IllustrationCOMPLETELY CRACKED DASHBOARD, SHARP EDGES, EFFECTING ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, HEADLIGHTS. *TR
2001 Dodge RAM 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most RAM 1500 years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Dodge RAM 1500 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 520.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
490–25K
14125–50K
20050–75K
16575–100K
129100–150K
57150K+
741 reports with mileage · 371 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 548 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 95 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 84 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
65 crash reports34 fire reports65 injury reports
Structure complaints
548 reportsI HAVE 2 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB. AND BOTH DASHES LOOK LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF. ONE OF MY TRUCKS I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HEAR BOOM ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET INTO A BAD ACCIDENT, THANK GOD I COULD GO INTO THE DITCH AND STOP THE TRUCK. BUT LONG STORY SHORT BOTH MY DASHES ARE BAD AND NO ONE WANTS TO ASSUME ANY RESPON…
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I HAVE 2 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB. AND BOTH DASHES LOOK LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF. ONE OF MY TRUCKS I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HEAR BOOM ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET INTO A BAD ACCIDENT, THANK GOD I COULD GO INTO THE DITCH AND STOP THE TRUCK. BUT LONG STORY SHORT BOTH MY DASHES ARE BAD AND NO ONE WANTS TO ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY OVER IT. I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO PARK BOTH TRUCKS BECAUSE I'M SCARED TO DRIVE THEM. ONE BLEW UP SO BAD THAT IT CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. *KB
THE DASH IS CRACKING AND CAVING IN. RADIO ISN'T WORKING NOW DUE TO CUT OR BURNT WIRES. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY AT ANY SEC WITH ALL THE CRACKS AND PIECES FALLEN. *TT
MY DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK'S DASHBOARD STARTED BREAKING UP INTO PIECES AND HAS BECOME WORSE SINCE 2007. PIECES FROM DASH ARE FALLING DOWN INTO THE AREA THAT HOUSES THE SPEEDOMETER & OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS THAT ARE VITAL TO THE FUNCTIONING OF THE VEHICLE PLUS WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR BAGS BEING EXPOSED. EVERY TIME W…
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MY DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK'S DASHBOARD STARTED BREAKING UP INTO PIECES AND HAS BECOME WORSE SINCE 2007. PIECES FROM DASH ARE FALLING DOWN INTO THE AREA THAT HOUSES THE SPEEDOMETER & OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS THAT ARE VITAL TO THE FUNCTIONING OF THE VEHICLE PLUS WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR BAGS BEING EXPOSED. EVERY TIME WE GO OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD.....PIECES FLY OFF THE DASHBOARD & SURROUNDING AREAS OF THE DASHBOARD.......MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS HIT BY ONE OF THESE PIECES. AFTER CHECKING ON COMPUTER, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR YEARS ON THE 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP, COMPLAINTS RANGE FROM CALIFORNIA TO FLORIDA...I AM VERY CONCERNED OUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS. PLEASE GO ONLINE AND CHECK COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR
I HAVE MANY CRACKS AND PIECES MISSING FROM MY DASH. *TR
MY DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED WHEN I BOUGHT IT, AND THIS WEEK AN ENTIRE PIECE FELL IN AND NOW SLIDES AROUND UNDER THE DASH. I HAVE READ ONLINE FROM OTHER PEOPLE THAT THIS CAN CAUSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, INCLUDING HEADLIGHT FAILURE. THE PLASTIC IS ALSO VERY SHARP. A RECALL IS NECESSARY BECAUSE THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS. *TR
TWO- THREE YEARS AGO YEARS AGO I NOTICE A BREAK IN MY DASHBOARD THAT BREAK HAS LED TO THE DASHBOARD FALLING APART EXPOSING WIRING. WHEN THE DASHBOARD CAVE (PART OF ) IN ALL THE GAUGES STOP WORKING (SPEED,TEMP. GAS, ECT.,) AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THIS HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING . *TR
DASHBOARD CRACKING AND CAVED IN CAUSING ALL GAUGES TO STOP WHILE DRIVING WORKING AND AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON ALL WIRING WAS EXPOSED THE ( DASHBOARD WAS CRACKING FOR OVER TWO YEARS BUT I JUST LEARN OF OTHER WHO HAD THE SAME ISSUES . *TR
SOON AFTER PURCHASE I NOTICED CRACKS APPEARING IN THE TRUCKS UPPER DASH, SOON THE CRACKS GREW MORE NUMEROUS AND THEY STARTED TO CONNECT CREATING COMPLETE HOLES OR MISSING CHUNKS OF DASH PLASTIC LEAVING KNIFE LIKE SHARP POINTED EDGES. THIS LEAVES ANYONE IN THE VEHICLE AT RISK OF A LACERATION OR WORSE IF A COLLISION WERE TO OCCU…
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SOON AFTER PURCHASE I NOTICED CRACKS APPEARING IN THE TRUCKS UPPER DASH, SOON THE CRACKS GREW MORE NUMEROUS AND THEY STARTED TO CONNECT CREATING COMPLETE HOLES OR MISSING CHUNKS OF DASH PLASTIC LEAVING KNIFE LIKE SHARP POINTED EDGES. THIS LEAVES ANYONE IN THE VEHICLE AT RISK OF A LACERATION OR WORSE IF A COLLISION WERE TO OCCUR AND A CHUNK OF PLASTIC BECAME AIRBORNE AND IN CONTACT WITH VITAL AREAS OF THE BODY OR THE BODY WERE TO IMPACT THE DASH DIRECTLY WHERE THE POINTED EDGES ARE. ALSO THE MISSING PIECES ARE DROPPING INTO THE DASH ELECTRONICS AND VENTS CREATING A POSSIBLE MECHANICAL PROBLEM. *TR
DASH BOARD CRACKING AND FALLING APART. PIECES DROPPING INTO DASH COMPONENTS CAUSING RATTLING. REFLECTION IN WINDSHIELD CAUSING VISUAL PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING ON SUNNY DAYS. *TR
Official recalls
203V504000 · Tires
Dec 10, 2003
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: 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.
