2001 Dodge Ram 2500 Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOBBLED WHILE DRIVING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE STEERING BOX, BALL JOINT, AND FRONT STABILIZER SHOCKS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE BEGAN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, BUT NO ONE COULD REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED LITHIA CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE OF BILLINGS (2229 KING AVE W, BILLINGS, MT 59102, (406) 206-3601) AND WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 250,000.

NHTSA ID

11286817

Incident

Dec 4, 2001

Mileage

250,000 mi

WHEN EXITING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND COASTING AND HITTING A BUMP THE TRUCK SHOOK VIOLENTLY TO THE POINT OF ALMOST LOOSING CONTROL. AFTER SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET FOR A CAUSE IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DODGE RAMS CALLED THE DEATH WOBBLE.. IT NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE AND HAVE A PROBLEM BELIEVING SOMETHING SO EXTREME COULD BE WORN BUSHINGS OR SUSPENTION PARTS THAT WEAR OUT OVER LONG PERIODS OF TIME.

NHTSA ID

10993778

Incident

Jun 6, 2017

Mileage

534,013 mi

MY MAIN REASON FOR THIS COMPLAINT IS IT IS KNOWN ACROSS THE UNITED STATES THAT DODGE PUT A FAULTY FRONT SUSPENSION ON ITS PICKUPS THAT LEAD TO DANGEROUS STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND DEATH WOBBLES. MY VEHICLE HAS THE DEATH WOBBLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, UNDERSTAND THIS DEATH WOBBLE LITERALLY TRIES TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL FROM YOUR HAND AND MAKES THE VEHICLE VERY HARD TO MANAGE. MY DEATH WOBBLE WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO BUST A BATTERY CLAMP, BLOW OUT BOTH HEADLIGHTS, MAKE MY QUAD CAB DOOR NOT OPEN CAUSED MY OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE SENSOR UNIT TO MALFUNCTION, BROKE MY STEERING BOX, BROKE THE CLIP ON MY SUNGLASSES HOLDER AND CAUSED MY TRACK BAR TO FAIL AGAIN. PLEASE UNDERSTAND DUE TO THE FAULTY SLOPPY DRIFTING STEERING I HAD ALREADY REPLACED ALL TIE RODS, TRACK BAR, BALL JOINTS AND STEERING DAMPENER SHOCK. YOU CAN GO TO ANY DIESEL FORUM AND HEAR ALL THE STORIES OF THE DODGE STEERING SLOP AND DEATH WOBBLE AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE TRAFFIC SAFETY BOARD HAS NOT FORCED A RECALL AND UPGRADES ON THIS PRODUCT. I HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON MY TRACK BAR AND CAN PROVE IT HAS TO BE REPLACED TWICE A YEAR MINIMUM. DODGE DID UPGRADES ON THE LATER MODEL YEARS 04-07 BECAUSE THEY KNEW OF THE DESIGN FLAW. WHY ARE THEY NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS KNOWN ROAD HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563554

Incident

Apr 12, 2012

Mileage

96,000 mi

2001.5 DODGE 2500 QUAD 4X4 DIESEL. STEERING HAS BEEN BAD FOR LAST FEW YEARS. TOOK IN AND ALL UP FRONT IS BAD, HUBS, JOINTS, BALL JOINTS, TIE RODS AND EVEN THE GEAR BOX OUTPUT SHAFT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALER KNOWS THAT THE 2500 COMES OFF THE LINE WITH 1/4" GIVE OR TAKE PLAY IN THE BALL JOINTS AS IT SITS NEW AND ARE ACTUALLY TOO SMALL FOR APPLICATION WHICH CAUSES ALL ELSE TO GO BAD OVER TIME. I AM NOT HARD ON MY DODGE WITH DRIVING STYLE. COST TO FIX WITH STOCK AND AFTER MARKET PARTS ONLY TO PREVENT IS 2600.00. LABOR IS 100.00 PER HOUR HOW CAN ANYONE HANDLE THIS KIND OF MONEY UP FRONT. TRUCK SITS AFRAID TO DRIVE MORE THEN LOCAL. STARTED SEEING AT 95000 AND HAVE JUST OVER 103000. DEALER WILL NOT FIX RECALLS OF 2001 YEAR BECAUSE ITS TO OLD! *TR

NHTSA ID

10460402

Incident

Jun 3, 2012

Mileage

103,000 mi

THE REAR SPRING PADS ON MY TRUCK ARE RUSTING APART. NOT JUST SURFACE CORROSION BUT ACTUAL SPLITTING AND FLAKING OF THE METAL. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT LOSS OF CONTROL IF THE PAD SPLITS APART AS THE REAR AXLE COULD SHIFT, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10458123

