2001 Dodge RAM 1500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED INTO SEVERAL PIECES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY REPLACED THE DASHBOARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED A FEW YEARS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD CRACKED AND THE INSTRUMENTS WAS FALLING INTO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS EXPOSED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DASHBOARD STARTED TO CRACK ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD DEVELOPED CRACKS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE AND AS A RESULT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT IT WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE TYPES OF VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

HEADLIGHTS WERE ON HIGH BEAM AND DIMMED LIGHTS AND LOST ALL OF THE HEADLIGHTS . IT WAS EARLY MORNING BUT THERE WAS ENOUGH LIGHT FOR ME TO SLOW AND PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I KEPT MOVING THE DIMMER SWITCH BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW BEAM UNTIL THE LIGHTS FINALLY CAME BACK ON. I LEFT THEM IN LOW BEAM AND DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY TO WORK ON LOW BEAM. WHEN I GOT HOME LATER AFTER WORK I WAITED TILL NIGHT TIME AND PULLED MY TRUCK INTO MY CAR PORT AND REPEATED WHAT HAD HAPPENED ON THAT MORNING. ON ABOUT THE FIFTH TRY THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN , I THEN REPEATED FLIPPING THE DIMMER SWITCH BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW BEAM AND AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS WAS ABLE TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON. THE NEXT DAY TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS , THEY REPLACED THE DIMMER SWITCH AND THE MECHANIC WHO WORKED ON MY TRUCK TOLD ME THAT WAS NO THE FIRST ONE HE HAD REPLACED AND TOLD ME I WAS VERY LUCKY. IF IT HAD FAILED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY AND UNDER DARKER NIGHT CONDITIONS AND AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE WRECKED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. *TR *JS

THE UNDER THE BED SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY CABLE BROKE AT THE JUNCTION OF WHERE THE CABLE ENDS AND THE HOLDING METAL ASSEMBLY BEGINS. THE SPARE TIRE CAME LOOSE AND HIT THE HIGHWAY BOUNCING OFF OF THE PAVEMENT AND BECOMING AIRBOURNE BEHIND MY TRUCK . AT THAT TIME IT BECAME A HAZARD FOR ANY VEHICLE ESPECIALLY A MOTORCYCLE BEHIND ME. MY SPARE IS A 16 INCH TIRE AND WEIGHS OVER 35 POUNDS. I GOT OFF THE INTERSTATE AT THE NEXT EXIT AND TRIED TO FIND THE TIRE BUT COULD NOT LOCATE IT . I SUSPECT IT WENT OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT. NO CARS BEHIND ME STRUCK THE TIRE AND NO WAS HURT. AFTER INSPECTING THE SPARE TIRE CRANK ASSEMBLY I FOUND THE CABLE WAS RUSTED AND SUSPECT THE HOLDING NUT ASSEMBLY WAS TOO. I HAVE NOT USED MY TRUCK FOR OFF ROAD USE ONLY TO TRAVEL BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AND TO HAUL MATERIAL WHEN NEEDED. I WENT TO THE LOCAL JUNK YARD AND WAS BOUGHT ANOTHER SPARE TIRE CRANK ASSEMBLY OFF OF A 2000 DODGE RAM 1500 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND FOUND THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY WAS ALSO RUSTED. I SUSPECT THAT IT MAY FAIL IN THE FUTURE JUST LIKE MINE DID. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW FOR ON INSPECTION IT IS EASY TO SEE HOW RUST CAN MAKE THE HOLDING NUT AND WASHER FAIL. I AM AFRAID THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN OR ALREADY HAS HAPPENED ON DODGE TRUCKS USING THIS TYPE OF SPARE TIRE HOLDER. IF THIS TIRE COMING FREE AND HITTING THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH COULD HAVE CAUSE SERIOUS HARM TO ANOTHER VEHICLE OR COULD HAVE LED TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. MY GUESS IS THAT MANY TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED BUT HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED. *TR

THE DASHBOARD HAD ONE CRACK IN IT WHEN IT HAD ABOUT 38,000 MILES, THEN AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES THE DASH STARTED CRACKING WORSE AND NOW AT 52,000 MILES IT HAS CRACKED SO BAD THERE ARE LARGE PIECES OF THE DASH BROKEN COMPLETELY OUT OF IT. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 98-06 DODGE RAM'S AND DODGE KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. MY MAIN CONCERN IS WITH THE LARGE PIECES BEING BROKEN OUT. IF YOU GET INTO AN ACCIDENT LARGE PIECES OF THE DASH COULD GO FLYING AND INJURE SOMEONE OR WHEN AND IF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS THE FORCE OF THAT COULD CAUSE THESE PIECES TO GO FLYING OR MORE PIECES TO BREAK OFF AND GO FLYING, WHICH COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IN A COLLISION. *TR

I OWN A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500. THIS VEHICLE HOWEVER, HAS A DEFECT, THE DASHBOARD CRACKS AND IS STARTING TO BASICALLY DISINTEGRATE. I HOWEVER, AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE ISSUES. AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE FORUMS AND WEBSITES BELOW. HTTP://WWW.DASHCOVER.COM/DODGERAMDASH.HTML HTTP://FORUMS.MOTORTREND.COM/70/6297146/PICKUPS-SUVS/IS-YOUR-2001-DODGE-RAM-DASH-FALLING-APART/INDEX.HTML HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/DODGE/RAM_1500/2001/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/CRACKED_DASHBOARD.SHTML HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/DODGE/RAM_1500/2001/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/CRACKED_DASHBOARD-2.SHTML HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/T429358-CRACKED_DASH_IN_2001_2500_TRUCK.HTML THE FAILURE IS SO COMMON THERE ARE YOUTUBE VIDEOS ON HOW TO FIX IT TEMPORARILY: HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=H7WFCXSY8XI I HAVE SEEN QUOTES TO GET THIS FIXED ANYWHERE FROM 800 TO 1500 DOLLARS. ABSOLUTELY ABSURD. SOME PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THAT THEIR DASHBOARD IS CRACKING AND PIECES ARE FALLING BEHIND THE DASH AND CREATING RATTLING NOISES AND SOME EVEN AS SEVERE AS TAKING OUT ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT CAUSING HEADLIGHT FAILURE, AC FAILURE, ETC. DESPITE ALL OF THESE ISSUES DODGE WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL. ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS IS IF I WERE TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT THE DASHBOARD COULD SHATTER SENDING SHARP EDGED PIECES OF PLASTIC TOWARDS ME UNDER HIGH IMPACT, WHICH COULD LEAD TO SEVERE INJURY AND/OR DEATH. I AM HIGHLY CONCERNED WITH THIS ISSUE AND I HOPE THAT BY YOU SHOWING INTEREST ON MINE AND OTHERS BEHALF WE CAN RESOLVE THIS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR