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2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 1,112 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Dodge Ram 1500, most often about the body and structure (49% of complaints, typically around 75,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Ram 1500 model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 problems
Body and structure
548 complaints · 49%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Dashboard cracking in multiple locations. No weight or undue exposure to light or heat preceded this. Truck has been housed in garage or carport for most of the years since buying it. Vehicle was bought brand new. When parked in parking lots a sun screen was used.
I have taken my cloth cover off dashboard 1 time a month to clean it since I bought this vechile and there have been no problems. Today I take if off and crack and breakage. I feel there is a safety issue here if an accident should happen pieces of the dashboard will fly throughout the vechile and the cracks are…
Other or unspecified
113 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 71,000 miles.
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 cracked, falling in dash heater core failure due to ground wire never being secured from factory rear doors will not open by using inside door handle electric lock switch failure passenger side. Hood hinges broke on both sides tailgate cable support drivers side replaced twice
Tl contact owns a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that he is unaware of how his vehicle's dashboard became cracked. He stated that the dashboard is also collapsing. The current and failure mileages were 74,000.
Transmission
95 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 57,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, axle assembly, driveline, manual transmission.
2001 Dodge ram 4x4 offroad - transfer seals have gone out and begun to leak 3 times in the past 6 months. Each time the truck has been taken to the dealer and had the seals replaced.
While driving a 2001 Dodge ram pickup with an automatic transmission the torque converter disintegrated. The damage cascaded through the transmission and made it barely operable. The entire transmission needed to be overhauled.
Air bags
84 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, on-off switch assembly, side/window.
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 vehicle dash is cracked to where is loosely attached on the passenger side. Dash constantly rattles. This seems as though it will interfere with the passenger airbag since the dash is cracked around it. Plastic dash trim ring is also beginning to crumble which may be a safety issue in the future.…
2001 Dodge ram dashboard - I am the owner of a 2001 Dodge ram pickup. My dashboard has caved in and apparently, this problem is pretty common with this year and make. In addition to the wiring all now being exposed, I am now concerned about the extent of the damage in relation to its' proximity to the air bag on the…
Electrical
81 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 73,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, wiring, ignition, 12v/24v/48v battery.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500. Approximately one year ago, the contact noticed a crack in the dashboard of her vehicle. She took the vehicle to be repaired and the dealer and the manufacturer stated that nothing could be done because no recalls were issued for the vehicle. The contact has since noticed another…
Tl contact owns a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that he is unaware of how his vehicle's dashboard became cracked. He stated that the dashboard is also collapsing. The current and failure mileages were 74,000.
Suspension
69 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 47,500 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
While visiting my cousin in fredericksburg va, he notice noise from the front of the car, we spot the broken coil spring and also notice the brand new tire (front, driver side has scratch on the side wall we assume the broken coil spring cause that. I took the truck in at stafford Dodge in va to have the coil spring…
This problem is on a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 truck with only 48,435 miles on it. (ball joint failure) one lower ball joint had .25 inch of free play the other one had .10 inch of free play, one upper joint had .07 inch of free play . I replaced all 4 of the ball joints just for safety. Total cost was $780 . If these ball…
Brakes
58 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 69,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components, brake fluid low warning, antilock.
According to two mechanics, one being a dealer, my truck has brakes that were made for a passenger car, not a truck. The result is having to replace them about once a year or more, often having to replace the rotors, with several incidents of total brake failure. I have put about 4000 worth of brakes into this truck…
The brake line has failed. There is a pin hole leak. The metal brake line is between the gas tank and the frame of the vehicle. It has rusted out so much that it caused the line to fail. The line is hidden in the frame, which doesn't provide the adequate amount of space for the road wash to actually clean the line. It…
Engine
56 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
Dt: Dodge ram 2001 318. While driving noticed vapor coming out of tail pipe. Checked all fluids and could not find anything wrong. Took vehicle to mechanic, ran a pressure test, and found a leak,. He sent both heads to machine and both heads were cracked. Mechanic sad if the temperature goes up the least bit the head…
I have a 2001 Dodge intrepid with approx 70k miles. I had no warning anything was wrong and when I stopped to pick up my 6 year old child the car never started again. I brought it to a local (trustworthy) mechanic and after a 215.10 bill I was told my engine failed and I would have to pay approx 5k to repair it. My…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 recalls
Wheels and tires: tires
Fix: Dealers will provide replacement p245/75r16 tires to meet the load carrying capacity specified on the vehicle certification label and accommodate the addition of a commercially available snow plow and hardware. Owner notification began on december 22, 2003. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-992-1997.
Full defect summary
On certain 4x4 pickup trucks equipped with the snow plow preparation package, the tires supplied on some vehicles may have gross axle weight ratings that slightly exceed the maximum tire load capacity as defined in federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."
Air bags
Risk: When this occurs, the material could interfere with the clockspring ribbon and cause an open circuit. The driver air bag system will become disabled, and the air bag warning lamp will illuminate on the instrument panel.
Fix: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly. Owner notification began june 18, 2001. Also some 1997-200 model year vehicles that, according to warranty records, have had a suspect replacement clockspring installed, will also be included in this campaign. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Sound deadener material inside the steering wheel could become detached from the cover and housing. Note: the ram pickup trucks were built at the warren assembly plant ("s" in the 11th VIN position) from may 16, 2000 through october 23, 2000; st. Louis north assembly plant ("j" in the 11th VIN position) from may 19, 2000 through october 23, 2000; lago alberto assembly plant ("m" in the 11th VIN position) from may 23, 2000 through october 23, 2000; and saltillo assembly plant ("g" in the 11th VIN position) from may 23, 2000 through october 23, 2000. Important: vehicles that have already had the proper clockspring installed, according to warranty records, have been excluded from this recall. In addition, 1997-2000 model year vehicles that have had a suspect replacement clockspring installed, according to warranty records, have been added to this recall.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
2000-2001 dodge ram pickup hood latch
Summary
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 t
Rear safety belt anchorage disengagement
Summary
Allege that both rear inboard safety belt anchorages were found to lack proper attachments.
Questions about the 2001 Dodge Ram 1500
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Dodge Ram 1500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: body and structure (548 complaints, typically around 75,000 miles); other or unspecified (113 complaints, typically around 71,000 miles); transmission (95 complaints, typically around 57,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from December 10, 2003 (wheels and tires). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Dodge Ram 1500?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Ram 1500 model year since 2000, with 1,112 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.