2001 Dodge Ram Problems

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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT VEERED OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID STRIKING A DEER. INSTEAD, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THE FRONT END WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS NOT YET DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 94,000.

DT: THE AIR BAGS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2005. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING , AND THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ON PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THIS WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT, IT TOTALED BOTH VEHICLES INVOLVED. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V555000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT) AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER. A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE PRIOR TO THE REPAIR AND THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER SEAT MOVED. THE DEALER DETERMINED A BOLT FRACTURED AND THE TRACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

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

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

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS LESS THAN 10 MPH, THE ABS PUMP ACTIVATED, CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS OCCURRED ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS AND UNDER NORMAL BRAKING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FIRST INCIDENT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NEARBY GARAGE, WHO REPLACED THE ABS SENSOR AND THE ABS MODULATOR. THE GARAGE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE CODES PUT IN FOR THE ABS MODULATOR. THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY TOLD THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK UPDATED 1/11/2006. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT BRAKE FAILURE ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS, INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. WHEN BRAKES FAIL THERE IS ALSO LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE IS TO APPLY THE HAND BRAKE. THE DEALER TRIED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME THE BRAKES WILL FAIL AGAIN. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THE PROBLEM COULD BE WITHIN THE POWER BOOSTER PUMP AND THE MASTER CYLINDER. *AK UPDATED 11/19/05. *JB

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.

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

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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD BEGAN TO CRACK AND PIECES ARE FALLING DOWN INTO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE HAS WRITTEN LETTERS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, AND DAIMLER CHRYSLER. NO ONE HAS RESPONDED AS OF YET. THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE JANUARY OF 2004. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY WHEN THE FAILURE FIRST BEGAN. THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 91,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO POWER DODGE FOR REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WILL PROVIDE A COPY OF REPAIRS. UPDATED 06/29/07 *TR

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CONNECTED THE COMBINATION SWITCH TO THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS CAUSED THE SWITCH TO MELT AND BURNED THE WIRES. THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE SINCE STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION , AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. *AK UPDATED 01/19/06.

A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT WHEEL AND TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM. THREE YEARS AGO, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD. CURRENTLY, THE CRACK HAS SPREAD SO FAR THAT THE DASHBOARD IS COMPLETELY DAMAGED AND COMING APART. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ; HOWEVER, HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SPORADICALLY DISENGAGES WHILE DRIVING. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH TOOK A LONG TIME TO ACTIVATE. THE CONSUMER STATED BROKEN PIECES FROM THE DASHBOARD CAN INJURE OR KILL SOMEONE. THE POWERTRAIN, RECALL NUMBER, AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 01/03/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/31/07 *TR

VEHICLE WILL SURGE WHEN WHILE CONSUMER WAS CHANGING GEARS FROM SECOND TO THIRD. CONTACTED DEALER,AND DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR VEHICLE TO DO THAT.*AK

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

THE VEHICLE IS A 2001 DODGE RAM TRUCK. THE DASH BOARD HAS CRACKED AND POSES A SAFETY HAZARD BY DANGEROUS SHARP PIECES. IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ONE OF THESE PIECES COULD INFLICT POTENTIALLY SEVERE INJURY. *TR

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLOATED OVER THE RAIN, WHICH RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY. JB PH *JB

THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS FELL OFF. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH DRIVER FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT SNAPPED IN HALF. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO A HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

WHILE INSTALLING CHILD SAFETY SEAT INTO THE VEHICLE THE REAR SHOULDER BELT BROKE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BELTS BUT THEY BROKE AGAIN BEFORE CONSUMER LEFT THE DEALERSHIP. TS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER SEAT MOVED. THE DEALER DETERMINED A BOLT FRACTURED AND THE TRACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

2001 RAM HOOD SAFETY LATCH MALFUNCTIONED. *TS THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THIS MALFUNCTION. *NM WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH THE HOOD CAME OPEN AND SMASHED INTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES HE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS MALFUNCTION BECAUSE A THE LATCH OF THE 1994-1999 DODGE RAM HAD BEEN RECALLED AND HE BELIEVES THEY HAVE THE SAME LATCH. *NM

GAS GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER ALL THE TIME, CONSUMER STATED AFTER FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH GAS TO CAPACITY IT SHOWS EMPTY. AFTER MAKING CONTACT WITH THE DEALER WARRANTY EXPIRED.*AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL GAUGE READ INCORRECTLY. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF FUEL BEFORE THE METER READ EMPTY, LEAVING THE OWNER STRANDED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS STARTED IN SEPT. OF 2002 - UPSHIFT AND DOWNSHIFT W/O REASON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON - O/D LIGHT COMES ON, TRANS DOWNSHIFTS AND STAYS THERE - CAN'T TAKE IT OFF UNLESS YOU PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD AND ACTUALLY SHUT OFF IGNITION AND RECYCLE IT. COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF TRANS IN LATE DEC. 2002 / JAN. 2003. END OF JAN. 2003 - MORE OF THE SAME. JUL 2003, BOTH FRONT UNIVERSALS WENT OUT WHILE VACATIONING IN CANADA. DEALER MOST ACCOMODATING IN SMITHS FALLS, ONTARIO - BUT STILL COST $300.00 PLUS. TRANS. PROBLEMS AGAIN (NOV. 2003) DEALER HAS IT FOR 3 DAYS SO FAR AND HAVE NO ANSWERS....WHAT TO DO???

MY BOYFRIEND BOUGHT A 2001 DODGE RAM IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR. AFTER HAVING THE TRUCK ONLY FOUR MONTHS THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE COMPLETLY REPLACED. TWO DAYS AGO WE NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE SHOCKS. HE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD HIM ALL OF THE SHOCKS NEED REPLACING, AS WELL AS OTHER THINGS SUCH AS THE AXEL AND WHAT NOT. THIS IS ONLY SEVEN MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE THING. THE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP ARE RUDE AND VERY UNHELPFUL. THEY HONESTLY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THE INCONVENIENCE THEY HAVE CAUSED US.

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CONNECTED THE COMBINATION SWITCH TO THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS CAUSED THE SWITCH TO MELT AND BURNED THE WIRES. THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE SINCE STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION , AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. *AK UPDATED 01/19/06.

COMBINATION SWITCH LIGHT BULB, LOCATED IN THE CLOVE COMPARTMENT BROKE, AND FELL INTO THE CLOVE COMPARTMENT. HEAT FROM BULB BURNED THE TISSUE THAT WAS IN THERE. BATTERY DIED.*AK

AIR CONDITION IS LEAKING ON PASSANGER SIDE OF TRUCK I WAS TOLD BY A MR. BRENT IVIE THAT WORKS FOR HERB GORDEN. THAT DODGE KNOWS ABUT THE PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT DONE ANY THING ABOUT IT SO I AM DRIVING THIS TRUCK WITH A PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK IS STARTING TO SMELL THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME. *AK