2000 Dodge Ram 3500

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 CRACKING HAS DONE NOTHING BUT GET WORSE. THE DASH HAS BEGUN HAVING CHUCKS OF BROKEN PLASTIC FALL OFF INTO THE INSTRUMENTATION AND ON THE FLOOR. IT HAS DISPROPORTIONATELY DEVALUED THE TRUCK. THE DASH SHOULD BE REPLACED BY DODGE ALONG WITH THE BEZEL ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHICH HAS 2 CRACKS IN IT. THE CRACKS IN THE DASH ARE ALSO WERE INHIBITING THE DEFROSTER FROM CLEARING THE WINDSHIELD WHEN FOGGED UP ON THE INSIDE. THIS WAS PROVING VERY DANGEROUS UNTIL I REMOVED THE PIECES THAT WERE BLOCKING THE AIR FLOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10703573

Incident

Mar 1, 2006

Mileage

77,571 mi

HAD A CAR PULL OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN CRASH. EXCESSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE, INSURANCE TOTALED TRUCK. ALSO HAD A FRIEND 2 WEEKS PRIOR INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH EXCESSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE, INSURANCE TOTALED HIS TRUCK AND HIS AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HIS TRUCK WAS A 2006 RAM 3500. DOES DODGE HAVE AN AIR BAG PROBLEM IN THESE TRUCKS? SEEM TO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584352

Incident

Apr 8, 2014

Mileage

686,533 mi

DODGE CASE # [XXX] CRACKED DASHBOARD DUE TO DEFECTIVE PLASTIC WHEN TRUCK WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2000. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN AN INSULATED ENCLOSED GARAGE EXCEPT WHEN BEING DRIVEN. DUE TO THE SEVERE CRACKS, SHARP PIECES COULD POTENTIALLY FLY THROUGH THE CAB UPON IMPACT DURING AN ACCIDENT CAUSING SERIOUS TO FATAL CUTS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE DEFECTIVES DASHBOARDS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10523592

Incident

Jan 5, 2006

Mileage

150,000 mi

ON APRIL 2, 2012 I WENT TO A RANCH THAT I WORK AT, PUT MY TRUCK IN PARK, PUT THE BRAKE ON, AND OPENED THE GATE. I DROVE THROUGH AND DID THE SAME PROCEDURE TO GO TO CLOSE THE GATE. MY TRUCK POPPED OUT OF PARK,RAN THROUGH IT'S PARKING BRAKE, THE DOOR KNOCKED ME DOWN AND THE FRONT TIRE OF MY DODGE 3500 RAN OVER BOTH OF MY LEGS AND MY ARM. IT BROKE MY LEGS BUT DID NOT BRAKE MY ARM. I AM STILL RECOVERING. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS MY FAULT UNTIL I LEARNED THAT THIS HAPPENS A LOT AND PEOPLE EVEN DIE AS A RESULT OF THIS INJURY. IT IS NOT ONE PARTICULAR KIND OF VEHICLE EITHER AND THE ATTORNEY'S DO NOT WANT TO EVEN ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THE REASON IT HAPPENS IS BECAUSE THERE IS NO NEUTRAL BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE. ALSO IF YOU HAD THE PARKING BRAKE ATTACHMENT IN THE FRONT BRAKES AS YOU DO ON THE REAR BRAKES THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD HOLD WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARD. MY TRUCK ROLLS WITHOUT PEDDLE PRESSURE AT 6 MILES PER HOUR. THERE IS NO EXCUSE TO NOT CHANGE THIS REQUIREMENT, BUT I AM ONLY ONE PERSON, PLEASE HELP ME SAVE LIVES. IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY ALONE WE HAD IN APRIL ONE DEATH AND THREE INJURIES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I HAVE THE IDEA AND I AM ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC. I DO NOT PRACTICE AS A MECHANIC, I AM 68 AND JUST COULD NOT DO THE WORK IF I TRIED ESPECIALLY NOW. ALSO I DO NOT INTEND TO SEEK A PROVISIONAL PATENT, I JUST WANT THE PROBLEM FIXED. PLEASE HELP ME HELP ALL OF US THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. THIS ENGINEERING CHANGE NEEDS TO HAPPEN. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10467939

Incident

Apr 2, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10465201

Incident

Jun 11, 2012

Mileage

98,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES DODGE RAM 3500 DIESEL POPPED OUT OF PARK CAUSING INJURIES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DOOR OF THE VEHICLE HIT HER AND THE TRUCK RAN OVER HER, BREAKING BOTH OF HER LEGS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10461528

Incident

Apr 2, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS SEVERELY CRACKED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 04/30/13*LJ

NHTSA ID

10450033

Incident

Mar 2, 2010

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE 3500. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN TURNING INTO HIS DRIVEWAY HE HEARD A LOUD CLANGING NOISE. WHEN HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 120,000. UPDATED 07/08/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE NOTICED THE DRAG LINK MOUNT HAD COME OFF THE FRAME AND WAS RUSTED THROUGH IN MANY PLACES. UPDATED 02/03/12

NHTSA ID

10404152

Incident

May 30, 2011

Mileage

120,000 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.