2000 Dodge Ram Pickup

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.

2000 DODGE RAM TRUCK CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, FRONT END CRUNCHED AND TRUCK IS TOTALED, AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF.

NHTSA ID

10375545

Incident

Jan 5, 2011

I HAVE A 2000 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 PICK UP TRUCK. THE DASH HAS A MAJOR CRACK FROM THE DEFROSTER VENT TO THE AIR BAG COVER. I CAN LOOK INTO THE CRACK AND SEE EXPOSED WIRES. I ALSO HAVE A CRACK STARING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, STARTING AT THE DEFROSTER VENT AND IT IS GOING TOWARDS THE STEERING WHEEL. I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT MUCH, BUT I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF DODGE OWNERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF I WERE TO GET INTO A WRECK THAT THE DASH COULD BREAK AWAY OR SHATTER SENDING SHARP PLASTIC PIECES FLYING INSIDE THE TRUCK. I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE ABOUT THIS AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT" IT IS A 10 YEAR OLD TRUCK, WHAT DO I EXPECT". I FIRST NOTICED THE CRACK IN 2003 WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. IT HAD 23000 MILES ON IT. THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY BECAUSE I WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND IT WAS NOT A POWERTRAIN PART. I HONESTLY THINK THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10343707

Incident

Jul 17, 2010

Mileage

23,000 mi

OIL CHANGE THE DAY BEFORE AT QUICK LUBE. WAS TRAVELING TOWARD W.VA. ON I-68 IN MARYLAND. I HAD BEEN TRAVELING APROX 270 MILES SINCE OIL CHANGE. MY SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE TRUCK HOOD WAS SUDDENLY BLOWN BACKWARDS INTO MY WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO SHOW CRACKS . I WAS ABLE TO GET FROM THE MIDDLE LANE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. WITH THE HELP OF PASSERS-BY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE HOOD DOWN, AND STRAP IT SECURELY, AND CONTINUE MY TRIP. THE PASSENGER SIDE HOOD HINGE HAD BEEN TORN FROM THE FENDER MOUNT, THE GRILL WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE HOOD FRONT. THE HOOD WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND BOTH FRONT FENDERS WILL NEED BODY WORK, IF NOT REPLACEMENT. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE LOCATION OF MY OIL CHANGE, AND THE MANAGER EXAMINED THE HOOD. HE STATED THAT IT WAS A FAILURE OF THE HOOD LATCH, AND THEREFORE WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE. HE ALSO ADDED THAT THE DISTANCE TRAVELED WAS EVIDENCE THAT IT WAS A LATCH FAILURE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE BODY SHOP WHERE MY INSURANCE COMPANY ADVISED ME TO GO, AND BEFORE EVEN LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM, HE SAID THAT HE COULD SEE BEFORE I TOLD HIM THE PROBLEM THAT IT WAS A HOOD LATCH, SINCE HE HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE. I CALLED CHRYSLER/DAIMLER BY PHONE. I WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO MY AUTHORIZED CHRYSLER/DODGE DEALER AND HAVE THEM EXAMINE IT. I DID THIS AND WAS TOLD BY THE BODY SHOP MANAGER, AFTER HE HAD LOOKED AT IT,THAT THE HOOD LATCH WAS NOT WORKING, AND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THOSE LATCHES, BUT THE 'PRINT OUT" SHOWED THAT THE ORIGINAL OWNER HAD NOT TAKEN CARE OF IT. HE WAS ABLE TO KNOW THIS BECAUSE HE HAD A HISTORY PRINTED OUT OF MY VEHICLE THAT HE WAS REFERRING TO. AT THE PRESENT TIME, I AM GOING THROUGH SOME PHONE TAG WITH THE MAN I SPOKE WITH AT CHRYSLER,AND THE BODY SHOP MANAGER SAID THAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM TO HIS DISTRICT MANAGER,WHO HAD NOT CALLED HIM BACK YET. *JB

NHTSA ID

10144389

Incident

Nov 10, 2005

Mileage

84,565 mi

2000 DODGE RAM PICKUP ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAS SPUN A LOWER END CONNECTING ROD BEARING. *MR *JB THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *SC

NHTSA ID

10128045

Incident

Jun 1, 2005

DT: I WAS DRIVING MY DIESEL TRUCK OFF OF MY FARM ABOUT TO GO ON A STATE HIGHWAY WITH MY CHILDREN AND THE TRUCK JUST STOPPED RUNNING. THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP WENT OUT. IF I HAD WENT ANOTHER 50 FT. I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE TRUCK JUST LOCKED UP. *TT

NHTSA ID

10123966

Incident

May 21, 2005

Mileage

67,000 mi

2000 DODGE RAM ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF A FAILURE WITH THE LOWER END CONNECTING ROD BEARING. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST 14,000 TO REPLACE IT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10121482

Incident

May 2, 2005

FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. THE PART WAS REPLACED FIVE TIMES . HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10071598

Incident

Apr 23, 2004

Mileage

112,000 mi

DASHBOARD BEGAN TO CRACK TERRIBLY. ALONG WITH THE CRACKS, THERE WERE HOLES IN THE DASHBOARD. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10040106

Incident

Jul 16, 2003

Mileage

26,000 mi

Part Description: Insulator on Lever Assy Manual Valve - Valve Body - RWD Transmission Issue Description: The manual valve insulator, attaching rivet and instruction sheet are now available as a kit. If the insulator requires replacement please order kit 68253161AA. Insulator only used on Auto-RWD transmission Note: The color of the insulator is not relevant for service.

Part Description: Seal - Shift Shaft on RFE transmissions Issue Description: This seal (04799346) is replaceable with Seal Kit (68235551AA), which includes a seal and retainer. The Seal Kit is applicable to all (5)45RFE transmissions.

SEAT BELT CINCH BAR SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2004 MODELS. *TT

DIESEL FUEL TRANSFER PUMP DIAGNOSIS. *TT

SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG / CLOCK SPRING SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2002 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY. *TT

SUBJECT REGARDING NON-DEPLOYED AIRBAG HANDLING PROCEDURES. *TT