPPING THE POWER STEERING FAILED, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON, IT APPEARED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE AND ALL THE GAUGES IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STOPPED WORKING. EVENTUALLY, MY TRUCK WAS TOWED TO LAKE NORMAN DODGE. THERE, THE VERY HELPFUL ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER, TERRY, EVALUATED THE PROBLEM SAYING EITHER THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE OR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS THE PROBLEM BUT HIS EXPERIENCE LED HIM TO TRY REPLACING THE COMPUTER FIRST. REPLACING THE PCM FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER RESUMED WORKING. AT LEAST TEMPORARILY. ON SEPTEMBER 16 2014, ON A LOCAL TRIP, THE TRUCK JUST STOPPED AGAIN. I WAS STRANDED ON A STATE ROAD. I USED MY PRIOR EXPERIENCE WITH WAITING, STARTING, DRIVING A LITTLE WAY AND HAVING THE ENGINE STOP AGAIN TO LIMP INTO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. EVENTUALLY, THEY TOWED IT TO SHELOR DODGE IN CHRISTIANSBURG, VA. WHERE IT CURRENTLY REMAINS, ... INOPERABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10667280
Incident
Jul 11, 2014
Mileage
68,000 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 8, 2011

WHEN I ADJUSTED THE STEERING WHEEL TO A DIFFERENT POSITION AN APPARENT ELECTRICAL FAILURE SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES RENDERING THE TRUCK ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE AT THAT SPEED. THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WAS REPLICATED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND WHILE STATIONARY. APPARENTLY ANY MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL WILL SHUT OFF COMPLETE POWER TO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10434840
Incident
Oct 28, 2011
Mileage
101,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 26, 2006

UNEXPECTED ENGINE STALL ON HIGHWAY WHILE PULLING TRAILER. LEAD TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. NARROWLY AVOIDED MAJOR ACCIDENT ON HIGHWAY. FOUND OUT LATER THERE IS A SERIOUSLY HIGH FAILURE RATE OF DIESEL INJECTION PUMPS DUE TO POOR DESIGN. *NM

NHTSA ID
10158374
Incident
Jan 13, 2004
Mileage
75,000 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 24, 2005

TWICE WHILE DRIVING THE 2000 DODGE 2500 CLUB CAB THE ENGINE STALLED SUDDENLY. *NM THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. ONCE THE CONSUMER WAS BALE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE HE DROVE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AGAIN, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER TO EXPECT IT TO FAIL AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE STARTER HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH SLUGGISH SHIFTING. *JB *NM

NHTSA ID
10127929
Incident
Oct 4, 2001
Mileage
33,329 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 7, 2005

I HAVE A 2000 DODGE RAM 2500 4X4 AUTO WITH A CUMMINS DIESEL. FOR THE PRODUCTION YEARS 1998 TO 2001, SOME OF THESE ENGINES WHERE PRODUCED WITH AN INFERIOR ENGINE BLOCK (IDENTIFIED WITH A BLOCK CASTING NUMBER OF "53"). MORE SPECIFICALLY THESE BLOCKS HAVE THINNER WATER JACKET WALLS THAN OTHER BLOCKS SO WITH COOLANT CAVITATION, CORROSION, COOLANT PRESSURE IN THE BLOCK, AND TORQUE, THEY MAY CRACK, SPILLING YOUR COOLANT. WHEN THE CRACK OCCURS, AND THERE ARE VERY MANY DOCUMENTED CASES, IT IS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE, THE SAME SIDE AS THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY FIRES, ETC. BUT I KNOW THAT ENGINE COOLANT DOES CONTAIN FLAMMABLE INGREDIENTS AND THE EXHAUST CAN GET VERY HOT, ESPECIALLY WHEN TOWING. ALSO, THIS ENGINE WITH A 53 BLOCK HAS BEEN USED IN OTHER APPLICATIONS, INCLUDING: MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS FROM DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS, MOBILE HOMES, PUBLIC SCHOOL BUSES AND MASS TRANSPORTATION BUSES. I SEARCHED THE NHTSA SITE FOR INFO REGARDING THE CUMMINS 53 BLOCK, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN PROVIDED WOULD BE OF GREAT USE. ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK IN MY TRUCK HAS NOT CRACKED, I'M MORE INTERESTED IN PREVENTING A PROBLEM THAN EXPERIENCING IT. VERY MANY THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT.*JB

NHTSA ID
10110047
Incident
Feb 5, 2005
Engine
Filed Feb 2, 2005

2000 DODGE RAM 2500 HAS A CUMMINS 5.9 LITER DIESEL ENGINE. THE ENGINE BLOCK HAS CRACK IN THE WATER JACKET AND IS LEAKING COOLANT. CUMMINS ENGINE MANUFACTURE HAS ADMITTED TO THIS AS BEING A PROBLEM AND HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
10108465
Incident
Feb 1, 2005
Mileage
114,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 29, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10017766
Incident
Apr 25, 2003
Engine
Filed Oct 29, 2002

CONSUMER NOTICE ENGINE LEAKING OIL FROM UNDER ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED TECHNICIAN NOTICE VACUUM PUMP NEED TO BE REPLACE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID
8021833
Engine
Filed Jan 17, 2002
Fire reported

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE ENTIRE CAB WAS BURNED, CLAIM 36-A186-713. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6900887
Incident
Jun 19, 2001
Engine
Filed Jan 17, 2002
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CONSUMER HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER, CLAIM 37-3254-339. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6900883
Incident
Sep 22, 2001
Engine
Filed Sep 26, 2001
Fire reported

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FIRE, CLAIM 37-3254-339. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6900559
Incident
Sep 22, 2001
Engine
Filed Jun 22, 2001
Fire reported

FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ENTIRE CAB WAS BURNED, CLAIM 36-A186-713. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6900563
Incident
Jun 19, 2001
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system+2 more
Filed Nov 13, 2000

WHILE DRIVING TRUCK PULLS BADLY TO RIGHT. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER IT WOULD STRAIGHTEN UP. CONSUMER STATES THERE SUPPOSE TO BE A RECALL ON VEHICLE.*AK THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY FELL OFF DUE TO WELD FAILURE. THE VEHICLES SURGES FORWARD RANDOMLY. THERE WAS SMELL OF FUEL INSIDE THE CAB WHEN WINDOWS ARE UP. THE STEERING BOX HAD FAILED AND REPLACED. TIE RODS AND MOTOR COMPARTMENT SEAL FAILED. THE CUSTOMER HAD RETURNED THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. *YH

NHTSA ID
874805
Incident
Dec 10, 1999

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .