2001 Dodge RAM 1500

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 OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND DODGE SHOULD BE FORCED TO REPLACE THESE BRAKES WITH HEAVY DUTY EQUIPMENT. *TR

1. AFTER EXITING INTERSTATE, DRIVER WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND APPLIED BRAKES. DRIVER NOTICED REDUCTION IN BRAKING ABILITY AND "MUSHY" BRAKE PEDAL. DRIVER PULLED BACK INTO PARKING SPOT TO INSPECT VEHICLE. 2. BRAKE LINE FOR DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE RUPTURED RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DUE TO CORROSION. 3. REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LINE WAS REQUIRED. PART IS AVAILABLE. *TR

2001 DODGE QUAD CAB PICKUP HAS FAILING WIRING IN STEERING COLUMN WHICH MAKES TRUCK DIE WHILE DRIVING . WHICH IN TURN THERE IS NO POWER BRAKES OR STEERING AND NO ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS THAT MAKES THE TRUCK RUN . DEAD ON THE ROAD LITERALLY. WHO KNOWS AT WHAT SPEEDS THIS PROBLEM MAY OCCUR. LUCKILY, IT HAPPENED TO ME WHILE GOING SLOW AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE TRUCK. NO KNOWN HUMAN DEATHS YET THAT I HAVE HEARD OF FROM THIS. IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED WITH WIRING HARNESS THERE WILL BE DEATHS, I'M PRETTY SURE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO DO MY BEST TO KEEP MY FAMILY AND OTHER FAMILIES SAFE. THIS NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH BEFORE SOMEONE DOES DIE UNNECESSARILY IN AN ACCIDENT THAT CAN BE AVOIDED BY REPLACING THE PROBLEM PART OF THE PICKUP. *TR THE BEARING CLUTCH, REAR CARRIER BEARING, AXLE SEALS, ROTORS, POWER STEERING PUMP, PINION CARRIER BEARINGS WERE ALL REPLACED. ALSO, THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL AND HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CENTER SEAT CONSOLE BOLTING SYSTEM FELL OUT OF THE TRUCK, THE PLASTIC DASHBOARD PANEL AND HOUSING AROUND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS CRACKED IN FOUR PLACES. THE GASKET ON THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING. THE GASKET, WATER AND TIMING CHAIN WERE REPLACED. THE CLUTCH FAILED, DUE TO THE WRONG YEAR TRANSMISSION BEING INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. A 2000 TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, INSTEAD OF A 2001. UPDATED 10/15/14

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES HAVE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THEY BOUGHT IT. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NEW BRAKES, CALIPERS, ROTORS AND THE ABS SYSTEM WAS TESTED EVERY TIME THE BRAKES WERE REPAIRED. THE BRAKES ONLY LAST FOR 2 TO 4 MONTHS BEFORE THE BRAKES DEVELOP PROBLEMS. DURING THESE FAILURES THE STEERING WAS SHAKY.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. AFTERWARDS THE VEHICLE FELL TO THE GROUND AND WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER THE TIRE WAS LOCATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE SHOES AND DRUMS, WHEEL NUTS AND STUDS, COMBINATION SPRING KIT AND SELF ADJUSTER KIT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.*AK

NOTICED A GRINDING AND SCRAPING SOUND FROM THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL. UPON INSPECTION FOUND THAT THE OUTSIDE BRAKE PAD HAD DISINTEGRATED AND THAT THE METAL FROM THE PAD WAS GRINDING AGAINST THE ROTOR. I ALSO NOTED THAT THE RETAINING CLIP ON BOTH THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE CALIPER HAD WORKED OUT FAR ENOUGH TO BE SCRAPING AGAINST THE RIM. THE SCRAPING FROM THE RETAINER HAD LEFT A NOTICEABLE GROVE IN THE INSIDE OF THE RIM. THE ROTOR WAS SCORED FROM THE BRAKE PAD AND THE RIM WAS SCORED FROM THE RETAINER THAT HAD WORKED LOOSE. SINCE THE INITIAL INSPECTION I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE BOTTOM RETAINER ON THE LEFT FRONT DISK HAS WORKED LOOSE IN THE SAME FASHION AS THE RIGHT FRONT AND IS SCRAPING AGAINST THE RIM. *NM