Incident

Sep 9, 2011

Mileage

88,000 mi

REAR SPRING MOUNTS FAILED FROM RUST CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. TRUCK HAS ONLY 82K MILES. THIS WAS ONE WEEK AFTER SPENDING 1200 TO REPLACE RUSTED BRAKE LINES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10293078

Incident

Oct 25, 2008

Mileage

82,544 mi

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND CAN'T GET IT OUT . AND THE DOORS ARE ALL ROTTED ON THE BOTTOM AND IS THE ONLY THING THAT ROTTED ON MY TRUCK I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY TRUCK. AND THAT IS A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT IN THIS TRUCK. AND THE FRONT END THAT'S HARD TO KEEP UP WITH. I ONLY HAVE 118000 ON IT. AND KNOW THE MOTOR WILL GO A LONG WAYS THE CUMMINS 25 VALVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10263222

Incident

May 3, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD BUMPING SOUND AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STAY STRAIGHT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH OR GREATER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ID

10205222

Incident

Jul 20, 2007

Mileage

86,000 mi

2001 DODGE RAM 2500 REG CAB LONG BED PICKUP. VEHICLE HAS 26,000 ORIGINAL MILES AND AFTER MAJOR FRONT END REPAIRS( UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, STABILIZER BAR LINKS, STABILIZER SHOCK AND BOTH WHEEL BEARINGS) FOR STEERING PROBLEMS, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE TRUCK IS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE AND WANDERS INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC IF CONSTANT ATTENTION AND OVER CORRECTION OF STEERING IS NOT ADHERED TOO. DRIVING IS A TASK AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10185117

Incident

Mar 14, 2007

Mileage

25,000 mi

MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 39K MILES AND WAS HAVING SEVERE ISSUES WITH STEERING WOBBLE AND STEERING WANDERING. THE STEERING STABILIZER AND TRACK BAR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER BUT STILLS HAS PLAY IN THE STEERING. ALTHOUGH NOT CURRENTLY UNDER WARRANTY THESE PARTS SHOULD NOT FAIL AT 39K MILES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10166570

Incident

Aug 9, 2006

Mileage

38,686 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BALL JOINTS ARE WORN THEREFORE THE VEHICLE CANNOT PASS THE STATE INSPECTION. THE DEALER ALERTED THE CONTACT THAT VEHICLES OF THE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE BALL JOINTS. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE IN REGARDS TO STEERING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10162137

Incident

Jul 11, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING AND SMOKING RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE INJECTION PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. ALSO, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE TIE RODS WERE PULLING APART ON THE FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT TIE RODS AND BALL JOINTS. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10151051

Incident

Feb 10, 2006

Mileage

80,000 mi

HAD TO REPLACE BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS DUE TO WEAR.*AK THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 40000 MILES WHEN THE BALL JOINT FAILED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10109098

Incident

Jan 27, 2005

Mileage

40,000 mi

JUST AFTER THE POWER TRAIN WARRENTY WAS UP THE TRANS STARTED TO SLIP. I CHECK FLUID. IT WAS OKAY. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REBUILT THE TRANS AT MY COST OF 2500. IT STILL DIDN'T SHIFT RIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS FINE. LAST YEAR I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANS REBUILT AGAIN AT 2500. IT RAN FINE FOR EXACTLY 12 MONTHS. THE TRUCK IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AGAIN TO HAVE THE TRANS REBUILT FOR THE THIRD TIME BY A LICENCED FACILITY. I HAD IT FIXED ONE TIME BY A FRIEND ALSO. THE TRANS SHOP WILL WARRENTY THE LABOR THIS TIME BUT, THEY WANT OVER 1600 FOR PARTS. THIS TRUCK WAS $40,000 AND 2,500 PER TRANS PER YEAR AND THE FRONT END REDONE 3 TIMES ALSO. THE ENGINE IS TOO HEAVY AND POWERFUL FOR THE TRUCK AND TRANS. A FAULT BY ENGINEERS AT CHRYSLER SHOULD NOT BE A CONSTANT HEAD ACHE FOR MYSELF AND MY WALLET. I HAVE REPLACED NEARLY EVERY PART ON THIS TRUCK X 3. THE ONLY GOOD THING ABOUT THIS TRUCK IS THE MOTOR AND IT'S BECAUSE IT'S A CUMMINS.

