NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
12 reportsClear category filter101,000 miles · Nov 8, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN I ADJUSTED THE STEERING WHEEL TO A DIFFERENT POSITION AN APPARENT ELECTRICAL FAILURE SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES RENDERING THE TRUCK ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE AT THAT SPEED. THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WAS REPLICATED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND WHILE STATIONARY. APPARENTLY ANY MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING…
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WHEN I ADJUSTED THE STEERING WHEEL TO A DIFFERENT POSITION AN APPARENT ELECTRICAL FAILURE SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES RENDERING THE TRUCK ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE AT THAT SPEED. THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WAS REPLICATED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND WHILE STATIONARY. APPARENTLY ANY MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL WILL SHUT OFF COMPLETE POWER TO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10434840
75,000 miles · May 26, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
UNEXPECTED ENGINE STALL ON HIGHWAY WHILE PULLING TRAILER. LEAD TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. NARROWLY AVOIDED MAJOR ACCIDENT ON HIGHWAY. FOUND OUT LATER THERE IS A SERIOUSLY HIGH FAILURE RATE OF DIESEL INJECTION PUMPS DUE TO POOR DESIGN. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10158374
33,329 miles · Jun 24, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train
TWICE WHILE DRIVING THE 2000 DODGE 2500 CLUB CAB THE ENGINE STALLED SUDDENLY. *NM THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. ONCE THE CONSUMER WAS BALE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE HE DROVE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AGAIN, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER TO EXPE…
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TWICE WHILE DRIVING THE 2000 DODGE 2500 CLUB CAB THE ENGINE STALLED SUDDENLY. *NM THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. ONCE THE CONSUMER WAS BALE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE HE DROVE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AGAIN, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER TO EXPECT IT TO FAIL AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE STARTER HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH SLUGGISH SHIFTING. *JB *NM
NHTSA ODI #10127929
Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE A 2000 DODGE RAM 2500 4X4 AUTO WITH A CUMMINS DIESEL. FOR THE PRODUCTION YEARS 1998 TO 2001, SOME OF THESE ENGINES WHERE PRODUCED WITH AN INFERIOR ENGINE BLOCK (IDENTIFIED WITH A BLOCK CASTING NUMBER OF "53"). MORE SPECIFICALLY THESE BLOCKS HAVE THINNER WATER JACKET WALLS THAN OTHER BLOCKS SO WITH COOLANT CAVITATION, COR…
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I HAVE A 2000 DODGE RAM 2500 4X4 AUTO WITH A CUMMINS DIESEL. FOR THE PRODUCTION YEARS 1998 TO 2001, SOME OF THESE ENGINES WHERE PRODUCED WITH AN INFERIOR ENGINE BLOCK (IDENTIFIED WITH A BLOCK CASTING NUMBER OF "53"). MORE SPECIFICALLY THESE BLOCKS HAVE THINNER WATER JACKET WALLS THAN OTHER BLOCKS SO WITH COOLANT CAVITATION, CORROSION, COOLANT PRESSURE IN THE BLOCK, AND TORQUE, THEY MAY CRACK, SPILLING YOUR COOLANT. WHEN THE CRACK OCCURS, AND THERE ARE VERY MANY DOCUMENTED CASES, IT IS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE, THE SAME SIDE AS THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY FIRES, ETC. BUT I KNOW THAT ENGINE COOLANT DOES CONTAIN FLAMMABLE INGREDIENTS AND THE EXHAUST CAN GET VERY HOT, ESPECIALLY WHEN TOWING. ALSO, THIS ENGINE WITH A 53 BLOCK HAS BEEN USED IN OTHER APPLICATIONS, INCLUDING: MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS FROM DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS, MOBILE HOMES, PUBLIC SCHOOL BUSES AND MASS TRANSPORTATION BUSES. I SEARCHED THE NHTSA SITE FOR INFO REGARDING THE CUMMINS 53 BLOCK, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN PROVIDED WOULD BE OF GREAT USE. ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK IN MY TRUCK HAS NOT CRACKED, I'M MORE INTERESTED IN PREVENTING A PROBLEM THAN EXPERIENCING IT. VERY MANY THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10110047
114,000 miles · Feb 2, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
2000 DODGE RAM 2500 HAS A CUMMINS 5.9 LITER DIESEL ENGINE. THE ENGINE BLOCK HAS CRACK IN THE WATER JACKET AND IS LEAKING COOLANT. CUMMINS ENGINE MANUFACTURE HAS ADMITTED TO THIS AS BEING A PROBLEM AND HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10108465
Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10017766
Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER NOTICE ENGINE LEAKING OIL FROM UNDER ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED TECHNICIAN NOTICE VACUUM PUMP NEED TO BE REPLACE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA ODI #8021833
Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE ENTIRE CAB WAS BURNED, CLAIM 36-A186-713. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #6900887
Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CONSUMER HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER, CLAIM 37-3254-339. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #6900883
Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FIRE, CLAIM 37-3254-339. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #6900559
Official recalls
1May 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 ↗
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