2001 Dodge Ram Quad Cab

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.

CRACKING DASH BOARD ON DRIVERS SIDES

NHTSA ID

10935582

Incident

Feb 1, 2016

Mileage

65,000 mi

THIS TRUCK IS USED TO HAUL A CAMPER AND A CAR TRAILER FOR MY SHOW CARS. TODAY I STARTED TRUCK TO HOOKUP TO CAR TRAILER FOR THE FOURTH TIME TIME THIS YEAR. THIS TRUCK IS NOT DRIVEN IN THE WINTERS YET WHILE BACKING UP TO THE TRAILER I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO HAVE THE BRAKE PEDAL GO TO THE FLOOR. I FOUND THAT THE LINE GOING TO THE REAR IS RUSTED NEAR THE FUEL TANK AND SPRAYS BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE FUEL TANK. ALSO A LINE FOR THE FRONT BRAKES COMING DOWN FROM THE ABS UNIT FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. I HAVE BRAKE FLUID SPRAYING EVERYWHERE. THIS CAUSED A COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. IT APPEARS THE OEM COATED ALL OTHER UNDER VEHICLE COMPONENTS YET LEFT THE BRAKE LINES RAW STEEL. I WRITE THIS AS A SEARCH TO WEB TO FIND THIS IS OCCURRING OVER AND OVER AGAIN. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AS IF THIS HAPPEN TO ME AFTER HIT THE ROAD WITH 9,000 LBS OF TRAILER BEHIND ME WITH NO BRAKES EITHER MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE ON THE ROAD COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.

NHTSA ID

10725100

Incident

Jun 13, 2015

Mileage

124,000 mi

BOUGHT A 2001 DODGE QUAD CAB SPORT 4X4 IN 2003. THE DASH HAD A SMALL CRACK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. THE CRACK SPREAD RAPIDLY TO ALL AREAS OF THE DASHBOARD. I USED PROTECTANTS, ADHESIVES AND DASHBOARD SHADES AND A DASH PAD TO PREVENT FURTHER SPREAD TO NO AVAIL. DURING ONE EVENING TRIP,I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE ENTIRE DASH CAVED IN CAUSING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TO LOSE LIGHTING. I HAD TO COLLECT ALL THE EXTREMELY SHARP SHARDS OF PLASTIC OUT OF THE DASHBOARD RECESS TO LOOK FOR THE PROBLEM. IT WAS DURING THIS INCIDENT THAT A EXTREMELY SHARP PIECE OF PLASTIC CUT DEEP INTO MY RIGHT HAND. I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN STITCHES, BUT USED GAUZE AND WRAP UNTIL HEALED. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE AIRBAG WAS DEPLOYED WITH LOOSE PLASTIC PARTS FLYING ALL OVER THE PLACE? SURVIVE THE CRASH AND THEN DIE FROM MASSIVE LACERATIONS FROM BROKEN DASH PIECES? I CONTACTED MULTIPLE LOCAL DODGE DEALERS AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY KNEW AND CORPORATE KNEW OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT BECAUSE DODGE CORPORATE WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE OR PAY FOR THE OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I PROBABLY WILL NEVER BUY A DODGE AGAIN. DODGE KNEW THIS WAS A BIG PROBLEM, BUT DID AND STILL DOES NOT CARE. ALMOST EVERY DODGE I'VE SEEN WITHIN THE 2000-2003 YEARS HAS THIS BLARING PROBLEM. SOME HAVE REPLACED THE DASH WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS OR JUST TRY TO COVER IT UP WITH DASH PADS OR MATS. DOES THE NHTSA CARE? HAS THIS MASSIVE ISSUE EVEN LOOKED INTO? *TR

NHTSA ID

10607989

Incident

Jun 6, 2005

Mileage

75,000 mi

IN TRAFFIC GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 65 MPH, THE DASHBOARD CAVED IN. LOOSE PIECES EVERYWHERE. I DIDN'T KNOW IF THIS HAD AFFECTED THE ELECTRONICS OR NOT AT THE TIME. I JUST HAD TO PULL OVER AND CUT THROUGH THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC. LUCKILY SO FAR, JUST SOME MINOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HERE AND THERE. I AM SCARED THIS WILL AFFECT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM LATER ON. DODGE SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS. VERY UNFORTUNATE, LAST DODGE I WILL EVER OWN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10593011

Incident

May 3, 2010

Mileage

86,000 mi

DRIVING ON PUBLIC STREETS HIS A SMALL POT HOLE, THE DASHBOARD BROKE AND THE BEZEL FELL OFF CAUSING A DRIVING HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10547523

Incident

Apr 3, 2002

Mileage

8,000 mi

I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN IN A PARKING LOT, GOING ABOUT 5-10MPH, WHILE I WAS TURNING, THE BRAKE PEDAL STARTED PULSATING VERY HARD - DROVE FORWARD IN THE PARKING LOT - MADE A LEFT HAND TURN STARTED GOING FORWARD AND WENT TO STEP ON BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE - PEDAL WAS ROCK HARD AND WOULD NOT STOP TRUCK. AFTER FINALLY COASTING TO A STOP I PUT TRUCK IN REVERSE - BACKED UP IN VACANT PART OF THE PARKING LOT SO I COULD PUT TRUCK IN DRIVE AND THEN SWING WIDE INTO A PARKING STALL AND COAST TO A STOP - HOWEVER WHEN I WENT TO SWING THE TRUCK I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO STEERING AT ALL -FRONT WHEELS WOULD NOT TURN. HAD TO HAVE TOWED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10465926

Incident

Jun 12, 2012

Mileage

200,000 mi

DASH BOARD HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS AND HAS SUNKEN IN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10465374

Incident

Jan 3, 2012

Mileage

95,213 mi

AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF DASH CRACKING, THE DASH CAP FINALLY GAVE UP AFTER HITTING SMALL BUMP ON THE ROAD. SEVERAL PIECES HIT PASSENGERS FACE. NOTHING SERIOUS HAPPENED BUT ENOUGH TO CONCLUDE THAT IT POSSES A SAFETY THREAD AND DASH BOARD SHOULD BE REPLACED BY DODGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10462173

Incident

May 30, 2012

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.

Disinfectant Solution Recommended for COVID-19

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.

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.

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.