Dodge Ram Complaints (2001)

2,207 consumer complaints on file.

#10020951June 3, 2003
SUSPENSION, STEERING
STEERING WANDERS ALL OVER THE PLACE. 2001 RAM PICKUP 2500 WITH ONLY 19,224 MILES ON IT PROBLEM FIRST SURFACED AROUND 15,000 MILES. DEALER SERVICED AT 17,207 MILES AS A LICENSED INSPECTION MECHANIC, THIS VEHICLE WILL FAIL THE STATE INSPECTION STICKER TEST WHEN IT IS DUE. THE AMOUNT OF PLAY AT THE STEERING WHEEL IS CURRENTLY AT 5+ INCHES AND GETTING WORSE. INSPECTION PROCEDURES REQUIRE THE PLAY TO BE MEASURED WHILE OBSERVING THE TIRE MOVEMENT. ( EXAMPLE : TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT UNTIL VISABLE MOVEMENT OF THE TIRE IS SEEN, MARK A REFERENCE POINT ON THE STEERING WHEEL, NOW TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT UNTILL VISABLE MOVEMENT OF THE TIRE , NOW MEASURE THE DISTANCE THE MARK ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAS TRAVELED. ANYTHING OVER A 2 1/2 " TRAVEL IS CAUSE FOR FAILING THE STATE VEHICLE INSPECTION STICKER. DEALER HAS ALREADY REPLACED THE TRACK BAR BUT THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AM AWAITING ANOTHER APPOINTMENT. MY WIFE REFUSES TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE STEERING ISSUES. THE VEHICLE ALWAYS NEEDS TO BE " CHASED " LEFT AND RIGHT TO KEEP IT TRACKING STRAIGHT AHEAD.IT IS MY OPINION THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING BOX. THE STAE OF MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE DIVISION FORCED A BUYBACK OF THESE SAME TRUCKS BECAUSE OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. IF THEY ARE NOT SAFE FOR OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT THEN THEY ARE SURE NOT SAFE FOR THE AVERAGE CONSUMER. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT CAN NOT BE IGNORED. THANK YOU. CONCERNED CITIZEN IN MAINE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10020784May 31, 2003
WHEELS
JUST ABOUT A MONTH AGO, MY HUSBAND & I HAD TO TAKE OUR 2001, DODGE RAM1500, PICK-UP TRUCK(2-WHEEL DRIVE)INTO A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER IN THE TOWN IN WHICH WE LIVE. WE HAD BOTH NOTICED THAT SOMETHING WAS VERY "AMISS" IN THE WAY OUR TRUCK SOUNDED & FELT WHEN WE TURNED AT A SEVERE ANGLE TO THE RIGHT--I.E. INTO OUR CARPORT HERE AT HOME FOR INSTANCE. SINCE I DRIVE IT THE MOST TO & FROM WORK, I WAS THE FIRST WHO NOTICED THAT SOMETHING DIDN'T SEEM JUST RIGHT WITH THE WAY IT SOUNDED & HANDLED UPON TURNING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY. THEN ONE NIGHT WHEN MY HUSBAND HAD COME HOME FOR HIS LUNCH BREAK, HE RELATED TO ME THAT HE NOTICED THERE WAS A DEFINITE "SOUND" THAT WASN'T RIGHT..THIS PROMPTED US TO TAKE OUR TRUCK TO A SHOP HERE IN TOWN THAT SPECIALIZES IN WHEELS, BRAKES,,,ETC..ETC...THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING HOUSING, WHICH IS AN "ALL-IN-ONE" UNIT WAS IN SUCH A DAMAGED STATE THAT IT WAS NEARLY READY TO "FALL OFF" AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THE MECHANIC WHO HAD DONE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE NEW UNIT WE HAD TO BUY EXPLAINED TO US THAT IT APPEARED THAT THE UNIT HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY GREASED & PACKED WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED AT THE PLANT IN WHICH IT WAS MANUFACTURED. HE ALSO TOLD US THAT THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED ON ANY VEHICLE THAT WAS THIS NEW. THEREFORE, I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT AS IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO DO SOME RESEARCH IN THIS MATTER TO FIND OUT WHY THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US, AND TO FIND OUT IF IT HAS OCCURRED TO ANYONE ELSE. AFTER ALL, I MIGHT HAVE BEEN TRAVELING DOWN OUR FREEWAYS HERE IN CALIFORNIA GOING 65-70 MPH AND THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL COULD HAVE VERY EASILY FALLEN COMPLETELY OFF DUE TO SOMEONE'S OVERSIGHT AND NEGLIGENCE. WE WOULD SURELY APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOUR AGENCY WITH ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU MIGHT COME UP WITH. SINCERELY YOURS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10021925May 30, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING REAR BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011191May 28, 2003
SUSPENSION
THERE WAS A NOISE WHEN A TURN WAS MADE. DEALER STATED FRONT WHEELS WERE WOBBLING. *AK *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10020673May 28, 2003
TRAILER HITCHES
I WAS HEADED HOME GOING DOWN A CITY STREET HEADED TO THE HIGHWAY, WHEN I HERD A LOUD NOISE AND FELT A JOLT FROM MY 14' TANDEM AXLE ENCLOSED TRAILER. I LOOKED BACK AND NOTICED THAT THE TRAILER WAS RIDING LOWER THAN NORMAL. I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND WHEN I GOT OUT TO LOOK I NOTICED THAT THE TRAILER BALL WAS ABOUT 2" OFF THE GROUND. I LOOKED UNDER MY TRUCK AND NOTICED THAT THE RECEIVER HITCH HAD BROKEN. ONLY 2 OF THE 6 BOLTS WERE HOLDING IT UP, AND THE MIDDLE BOLT ON THE LEFT SIDE HADE COMPLETELY BROKE. I REMOVED THE BALL AND PUT IT ON THE BUMPER TO TOW THE TRAILER HOME. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER THE NEXT MONDAY BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD A RECALL ON THE HITCHES. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE HITCH WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THAT MY MODEL TRUCK DIDN'T HAVE ANY RECALLS. THEY GAVE ME THE PHONE NUMBER TO THE FACTORY FOR COMPLAINTS. I HAD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER HITCH FROM ANOTHER DEALER. WHEN I GOT HOME TO PUT IT ON, I NOTICED THAT THE NEW HITCH HAD 8 BOLTS INSTEAD OF 6.SOMEONE MUST HAVE KNOWN THAT THE OLD HITCHES WERE DEFECTIVE. I CALLED THE FACTORY THE NEXT DAY AND THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING THAT THE DEALER HAD. I ASKED FOR THE NUMBER TO THE FACTORY AREA REP. AND WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALER WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT THEM.. I CALLED THE DEALER BACK, AND TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. HE SAID THAT HE HAD ALREADY CALLED FOR THE REP. AND LEFT A MESSAGE FOR HIM TO CALL. NO RESPONSE. I TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THEY NEEDED TO HAVE A RECALL ON THIS HITCH, BECAUSE IF I WOULD HAVE MADE IT TO THE HIGHWAY,AT 65 MPH, THE HITCH COULD HAVE BROKEN ALL THE WAY, AND WITH THE SAFTY CHAINS ATTACHED TO THE HITCH, THE TRAILER WOULD HAVE BEEN ON ITS OWN AND COULD HAVE KILLED PEOPLE. I STILL HAVE HAD NO CALL BACKS. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE OLD HITCH ON MY TRUCK BEFORE I REMOVED IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10019199May 23, 2003
STEERING
AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES MY TRUCK STARTED TO WANDER MUCH WORSE THAN IT HAD IN THE PAST, IT HAS WANDERED SINCE NEW. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS WITH OTHER CARS AND OBSTACLES BECAUSE THE STEERING SEEMS TO HAVE A MIND OF IT'S OWN AT TIMES AND WILL SWERVE AND WANDER IN DIFFERENT WAYS BASED ON ROAD CONDITION, IF I'M BRAKING OR ACCELERATING. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY STEERING BOX AND TRACK BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1400. THIS IS ON A $30K+ TRUCK WITH 40K MILES ON IT! I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND COMPLANED ABOUT THIS CONDITION AND THEY WON'T REVIEW IT UNTIL I HAVE IT BACK AT THE DEALER FOR ANOTHER INSPECTION THEN THEY WILL DECIDE IF THEY WILL OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE OR NOT. BASED ON RESEARCH ON THE WEB THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE TRUCKS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10020184May 20, 2003
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018580May 12, 2003
AIR BAGS
TRUCK WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX 70 TO 75 MPH AND SLID CAUSING LOST CONTROLS. AS TRUCK HIT HEAD ON INTO EMBANKMENT AND ROLLED AT LEAST ONCE. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THIS IS A VERY SORROWFUL EVENT FOR ANYONE AND COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR OTHERS IN SUCH SITUATIONS. PLEASE CONTACT EVERYONE AND LET THEM KNOW OF THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT. *NLM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
1
#10018467May 9, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT, STEERING
STEERING PULL AND POOR HANDLING. IE WANDERING, DRIFT, PULL TO THE RIGHT EVEN AFTER ALIGNMENT(S) AT DIFFERENT SHOPS INCLUDING DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE WHEN NEW. VEHICLE NOW HAS 65,000 MILES AND HAS WORN 2 SETS OF TIRES AND ALMOST DUE FOR A 3RD SET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017753May 8, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018278May 6, 2003
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING SHAFT BROKE WHEN A TURN WAS MADE. WHICH RESULTED IN LOST OF STEERING AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018149May 5, 2003
STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND NO WARNING THE STEERING GEAR WOULD POP OUT OF GEAR.DEALER NOTIFIED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017951May 1, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
CALIPER PIN PENETRATION CAUSED THE BRAKE PADS TO TEAR AND DAMAGE TO THE RIM. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017791April 29, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE SHIFTING THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. UPON INSPECTION METAL SHAVING WERE FOUND IN THE TRANSMISSION PAN. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017627April 28, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, WHILE IN IDLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10015675April 18, 2003
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
FRONT WHEELS TURNING FAR ENOUGH MAKING CONTACT WITH LOWER CONTROL ARM. WHICH CAUSED EXTREME WEAR ON THE TIRE CUTTING THE GROOVE IN THE SIDEWALL APPROVIAMATELY 1 1/2 INCHES FROM THE TIRE BEAD. THE DEALER STAED THAT THE TURNING STOPS IN THE STEERING BOX WERE WORN AND CAUSED THE PROBLEM. MR SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016054April 17, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER REGARDING RECALL REMEDY 02V042000. THE RECALL LETTER STATED REMEDY SHOULD NOT TAKE ANY LONGER THAN 30 MINUTES. THE CONSUMER HAD AN 8:45 AM APPOINTMENT, BUT AFTER 2 HOURS, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER THEN HAD TO LEAVE WITHOUT REMEDY DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10014267April 11, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
MY COMPANY OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCK, VIN # [XXX]. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE HOOD RELEASED, FLEW UP AND LANDED AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. THE HINGES AND WINDSHIELD WERE BROKEN. BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD MY EMPLOYEE WASN'T HURT. CHRYSLER ISN'T EVEN INTERESTED IN INVESTIGATING WHAT CAUSED THIS AS THE TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY.*JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10014269April 11, 2003
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING MY DODGE 1500 QUAD CAB IT WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD MAKING IT DIFFICULT AND UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE. IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT BAD IN THE RIGHT LANE AND BAD TO THE LEFT IN THE LEFT LANE EVEN AFTER ALIGNMENT. CONSULTS WITH THE DEALER HAVE ONLY YIELDED THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THAT TYPE OF SUSPENSION. I HAVE HAD NO LUCK GETTING THIS RESOLVED AND DRIVING OTHER SIMILAR DODGE RAM'S I HAVE FOUND THAT IT IS NOT "NORMAL".*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10014224April 10, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE IDLE IS ERRATIC, BOTH IN NEUTRAL AND IN GEAR. WILL SPEED UP WHILE DRIVING, OR WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, OR WHILE IN PARK. HAS CAUSED VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. IT IS MORE SEVERE WHEN COLD. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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