01V153000 · Air Bags
May 8, 2001
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2PE08047 · 2000-2001 Dodge RAM Pickup Hood Latch
Opened Jul 25, 2008 · Closed Dec 17, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch; Structure:body:hood:hinge And Attachments
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 THAT THE MY 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH SECONDARY HOOD LATCHES WITH STAINLESS STEEL RETURN SPRINGS, AS OPPOSED TO THE EARLIER RECALLED TRUCKS THAT HAD ZINC COATED CARBON STEEL RETURN SPRINGS.THE RECALLED COMPONENTS WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CORROSION-INDUCED FAILURE DUE TO THE TYPE OF MATERIAL USED, WHEREAS THE CORROSION FAILURES IN THE NEWER MODELS APPEAR TO BE DUE TO LUBRICATION LOSS OVER TIME (REGULAR APPLICATION OF GREASE IS ADVISED PER INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OWNERS' MANUAL). ODI'S REVIEW OF CHRYSLER'S WARRANTY, COMPLAINT, AND INJURY DATA FOR THE 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES INDICATES THAT THE RATES FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE LOW AND ARE DECLINING.A POTENTIAL DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Latches/locks/linkages: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 TRUCKS.THE INFORMATION CHRYSLER PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER INDICATED THAT THE MY 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH SECONDARY HOOD LATCHES WITH STAINLESS STEEL RETURN SPRINGS, AS OPPOSED TO THE EARLIER RECALLED TRUCKS THAT HAD ZINC COATED CARBON STEEL RETURN SPRINGS.THE RECALLED COMPONENTS WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CORROSION-INDUCED FAILURE DUE TO THE TYPE OF MATERIAL USED, WHEREAS THE CORROSION FAILURES IN THE NEWER MODELS APPEAR TO BE DUE TO LUBRICATION LOSS OVER TIME (REGULAR APPLICATION OF GREASE IS ADVISED PER INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OWNERS' MANUAL). ODI'S REVIEW OF CHRYSLER'S WARRANTY, COMPLAINT, AND INJURY DATA FOR THE 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES INDICATES THAT THE RATES FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE LOW AND ARE DECLINING.A POTENTIAL DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Structure:body:hood:hinge And Attachments
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 THAT THE MY 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH SECONDARY HOOD LATCHES WITH STAINLESS STEEL RETURN SPRINGS, AS OPPOSED TO THE EARLIER RECALLED TRUCKS THAT HAD ZINC COATED CARBON STEEL RETURN SPRINGS.THE RECALLED COMPONENTS WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CORROSION-INDUCED FAILURE DUE TO THE TYPE OF MATERIAL USED, WHEREAS THE CORROSION FAILURES IN THE NEWER MODELS APPEAR TO BE DUE TO LUBRICATION LOSS OVER TIME (REGULAR APPLICATION OF GREASE IS ADVISED PER INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OWNERS' MANUAL). ODI'S REVIEW OF CHRYSLER'S WARRANTY, COMPLAINT, AND INJURY DATA FOR THE 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES INDICATES THAT THE RATES FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE LOW AND ARE DECLINING.A POTENTIAL DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
PE00025 · Rear Safety Belt Anchorage Disengagement
Opened Jul 6, 2000 · Closed Dec 27, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:rear/other
ALLEGE THAT BOTH REAR INBOARD SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES WERE FOUND TO LACK PROPER ATTACHMENTS.