Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Dodge Ram, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Steering53
- Power train50
- Air bags46
- Suspension42
- Service brakes, hydraulic32
- Engine and engine cooling29
- Structure24
- Electrical system20
- Vehicle speed control14
- Tires13
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 21 injuries and 2 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 244 2001 Ram vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 123 people died inside them, and 71 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2001 Dodge Ram failed the safety check 1.64% of the time — 18% less often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 151,327 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
5 2001 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 2001 Dodge Ram.
| 2003334 15 Dec 2003 | Wheels On certain 4x4 pickup trucks equipped with the snow plow package, the gross axle weight ratings may exceed the maximum tire load capacity as defined in CMVSS 12… |
| 2002026 14 Feb 2002 | Other On certain pickup trucks, the alternator wire may be improperly attached, leaving it susceptible to a possible loss of clamp load under certain circumstances. I… |
| 2001118 10 May 2001 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles, the sound deadener material internal to the air bag clock spring may detach rendering the air bag inoperative. Correction: Dealers will re… |
| 2001023 30 Jan 2001 | Suspension On certain vehicles equipped with optional camper and spring overload package, the rear axle retaining u-bolts could lose clamp load due to a soft joint at the … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN VAN AND WAGON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS (ABS), AFTERMARKET BATTERIES MAY LEAK ELECTROLYTE ONTO THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR, WHICH CAN COMPROMISE SEALING INTEGRITY OF THE CONNECTOR.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE ALTERNATOR WIRE CONNECTION TO THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER (PDC) CAN LOOSEN.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 2500 WAGONS WERE EQUIPPED WITH INCORRECT LOAD RANGE TIRES.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VANS AND WAGONS NOT EQUIPPED WITH POWER FRONT SEATS. IN THE PRESENCE OF ROAD SALT, WATER, AND POSSIBLY OTHER DEBRIS, THE POWER SEAT CONNECTOR LOCATED BENEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT COULD DEVELOP A HIGH RESISTIVE SHORT CIRCUIT THAT CYCLES THE CIRCUIT BREAKER.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VANS. A SUBSTITUTE WHEEL LUG NUT TIGHTENING PROCESS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENT TO ASSURE PROPER TORQUE OF THE LUG NUTS.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: QUAD CAB PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A CAMPER PACKAGE AND OVERLOAD SPRINGS. THE REAR AXLE SPACER PLATE COULD LEAD TO DEFORMATION OF THE UPPER SPRING PLATE DURING ASSEMBLY OF THE AXLE TO THE VEHICLE RESULTING A SOFT JOINT.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." SOME OF THE OWNER'S MANUALS FOR THESE VEHICLES ARE MISSING INSTRUCTIONS THAT PROVIDE A STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE, INCLUDING DIAGRAMS, FOR PROPERLY ATTACHING A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM'S TETHER STRAP TO THE TETHER ANCHORAGE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: QUAD CAB PICKUP TRUCKS. THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS ATTACHED WITH CADMIUM COATED NUTS CAN CAUSE THE BOLTS TO STRETCH DUE TO THE APPLICATION OF A HIGHER THAN SPECIFIED CLAMP LOAD. BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER CONTROL ARM FASTENERS COULD CAUSE THE AXLE TO ROTATE FORWARD UNDER BRAKING CONDITIONS.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Dodge told its dealers about the 2001 Dodge Ram: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635734 | INFORMATION ON TAMPERING WITH VP44 FUEL PUMP ON CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINES. *TT |
| 635732 | INFORMATION ON TAMPERING WITH VP44 FUEL PUMP ON CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINE. *TT |
| 635721 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISION IN DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES AND LABOR OPERATION TIMES FOR RE TRANSMISSIONS. *TT |
| 635715 | SOME ENGINES MAY EXHIBIT A HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AFTER A COLD START UP. *TT |
| 634272 | FLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *SLC |
| 634123 | SUBJECT REGARDING FLASH: HOT SAG/SPARK KNOCK/TRANSMISSION SHIFT ISSUES. *SLC |
| 634112 | REVISION OF FLASH PROCESS FOR NEW ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) FROM CUMMINS. *SLC THIS BULLETIN SUPERSEDES BULLETIN 18-019-02 DATED JUNE 17, 2002. *TT |
| 634087 | SUBJECT REGARDING REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *SLC |
| 634082 | CHROME WHEEL CARE. *SLC |
| 634077 | SUBJECT REGARDING OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *SLC |
| 633990 | SUBJECT REGARDING CRANKCASE BREATHER OVERFLOW. *SLC |
| 633981 | SUBJECT REGARDING FLASH: SURGE, LACK OF POWER IN 3RD GEAR, AND NO 3/4 UPSHIFT AFTER 4/3 DOWNSHIFT. *SLC |
| 633970 | SUBJECT REGARDING FLASH: SURGE (BEAMING), LACK OF POWER IN 3RD GEAR, AND NO 3/4 UPSHIFT AFTER 4/3 DOWNSHIFT. *SLC |
| 633968 | SUBJECT REGARDING FLASH: SURGE, LACK OF POWER IN 3RD GEAR, AND NO 3/4 UPSHIFT AFTER 4/3 DOWNSHIFT. *SLC |
| 633485 | SUBJECT REGARDING A TOE IN SPECIFICATION CHANGE. *SLC |
| 630969 | SUBJECT REGARDING FLASH: HOT SAG/SPARK KNOCK/TRANSMISSION SHIFT ISSUES. *JG |
| 630967 | SUBJECT REGARDING FLASH: COLD ENGINE HESITATION. *JG |
| 630803 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO SURGE, LACK OF POWER IN 3RD GEAR, AND NO 3/4 UPSHIFT AFTER 4/3 DOWNSHIFT. *YD |
| 628305 | EXHIBITING A SCRATCHING OR ITCHING TYPE SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT DOOR OPENING. *TT |
| 628291 | CUSTOMERS MAY EXPERIENCE A SHIFTER VIBRATION (GEAR CLASH) OF THE SHIFT KNOB WHEN SHIFTING FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. *TT |
| 628237 | CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION, GREY OIL SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST OR BREATHER TUBE, OR MECHANICAL KNOCKING. *TT |
| 625650 | SUBJECT REGARDING OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 625599 | SUBJECT REGARDING 5.2L ENGINE PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENTS AND HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION. *TT |
| 623255 | INFORMATION REGARDING SERVICE/DIAGNOSTIC MANUAL REVISIONS. *SLC |
| 623143 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE COLD IDLE ENGINE WARMING *SLC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
2000-2001 DODGE RAM PICKUP HOOD LATCH
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation