2001 Dodge Ram Suspension Problems

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

NHTSA ID

10444804

Incident

Apr 4, 2009

Mileage

55,000 mi

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH THE FRONT END OF THE SUSPENSION IN THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN. THIS IN TURN CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT SLID INTO A GUARD RAIL, THERE WAS NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED, NO REPAIRS MADE.

NHTSA ID

10151565

Incident

Jan 25, 2006

Mileage

107,995 mi

DT: WAS PULLING A TRAILER AT 45 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED FISH TAILING. WITHOUT THE TRAILER AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE WILL FISH TAIL. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CHRYSLER , AND FOUND THAT IT WAS SHAKY. THE TIE RODS ENDS, BALL JOINTS, AND THE CHECK BAR MALFUNCTIONED ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ALMOST HAD A WRECK. THIS HAPPENED ON 24, JUNE 2205. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS POORLY DESIGNED, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS TOO LIGHT FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO GREASE FITTING FOR THE BALL JOINT. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ID

10129669

Incident

Jun 24, 2005

Mileage

40,000 mi

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR ALIGNMENT, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT THE WHEEL WAS CLOSE TO COMING OFF. DEALER REPAIRED VEHICLE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK ......*AK

NHTSA ID

10105272

Incident

Dec 13, 2004

THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE WANDERED ACROSS THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING BOX ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND MADE SOME OTHER REPAIRS, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WOULD GRAB, HOWEVER THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT WAS THE WAY ABS WORKED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10105235

Incident

Oct 25, 2001

Mileage

7,380 mi

WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT THERE WAS A LOUD SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE WHEELS. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10055684

Incident

Jan 14, 2004

Mileage

38,740 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10070404

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

Mileage

40,000 mi

THE BALL JOINTS OF MY 2001 DODGE RAM PICKUP HAD 5 TIMES THE ALLOWABLE LIMIT OF PLAY, WHICH IS 60,000TH OF AN INCH (1/16). ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS HAD 5/16 OF PLAY AT ONLY 21,000 MILES. THE SHOP I WENT TO FOR MY INPECTION DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM, AND SAID I WAS FORTUNATE THAT IT DIDN'T GET ANY FURTHER. ONE GOOD POT HOLE WITH THAT MUCH PLAY AND A WHEEL COULD HAVE COME OFF. THE SHOP OWNER TOLD ME THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE PROBABLY OUT OF SPEC AT 6,000 MILES, CONSIDERING THEIR CONDITION AT 21,000 MILES. HE ALSO SAID THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL DODGE VEHICLES. HE SAID THAT HE HAS HAD DODGE DURANGO'S IN HIS SHOP WITH ONLY 6,000 MILES THAT HAD THE PLAY HE FOUND IN MINE AT 21,000 MILES!

NHTSA ID

10069723

Incident

Aug 15, 2002

Mileage

21,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR SPRING BROKE. AS A RESULT, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NO IMPACT WAS REPORTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053336

Incident

Jan 3, 2004

Mileage

19,130 mi

TRUCK REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE OFF, AND WAS RIDING UPON THE BED THAT WAS HOOKED TO THE REAR END. . *AK

NHTSA ID

10040323

Mileage

40,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAVING ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT ALL FRONT BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10024897

THERE WAS A NOISE WHEN A TURN WAS MADE. DEALER STATED FRONT WHEELS WERE WOBBLING. *AK *TT

NHTSA ID

10011191

Incident

Mar 1, 2003

Mileage

102,000 mi

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

TRUCK WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD WITH CONSTANT NEED FOR CORRECTION BY MOVING STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH. ALSO STEERING WHEEL IS NOT ABLE TO BE MOVED WHEN TRUCK IS AT A STANDSTILL, POWER STEERING PUMP DOES NOT PUT OUT ENOUGH POWER TO TURN IF TRUCK IS NOT MOVING. *AK

NHTSA ID

761954

Incident

Aug 15, 2001

VEHICLE WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD WHEN DRIVING. CONSUMER FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE 2-3 TIMES, AND STATED HE COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

8009355

Incident

Apr 15, 2000

WHEN HITTING A BUMP VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BOUNCE AFTER HITTING BUMP. TOOK TO DEALER, AND HAD SHOCKS REPLACED IT,, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

8009210

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WHOLE FRONT END WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND HAVE NO SOLUTION. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID

8007651

VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO STEER, WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. DEALER REPLACED STEERING BOX 3 TIMES, DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8006835

Incident

Feb 15, 2002

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY IN A NEUTRAL POSITION IT WILL VEER TO THE RIGHT AND OR LEFT, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED 4 TIMES YET THE SAME MALFUNCTION REOCCURS. NLM

NHTSA ID

8006578

IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE STRAIGHT IN THIS VEHICLE, IT GOES ALL OVER THE ROAD, DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM (RAM 2500). NLM

NHTSA ID

8006520

Incident

Sep 1, 2001

1500 QUAD CAB, BRAKE FAILED AT 50-60 MPH. THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT BEARINGS ON RIGHT WHEEL WERE GROUNDED TO DUST, NO GREASE WAS VISIBLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

8005604

Incident

Mar 8, 2002

TRACK BAR AFFECTS HANDLING AND SAFETY OF VEHICLE, I HAVE HEARD OF MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS PART. *AK

NHTSA ID

759167

Incident

Mar 1, 2002

TRACK BAR, PREMATURE EXCESSIVE SLACK IN STEERING, HARD TO KEEP IN OWN LANE ESPECIALLY ON UNEVEN PAVED SURFACES( STEERING WANDERING). REAR AXLE U-BOLTS, LOOSE ON INSPECTION CAUSING SHAKING FROM THE REAR AXLE DURING ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION, BOLTS WERE RETORKED & PROBLEM REACCURED AFTER 20 MILES, THE BOLTS WERE LOOSE AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

759162

Incident

Dec 12, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE SWAYS BACK AND FORTH AND HARD TO STEER. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED STEERING BOX AND DID AN ALIGNMENT THREE TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED. *YH

NHTSA ID

8005123

Incident

Apr 21, 2001