2001 Dodge Ram 3500 Problems

PLASTIC DASH IS CRACKING AND LOOSE SHARP PIECES HAVE BEEN COMING OFF INTO THE CABIN

THE DASH ON THIS TRUCK HAS CRACKED AND FALLEN IN, EXPOSING THE WIRING INSIDE THE DASH TO THE SUN. THE WIRING INSULATION IS NOT RATED FOR EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT (UV EXPOSURE) AND IS DECOMPOSING, PUTTING THE TRUCK AT RISK OF A FIRE INITIATING INSIDE THE CAB AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, DUE TO EXPOSED WIRING SHORTING TO GROUND. DODGE REFUSES TO REMEDY IT, DESPITE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH THEM. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE, YET THE NHTSB HAS NOT FORCED CHRYSLER/FIAT INTO A RECALL, CLAIMING THAT IT ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE. DO YOU NEED TO SEE DEATH BEFORE YOU ACT?

AT SPEEDS ABOVE 55 MPH AND AS SEMI TRUCKS PASS ME THIS ROADTREK 190 VERILITE DODGE RAM 3500 UNCONTROLABLY MOVE A FOOT TO 2 FEET TOWARD THE CENTER LINE OF THE ROAD WHICH I FEAR COULD CAUSE A HEAD ON COLLISION. I HAVE TRIED VARIOUS TIRE PRESSURES TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM WITHOUT SUCCESS. I BASICALLY LOOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 30,000 MILES AND EXCELLENT TREAD ON TIRES.

2001 DODGE RAM 3500 2 WHEEL DRIVE. FRONT END "DEATH WOBBLE". HAPPENS OVER 40 MPH WHEN YOU HIT A LARGE BUMP. WON'T STOP TILL YOU SLOW DOWN. HAVE HAD SINCE NEW AND STARTED TO FAIL AFTER 36,000 MILE WARRANTY EXPIRED. HAVE CHANGED BALL JOINTS AND IDLER ARM AND HAS BEEN TO SEVERAL FRONT END SHOPS SAYING NOTHINGS WRONG. CURRENTLY THE TRUCK HAS 67,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 45 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD THE "DEATH WOBBLE". THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 03/09/16*LJ *CN

2001 DODGE RAM 3500 2 WHEEL DRIVE. FRONT END "DEATH WOBBLE". HAPPENS OVER 40 MPH WHEN YOU HIT A LARGE BUMP. WON'T STOP TILL YOU SLOW DOWN. HAVE HAD SINCE NEW AND STARTED TO FAIL AFTER 36,000 MILE WARRANTY EXPIRED. HAVE CHANGED BALL JOINTS AND IDLER ARM AND HAS BEEN TO SEVERAL FRONT END SHOPS SAYING NOTHINGS WRONG. CURRENTLY THE TRUCK HAS 67,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

PULLED INTO FUELING STATION, STOPPING AT PUMP, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR BOARD. CHECKED BRAKE RESERVOIR IT WAS EMPTY, ADDED 1 PINT OF BRAKE FLUID. NO SIGNS OF LEAK. FOUND SIGNS OF FLUID ON FRAME DRIVER SIDE BEHIND FUEL TANK, PULLED TANK TO FIND A VERY RUSTED BRAKE LINE AND A HOLE IN BRAKE LINE. CHECKED OTHER BRAKE LINES, ALL ARE BADLY RUSTED. THE GAS LINES RUNNING NEXT TO THE BRAKE LINE ARE NOT RUSTED AT ALL. TRUCK PARKED IN BARN ALL THE TIME, VERY SELDOM DRIVEN IN WINTER.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF FAULTY METAL USED FOR THE BRAKE LINES. THERE WAS NO RUST OR CORROSION ON THE LINES INSTEAD THEY WERE JUST BRITTLE AND BROKEN. THE REAR BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED FIRST AND THEN THE LOWER AND UPPER BRAKE LINES IN THE FRONT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79000. UPDATED 1/12/11*LJ THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. UPDATED 03/02/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP FAILED TWICE WITHIN A YEAR AND A HALF. THE FIRST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO ADD FUEL PRESSURE GAUGES BECAUSE IT WOULD HELP THE INJECTOR PUMP NOT TO FAIL IF THE FUEL PUMP FAILED A SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REMEDY DID KEEP THE FUEL PUMP FROM FAILING HOWEVER, THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP FAILED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON FOR HER PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THE DEALER REROUTED THE FUEL PUMP IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 125,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SURGED FROM A COLD START. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS WARMED, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND WILL THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP AND THE FUEL INJECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

