RoadVitals

2001 Dodge Ram Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
30
Latest Feb 27, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 318 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Dodge Ram submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 30 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

The 25 most recent of 30, in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Feb 27, 2023

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
EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 24, 2008

BOUGHT A 2 YR OLD DURANGO WITH 60,000 MILES ON IT AT CARMAX. AT 116,000 MILES IT STARTED KNOCKING. I TOOK IT TO ALLEN SAMUELS DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIMED THE ENGINE FAILED. WE REPLACED THE ENGINE AT OUR COST FOR 6K, BECAUSE WE STILL OWED 7K ON THE VEHICLE. WE BOUGHT NEW TIRES AS WE DECIDED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE AND TRY TO RECOVER SOME OF THE COST. 3 MONTHS LATER, THE NEW ENGINE FAILED, THE VEHICLE DIED AS I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY AND TURNING UNDER AN OVERPASS. I WASN'T AWARE THE VEHICLE HAD DIED, UNTIL I REALIZED THE POWER STEERING HAD GONE OUT WHEN I TRIED TO TURN. THE DEALER IS GOING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE THIS TIME, BUT WE HAVE DECIDED WE NEED TO CUT OUR LOSSES AND GET RID OF THE VEHICLE. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP A CAR LIKE THIS. WE HAVE 4 CHILDREN AND THIS IS THE VEHICLE THAT WE TRAVEL IN AS A FAMILY DAILY. IT IS TOTALLY UNDEPENDABLE AND UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10222152
Incident
Mar 20, 2008
Mileage
116,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 24, 2007
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND PULLING A TRAILER THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART, AND WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR WAS BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED , AND THE NO FURTHER FAILURES OCCURRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,099. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. AK

NHTSA ID
10188757
Incident
Apr 21, 2007
Engine
Filed Jan 11, 2005

A LOUD BANGING NOISE STARTED COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE NUMBER THREE INJECTOR. *AK

NHTSA ID
10107191
Incident
Jan 11, 2005
Engine
Filed May 18, 2004

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED, THE DRIVER HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK HAD CRACKED. THIS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10073799
Incident
Apr 12, 2004
EngineTransmission
Filed Jan 30, 2004

ENGINE WARNING LIGHT KEPT ILLUMINATING. CONSUMER STATED ENGINE SLIPPED. DEALER DETERMINED THAT ENGINE HEADS AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10057245
Engine
Filed Jan 15, 2004

DEALER COULDN\\'T DIAGNOSE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. KEPT REPROGRAMMING COMPUTER UNTIL TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE @ 30,000 KM. 10 MONTH FIGHT FOR ENGINE. 6 WEEKS TO REPLACE IN SHOP. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS STILL EXIST SINCE NEW. TRUCK HAS 77,000 KM NOW. IT IS TOTALLY INCAPABLE OF TOWING RV, WHAT TRUCK WAS BOUGHT FOR. MAX FUEL MILEAGE EMPTY IS 10 MPG, 4 LOADED. EXCESSIVE SMOKE. ALL SYMPTOMS VERIFIED BY OUTSIDE SOURCES, AND DODGE STATES THE PROBLEM IS WITH ME. AM A FORMER DIESEL MECH, AND TRUCKER. DODGE REFUSES OUTSIDE DIAGNOSIS INCLUDING CUMMINS. THIS TRUCK HAS OVER 18 MONTHS OF DOWNTIME. JUST GOT TRUCK FROM DEALER TODAY AGAIN, WAS TOLD 2 WEEKS AGO THAT THIS ENGINE IS TOASTED, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG WITH ENGINE. THEY DIDN\\'T EVEN HAVE THE COURTESY TO RETURN PHONE CALLS OR EVEN TO CALL FOR ME TO PICK UP THE TRUCK. DODGE WILL NOT EVEN ACCEPT FUEL LOGS. HAVE SPENT IN EXCESS OF $20,000 OUT OF POCKET TO KEEP THIS BUCKET GOING, FOR THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN WARRANTY AND OUTSIDE DIAGNOSIS. AM SETTING UP LAWSUIT NOW, AS I CANNOT USE THIS VEHICLE. IT HAS EVEN FAILED GOV\\'T EMMISION TEST. WHO CARES? THANKS

NHTSA ID
10071334
Incident
Feb 15, 2003
Mileage
48,000 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Nov 19, 2003

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. ALSO, ENGINE FAILED, AND VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAS HAD VEHICLE FOR 20 DAYS. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ASSIST IN REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10048355
BrakesEngineTires & wheels
Filed May 8, 2003

THE VEHICLE WAS 2 YEARS OLD WHEN PURCHASED. THE FRONT BRAKE WERE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE WHILE BRAKING. THE TIMING CHAIN MADE NOISE. THE SPARE TIRE WAS BALD. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ID
10017753
Engine
Filed Mar 27, 2003

THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED TWICE, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID
10014600
Engine
Filed Mar 21, 2003

BUILD UP OF SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND BURN-OUT OF ROD BEARINGS WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE. WE FOLLOWED THE MAINTENANCE. SCHEDULE SET FORT IN OWNERS MANUAL AND HAVE VERIFIABLE PROOF OF COMPLETED MAINTENANCE. HOWEVER, SYSTEM IS FULL OF SLUDGE CAUSING THE BEARINGS TO BURN OUT. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10010853
Incident
Mar 18, 2003
Engine
Filed Feb 10, 2003

