22 of the
417 complaints about the 2001 Dodge RAM are about the
electrical system — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
35,000 miles.
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
NHTSA complaint #10190907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Quitman, AR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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.
NHTSA complaint #10144236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 23,000 milesNederland, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
2001 DODGE RAM D150 DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS LOCATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR THE WIRING HARNESS HAD BROKEN LOOSE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE.
NHTSA complaint #10134560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,000 milesPortland, OR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH DRIVER TILTED THE STEERING WHEEL UPWARDS AND VEHICLE STALLED . DRIVER TILTED THE STEERING BACK TO THE NORMAL POSITION AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THEN, DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR.*AK
NHTSA complaint #10059821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HOT Springs, AR
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.
NHTSA complaint #10016054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ocala, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
CONSUMER STATED THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL#02V042000PDC WIRE WHICH CAUSE A FIRE. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VIN# WAS NOT INCLUDED. MR
NHTSA complaint #8024214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Washington, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
DEALERSHIP IS GIVING CONSUMER A RUN AROUND REGARDING RECALL 02V042 FOR THE CENTRAL POWER DISTRIBUTION CABLE. *AK CONSUMER HAS ATTEMPTED TO HAVE RECALL COMPLETED ON 3 OCCASIONS, HOWEVER THE DEALER HAS NEVER MADE REPAIRS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #8011872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grand Lake, CO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
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.
NHTSA complaint #8011238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bakersfield, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE WAS WIRED TO PULL A FIFTH WHEEL, WHILE DRIVING THE COMPUTER CHIP AND ALTERNATOR BURNED OUT AND SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE, CLAIM 55-S270-703. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #6900577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Coon Rapids, MNFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE TRAVELING AND TOTALING VEHICLE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8009724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bakersfield, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE WAS WIRED TO PULL A FIFTH WHEEL, WHILE DRIVING THE COMPUTER CHIP AND ALTERNATOR BURNED OUT AND SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE, CLAIM 55-S270-703. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #6900577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wagner, OK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS WERE OUT INTERMITTENTLY/ AMP GAUGE WENT TO ZERO. TOOK TO DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PLEASE PROVIDE VEHCILE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
NHTSA complaint #8001729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Loganville, GAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ALL OF THE GAUGES QUIT WORKING. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULLOVER THE HORN STARTED TO BLOW AND THE LIGHTS STARTED GOING OFF AND ON. I WAS ABLE TO PULLOVER BUT THE TRUCK WOULD NOT TURN OFF. A SHORT TIME LATER MY WIFE SMELLED ELECTRICAL SMOKE. I OPENED THE HOOD AND THE FUSE BOX WAS ON FIRE. I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO MUSIC CITY DODGE IN MURFREESBORO TN. AFTER TWO MONTHS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, EXPLANATION BY DEALER WAS BATTERY CABLE NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY.
NHTSA complaint #752510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Loganville, GAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ALL OF THE GAUGES QUIT WORKING. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULLOVER THE HORN STARTED TO BLOW AND THE LIGHTS STARTED GOING OFF AND ON. I WAS ABLE TO PULLOVER BUT THE TRUCK WOULD NOT TURN OFF. A SHORT TIME LATER MY WIFE SMELLED ELECTRICAL SMOKE. I OPENED THE HOOD AND THE FUSE BOX WAS ON FIRE. I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO MUSIC CITY DODGE IN MURFREESBORO TN. AFTER TWO MONTHS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, EXPLANATION BY DEALER WAS BATTERY CABLE NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY.
NHTSA complaint #752510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Moberly, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED UP IT BLOWS BLACK SMOKE OUT FROM EXHAUST AND RUNS ROUGH UNTIL VEHICLE WARMS UP. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT COMPONENT OF VEHICLE THAT IS CAUSING THIS DEFECT IS RELATED TO COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #888583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Danville, KY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
RPMS ARE RACING DOWN AND UP, AND SOMETIMES GET STUCK IN UP POSITION. WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, A CLANKING NOISE OCCURS. ALSO, WHEN STARTING UP VEHICLE IT WILL SHAKE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THESE PROBLEMS ARE DUE TO FAULTY COMPUTER AND CHRYSLER WILL NOT HAVE A REMEDY FOR ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS. *AK THERE WAS NOISE FROM REAR END WHEN SHIFTING GEAR. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS HARD TO CLOSE. THE ENGINE HAD ROUGH IDLE.
NHTSA complaint #888050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Norwalk, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHEN HEATER IS ON DASHBOARD WOULD BECOME VERY HOT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT PROBLEM WAS WITH RADIO, WHICH WAS DEFECTIVE. IT WAS REPLACED. DASHBOARD PROBLEM REAPPEARED AGAIN. KEPT TAKING VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP FOR DASHBOARD PROBLEM, AND AGAIN RADIO WAS REPLACED. NOTHING ELSE WAS CHECKED FOR CAUSE OF OVERHEATING DASHBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #880188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Granger, INCrash1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ON A 30 MPH FRONTAL CENTER CRASH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING BODLY INJURY,CHRYSLER INVESTIGATION #8126432 THE FOND OPEN SQUIB SYSTEM AT AIRBAG AND STATED THAT THE AIR BAG FAILURE WAS DO TO WIRES THAT RIPPED LOOSE WHEN STEERING COLUMN COLLAPSED.
NHTSA complaint #739204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dolores, CO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
HEADLIGHTS COME ON AT ALL TIME, AND DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. BATTERY RUNS DOWN, AND HE HAS TO HAVE A JUMP START.
NHTSA complaint #877694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mechanicsville, VAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SPEEDOMETER WENT FROM 55 TO 0. THEN, ALL OTHER INSTRUMENTS WENT DEAD AND HORN STARTED BLARING. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND SAW AN ORANGE GLOW UNDER HOOD. WITHIN 2 MINUTES, PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT WAS IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT FOUND FIRE HAD STARTED IN POWER BOX, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. DODGE WANTS TO REPAIR. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE FIRES WAS BECAUSE OF THE POWER DISTRIBUTOR BOX. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #876058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Romulus, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN UNDER THE HOOD FIRE WHILE PARKED. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. TOWED TO DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT CAUSE WAS DUE TO THE POWER CENTER SHORTAGE FAILURE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #874698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brewster, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
ON FOUR OCCASIONS REAR BRAKE LIGHT FUSES KEPT BLOWING OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND HAS BEEN CONTINUALLY TRYING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #872547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.