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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

113 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 5, 2007
Unknown Or Other

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE RAM TRUCK WHERE THE DASHBOARD IS BREAKING APART. THIS STARTED WITHIN THE FIRST TWO YEARS I HAD THE TRUCK. LOOSE PARTS COULD FLY OFF DURING DRIVING CAUSING DRIVER TO BE DISTRACTED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. LOOSE PARTS COULD FALL DOWN INTO DASH AND CAUSE ELECTRICAL OR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10189876

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2007
Unknown Or Other

DASH COLLAPSED ON MY 2001 DODGE RAM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10189830

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2007
Unknown Or Other

ONE LARGE CRACK IN DASH THAT IS AS WIDE AS THE DASH AND TWO SMALLER CRACKS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10189803

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2007
Unknown Or Other

DASHBOARD CRACKING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10189790

35,000 miles · May 3, 2007
Unknown Or Other

I OWN A 2001 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCK AND MY DASH BOARD STARTED CRACKING AND THE CRACKS KEEPS SPREADING AND GETTING BIGGER. THIS STARTED AROUND 2-3 YEARS AGO. I DID NOTIFY THE DEALERSHIP OF WHERE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK AND WAS TOLD THAT IF I WAS THE ORIGINALLY OWNER THAT THEY COULD HELP ME. I THEN CONTACTED THE HEADQUARTER OF DODGE AN…

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I OWN A 2001 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCK AND MY DASH BOARD STARTED CRACKING AND THE CRACKS KEEPS SPREADING AND GETTING BIGGER. THIS STARTED AROUND 2-3 YEARS AGO. I DID NOTIFY THE DEALERSHIP OF WHERE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK AND WAS TOLD THAT IF I WAS THE ORIGINALLY OWNER THAT THEY COULD HELP ME. I THEN CONTACTED THE HEADQUARTER OF DODGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. THAT I WAS ON MY OWN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10189714

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2007
Unknown Or Other

DASHBOARD OF A 2001 DODGE RAM PICKUP HAS SEVERE CRACKING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10189689

35,000 miles · Apr 1, 2007
Unknown Or Other

DASH CRACKS IN THE DASH PAD UNDER THE WINDOW. IT STARTED WITH A CRACK IN THE WINDOW WHICH HAD NO IMPACT POINT. THEN THE DASH CRACKED IN THE MIDDLE,THEN OVER THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THEN OVER THE DRIVERS SIDE 3 TOTAL CRACKS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10186655

65,000 miles · Mar 14, 2007
Unknown Or Other

DASHBOARD HAS 4 CRACKS IN THE TOP OF DASHBOARD FROM WINDSHIELD TOWARD CAB,MATERIAL USED FOR DASHBOARD IS VERY BRITTLE AND COULD PROVE TO BE DANGEROUS IN AN ACCIDENT AS IT IS SHATTERING ON A REGULAR BASIS. THIS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AS THERE SEEMS TO BE A LARGE NUMBER OF OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. THE PLASTIC USED WOULD ACT LIK…

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DASHBOARD HAS 4 CRACKS IN THE TOP OF DASHBOARD FROM WINDSHIELD TOWARD CAB,MATERIAL USED FOR DASHBOARD IS VERY BRITTLE AND COULD PROVE TO BE DANGEROUS IN AN ACCIDENT AS IT IS SHATTERING ON A REGULAR BASIS. THIS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AS THERE SEEMS TO BE A LARGE NUMBER OF OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. THE PLASTIC USED WOULD ACT LIKE A SHRAP NAIL IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10185053

108,000 miles · Mar 7, 2007
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

2001 DODGE RAM, THE DASH IS CRACKED AND ROTTEN ALL THE WAY ACROSS. THIS NEW OF A VEHICLE SHOULD NOT LOOK LIKE TRASH ON THE INSIDE, AND THERE IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN WITH ALL THE DASH COMPONENTS WORKING CORRECTLY. THERE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE GOING ON HERE, IF EVERY DODGE DASH IS CRACKING. DODGE TRANSMISSION- NORMAL HIGHWAY USE AND…

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2001 DODGE RAM, THE DASH IS CRACKED AND ROTTEN ALL THE WAY ACROSS. THIS NEW OF A VEHICLE SHOULD NOT LOOK LIKE TRASH ON THE INSIDE, AND THERE IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN WITH ALL THE DASH COMPONENTS WORKING CORRECTLY. THERE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE GOING ON HERE, IF EVERY DODGE DASH IS CRACKING. DODGE TRANSMISSION- NORMAL HIGHWAY USE AND THE TRANSMISSION IS ALREADY JUNK, ALL OTHER BRANDS ARE STILL GOING FINE ON THEIR FIRST TRANSMISSION AND THEIRS ARE A LOT OLDER THAN MINE. TRANSMISSION JUST QUIT AND NEARLY CAUSED ME TO CRASH, THIS NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH IN A SERIOUS MANNER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10184389

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2007
Unknown Or Other

DASH BOARD OF 01 DODGE RAM 1500 OFF ROAD HAS MULTIPLE HUGE CRACKS IN IT AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND MORE GOING ALONG TOWARDS THE DRIVERS SIDE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10179300

Official recalls

2

03V504000 · 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

2

PE08047 · 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.