2001 Dodge Ram

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.

2001 DODGE RAM. CONSUMER STATED THAT THEIR VEHICLE EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING TO SWAP OUT THE OLD VEHICLE WITH A NEW COMPARABLE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11509300

Incident

Feb 27, 2023

DASHBOARD HAS BROKEN UP LIKE A JIG SAW PUZZLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10444804

Incident

Apr 4, 2009

Mileage

55,000 mi

MULTIPLE CRACKS IN THE DASH HAVE OCCURRED, FORMING SHARP EDGES AND POINTS THAT ARE HAZARDOUS IN CASE OF HARD STOPS OR ACCIDENTS. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE DANGER, STATING THIS IS A COSMETIC ISSUE, BUT THE SHARP, HARD PLASTIC IS INDEED A SAFETY HAZARD. A MANDATORY RECALL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE DASH PLASTIC SHOULD BE ORDERED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10436140

Incident

Oct 17, 2011

Mileage

116,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED ALL OVER AND IS FALLING APART COMPLETELY. I FEEL THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AND THIS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD!!! DODGE HAS NOT FIXED THIS ISSUE AND I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THIS MAKER AGAIN UNTIL IT IS FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10434388

Incident

Jul 11, 2004

I PURCHASED BRAND NEW, A 2001 DODGE RAM 2500 QUAD CAB TRUCK. THE TRUCKS DASH HAS SO MANY CRACKS IN IT, THAT THEY NOW HAVE RAN INTO EACH OTHER AND LARGE AREAS HAVE FALLEN OUT. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT DODGE REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT. THESE CRACKS HAVE BEEN IN MY DASH FOR YEARS. IT IS NOT HEAT RELATED BECAUSE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK IN WASHINGTON STATE AND WAS THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE COMING TO CALIFORNIA. THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL HAZARD AND A FLYING OBJECT HAZARD, SHOULD I HIT SOMEONE OR THEY HIT ME AND PIECES START FLYING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THIS IS A NATION WIDE PROBLEM WITH THE DASHES FROM DODGE, IT'S TIME THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THESE CRACKS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE OVER THE YEARS. *TT

NHTSA ID

10433037

Incident

Jun 12, 2001

ON MY WAY TO WORK, AS USUAL, ON A "SLIGHTLY" BUMPY PART OF THE HIGHWAY MY STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT END STARTED VIBRATING SO VIOLENTLY THAT I ALMOST LOST CONTROL. I COULD BARELY HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL; AND COULD NOT STEER AT ALL; ALL I COULD DO WAS START BRAKING AND COME TO A STOP. I GOT OUT AND CHECKED MY TIRES AND FRONT END AND EVERYTHING APPEARED NORMAL. I CONTINUED TO WORK AT ABOUT 40 MPH (I HAD GONE TO WORK EARLY SO NO TRAFFIC) . AT 8:00 I CALLED MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND TOOK IT TO HIM TO CHECK OUT WHAT HAPPENED. HE CHECK EVERYTHING AND NOTHING SHOWED. THE NEXT DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN; THEN AGAIN 2 DAYS LATER. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER I TOOK PICKUP IN FOR REGULAR OIL/FUEL/AIR FILTER CHANGE SERVICE. HE TEST DROVE WITH ME ALONG AND I EXPLAINED FURTHER WHAT HAPPENED. HE SAID HE HAS SEEN IT BEFORE WITH DODGE 2500 & 3500 AND IT HAS BEEN LABELED THE "DODGE DEATH WOBBLE". I THANK GOD I WAS NOT IN A BUSY TRAFFIC AREA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10430142

Incident

Sep 16, 2011

Mileage

201,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE TIE ROD ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER A POTENTIAL CRASH IF THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF

NHTSA ID

10409111

Incident

Jun 27, 2011

Mileage

84,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE DRIFTED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE STEERING BOX BUT THE STEERING BOX DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE STEERING BOX WAS REPLACED FIVE TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING BOX WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT BUT THEY HAVE NOT PROVIDED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 270,676.

NHTSA ID

10401490

Incident

May 17, 2011

Mileage

270,676 mi

CATALYTIC CONVERTER WARRANTY COVERAGE CUSTOMER REMINDER LETTER. *TT

GENERIC CUMMINS ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROCEDURE. *TT THIS BULLETIN REPLACED 18-030-03. *TT THIS BULLETIN REPLACED 18-030-03A DATED 10/17/03. TO ALSO INCLUDE 2005 RAM TRUCK. *TT

VACUUM PUMP SERVICE. *TT

GENERIC CUMMINS ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROCEDURE. *TT

INTERMITTENT LOCKING/UNLOCKING OF DOORS WITHOUT ACTIVATING THE POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH. *TT

PROCEDURES FOR SERVICING THE SEAT BELT LATCH PLATE CINCH BAR. *TT