MY DASHBOARD IS FALLING APART. THERE ARE PIECES OF PLASTIC EVERYWHERE INCLUDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE AIRBAG, WHICH WOULD QUITE LITERALLY TURN INTO FLYING DEATH PARTICLES IF THE AIRBAG EVER WENT OFF, COMPLETELY DEFEATING THE PURPOSE OF THE AIRBAG. THIS REALLY SHOULD BE A RECALL ISUE AS IT HAS QUITE A BIG IMPACT ON SAFETY OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WITH BRITTLE PLASTIC SHARDS FLYING EVERYWHERE. THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE, IT'S HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS, AND I EVEN KEEP A DASH COVER ON IT SINCE THE DAY I GOT IT. THE PLASTIC IS JUST SIMPLY POOR QUALITY, IT'S NOT FROM SUN FADING, OR ANYTHING ELSE.

I TRY TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE ON MY 2001 DODGE RAM 3500 .AND WHEN THE MECHANIC START TO REMOVE THE DASH BOARD THIS START TO FALLING IN PARTS .SO HE TRY TO PUT THOSE PARTS BACK UNTIL HE EXPLAIN ME WHAT HAPPEN .I TRY TO FIND AN AFTERMARKET DASH AND PEOPLE ON THE STORE LET ME KNOW .THEY BELIEVE IT'S A OPEN RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE DASH ON ALL MODELS ON RAM .SO I CALL TO NORTHWEST DODGE ON HOUSTON TEXAS AND THEY SAID THE RECALL WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO ..FOR THAT REASON THEY CAN'T FIXED .AFTER A RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FIND THIS PLACE TO FILE A COMPLAINT.BECAUSE FOR ME IT'S DANGEROUS HAVE A DASHBOARD CRACKED WITH A SHARP PIECES .MY DASH COVER FALLS IN AROUND 20 PCS .AND THE BASE OF THE WHOLE DASH IN SEVERAL CRACKED PIECES ..AND CAN'T REPLACE MY HEATER CORE ..UNTIL I HAVE THE DASHBOARD. *TR

NV5600 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION HAS SEVERE GEAR CLASH IN THIRD AND FOURTH GEARS. WILL NOT DOWN SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR WITH GEAR GRINDING. TROUBLE STARTED ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO, AT 92, 000 MILES. DEALER TELLS ME THAT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR AND THEY ARE NOT SURE IF DODGE IS HAVING A PROBLEM. TSB 21-009-01 INDICATES DODGE KNEW OF PROBLEMS IN 01, BUT HAVE NOT DONE MUCH SINCE THEN. *NM

TRANSMISSION FAILED TO GO INTO PARK, EVEN THOUGH THE COLUMN SHIFTER SELECTOR WAS INDICATING THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK. TRANSMISSION WAS IN REVERSE, WHILE THE COLUMN INDICATED PARK. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 3500 EQUIPPED WITH BF GOODRICH MUD TERRAIN T/A KM2 (NA) TIRES, SIZE: LT255/85R16. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD NEAR THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS BLOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNAVAILABLE.

DRIVING 55MPH, BFG CMM TA TIRE SEPARATION AT TREAD BELT EDGE. STILL HAVE TIRE. *TR

THE DASH ON THIS TRUCK HAS CRACKED AND FALLEN IN, EXPOSING THE WIRING INSIDE THE DASH TO THE SUN. THE WIRING INSULATION IS NOT RATED FOR EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT (UV EXPOSURE) AND IS DECOMPOSING, PUTTING THE TRUCK AT RISK OF A FIRE INITIATING INSIDE THE CAB AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, DUE TO EXPOSED WIRING SHORTING TO GROUND. DODGE REFUSES TO REMEDY IT, DESPITE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH THEM. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE, YET THE NHTSB HAS NOT FORCED CHRYSLER/FIAT INTO A RECALL, CLAIMING THAT IT ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE. DO YOU NEED TO SEE DEATH BEFORE YOU ACT?