THE ENGINE RATTLED.*DT *JB

NHTSA ID
10006059
Incident
Oct 26, 2002
Engine
Filed Feb 4, 2003
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PH SCC

NHTSA ID
10006349
Incident
Jan 29, 2003
Mileage
29,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 4, 2002

NO PARTS AVAILABLE:::::::::THE CONSUMER RECEIVE A RECALL FOR POWER GENERATOR CABLE CRYSTAL CHRYSLER CENTER 36444 AUTO PARK DRIVE CATHEDRAL CITY CA . SERVICE MANAGER ROBERT 760 324 4557. CONSUMER STATED THAT IT HAS BEEN 7MONTHS SHE RECEIVE THE RECALL NOTICE IN 01-JUN-02. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROIBLEM. TS

NHTSA ID
8023728
Incident
Jun 1, 2002
EngineSuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Jul 2, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAS A SEVERE MOTOR KNOCK AND VALVE RATTLE NOISE WHICH OCCURS WHENEVER THE MOTOR WAS UNDER ANY LOAD, THE DEALER MADE ONE COMPUTER ADJUSTMENT THAT HELPED A LITTLE AND MADE SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THE TYPES OF GASOLINE TO USE, CONSUMER STATES WHEN GOING UP A SLIGHT HILL AGAIN UNDER ANY LOAD THE MOTOR RATTLE NOISE HAS RECURRED TO A NOTICEABLE DEGREE.*JB *NM

NHTSA ID
566420
Incident
Jul 1, 2002
EngineTransmission
Filed Jun 24, 2002

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. DEALER CONTACTED.*AKDEALER REPALCED AIS MOTOR, RESET FUEL MEMORY IN PCM AND REPLACED MAP SENSORS. HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PRNDL IS LOOSE. DEALER ADJUSTED PRNDLE. *TT

NHTSA ID
8012507
Incident
Aug 8, 2001
Engine
Filed Jun 17, 2002

VEHICLE WILL PRODUCE TOO MUCH STATIC ELECTRICITY SO MUCH THAT CONSUMER WILL END UP WITH DISC COLOR ON HIS FINGERS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
8011947
Incident
Jun 2, 2002
EngineSteeringTransmission
Filed Jun 5, 2002

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER STATES CLUTCH SEIZED AND VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AND FLYWHEEL AND FOUND CLUTCH DISC BURNED OUT. CUSTOMER STATES THE TRANSMISSION CLUNKS WHEN SHIFTING. CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE WILL BUCK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START IN 1ST GEAR. VEHICLE SHUDDERS WHEN DRIVING AND CUSTOMER HAS COMPLETELY LOST CLUTCH.*TT *NM

NHTSA ID
565957
Incident
Oct 9, 2000
Engine
Filed Dec 5, 2001

ENGINE TRIES TO STALL WHEN GOING AROUND CURVE. VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, BUT IT PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND CHRYSLER DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
899879
Incident
Jul 7, 2000
Engine
Filed Sep 30, 2001

THE VEHICLE HAS CONSTANT ROUGH IDLE AND SPORADIC ENGINE MISS, QUIVERING, HESITATION AND SLUGGISHNESS, DEALER HAS CHANGER OXYGEN SENSOR, AIR FILTER BUT PROBLEM PERSIST. *YH

NHTSA ID
785686
Incident
Apr 17, 2001
Engine
Filed Sep 6, 2001

AFTER EVERY OIL CHANGE CRANKCASE WILL LEAK EXHAUST SMOKE INTO CABIN OF VEHICLE. WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
895863
Incident
Jan 1, 2001
BrakesEngineSeat belts+2 more
Filed Jun 13, 2001

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE ENGINE VIBRATION/SHAKING AT IDLE, SUBSTANTIAL VIBRATION AT 1400 RPM, VIBRATION THRU STEERING WHEEL, FLOORBOARDS AND SEAT, THERE IS ALSO A GRINDING SENSATION AT 65 MPH AND A BOOMING SOUND AT 70 MPH, THIS IMBALANCE IS CAUSING WEAR OF OTHER COMPONENTS. NLM

NHTSA ID
561618
Engine
Filed Jun 5, 2001

REPORTED ON 02/12/01 ODI# 740772 WOULD LIKE SOME FEEDBACK ON ISSUE THANKS. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID
746477
Incident
Dec 31, 2000
EngineSeat beltsSteering
Filed Jun 1, 2001

STEERING GEAR BOX DEFECTIVE/UNSAFE..SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DEFECTIVE UNSAFE...EVAPORATIVE CANISTER DEFECTIVE PER FEDERAL EMMISSIONS LAWS. *AK

NHTSA ID
746253
Incident
May 26, 2001
Body & structureEngineSuspension+1 more
Filed Apr 24, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED SIDE MIRRORS SHAKE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK CONSUMER STATES DEALER HAS REPLACED MIRRORS THREEE TIMES AND DEALER REFUSE TO FIX OR INVESTIGATE ANY FURTHER, THERE IS A FRONT END NOISE IN SUSPENSION WHILE DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS, SPRINGS,SJOCKS AND SWAY BAR WAS REPLACED AND THE NOISE STOPPED FOR TWO WEEKS AND REOCCURED, ENGINE IDLING ROUGH, POOR GAS MILEAGE, FOUND THAT SPARK PLUG MISFIRED, ENGINE STALLS WHEN IN GEAR CONSUMER ALSO STATES SEAL AROUND WINDSHIELD IS LOOSE WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED..*JB

NHTSA ID
886586
Incident
Nov 10, 2000

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .