FaultScore

FaultScore report

2001 Dodge RAM Pickup problems

Owners have filed 21 complaints about the 2001 Dodge RAM Pickup with NHTSA between 2002 and 2012. The largest single group is the body & structure. Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 6 worst.

C

FaultScore 56/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Dodge RAM Pickup.

How this is worked out

The numbers

21

Complaints

1

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

2

Injuries reported

42,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

38%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 42 vs 50 Severity 74 vs 50 Early failure 64 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 42
Against the median year of the Dodge RAM Pickup. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 74
14.3% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 64
38% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2001 compares with every other Dodge RAM Pickup

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2001 Dodge RAM Pickup

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Body & Structure 9 42.9%

Median failure at 42,000 miles

Brakes 3 14.3%

Median failure at 78,500 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 3 14.3%

Median failure at 38,670 miles

Airbags 2 9.5%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Other & Unspecified 1 4.8%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 1 4.8%

Median failure at 50,000 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 1 4.8%

Median failure at 140,100 miles

Steering 1 4.8%

Median failure at 31,975 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

1,000 – 9,999 miles 2 12.5%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 1 6.3%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 6 37.5%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 3 18.8%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 2 12.5%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 2 12.5%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Mar 2002 peak 2 Jun 2012

NHTSA investigations into the 2001 Dodge RAM Pickup

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

PE08047 Opened 25 Jul 2008 Closed 17 Dec 2008 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

2000-2001 DODGE RAM PICKUP HOOD LATCH

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...

PE01034 Opened 20 Sep 2001 Closed 19 Feb 2002 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ENGINE COMPARTMENT ELECTRICAL FIRES

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 40,000 miles Carrollton, TX 2 injured

STRUCTURE

DASH IS FALLING IN,CRACKING, CAUSING OPPORTUNITY FOR DAMAGE OR CUTS TO USERS.

NHTSA complaint #10237768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bonner Springs, KS Crash 3 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH A ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE PASSENGERS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SPRAINED A FOOT, BROKE A WRIST,2 PASSENGERS SUSTAINED HEAD LACERATIONS. *AK *SC

NHTSA complaint #10081473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 142,000 miles Orange, CT

SERVICE BRAKES

REAR BRAKE LINE BLEW AT 142000 MILES, FRONT DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LINE BLEW AT 143000 MILES, DODGE SHOULD HAVE USED SOME KIND OF ANTI-CORROSION LINES, ALL THE BRAKE LINES ON MY TRUCK ARE VERY RUSTY, LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN SUBMERGED IN SEA WATER. GOOGLE THE PROBLEM, EVERYONE HAS IT. DODGE SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO ADDRESS THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. LUCKY FOR ME BOTH TIMES I WAS GOING SLOW ENOUGH TO STOP AND NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I NOW WANT TO SELL THIS VEHICLE AS THIS IS THE 2ND SUCH INCIDENT AND LOOKING AT THE BRAKE LINES, I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE ALL OF THEM. SHAME ON DODGE FOR PUTTING OUT SUCH A SUBSTANDARD PRODUCT.

NHTSA complaint #10462347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 83,000 miles Center Moriches, NY

STRUCTURE

MY DASHBOARD BEGAN TO CRACK ABOUT A YEAR AGO SO I PURCHASED AN AFTERMARKET COVER. IT DID NOT STOP THE CRACKING AND NOW THE TOP OF THE DASH HAS SHATTERED AND IN DANGER OF COLLAPSING. MY CONCERN IS THERE ARE MULTIPLE SHARP AND POINTED PIECES OF PLASTIC THAT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS IF NOT FATAL INJURY IN A CRASH, PARTICULARLY IF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS.

NHTSA complaint #10457552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Spartanburg, SC

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE DASHBOARD ON MY TRUCK IS CRACKED IN TWO OR THREE PLACES. DON'T REMEMBER WHEN IT HAPPEN BUT HAVE HEARD A LOT OF OTHER TRUCKS OR HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I KNEW THE WARRANTY HAD RAN OUT SO I DIDN'T FIGURE ANYONE WOULD DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT.

NHTSA complaint #10422009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 33,000 miles Lehigh Acres, FL

STRUCTURE

I PURCHASED MY 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 USED WITH A CRACKED DASH. THE ORIGINAL OWNER STATED IT CRACKED THE SECOND YEAR HE OWNED IT WITH ONLY APPROXIMATELY 33,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. IT HAPPENS ON ALMOST EVERY DODGE RAM TRUCK MANUFACTURED FROM 1998-2006 AND THERE ARE MILLIONS OF COMPLAINTS FILED ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH EVERY CONCEIVABLE REGULATING AGENCY. NOTHING TO DATE HAS BEEN DONE! THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO STAND UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE REGULATING AGENCIES HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS!! I HAVE ALREADY HAD PIECES OF THE DASH FLY INTO MY EYE WHILE DRIVING! WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE DOWN OR THE DEFROST IS IN OPERATION, SMALL PARTICLES FLY OFF AND INTO YOUR EYES CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS CONDITION!!! DODGE WILL DO NOTHING UNLESS ORDERED TO BY A REGULATING AGENCY--THEY ARE ALL ABOUT PROFITS OVER SAFETY!!! THE DECISION OF WHETHER TO FILE THESE COMPLAINTS OR ACT UPON THEM SHOULD NOT BE JUDGED SOLELY ON THE NUMBER OF "PERSONAL INJURIES" AS MANY WILL GO UNREPORTED OR NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL TREATMENT-SUCH AS MINE HOWEVER, THE CHANCE OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS CONDITION IS VERY REAL!! IT CAN BE AVOIDED WITH A RECALL THAT IS MORE THAN LONG OVERDUE!!!

NHTSA complaint #10378238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Chesapeake, VA

STRUCTURE

2001 DODGE RAM DASHBOARD FALLING APART. EXPOSING WIRING TO SUN, AND HAS POTENTIAL TO DAMAGE ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS. NUMEROUS REPORTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND DODGE MANUFACTURER NOT ISSUING A RECALL FOR AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, OR POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE FOR THOSE OF US WHO CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE IT.

NHTSA complaint #10343550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 44,000 miles Oklahoma City, OK

STRUCTURE

MY 2001 DODGE RAM PICK-UP DASHBOARD IS COMPLETELY FALLING APART. THAT INCREASES THE ODDS OF POSSIBLE SHOCK OR EQUIPMENT FAILURE OR FIRE HAZARD, IF IT GETS WET OR DAMAGED DUE TO EXPOSURE. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND A RECALL IS NECESSARY.

NHTSA complaint #10283310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Carrollton, TX 2 injured

STRUCTURE

DASH IS FALLING IN,CRACKING, CAUSING OPPORTUNITY FOR DAMAGE OR CUTS TO USERS.

NHTSA complaint #10237768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,000 miles FT Walton Beach, FL

STRUCTURE

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN LATE 2005 USED IN FT WALTON BEACH FL. IT HAD APPROX 47000 MILES ON IT. NO CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD. IN MID-06 CRACKS APPEARED ALMOST OVER NIGHT. NOW IT IS CRACKED IN NUMEROUS PLACES AND A PIECE OF THE DASH FELL IN.

NHTSA complaint #10199813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 9,091 miles Hattiesburg, MS

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE FRONT DOORS LOWER STRIKER PLATE WAS LOOSE. THIS CAUSED THE DOORS TO RATTLE AND NOT TO SHUT PROPERLY. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE DOOR FLYING OPEN WHILE DRIVING. THE STRIKERS WERE TIGHTENED BUT FAILURE STILL CONTINUED. AT 38,194 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING FOLLOWED BY A WINNING NOISE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT.

NHTSA complaint #10087789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 9,091 miles Hattiesburg, MS

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

THE FRONT DOORS LOWER STRIKER PLATE WAS LOOSE. THIS CAUSED THE DOORS TO RATTLE AND NOT TO SHUT PROPERLY. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE DOOR FLYING OPEN WHILE DRIVING. THE STRIKERS WERE TIGHTENED BUT FAILURE STILL CONTINUED. AT 38,194 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING FOLLOWED BY A WINNING NOISE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT.

NHTSA complaint #10087789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bonner Springs, KS Crash 3 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH A ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE PASSENGERS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SPRAINED A FOOT, BROKE A WRIST,2 PASSENGERS SUSTAINED HEAD LACERATIONS. *AK *SC

NHTSA complaint #10081473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 140,100 miles Midway, TX

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

2001 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL TRUCK. THERE HAVE BEEN A LARGE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEMS ON THESE TRUCKS. DODGE HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE BAD DESIGN OF THE FUEL PUMPS. MY TRUCK LIKE OTHERS HAS RUN VERY WELL, BUT THE FUEL PUMP HAS GONE OUT, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO ACT UP WHEN I WOULD GET TO 1/4 OF TANK LEFT IN DIESEL. THE FUEL GAUGES HAVE BECOME A MAJOR PROBLEM ON THESE TRUCKS AS IT BEGINS TO MALFUNCTION AND DISPLAY INCORRECT FUEL AMOUNTS. WHICH IN A DIESEL IF YOUR RUN OUT OF FUEL YOU BEGIN TO HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS. THE FUEL PUMP DESIGN ON THE 2000-2002 DIESELS WAS CHANGED TO A ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. THIS NEW DESIGN OF PUMP SYSTEM WHICH CONSITS OF THE LIFT PUMP AND THE INJECTOR PUMP, HAS NOT BEEN VERY RELIEBLE. THE MECHANIC WHICH HAS WORKED ON MY TRUCK HAS STATED THAT THIER IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS SYSTEM ON THESE TRUCKS AND A RECALL IS NEEDED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. A INTERNET MESSAGE BOARD (HTTP://WWW.TURBODIESELREGISTER.COM/) HAS ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND HAS CONTACTED DODGE ON THE ISSUE. UNLESS THE DOT BECOMES INVOLVED AND ISSUES A RECALL ON THESE TRUCKS, I FEEL DODGE WILL NOT STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10078418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Crowder, OK

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

THE EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRRORS WERE VERY LOOSE. THE CONSUMER TRIED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TO TIGHTEN THEM, BUT TO NO AVAIL. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA complaint #10053622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 27,527 miles Steamboat Springs, CO

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH HOOD SECONDARY LATCH FAILED TO HOLD THE HOOD. AS A RESULT THE HOOD FLEW OPEN, AND OBSTRUCTED DRIVER'S VIEW. RECALL 97V095000 DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.

NHTSA complaint #10046162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,670 miles Truckee, CA

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PRESSED IT DOES NOT DISENGAGE FROM THE TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE MAINTAINS A CONSTANT SPEED AND THE BRAKES DO NOT ADEQUATELY STOP THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS TO STOP ON ITS OWN. THIS INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED TWICE AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER HAS WORN OUT. *AK THE DANGER IN PARKING AND STOPPING. THERE WAS A LOST OF THE DRIVE TRAIN. THE DANGER OCCURRED WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR, THE COMPUTER FED THE ENGINE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, WHEN THE VEHICLE NEARLY SURGED FORWARD. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10034180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 31,975 miles Colchester, IL

STEERING

THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING HAD BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT, IT REQUIRED CONSTANT CORRECTION AT ALL SPEEDS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIE ROD, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10029629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Carpentersville, IL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

CALIPER PIN PENETRATION CAUSED THE BRAKE PADS TO TEAR AND DAMAGE TO THE RIM. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10017951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Belleplain, NJ

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

NHTSA complaint #10017791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Farmington, NM

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAB FELL ONTO THE FRAME RAIL. THE BODY AROUND THE FRONT CAB MOUNT HAD CRACKED AND BROKE. WHICH RESULTING IN THE CAB DISCONNECTING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA complaint #8022166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Seymour Johnson AFB, NC

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY ON FRONTAL IMPACT. NLM

NHTSA complaint #564728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Butle, MT

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WHILE BRAKING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. NLM

NHTSA complaint #8006388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.