FUEL GAUGE READS HALF FULL AND IT IS EMPTY. I HAVE PUT IN 6 FUEL SENDING UNITS AND IT WILL LAST 6 TO 9 MONTHS AND THE GAUGE WILL SLOWLY START TO SHOW FUEL IN TANK AND IT IS EMPTY. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL DIESELS. LAST TIME I WAS RAN OUT OF FUEL IN THE FAST LANE OF I-75 IN FLORIDA. CARS WOUND UP IN THE MEDIAN AND SHOULDER CAUSE MY TRUCK WAS DEAD IN THE FAST LANE. GAUGE READ A LITTLE OVER HALF A TANK OF FUEL. THIS IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED. *TR

I TRY TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE ON MY 2001 DODGE RAM 3500 .AND WHEN THE MECHANIC START TO REMOVE THE DASH BOARD THIS START TO FALLING IN PARTS .SO HE TRY TO PUT THOSE PARTS BACK UNTIL HE EXPLAIN ME WHAT HAPPEN .I TRY TO FIND AN AFTERMARKET DASH AND PEOPLE ON THE STORE LET ME KNOW .THEY BELIEVE IT'S A OPEN RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE DASH ON ALL MODELS ON RAM .SO I CALL TO NORTHWEST DODGE ON HOUSTON TEXAS AND THEY SAID THE RECALL WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO ..FOR THAT REASON THEY CAN'T FIXED .AFTER A RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FIND THIS PLACE TO FILE A COMPLAINT.BECAUSE FOR ME IT'S DANGEROUS HAVE A DASHBOARD CRACKED WITH A SHARP PIECES .MY DASH COVER FALLS IN AROUND 20 PCS .AND THE BASE OF THE WHOLE DASH IN SEVERAL CRACKED PIECES ..AND CAN'T REPLACE MY HEATER CORE ..UNTIL I HAVE THE DASHBOARD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT THE PLASTIC WAS WARPED AND CAVED INTO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING AND COMPONENTS INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO FAIL SPORADICALLY. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ALSO LOW AND THE CONTACT HAD ATTEMPT TO USE THE DIMMER TO NO AVAIL. ALSO, THE SERVICE ENGINE AND AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THE DASHBOARD COULD BE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 45 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD THE "DEATH WOBBLE". THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 03/09/16*LJ *CN

2001 DODGE RAM 3500, VEHICLE LOST ONE TIRE WHILE DRIVING. *BF THE WHEEL SEPARATED AND CONTINUED ROLLING INTO THE PATH OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. OHIO CRASH REPORT 10-0712-90 UPDATED 06/15/10 *BF THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/02/10*JB

ON ANY CUMMINS POWERED DODGE TRUCK BUILT AFTER 1998 1/2 THE THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING SHUTTING DOWN THE MOTOR WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW VERY RAPIDLY AND TO TOTALLY LOSES POWER. WHEN THIS OCCURS THE DRIVER IS WITHOUT POWER UNTIL THE SENSOR DECIDES TO WORK AGAIN. TWO WEEKS AGO THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED CAUSING A ACCIDENT IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, DRIVER WAS RUN OVER BY SEMI TRUCK IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. SHOULD SOMEONE BE TOWING A CAMPER OR TRAILER UP HILL AND THIS TAKES PLACE THE VEHICLE COULD STOP SUDDENLY ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO BE REAR ENDED VIOLENTLY OR THOSE WITHOUT MUCH TOWING EXPERIENCE TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS REGARDLESS OF SPEED OR TOWING. I AM COMMERCIAL DRIVER AND HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN APPROXIMATELY 30 TIMES IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER AND TRAFFIC. CHYRSLER/DODGE REFUSES TO ALLOW ME TO SPEAK WITH A REP AND CUMMINS HAS DISCONTINUED PUTTING THIS PART ON MOTORS. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE SOON.. I PERSONALLY KNOW APPROXIMATELY 50 TRUCK WITH THIS PROBLEM AND COST TO FIX IS 1400$ WHEN PARTS STORES SELL SENSORS FOR 200$. I WANT TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AS I AM A RETIRED TRUCK DRIVER AND SEE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM HERE IF IT HAPPENS TO A INEXPERIENCED DRIVER. *JB

FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TRACK STRAIGHT AHEAD WITHOUT CONSTANT CORRECTION WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. HIGHER SPPEDS IS LESS NOTICABLE BUT SPEED 40 TO 55, THE TRUCK HUNTS LEFT AND RIGHT CONTINOUSLY. HAD DEALER CHECK ALIGNMENT SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE WHEN NEW AND THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. NO ADDITIONAL VISITS TO THE DEALER SINCE. DUE TO THE CONTINOUS WANDERING, TIRE WEAR IS EXCESSIVE ON THE STEERING AXLE.*AK

MY TRUCK WAS IN PARK BUT STILL RUNNING. I GOT OUT TO SHUT THE GATE AND THE TRUCK STARTED TO ACCELERATE BACKWARDS, ROLLING THROUGH MY GATE, KNOCKING DOWN PART OF A NEIGHBOR'S FENCE, OVER TWO CEMENT PARKING STOPS AND INTO A TREE. WHEN I GOT TO THE TRUCK, IT WAS STILL RUNNING AND STILL IN PARK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE TAIL PIPE AS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT FOR THE SMOKE TO CEASE BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE DIAGNOSIS WHO STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

WHILE SWITCHING FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED COMPLETELY OFF. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SWITCHED FROM LOW BEAM TO THE HIGH BEAM POSITION, HEADLIGHTS FAIL TO FUNCTION UPON SWITCHING BACK TO LOW. THIS RESULTS IN VEHICLE HAVING NO HEADLIGHTS, AND CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER RAN OFF THE ROAD. THIS IS CAUSED BY A FAILURE IN THE MULTI-PURPOSE SWITCH.*AK

IN GENERAL PUBLIC VEHICLE USED TO TRANSPORT 30+ PASSENGERS DAILY THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE - MALE END ON SHOULDER HARNESS HAS BROKEN ON 2 UNITS.THESE UNITS ARE IN DIFFERENT VEHICLES SO NO RELATION TO PASSENGER ABUSE. SHOULDER HARNESS NO LONGER SECURES TO LAP BELT. ATTEMPT TO GET CONVERSION COMPANY TO WARRENTY. THEY INDICATE THE MANUFACTURE WILL NOT WARRENTY BUCKLE LONGER THAN 1 YEAR. IF ACCIDENT OCCURES POTENTIAL FOR INJURY TO PASSENGER.*AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINED THE DRIVER SO HE ONLY SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BEGAN TO MOVE UP, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO BREAK ONCE AIR BAG DEFLATED. ALSO, SEATS WERE NOT REINFORCED ONCE LATCH WAS BROKEN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

HEAD LIGHT SWITCH HEATS UP AFTER ONE HOUR OF OPERATION, THE DASH BOARD ABOVE THE LIGHT SWITCH BECOMES HOT TO THE TOUCH. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF THE LIGHTS ARE USED LONGER THAN I HAVE HAD TO USE THEM WILL THE SWITCH FAIL? THE DEALER HAS BEEN HELPFUL BUT THIS PROBLEM I BELIEVE IS BEYOND THE DEALER AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURE. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SWITCH ONCE BUT THE NEW ONE ALSO HEATS UP. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT WHEN I START TOWING A TRAILER WITH MORE LIGHTS ON WILL THE SWITCH HEAT UP EVEN MORE AND CAUSE A FIRE.

APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE IS NOT ACCURATE. THE VEHICLE STARTED WITH TWO LENGTHWISE CRACKS YEARS AGO FROM WINDSHIELD TOWARDS DRIVER AND PASSENGER. WITHIN THE PAST TWO MONTHS THE ONCE RIGID-PLIABLE DASH UNIT HAS CRACKED INTO BRITTLE PIECES WITH SOME FALLING INTO DASH INTERIOR. SOME PIECES ARE JAGGED AND POINTED. *TR