2001 Dodge RAM 1500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other RAM 1500 years
- More complaints than other years 3rd of 19 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 1,112 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Dodge RAM 1500. That ranks 3rd out of 19 RAM 1500 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (548 complaints, 49%), typically at around 75,965 miles. Complaints mention 65 crashes, 35 fires, 80 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 1,112owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 65complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2001 Dodge RAM 1500 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure problems | 548 | 49% | 75,965 | “dash board” (12%) | $1,400 |
| Unknown or Other | 113 | 10% | 70,750 | — | — |
| Power Train problems | 95 | 9% | 57,570 | “quad cab” (9%) | $4,450 |
| Air Bags problems | 84 | 8% | 80,000 | “air bags deploy” (14%) | — |
| Electrical System problems | 81 | 7% | 73,000 | “falling apart” (14%) | — |
| Suspension problems | 69 | 6% | 47,568 | “ball joints” (33%) | $1,200 |
| Steering problems | 53 | 5% | 55,900 | “steering gear” (13%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 51 | 5% | 62,300 | “caught fire” (14%) | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 47 | 4% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 33 | 3% | 71,658 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 26 | 2% | 93,802 | — | — |
| Equipment | 18 | 2% | 62,250 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 | 2% | 101,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 17 | 2% | 109,805 | — | — |
| Visibility | 12 | 1% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 10 | 1% | 105,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 1% | 112,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 8 | 1% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 8 | 1% | 110,373 | — | — |
| Engine | 5 | 0% | 171,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 0% | 142,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 0% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 0% | 96,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 0% | 4,867 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 0% | 130,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2001 Dodge RAM 1500 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Tires
Problem: 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."
Fix: 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.
Air bags
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- 2000-2001 dodge ram pickup hood latch (PE08047) — opened Jul 25, 2008, closed Dec 17, 2008.
- Rear safety belt anchorage disengagement (PE00025) — opened Jul 6, 2000, closed Dec 27, 2000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owned a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while exiting a parking lot and attempting to depress the brake pedal, the brake pedal floored, causing the contact to roll to a stop on the side of the road. The ABS and Brake Warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to drive…
While driving and operating the heater, unbeknowst to me leaves/pine needles had come in through the fresh air cowl vent and built up on the heater blower resistor resulting in a fire. This design in dangerous as the default for the air intake is open and allows debris to enter and drop directly…
Passenger side airbag exploded while sitting in my yard.
The headlights no matter what bulbs I buy are extremely dim making it unsafe to drive at night. Now truck will not start for some unknown reason. It tries to turn over but will not crank. The mileage flashes NO BUS. I was literally only getting at best 8 miles per gallon.
2001 Dodge Ram Dashboard is an extreme safety hazard due to the cracking. I have owned this vehicle for 12 years and it's been garaged kept for 8 years. The dash started with a crack and then a hole was created when hitting a bump. Then I had a mechanic work on the heater, and the dash basically…
Other Dodge RAM 1500 years
← 2000 RAM 1500 · 2002 RAM 1500 →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 RAM 1500 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 RAM 1500 | 698 | 6 |
| 2011 RAM 1500 | 689 | 4 |
| 2010 RAM 1500 | 486 | 4 |
| 2009 RAM 1500 | 670 | 2 |
| 2008 RAM 1500 | 554 | 5 |
| 2007 RAM 1500 | 517 | 4 |
| 2006 RAM 1500 | 792 | 9 |
| 2005 RAM 1500 | 1,170 | 4 |
| 2004 RAM 1500 | 1,099 | 5 |
| 2003 RAM 1500 | 1,171 | 1 |
| 2002 RAM 1500 | 815 | 3 |
| 2001 | 1,112 | 2 |
| 2000 RAM 1500 | 513 | 2 |
| 1999 RAM 1500 | 610 | 0 |
| 1998 RAM 1500 | 520 | 0 |
| 1997 RAM 1500 | 361 | 0 |
| 1996 RAM 1500 | 298 | 0 |
| 1995 RAM 1500 | 213 | 0 |
See all Dodge RAM 1500 problems by year, every Dodge model, or the Dodge VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Dodge RAM 1500?
Owners most often report structure, unknown or other, power train problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 548 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2001 Dodge RAM 1500?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2001 Dodge RAM 1500 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other RAM 1500 model years, the 2001 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.