NHTSA ID

10126713

Incident

Jun 27, 2005

Mileage

40,000 mi

DODGE RAM 2500 SERIES 2001, NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STEERING MECHANISMS. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS CONSTANTLY OVERCORRECTING THE VEHICLE LEFT AND RIGHT. THE CONSUMER HAD MANY ALIGNMENTS DONE BUT TO NO AVAIL. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ALL THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO RUST AND NO LUBRICATION, THE STEERING SHAFT AND TRAC BAR WAS REPLACED AND THE STEERING BOX WAS ADJUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND IN HIS OPINION ALTERNATE VALVE LOCATED IN THE STEERING WAS NOT PERFORMING AS IT SHOULD, WHEN THE MECHANIC REMOVED THE VALVE IT EXTREMELY BURNT FROM OVERHEATING. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NO LONGER HAS ANY PROBLEMS STEERING THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10115597

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

DODGE RAM 2500 SERIES 2001, NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STEERING MECHANISMS. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE TAKING A 2 MILE DRIVE, HE NOTICE HE HAD TO CONSTANTLY OVERCORRECT TO THE LEFT AND THEN THE RIGHT. THE DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL COMPONETS ON THE VEHICLE TO TRY AND RESOLVE THE STEERING PROBLEM, THE REPLACED ALL THE BALL JOINTS WHICH WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND HAD NO GREASE, THE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED, THE TRAC BAR WAS REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE MOVEMENT. IT WAS FINALLY DETERMINED THAT A ALTERNATE VALVE IN THE STEERING BOX WAS NOT PERFORMING AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO, WHEN THE MECHANIC TOOK THE VALVE OUT IT WAS BURNED FROM OVERHEATING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10115204

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

FRONT END VIBRATION, AND VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION. THE FRONT BALL JOINTS ARE DEFECTIVE.*AK *TC

NHTSA ID

10109268

Incident

Jan 5, 2004

Mileage

68,000 mi

THE CONSUMER STATES AT 45,000 MILES THE FRONT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10112961

Incident

Feb 22, 2005

Mileage

45,000 mi

WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE'S CLUTCH FAILED. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SENDER UNIT FOR THE FUEL WAS NOT WORKING AND NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE BALL JOINTS WENT OUT ALONG WITH THE CLUTCH. AT THE 200 MILE MARK THE ROD WHICH WHEN PUSHED ACTIVATES THE CLUTCH WENT OUT. *TC *JB

NHTSA ID

10109737

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONTAL UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10106643

Incident

Dec 24, 2004

1. STEREING WHEEL WOULD NOT CENTER UP, VEHICLE DROVE STRAIGHT. DEALER SAID THIS IS NORMAL TO COMPENSATE FOR TORQUE, NO WARRANTY REPAIR, TOOK TO A SUSPENSION SHOP FOR REPAIR $ 1200.00 (SEE DETAILS BELOW). 2. TRANSMISSION SHUDDERED IN TORQUE CONVERTER LOCK UP. DELAER FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, BUT CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. $ 2200.00 FOR NEW HD TORQUE CONVERTER AND HP VALVE BODY (SEE DETAIL BELOW) **ACCELERATOR STUCK WIDE OPEN WHILE TRAVELING DOWN INTERSTATE, HAD TO PUSH HARD ON BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN TO MERGE TO SHOULDER, PLACE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE REVVED TO RED LINE, SHUT DOWN THE MOTOR. MOTOR WOULD NOT START ONLY CRANK. DEALER SAID THE INJECTOR PUMP AND CONTROLLER AWERE BAD, $ 3000.00 FOR REAPAIR. REPLACED BALL JOINT 6/2002, REPLACED TRANSMISSION 10/2004, REPLACED FUEL INJECTOR PUMP 12/04. SUM TOTAL OF REPAIRS $ 6600.00.*AK

NHTSA ID

10103056

Incident

Dec 15, 2004

Mileage

126,353 mi

FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS ARE WORN OUT AND NEED REPLACING. TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN USED OFF ROAD AND MOST MILES ARE HIGHWAY MILES. DEALER SUGGESTED I CONTACT DODGE BUT WHEN I DID THEY REFUSED ANY HELP. LATER THAT EVENING ISAW AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER ABOUT DODGE HAVING BALL JOINT RECALLS ON DURANGOS AND DAKOTAS.THIS COULD BE RELATED AND REPORTED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10102880

Incident

Dec 7, 2004

Mileage

85,000 mi

THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION; THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAD FAILED. THE CONSUMER WILL HAVE THE SUSPENSION REPLACED. *LA

NHTSA ID

10071861

Incident

Apr 17, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS WOULD SHOOK, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SLOW DOWN. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10059209

Incident

Feb 5, 2004

Mileage

27,000 mi

ANOTHER WORN TRACK BAR IN THE FRON AXLE. 82,000 MILES. VEHICLE STARTS TO WANDER. THIS WILL MAKE THE THIRD ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY LAST ABOUT 10,000 MILES. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM WITH DODGE RAMS MADE FROM 1994-2002 THAT IS FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WITH THE CUMMINS DIESEL. I HAD HEARD THAT SOMEONE HAD ONE THAT CAUSED THEM TO LOSE CONTROL

NHTSA ID

10051008

Incident

Dec 23, 2003

Mileage

78,000 mi