2001 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.

REAR BRAKE LINE BLEW AT 142000 MILES, FRONT DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LINE BLEW AT 143000 MILES, DODGE SHOULD HAVE USED SOME KIND OF ANTI-CORROSION LINES, ALL THE BRAKE LINES ON MY TRUCK ARE VERY RUSTY, LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN SUBMERGED IN SEA WATER. GOOGLE THE PROBLEM, EVERYONE HAS IT. DODGE SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO ADDRESS THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. LUCKY FOR ME BOTH TIMES I WAS GOING SLOW ENOUGH TO STOP AND NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I NOW WANT TO SELL THIS VEHICLE AS THIS IS THE 2ND SUCH INCIDENT AND LOOKING AT THE BRAKE LINES, I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE ALL OF THEM. SHAME ON DODGE FOR PUTTING OUT SUCH A SUBSTANDARD PRODUCT. *JS

NHTSA ID

10462347

Incident

Sep 7, 2011

Mileage

142,000 mi

MY DASHBOARD BEGAN TO CRACK ABOUT A YEAR AGO SO I PURCHASED AN AFTERMARKET COVER. IT DID NOT STOP THE CRACKING AND NOW THE TOP OF THE DASH HAS SHATTERED AND IN DANGER OF COLLAPSING. MY CONCERN IS THERE ARE MULTIPLE SHARP AND POINTED PIECES OF PLASTIC THAT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS IF NOT FATAL INJURY IN A CRASH, PARTICULARLY IF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10457552

Incident

May 1, 2012

Mileage

83,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD ON MY TRUCK IS CRACKED IN TWO OR THREE PLACES. DON'T REMEMBER WHEN IT HAPPEN BUT HAVE HEARD A LOT OF OTHER TRUCKS OR HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I KNEW THE WARRANTY HAD RAN OUT SO I DIDN'T FIGURE ANYONE WOULD DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT.

NHTSA ID

10422009

Incident

Aug 1, 2011

I PURCHASED MY 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 USED WITH A CRACKED DASH. THE ORIGINAL OWNER STATED IT CRACKED THE SECOND YEAR HE OWNED IT WITH ONLY APPROXIMATELY 33,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. IT HAPPENS ON ALMOST EVERY DODGE RAM TRUCK MANUFACTURED FROM 1998-2006 AND THERE ARE MILLIONS OF COMPLAINTS FILED ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH EVERY CONCEIVABLE REGULATING AGENCY. NOTHING TO DATE HAS BEEN DONE! THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO STAND UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE REGULATING AGENCIES HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS!! I HAVE ALREADY HAD PIECES OF THE DASH FLY INTO MY EYE WHILE DRIVING! WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE DOWN OR THE DEFROST IS IN OPERATION, SMALL PARTICLES FLY OFF AND INTO YOUR EYES CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS CONDITION!!! DODGE WILL DO NOTHING UNLESS ORDERED TO BY A REGULATING AGENCY--THEY ARE ALL ABOUT PROFITS OVER SAFETY!!! THE DECISION OF WHETHER TO FILE THESE COMPLAINTS OR ACT UPON THEM SHOULD NOT BE JUDGED SOLELY ON THE NUMBER OF "PERSONAL INJURIES" AS MANY WILL GO UNREPORTED OR NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL TREATMENT-SUCH AS MINE HOWEVER, THE CHANCE OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS CONDITION IS VERY REAL!! IT CAN BE AVOIDED WITH A RECALL THAT IS MORE THAN LONG OVERDUE!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10378238

Incident

Jan 21, 2011

Mileage

33,000 mi

2001 DODGE RAM DASHBOARD FALLING APART. EXPOSING WIRING TO SUN, AND HAS POTENTIAL TO DAMAGE ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS. NUMEROUS REPORTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND DODGE MANUFACTURER NOT ISSUING A RECALL FOR AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, OR POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE FOR THOSE OF US WHO CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10343550

Incident

Jul 16, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

MY 2001 DODGE RAM PICK-UP DASHBOARD IS COMPLETELY FALLING APART. THAT INCREASES THE ODDS OF POSSIBLE SHOCK OR EQUIPMENT FAILURE OR FIRE HAZARD, IF IT GETS WET OR DAMAGED DUE TO EXPOSURE. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND A RECALL IS NECESSARY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10283310

Incident

Jul 1, 2004

Mileage

44,000 mi

DASH IS FALLING IN,CRACKING, CAUSING OPPORTUNITY FOR DAMAGE OR CUTS TO USERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10237768

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

Mileage

40,000 mi

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN LATE 2005 USED IN FT WALTON BEACH FL. IT HAD APPROX 47000 MILES ON IT. NO CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD. IN MID-06 CRACKS APPEARED ALMOST OVER NIGHT. NOW IT IS CRACKED IN NUMEROUS PLACES AND A PIECE OF THE DASH FELL IN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10199813

Incident

Jun 15, 2006

Mileage

62,000 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.

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

THIS BULLETIN REINFORCES A REQUIREMENT TO CEASE THE CURRENT PRACTICE OF USING SUPPLEMENTAL OIL ADDITIVE TREATMENTS IN ALL DAIMLERCHRYSLER ENGINES. *TT

THIS BULLETIN REINFORCES A REQUIREMENT TO CEASE THE CURRENT PRACTICE OF USING SUPPLEMENTAL OIL ADDITIVE TREATMENTS IN ALL DIAMLER CHRYSLER ENGINES. *TT